Darcy Maguire - A Convenient Groom

‘Touché.’ He smiled again, his golden eyes glinting. ‘Okay, they may not be the best of lines but worth a try before we for ever scratch them from our repertoire.’

Riana leant in again to make herself heard over the music, and she couldn’t help but breathe in his rich, spicy cologne. She wasn’t sure whether to damn the music for being so loud, or to thank it. ‘I can’t imagine you using them.’

‘Thanks.’ His breath was warm on her neck. ‘But you’d be surprised at how blank a mind can go when faced with a beautiful woman.’

She leant back. Was he saying she was beautiful?

Mr Golden Eyes leant an elbow on the bar and moved closer. ‘So how am I doing?’ he said close to her cheek.

How could he not think he was doing fine? He appeared to be everything a woman would want. Tall, dark, handsome, funny and intelligent. There had to be a catch somewhere…there always was.

‘Talk fast,’ she said to his neck, managing to keep a straight face. Let him sweat. Let him work to convince her why he was going to be different from all the rest.

‘No more corny pick-up lines, I take it?’

She raised her eyebrows. ‘I’ll give you ten seconds. Nine…eight…seven.’

‘You’re the most beautiful woman here.’

Riana glanced at him, something strange fluttering in the pit of her belly. ‘Flattering, but not good enough. Three…two…one.’

He widened his eyes, his eyebrows tilting to give him the most devastating puppy-eyed look she’d seen in her life. ‘I just need to be loved, like everyone else does.’

Riana sucked in her breath and gave him a second look, past the handsome face, deep into his golden eyes where she saw an honesty that scared her.

He meant it.

That was what it was all about—looking for someone to share your life with, putting up with loud music, clubs and pubs, parties and people of all shapes and sizes to find the one meant for you.

She nodded, her pulse quickening. This guy was a crush waiting to happen on a girl’s heart.

‘That works,’ she offered, trying to sound as calm and cool as she wanted to look. She could barely comprehend what she was doing. What about Stuart?

‘Good, I’ll tell the lads.’ And his mouth curved into a smile.

Her stomach curled. What? Couldn’t she at least have the satisfaction of telling him she was taken? That it was her that didn’t want him? ‘You don’t want my number?’ she blurted.

‘No.’

‘Oh? Not that I’d give it to you—’ She raised her chin. What was wrong with her? What was wrong with him? Stringing girls along until they were all flustered…

He nodded. ‘Sure.’

His disbelief was in his tone, as if no woman could refuse him! Riana crossed her arms over her chest. ‘Do you get some sort of perverse pleasure in torturing women?’ she asked, trying to keep her voice even. ‘Chat them up and then leave them high and dry?’

He shook his head. ‘Not usually, but in this case…I figured I’d even the score for the lads.’

She turned towards the men in the corner. She had been a bit short with some of them, a bit hard on others. She bit her bottom lip. He may have a point.

‘Well done,’ she said finally. ‘But if you look at it from my point of view for a moment you may see that you lot owe me for putting up with being harassed.’

He leant closer, giving her another look, running his eyes down her body to her black leather boots, up her black trousers over her small metallic blue top to her lips and to her eyes.

Riana’s body tingled as though he’d run his large hands over her, turning every nerve on as he went. She shifted on her stool.

‘You’re right,’ he murmured. ‘Let me buy you a drink for being such a good sport.’ He gestured to the barman.

She smiled, satisfaction flowing through her at his concession.

‘But you know, if a pretty woman like yourself doesn’t want to get harassed by men you shouldn’t sit at the bar alone.’

She lifted her chin, sobering. ‘I’m waiting for a friend.’

‘Male?’

She looked him in the eyes. Very presumptuous of him to ask, seeing as he didn’t want her number. ‘No. I’m waiting for my female colleague so I can meet a work contact.’

He nodded, not taking his eyes off her. ‘Mixing pleasure with business?’

She shrugged. ‘I guess.’

Mr Golden Eyes leant on the bar and surveyed the room. ‘Me too. I have to meet some stuck-up designer who will probably waltz in wearing something screaming how good she thinks she is.’

Her breath caught in her throat.

He looked over her head. ‘Who has the audacity to consider that I would turn my schedule upside down and inside out—’

She opened her mouth, a thousand retorts on the tip of her tongue. She took a long, slow breath. ‘Really, a designer?’ Riana asked slowly, leaning forward, her pulse quickening. ‘You wouldn’t happen to be a gifted but extremely arrogant photographer?’

His eyes widened a little. ‘You?’

She held out her hand. ‘Riana Andrews—stuck-up designer.’ She waved a hand down her blue top and black trousers, trimmed with a silver belt, and large silver hoops at her ears.

He didn’t hesitate. ‘Joe Henderson, foolish ass with foot in mouth disease.’ He stared her right in the eyes, taking her hand firmly in his large warm one.

Sensation sizzled up her arm and ricocheted around her chest. Riana glanced around for Maggie, still a no-show. ‘I can’t say I’m thrilled to meet you like this,’ she stated dryly.

‘Likewise.’ Joe let go of her hand and slipped his hands into his pockets. ‘You wouldn’t hold this against me, would you?’

She raised her eyebrows. ‘What? Your arrogant assumption or my beautiful body?’

He ran a hand through his hair and gave her a shrug, the corners of his mouth fighting a smile. ‘Sorry about that.’

She tipped her head a little, eyeing him carefully. ‘How sorry? Sorry enough to turn your schedule upside down to make amends for your big fat—’

‘Possibly.’ Joe nodded, rubbing his jaw. ‘I hear you’re quite a talent and are making a substantial mark on the world of wedding fashion.’

She stood up. ‘I’m flattered at your late attempt at sweet-talk, but I assure you the only way you can make up for your terrible behaviour is to do my fashion shoot,’ she said evenly, refusing to be intimidated by his sheer height, breadth and presence.

Joe stiffened.

Riana licked her lips. ‘I know it’s short notice and all, but you did agree to this meeting on the off-chance that you could accommodate me.’

Joe nodded slowly, running his hand over his rough jaw, eyeing her. ‘I could probably manage it, seeing as you didn’t come waltzing in here in one of your designer outfits.’

‘That’s big of you.’ She looked across to the door. ‘But did you consider for a moment that the last place I’d be flaunting my designs would be in a club like this?’ She glared at the man. ‘Seeing as they’re bridal gowns and all.’

He shrugged, a soft smile tugging at his mouth. ‘No one would have harassed you if you were wearing a wedding gown.’

She stared at him, her heart thundering in her chest. This guy was different.

‘True.’ She nodded, fighting a smile of her own. ‘But then, you wouldn’t have come up to me and I wouldn’t now be waltzing out of here knowing how good I am.’

He crossed his arms over his chest, staring down at her. ‘So I wasn’t wrong? You are stuck-up and all?’

‘I wouldn’t want to ruin the mystery for you.’ Riana smoothed down her outfit and stepped away from the bar. ‘You’ll have to wait and see.’

She forced her legs into action, determined to get away from the guy. She’d wait for Maggie outside in the fresh air and tell her of her success in securing Joe Henderson and his services.