I just bet he did. There was no way in hell I was letting any body part of his near any part of mine. "That would be pleasant," I lied through my teeth as the train pulled into Lancaster Gate Station. "But look. Here's my stop. Thanks for dinner, Charles. It was…nice." Boring, but more or less okay, other than Hitler and until the toe-sucking incident. "See ya." I jumped up from my seat and made a dash for the double doors, squeezing out of the car before they slammed shut. The Tube pulled away from the station with a slight jerk, wheels screaming a little against the rails, sparks snapping and zinging. The gritty air had a faint grayish tinge and smelled vaguely of hot metal, but I was more or less used to it.
I caught Charles's forlorn expression as the Tube slid away into the tunnel and out of sight. I felt a momentary stab of guilt which I ruthlessly squashed. That was the old Kate Miller. The doormat Kate Miller. The Kate Miller who'd managed to get herself dumped for a size two Brazilian chick with a big rack and ridiculously long legs. New Kate refused to feel guilty about ditching a perv, even if it meant getting out two stops early.
With a sigh of relief, I sank down on a nearby bench to wait for the next Tube to Notting Hill Gate. Dating was unbelievably exhausting. Especially when they turned out to be frogs.
"How was it on a scale of one to ten?" The rich baritone interrupted my thoughts.
"Um, what?" I glanced up, and I swear my heart stopped. Then it started thumping so hard, I thought it might explode, or I might break a rib or something. Mr. Cheekbones was standing over me, a friendly smile curving his luscious lips. His green eyes sparkled a little, and his golden blond hair held a hint of strawberry. My stomach decided to flip-flop around. I stared at him like an idiot, my mind totally blank.
"May I?" He nodded at the space beside me on the bench.
"Uh, sure." I scooted over a little to make sure he had enough room. I wasn't exactly slim in the hip department. "What are you doing here?" I could have smacked myself in the head for being so blunt.
"This is my stop," he said, sitting next to me, smoothing his neatly pressed charcoal trousers. They were expensive, perfectly tailored. He smelled clean and delicious. Not like aftershave or anything, but like he was fresh from a shower and had used nothing but ordinary soap. His black shoes gleamed in the fluorescent lighting, likely a recent polish job. "I live just around the corner. What are you doing here?" He grinned, and my heart did a little somersault. He was just about the best looking man I'd seen since moving to London from the US and I suddenly felt all kinds of nervous.
Man, he had a sexy accent. You'd think I'd have been used to a British accent by now, but his voice was giving me goose bumps. Way better than Charles's. "I was trying to get away from my date. I'm sure you heard." I could have died of embarrassment. Melted into a puddle of goo on the dusty tiles of the Tube station.
He chuckled, the rich sound rolling over me. I could listen to him talk all day. "Yes, I did. Interesting date. How was it on a scale of one to ten? One being worst date ever."
"Oh, Charles? He was about a five," I said with a smile.
"Is that all?" Mr. Cheekbones's eyes danced with laughter.
That made me giggle a little. "Well, maybe a four. I've been on some seriously bad dates recently." Like always. I swear I had a Loser Magnet attached to my forehead, but I wasn't going to tell him that. I wanted him to think I was witty and experienced and all those things men supposedly want. Even though I knew I didn't stand a chance.
"I'm sorry to hear that. A beautiful lady like you should only date Prince Charmings."
I couldn't help it. I rolled my eyes. What a line. "No such thing. And anybody who tells you differently is either lying or needs to up their meds. Oh, there's my train." I stood as the next Central Line Tube slid into the station. "It was nice to meet you…uh…sorry."
"Adam."
"Adam." I rolled it around in my mouth, liking the way it felt. His name was as sexy as the rest of him. I needed to get the hell out of here before I made a damn fool of myself. "Take care."
"You, too."
With a smile, I turned around and hurried onto the Tube. As I stepped inside the carriage, he called, "What's your name?"
"Kate," I yelled back as the doors slid shut. I wasn't sure he heard me, but I couldn't help but watch Adam until he disappeared from view. That was the thing about London. Random conversations with strangers you'd never see again. Too bad he hadn't asked for my number. But who was I kidding? He was way out of my league. It was one thing to demand quality, but a girl needed to be realistic. Still, I
couldn't help but replay our conversation over and over in my head all the way home.
# # #
Three sets of eyes stared at me as I finished my tale. Three mouths made perfect O's. No one said anything for the longest time, and then, as if a spell had been broken, all three men started talking at once.
"Oh my God, girlfriend!"
"He wanted to suck your toes? That's revolting."
"Seriously? You made that up."
I waved my hands to stem the tide. "I swear. It really happened." I grinned. "Welcome to my life." I sank into the overstuffed, purple velvet chair next to the picture window in the tiny living room. Outside, a taxi horn blared, and I heard the faint whine of a motorbike engine. I smiled, feeling something awfully like contentment. As big a nightmare as the date had been, entertaining a room full of guys with the tale of Mr. Toe Sucker had been great fun.
