PMSL indeed. here goes!
Brief Encounter 2010 Continued
His gaze was as hot and blue as a gas flame and she quivered involuntarily, praying the energy-saving carriage lightening was at least concealing her blushes. He came round to her side and held out his hand and she found herself obeying automatically, noting with a shiver how small the phone looked, cradled in his long fingers.
??It?s nothing?? she gulped, aiming for casual and falling far short. ??I?m a writer. I do these in my spare time for a bit of extra cash??
??Niiiiice?? he grinned, after a while, handing the phone back. ??You carry on. Don?t let me stop you??. He lowered himself into the seat behind her and leant his dark head back against the seat rest, closing his eyes. She gulped again, snatching a panicked look at him from time to time as she attempted to do as he said, but it was hopeless. She was far too aware of the man beside her to concentrate on the man in her phone.
She was almost thankful when the train slowed and began to pull into ????.
??My station?? she explained standing and reaching up to the rack for her holdall. He must have got up to help her, for as the train lurched to a stop she was thrown against six foot and more of lean muscle. The contact was like an electric shock. She felt his hands on her upper arms, steadying her and turning her to face him.
??Whoops a daisy?? he said with a smirk that would have been unforgivable in anyone less handsome and less subtly scented with Prada aftershave.
She stammered her thanks, gathering the tatters of her pride around her together with the rest of her belongings and held out her hand for her luggage.
??I?m getting off here too??, he said. And he motioned for her to go on ahead of him, closing the train door behind them and following her up the platform, still carrying her holdall.
??So what brings you to XYZ?Ms?.?, he asked as they began to go down the steps As she glanced down to check her footing she could glimpse long legs clad in dark indigo jeans moving fluidly down the staircase and the view was not helpful to her composure at all.
She stopped to look up at him, to steady her balance more than anything, and gave him her name. ??I?m just visiting a friend??
??I?m John Lucas. Hi! I?m here on business. Unfortunately??? He paused, as his mobile went off. By the time he?d finished his call they were exiting the station. ??Damn! That?s my ride and my room gone. The guy I was staying with has had to rush his wife to hospital. She?s gone into early labour. Do you know any good hotels here??? He eyed the empty forecourt, gloomily. ??No taxis, either, or so it seems??
??Weeeeell, said Mrs LN, tentatively ?My friend should be here any minute I am sure she won?t mind if you come home with us till you get sorted out.??
??But surely you have plans???
??We do have a hot date with a bottle of wine and a crispy duck.?? she admitted.
He shot her a look, and another of his killer smirks.
??Naaaoooow, let me be quite clear what I?m letting myself in for. I understand the wine. But are we talking Chinese here, or Cockney rhyming slang???