out with a bloke from the Fraud Squad a few years ago.” His gaze narrowed on Will’s face. “I didn’t realize you’d met her before.”
Will fidgeted and prayed for the bartender to appear. He schooled his expression into one of mild curiosity. “I’ve only met her once, about a week ago. It was late. We were at a club. I doubt she’d remember me.” He gave him a quick grin. “But I’d appreciate it if you can keep the cop thing quiet. I’d like to give it the best shot that I can.”
Pete’s face relaxed. “Yeah, well, I guess so. It doesn’t matter to me what you call yourself. Just don’t go breaking her heart, will you?” he warned. “You’ve said yourself how much you hate commitment. Savannah’s like a kid sister to me.”
Will choked, hiding his surprise behind a bout of coughing.
Thank Christ he’d kept his mouth shut. He so didn’t want to be around when his boss discovered what the redhead beauty with the pair of very fine green eyes did for a living.
Thankfully, Pete didn’t seem to notice anything amiss. He glanced over his shoulder and peered through the crowd to where the women were waiting. “It looks like Lucy’s made it back.”
Will breathed a surreptitious sigh of relief and clutched at the opportunity to bring an end to the questions.
“Why don’t you head back and keep the ladies company?” Will nodded down the length of the bar. “From the line-up around here, it looks like we’re going to be waiting awhile longer. I’ll bring the drinks as soon as I can.”
“Yeah, thanks. I might do that,” Pete replied. A moment later, he disappeared into the crowd.
CHAPTER 6
From out of the throng of people, Lucy appeared, looking radiant in a satin evening dress of deep crimson, her pregnancy belly well pronounced against the stretchy fabric.
“Savannah! Hi, you’re here. I finally got out of the bathroom. I hope I don’t have to go back there in a hurry. It took me forever to reach the front of the queue. What is it with women and the bathroom? I know I should have gone before we left home, but you know, we were running late and the taxi was waiting and…” She shrugged her shoulders and grinned.
“Don’t you mean you were running late?” Pete materialized behind her. “I was ready hours before. I don’t know why it takes you women so long to get prepared.”
“Well, aren’t you happy with the results? If you want me to look like this , you have to expect it’s going to take some time.” She twirled around a little awkwardly in front of him, the long narrow skirt shifting slightly with the movement. The sleeveless bodice complemented her light tan and emphasized her pregnancy-inspired cleavage. Three-inch heels in matching crimson patent leather helped to elevate her five-foot nothing frame.
“Of course, you’re absolutely right, darling.” Pete pulled her into his side. “And it was definitely worth the wait.” He bent and kissed her lightly on the nose. “Oh, by the way, have you met Chloe Munro? Her husband Declan and I used to work together. They’ve come up from Canberra. I invited them and Will Rutledge to share our table.”
Savannah bit back a groan as her worst imaginings were confirmed. She was going to have to share a table with him. For hours.
Oblivious to her distress, Lucy held out her hand to Chloe. “Hi, I’m Lucy. It’s lovely to meet you.”
Chloe returned her smile. “You, too. Declan’s often mentioned his time working in Sydney and he’s talked about you and Pete more than once. It’s nice to finally be able to meet you both.”
Lucy acknowledged Chloe’s reply with another warm smile and then turned to her husband. “Do I know Will Rutledge? The name sounds familiar, but I can’t place him. Have I met him before?”
“Probably not,” Pete replied. “I only met him about five months ago. He’s…the son of Robert Rutledge. As in, Rutledge Advertising. Maybe that’s why he sounds familiar? I hope you
Will fidgeted and prayed for the bartender to appear. He schooled his expression into one of mild curiosity. “I’ve only met her once, about a week ago. It was late. We were at a club. I doubt she’d remember me.” He gave him a quick grin. “But I’d appreciate it if you can keep the cop thing quiet. I’d like to give it the best shot that I can.”
Pete’s face relaxed. “Yeah, well, I guess so. It doesn’t matter to me what you call yourself. Just don’t go breaking her heart, will you?” he warned. “You’ve said yourself how much you hate commitment. Savannah’s like a kid sister to me.”
Will choked, hiding his surprise behind a bout of coughing.
Thank Christ he’d kept his mouth shut. He so didn’t want to be around when his boss discovered what the redhead beauty with the pair of very fine green eyes did for a living.
Thankfully, Pete didn’t seem to notice anything amiss. He glanced over his shoulder and peered through the crowd to where the women were waiting. “It looks like Lucy’s made it back.”
Will breathed a surreptitious sigh of relief and clutched at the opportunity to bring an end to the questions.
“Why don’t you head back and keep the ladies company?” Will nodded down the length of the bar. “From the line-up around here, it looks like we’re going to be waiting awhile longer. I’ll bring the drinks as soon as I can.”
“Yeah, thanks. I might do that,” Pete replied. A moment later, he disappeared into the crowd.
CHAPTER 6
From out of the throng of people, Lucy appeared, looking radiant in a satin evening dress of deep crimson, her pregnancy belly well pronounced against the stretchy fabric.
“Savannah! Hi, you’re here. I finally got out of the bathroom. I hope I don’t have to go back there in a hurry. It took me forever to reach the front of the queue. What is it with women and the bathroom? I know I should have gone before we left home, but you know, we were running late and the taxi was waiting and…” She shrugged her shoulders and grinned.
“Don’t you mean you were running late?” Pete materialized behind her. “I was ready hours before. I don’t know why it takes you women so long to get prepared.”
“Well, aren’t you happy with the results? If you want me to look like this , you have to expect it’s going to take some time.” She twirled around a little awkwardly in front of him, the long narrow skirt shifting slightly with the movement. The sleeveless bodice complemented her light tan and emphasized her pregnancy-inspired cleavage. Three-inch heels in matching crimson patent leather helped to elevate her five-foot nothing frame.
“Of course, you’re absolutely right, darling.” Pete pulled her into his side. “And it was definitely worth the wait.” He bent and kissed her lightly on the nose. “Oh, by the way, have you met Chloe Munro? Her husband Declan and I used to work together. They’ve come up from Canberra. I invited them and Will Rutledge to share our table.”
Savannah bit back a groan as her worst imaginings were confirmed. She was going to have to share a table with him. For hours.
Oblivious to her distress, Lucy held out her hand to Chloe. “Hi, I’m Lucy. It’s lovely to meet you.”
Chloe returned her smile. “You, too. Declan’s often mentioned his time working in Sydney and he’s talked about you and Pete more than once. It’s nice to finally be able to meet you both.”
Lucy acknowledged Chloe’s reply with another warm smile and then turned to her husband. “Do I know Will Rutledge? The name sounds familiar, but I can’t place him. Have I met him before?”
“Probably not,” Pete replied. “I only met him about five months ago. He’s…the son of Robert Rutledge. As in, Rutledge Advertising. Maybe that’s why he sounds familiar? I hope you
Similar Books
