Read Online Take a Chance on Me by Debbie Flint - Free Book Online Page B

foyer who looked remotely like the man she thought she’d met this afternoon.
Damn
.
Do I go in and act nonchalant? Or do I wait here till I spot him? What if he doesn’t show? What if …
    â€˜Hi, seen any good boats lately?’
    â€˜Oh, hi!’ Sadie relaxed the tension in her stomach. Then immediately sucked it back in again, remembering she didn’t have her Bridget Jones knickers on.
    â€˜No, I haven’t. Nor cruisers. Nor power-yachts!’
    â€˜Superyachts!’ he corrected.
    â€˜The difference obviously matters to you, so
superyachts
.’
    â€˜That’s better. Coming inside? I’ve taken the liberty of ordering already.’
    â€˜Ordering what?’ she asked, a bit taken aback.
    â€˜Wait and see,’ he said, and showed her to their table – a side booth, relatively private, subdued lighting, but music blaring a bit too loud. They shuffled close, to hear each other.
    On the table in front of Sadie were a beer, a water, a juice and a cocktail.
    â€˜
Four
drinks? That must cost an arm and a leg in here,’ Sadie said.
    â€˜Sorry – it’s an old habit. Saves time standing at the bar, and … Can I tell you a secret? It usually impresses the “laydeez” if you guess their drink.’
    â€˜And what if
none
of them are right, Mr Moneybags?’ she teased.
    â€˜Well, are they?’ he winced.
    â€˜Actually, I could murder the juice! All that window-shopping and sea air’s built up a thirst.’
    â€˜Phew! Thought I was losing my touch. I always used to be able to guess what a girl drinks, back when I was in college.’
    â€˜You must have a long memory.’
    He poked her arm for being cheeky and slid the juice over to her with its garish umbrella and half a glacier of ice.
    â€˜Here you go, Sam. Cheers.’ For a split second Sadie wondered whom he was talking to, then remembered what she’d told him this afternoon
. Game on. ‘Samantha’ it is.
It was only one date, after all.
    â€˜So what brings you to Monaco then – apart from the yacht crawl?’
    â€˜Big meeting.’
    â€˜Right. What kind of business?’
    Sadie was mid-sip and hesitated. She looked away. Even telling him the short answer would bring on nervous palpitations. She downed the lovely cool juice in one, looked him in the eye, and leaned closer.
    â€˜Mac, can I ask you something?’ she said, huge doe eyes looking up at him from under long, dark lashes.
    â€˜Mmm, you smell delicious. What?’
    â€˜A favour? Would you do me a really big favour?’
    â€˜Depends if it involves getting wet,’ he joked, but a flash of unease had crossed his face.
    â€˜Don’t worry it’s nothing like that. It’s this …’
    He furrowed his brow, awaiting her next words.
    â€˜Tonight,’ she said, ‘can we please
not
talk about work? At all?’
    â€˜Oh, sure! ’Course, no problem.’ He let out the breath he’d been holding. ‘It’s just that, for a minute there, when you said a favour, I thought you meant money.’
    â€˜What?’
    â€˜I mean—’
    â€˜What kind of girl do you take me for, buster?’
    â€˜No, I mean … favours. When people ask me for favours it’s usually money.’
    â€˜What the …!’
    â€˜Erm … Not you, though – obviously.’ Trying to change the subject, he back-peddled. ‘You know – sponsor me for this, lend me that, or asking me to buy your silence in return for not reporting me … to the snog police.’
    She looked thoughtful, then laughed, shaking her head incredulously. ‘Idiot!’
    Mac laughed too, and also took a sip of his drink, turning his head away from Sadie. She didn’t see him mouth to himself in disgust – ‘
the
snog police!
’.
    â€˜The thing is,’ she explained. ‘You see, this is the