Read Online Under New Management by June Hopkins - Free Book Online Page A

He has an aura about him and it is playing havoc with her senses. Wow!
    She stares at him without speaking while she tries to form a suitably witty reply.
    “Blue,” he states as he gazes at her.
    “Um, what?” She stutters, confused. What’s he on about, her dress?
    “Your eyes. They’re blue, azure blue in fact. I thought they might be but I didn’t expect them to be quite so breathtaking.” He says earnestly. He means it. He actually took a sharp breath when she turned round and stared. She has the most extraordinary eyes.
    Mollie is flustered to say the least and it doesn’t help that Lou is poking her urgently in the ribs and hissing, “Fuck me! He’s hot, you jammy cow.”
    Gathering her thoughts she tries to find a calm facial expression. This situation definitely calls for cool.
    “Oh yes I recognise you. Is there actually any conversation that you don’t listen in on? Don’t you have any friends to talk to?”
    Lou squeals at her and Kieran bursts out laughing.
    When he stops he says, “Beautiful eyes and witty too. Is there no end to your talents?”
    It’s Mollie’s turn to laugh. “Perhaps we should actually introduce ourselves. I am Mollie Pratt, I mean Brown.” She corrects herself quickly.
    Kieran stands up straight and smiles admiringly, “I take it the first is the married name and the second the maiden. Am I right?”
    She smiles, “Yes sorry, it’s going to take a while to get used to, I suppose.”
    “Don’t worry about it, and to be honest I prefer Brown, just so you know, for more than one reason. I am Kieran McLaren by the way. Nice to meet you Mollie Brown.” Kieran holds out his hand and Mollie raises her eyebrows at the name. Maybe not the chauffeur after all. She takes his hand and enjoys the warmth as it closes around hers.
    Pulling her hand away, as it seems to have been held a little too long, she covers the awkwardness by introducing Lou. “This person making the strange noises is my friend Louise Carter. Say hello to Kieran, Lou.”
    Lou leans forward to take his outstretched hand and slips off the bar stool in the process. “Oooops sorry, bit pissed to be honest,” she tells him as she keeps hold of his hand and rights herself.
    “No probs. It is a free bar after all. I have every intention of getting slaughtered myself later,” he says as he waits for her to let go of his hand, but Lou keeps on holding and shaking.
    “Lou, will you put him down,” Mollie hisses at her.
    Lou stops peering at him with a dopey look and reluctantly lets go of his hand. She sits back up on the stool and grins at them both. “Lovely, this is just lovely,” she says knowingly. Mollie belts her on the leg.
    “Sorry about that. Can’t take her anywhere. They don’t let her out that often, so you have to make allowances.” She throws Lou a warning glance and smiles awkwardly at Kieran. He really is dishy. Tall, buff, nice suit, deep blue eyes and stylishly cut short, dark hair. He would look hot in a roman centurion outfit. Oh yes, like one of those beautiful fit men in ‘300’, a film well worth watching. She shakes her head quickly and gives him a flustered grin as her cheeks colour.
    Andy the barman is glancing over clearly worried that his sure thing may not be so sure after all. Typical, he thinks, thought it was too good to be true. He never seems to score like Dan. Dan manages a strike every sodding time.
    “Mollie, would you like another drink and maybe we can sit and have a chat?” Kieran eyes her hopefully.
    Mollie feels her heart speed up dramatically, oh you bet your gorgeous ass I want to sit and chat! “Yes why not? That sounds great, I’ll have another slow comfortable screw please,” she tells him with a sincere smile.
    He raises an eyebrow and his lip slightly curves on one side, but other than that he doesn’t acknowledge her comment. He orders the drink from a clearly disgruntled Andy and makes small talk with Mollie about the decor while they wait for