Raj crossed one leg neatly over the other and leaned back against the cream-colored sofa opposite me. He eyed me like I was a specimen under a microscope, his dark eyes suspicious. "Good story, but you made it up, didn't you?"
"You honestly think I could make something like that up? It happened just last week. And that's not even the craziest date I've been on." How we'd ever gotten on the subject of my dating life was beyond me. It had started out as a regular old flatmate interview. Did they like me? Did I like them? Were any of us axe murderers? Somehow it had morphed into something entirely different. But hopefully they'd find me charming and ask me to move in. As much as I loved staying with my best friend, Chloe, sleeping on her couch was getting old.
"Girlfriend, your life is more messed up than mine," said the reedy thin one with the spiky red hair and bubblegum pink shirt. I think his name was Kevin. No, Kev. He turned to the other two. "I say yes. She's perfect."
Raj and the third flatmate, James, exchanged glances. I was nervous. I needed to find a place to live, and this Notting Hill flat was the best place I'd seen within my budget. Besides, I really liked the guys—or at least Kev—and finding good flatmates was a challenge no matter how you sliced it.
"She's got my vote." James gave me a smile from his perch next to Raj on the arm of the sofa. He was a little on the plump side and had a twangy Northern accent. Yorkshire, maybe. He had very nice blue eyes hidden behind a pair of black-framed glasses and wore a gray T-shirt with a spaceship across the front of it. "Girl needs serious help."
A pity vote. Still, I'd take it.
Raj sighed, crossing his arms and shaking his head. "Fine. You're in."
Relief flooded my system, making me feel more than a little giddy. At last. I finally had my own place. I could get off Chloe's couch and settle in somewhere I could call my own.
"Thanks, you won't regret it. I promise."
"Sweetie," Kev said, "as long as you keep us entertained with dating stories, you're golden."
I laughed. "I can pretty much promise that."
Find out what happens next February 2015!
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About Shéa MacLeod
Shéa MacLeod is the author of urban fantasy, post-apocalyptic, scifi, paranormal romances with a twist of steampunk. She also dabbles in contemporary romances with a splash of humor. She resides in the leafy green hills outside Portland, Oregon where she indulges in her fondness for strong coffee, Ancient Aliens reruns, lemon curd, and dragons.
Because everything's better with dragons.
Other books by Shéa MacLeod
Sunwalker Saga
Kissed by Darkness
Kissed by Fire
Kissed by Smoke
Kissed by Moonlight
Kissed by Ice
Sunwalker Saga: Soulshifter Trilogy
Fearless
Haunted
Soulshifter
Sunwalker Saga: Witch Blood Series
Spellwalker (Spring 2015)
Dragon Wars
Dragon Warrior
Dragon Lord
Dragon Goddess
Green Witch
Dragon Corp (Coming in 2015)
Dragon Wars- Three Complete Novels Boxed Set
Cupcake Goddess Novelettes
Be Careful What You Wish For
Nothing Tastes As Good
Soulfully Sweet
Omicron ZX
Omicron Zed-X: An Omicron ZX prequel Novellette
Omicron Zed-X Book 1: A Rage of Angels
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Also by Shéa MacLeod
Cupcake Goddess
Be Careful What You Wish For
Nothing Tastes As Good
Soulfully Sweet
A Stitch In Time (A Cupcake Goddess Novelette)
Dragon Wars
Dragon Warrior
Dragon Lord
Dragon Goddess
Green Witch
Dragon Corps
Dragon Mage
Dragon's Angel
Dragon Wars Boxed Sets
Dragon Wars - Three Complete Novels Boxed Set
Dragon Wars 2: Three Complete Novels Boxed Set
Lady Rample Mysteries
Lady Rample Steps Out
Lady Rample Spies A Clue
Lady Rample and the Silver Screen
Lady Rample Sits In
Notting Hill Diaries
To Kiss A Prince
Kissing Frogs
Kiss Me, Chloe
Kiss Me, Stupid
Kissing Mr. Darcy
Omicron ZX
Omicron ZX - Prequel
Omicron Zed-X
Sunwalker Saga
Kissed by Blood
Kissed by Moonlight
Kissed by Ice
Kissed by Eternity
Kissed by Destiny
Sunwalker Saga: Soulshifter Trilogy
Haunted
Soulshifter
Fearless
Sunwalker Saga: Witchblood
Spellwalker
Deathwalker
Mistwalker
Dreamwalker
Viola Roberts Cozy Mysteries
The Corpse in the Cabana
The Stiff in the Study
The Poison in the Pudding
The Body in the Bathtub
The Venom in the Valentine
The Remains in the Rectory
The Death in the Drink
Write Novels Fast
Write Novels Fast: Writing Faster With Art Journaling
Write Novels Fast: Down and Dirty Draft
Standalone
Ride the Dragon: A Paranormal/Science Fiction Boxed Set
Angel's Fall
Watch for more at Shéa MacLeod’s site.