Bedded by the Italian Playboy (21 page)

“You
know that how?”

“You’re
not wearing a ring.”

Lyra
shrugged. “Lots of women don’t wear rings anymore. I could have it on a chain
around my neck or I could have left it at home.”

“But
all married women wear their ring at some point and your finger has no
indentation.”

“Ah.”

“Plus,
you’re obviously out to impress someone.”

She
laughed and crossed her legs, smirking inwardly as she imagined Mr.
Moneyed-blond, and all the other men who’d offered her drinks, watching and
wishing. They were always wishing and it amused her to let them. “Gosh, Mitch,
I am all agog to hear how you worked that one out.”

He
grinned, clearly not taking offence at her snarky words. “The outfit.”

“What
of it?”

“It
screams pickup.”

“In
what way?”

Mitch
grabbed a glass and a rag in the very typical bartender action. The rag was
pristine white and the glass was already sparkling, but he rubbed inside of it
as he lounged against the taps and smiled at her. “The dress is just short
enough to show some leg but not so short that it makes you look like a slut.
The cleavage, again just a hint but not too much, and those heels.” He shook
his head. “God knows how you can even walk in them.”

“Perhaps
I always dress like this?”

“Nope.
I’ve tended this bar since I started my undergrad studies and I’m doing my post
grad now. That long in one job?” He shrugged. “You become a sort of people
watcher when you spend so long in one place. It helps to alleviate the boredom.
So I’ve been watching you since you came in and I got it immediately.”

“What
did you get?”

“You’re
here to pick someone up but not the men who have tried to pick you up. It’s
someone else.”

Lyra
grinned. He was perceptive but she had been silly not to consider the fact he
might be. Had she not done enough menial, mind numbingly boring jobs to
remember how she’d kept herself entertained? Like Mitch said, people watching
was one of the possibilities. “Okay, let’s say you’re right. I could ask you a
few questions then.”

“Shoot.”

“Andros
Casstellini.” Two words and the reaction from the man behind the bar was
exactly as she suspected. He whistled low under his breath and shook his head.

“You’re
not serious.”

“Sweetie,
I always am.”

“That
is one big fish you’re trying to catch.”

“Always
go for the biggest is my motto. That way at least you might end up with
something in the middle.”

 
“My mom used to say something like that. Reach
for the stars and at the least you’ll hit the moon.”

“Exactly.”

Mitch
placed the sparkling glass next to all the other sparkling glasses and picked
up a frosted tumbler. “So does he know you’re trying to catch him?”

Lyra
shook her head. “Not yet.”

“You
won’t be the first or even the only one right now.”

“I
know that.”

“Coming
here, though…gotta give it to you. That was a good idea. More to the point, how
did you even manage to get membership? Someone has to recommend you.”

She
took a long swallow of her water, careful to ensure it didn’t rub her lip gloss
off. “I have my ways.” Which she did and it was called a hacker by the name of
Little Micky. He’d hit the membership database up only yesterday and her
details would stay in there for at least seventy-two hours. That was how long
it took Club Belmont to update their database from the main server, a
ridiculously outmoded way of keeping their data secure but then that was the
old-style gentleman’s clubs, Lyra thought. Stuck way behind the times. Shitty
security, and worse, shitty policies. Little Micky had put her down as being
recommended by Andros Casstellini himself, and yet even with that
recommendation from one of the richest men in the country, she would only be
allowed to visit the club twice a month….because she was a woman! It was beyond
ridiculous.

“So
you’re just going to pounce the moment he arrives?” Mitch asked and Lyra
laughed again, this time in genuine amusement.

“Sweetie,
you clearly don’t people watch properly.”

“Meaning
what?”

“I
won’t have to pounce. Five minutes after he arrives,
Andros
will be coming over to me.”

“You
think?”

“I’m
willing to bet on it.”

Mitch
grinned and gave her the eye. “Twenty quid?”

And
though she had no money to spare, Lyra patted him on the hand, allowing her
often restrained recklessness free reign, and nodded. “You’re on.”

If
you enjoyed this book, you may also like:

The Truth About Numbnuts and
Chubbs by Cat Kelly

Kidnapped Hearts by Cait
Jarrod

Little Dove by Erin M. Leaf

Evernight Publishing

www.evernightpublishing.com