Page 38 of Love At First Fright
Speaking of, Rosemary could practically feel Ellis’s eyes boring into her from across the room, no doubt taking stock of how she was about to embarrass herself with a local. She turned her body away from the table and Ellis, to face Josh.
“So, what do you do, Josh?”
“Straight to business,” he said, sipping his beer, “I like it. I’m a maths teacher, at the local primary school. Or, as you Americans would call it, ‘math,’ singular.”
She realised he was trying to crack a joke, so she let out a small giggle.
Josh seemed pleased. “What do you do then…”
“Rosemary.”
“What do you do then, Rosemary?”
“I write horror books.”
“Fuck off, that’s incredible. I think you’re my dream woman.”
“You’re laying it on thick, Josh.” She swatted him with her arm. He was cute. It felt easy. So why did she feel nothing at the touch of his arm against her hand?
“Rosemary, there you are.” Ellis stood beside her, looking grumpy as hell.
“Can I help you?” she snapped at him, giving him the universal widening of eyes signal to explain that she was busy here. Ellis chose to ignore it.
“You’re needed back at the table, Lance wants to chat more about books with you.”
“Well, if that’s the case, thenLancecan wait because I’m a bit busy right now.” She gritted her teeth.
“Hey, don’t I know you from somewhere?” Josh said, leaning towards Ellis.
Ellis crossed his arms. “Not likely.”
Josh nodded, looking slowly between the two of them. He held his hands up in surrender. “Message received.” He bent towards Rosemary. “If your guard dog ever leaves you alone, come find me at that table over there, I think we could have a good time.” Josh left.
Rosemary turned on Ellis.
“What the fuck was that?”
“What?”
“You know what.That guy was cute, he was flirting with me, and I might have had myself a fun little night before you came over.”
“Cute? Come on, Rosemary, you can do better than that.”
“You’ve clearly had too much to drink, Ellis, you’re losing the ability to see clearly.”
His breath was hot on her face as he backed her against the bar. “I can see very fucking clearly, love.”
“Oh, and what do you see?” She crossed her arms.
“You deserve someone better.”
“Well, if you see thisbetterperson, please direct them to my table. I’m going to order my drink now,” she said, evading his gaze.
“Careful with those local bartenders, they make their drinks strong.”
“I used to drink whiskey in cornfields as a teenager, I’ll be fine, Ellis. And…” She pivoted back to face him, breath leaving her lungs as she realised just how close he was to her. “I don’t need you swooping in here like I’m a damsel in distress, because all I am is a woman who needs to be d—” She stopped herself, realising what she was about to admit. Fuck it. “—Who needs to get laid.”
Was she imagining it or did his eyes darken? Did his gaze turn hungry and drop to her lips?
