Page 22 of All Mine
‘Might cut across the dance floor,’ he said and both his friends shook their heads.
‘Thought you might.’
He edged closer to the middle of the dance floor, around couples and friends in circles, until he was surrounded by a hot, heaving party. It only took him a moment and then he was beside her. She was laughing and holding on to Amber and totally unaware of his proximity. Her strap had slipped from her shoulder and he could imagine pushing it further down her arm, freeing those wonderful breasts he’d glimpsed that day on the square. He couldn’t help smiling, even though he hadn’t had the chance to talk to her. He moved on to the bar as the song changed to ‘Livin’ on a Prayer’.
Chapter Thirteen
Isabella
‘I need water!’ Isabella said, wafting her face with both hands, feeling a bead of sweat run down her cleavage. The tribute section to Bon Jovi was finished and the band were starting on Tina Turner, fifty people all around her running on the spot to the beginning of ‘Proud Mary’. Amber gave her a thumbs up and Isabella weaved her way through the crowd in the general direction of the bar.
She’d chosen a good time as the dance floor was pulling people in and she slid in between a girl group who were organising their order and a man leaning over a beer. A barman with long hair was busy at one end pulling pints and another was filling a tray with shots at the other. Isabella rested her elbows on the bar, feeling the breeze on her hot skin from the fan on the back wall.
‘Well, hello.’ The voice was so close to her ear that she jumped. She looked at the sweaty face of the thirtysomething man next to her. He looked like he should have gone home an hour ago.
‘Hi,’ she said politely and returned her gaze to the bar.
‘Haven’t seen you here before?’ he slurred.
‘No,’ she said, not wanting to be rude but not wanting to encourage him either. Suddenly wishing she was joining in with the whooping along to Tina Turner.
‘I’d remember a face like yours for certain. . .’ he continued, using all his best chat-up lines at once.
She smiled politely, checked both ends of the bar, but both bar staff were still busy. One shaking a cocktail, one shovelling ice into a bucket.
‘Wanna drink?’ He lifted his beer towards her. ‘I’ll buy you a drink. . .’
‘No thanks,’ Isabella said firmly. ‘I’m buying a round.’ She took her phone out of her jeans pocket and studied it pointedly to avoid further conversation.
‘So, what’s your name then?’ the man said suddenly, banging his chin on her shoulder.
Isabella’s stomach lurched. He wasn’t getting the message.
‘Isabella,’ she said. The girls next to her gave up the wait and succumbed to the dance floor frenzy in full swing. She watched them go. Someone else moved round the bar to take their place beside her.
‘Fancy a dance, Issy?’ he said, placing a clammy hand on her arm.
‘No thanks.’ Her voice was firm, but she smiled politely.
‘Ah, come on, be friendly,’ he said, moving his arm to put it around her shoulders. That was enough.
‘Just to be clear, I’m not interested in you sexually, at all,’ she said with a straight face as she physically lifted his arm away from her. His eyes widened and then flicked around himself as if checking she was addressing him. She continued: ‘But it was nice to meet you and if you ever want to take your mum out somewhere nice for dinner, then I’d love to see you at my new restaurant. Tutto Mio. It’s on the square. Opening soon.’ She flashed him a smile then which increased his confusion.
‘Eh?’ he said. ‘How did you know I live with my mum?’
‘I didn’t. But the clues were there,’ she said. ‘Now, sorry, I don’t know your name?’
‘Andy,’ he stammered.
‘Well, Andy, if you ever want to improve how you approach women, I can recommend a guy called Tongue Tied on TikTok. He gives great advice on conversation starters that might come in handy.’
The man was out of his depth now, mouth opening and closing.
She smiled and nodded to show him she had finished when the person standing on her other side leaned in.
‘Everything okay here?’ Etienne said and just like that she was looking into those green eyes and black eyelashes. He was so close.
‘Everything’s fine, thanks,’ replied Isabella. ‘Isn’t it, Andy?’
