Sweet Deception (Truth) (3 page)

Chapter 3

The week went by quickly. The shop had me occupied during the day and I spent the evenings relaxing and helping Gran out with the housework. Friday came and I text Laurel to say that I would meet her at the bar. There was a queue outside, which was inevitable with only a couple of bars to choose from and by the time I got in I was desperate for a drink. I walked around for a while, my eyes grazing over everyone I passed, trying to make out faces in the dim light with people jumping all over the place. Laurel had always been the gorgeous one and all the boys in our class fancied her. She blossomed early and they followed her round like lost puppies, willing to do anything to cop a feel which she almost always let them do. She had a lethal combination of looks and personality to match which used to be very intimidating for the guys. I scanned the seats round the bar and found her immediately. She was flirting with the bartender, batting her eyelashes at him and he was leant over talking in her ear. Glancing down the bar I saw another girl scowling at them. Maybe this guy had a girlfriend. Oops! I made my way over and leaned in, "I think you should stop before that girl decides she's going to slap you! I know the guys would love to watch a catfight but I don't think I can handle one after the day I've had. No drama tonight, pretty please?"
"Oh hun, you know I can't help it, it's in my blood and he is positively yummy!" she said, nodding over to the bartender and giving him a wink!
"So chick, how has your week been?" She swung her legs round on the stool to face me.
"Actually it's been great. It's so relaxing being back here. The exact opposite to London. I'm finding time to cook, which I hardly ever did 'cause I was always working. And I've read a book this week. I haven't read a whole one in years."
She laughed at my enthusiasm, "You definitely know how to live it up Cassie."
I snorted, "Yeah I guess it is boring, but I just haven't had much time to myself for a while. It's kinda nice. So what about you, what do you do now? I can't believe I don't know." I cringed inside with embarrassment that I had to even ask the question. What kind of friend was I? I was struggling with how easily Laurel had let me back in her life, she treated me as though I had never been away. "I actually have my own Bridal boutique. It's on the high street. I set it up after college and there isn't much competition so I am making a pretty good living out of it."
"Wow, I'm impressed! You actually did it. That's amazing." I replied, proudly. Knowing she had achieved her dream made me the happiest I had been in a long time and selfishly eased some of the guilt I was feeling inside.

Time passed quickly as we talked and drank and I shouted over the music to the hot bartender for another round of shots. There was a freedom I hadn't known for a long time. Some of it was down to finally being over Dan. I no longer felt like crying at just the memory of him. I think the rest of it was down to Laurel. She was different to the girls I socialised with in London. They were all Champagne, Prada and Polo, but Laurel was down to earth, passionate and hell of a lot more fun.
"So what about boyfriends?" I yelled, as we threw back our third shot of Sambuca. I winced at the taste and slammed the glass back on the bar. "Well a few have been and gone, but seriously, what would I want to be tied down for? Guys are just after one thing. Definitely can't beat them so I prefer to join 'em! I leave them before they leave me and I'm fine with that. Never say never though, I guess I haven't met that one person that I want to settle down with, y' know? How's your love life then Cass? