Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
“Okay, can you all please promise to behave when Jonathan gets here?” I said to Rina, Debbie and Cate as we entered the pub. The others had already arrived, and my nerves heightened when I spotted Cathal sitting with Lewis and Hannah. After our uncomfortable encounter last time, I’d been hoping he wouldn’t be there tonight. In fact, his presence was unusual since he hadn’t been scheduled at Pinebrook today, and he normally only came to quiz night when he was scheduled.
I tried not to read too much into it. Hannah had probably asked him to come, and it was as simple as that. Speaking of whom, she hadn’t seemed at all different with me, which made me wonder if she really had complained to Cathal about my treatment of her. I was beginning to suspect she’d mentioned it casually, and Cathal had blown it way out of proportion, using it as ammo when I’d refused to take his advice in regard to Jonathan.
Debbie went to get the first round of drinks in while Rina, Cate and I joined the others at our usual table.
It was just as I sat down and began taking off my coat that the back of my neck tingled. A cold gust of air filtered into the pub as the door opened and someone stepped in. I turned and spotted Jonathan in the same dark grey coat he’d had on that morning, a lighter grey suit on underneath. He was definitely the most dressed up person in the pub, though he didn’t stand out too much since quiz night was mainly attended by office workers in shirts and slacks. My breath hitched as I watched him search the bar for me before our eyes connected. There was a moment of staring before a smile shaped his lips and his gaze warmed in a way that made my pulse spike.
Why did he look so pleased to see me? We’d been spending a lot of time together in his car, but there was something new in his smile that had my stomach doing flips. I rose from my seat as Jonathan made his way toward me, his gaze travelling languidly from my shoes all the way up my body, causing my insides to heat. His eyes touched every part of me before finally coming to rest on my face. I wasn’t wearing anything particularly provocative, which was why his sexy perusal was unnerving. The way he looked at me made me feel like I was standing in some sensual, revealing outfit that he liked a whole hell of a lot.
When I reached him, I was aware of several pairs of eyes watching. Rina, Debbie and Cate knew he was coming, but everyone else was unaware.
“Ada,” Jonathan said. “Thank you for inviting me.”
I pressed my lips together to suppress a smile and also to distract myself from how his perusal had my pulse rocketing. “You invited yourself. Also, you better not have been lying about your general knowledge. I expect to win tonight.”
He arched an eyebrow. “I’ll do my best to make that happen. What’s first prize?”
“It’s not about the prize; it’s about bragging rights. But if you must know, first prize is a fifty-euro One4All voucher and a box of chocolate biscuits.”
“A life changing sum. I better get focused.”
I smirked and poked him in the chest. “Yes, you better. Come on, let’s get the introductions over with.”
Before I could pull away, Jonathan grabbed the finger I’d just poked him with. The warmth from his hand infused my whole body with awareness. Surely, this reaction to him wasn’t normal. He leaned in, his breath whispering across my ear and causing goosebumps to erupt on my flesh. “You make it sound like my presence is a chore, and here I thought we were friends.”
“You know why I didn’t want you to come. The people I work with are nosy. No matter if I introduce you as a friend, they’ll think there’s something more going on.”
“Well, I have drunkenly kissed and groped you against a wall, so they wouldn’t exactly be wrong on that front,” he quietly teased, causing a fresh eruption of goosebumps.
“Do not tell them that,” I warned, my stress levels increasing as I drew my hand from his warm grip.
Jonathan’s expression softened. “Don’t worry, Ada. I’ll be on my best behaviour.”
Hmm, I wasn’t entirely sure I believed him, but he’d arrived now, so it was best to just get on with it.
“Everyone, this is my friend, Jonathan. He’s going to join us tonight for the quiz if there are no objections.” I made sure not to look in Cathal’s direction since I was in no mood to entertain another conversation like last time. Despite the fact that Jonathan had drunkenly kissed and groped me against a wall, he was a friend. He’d been good to me, and with our parents gone, I was glad to have him around. No one could ever fill the hole Dad and Leonora had left behind, but it was nice not to be completely alone in my grief.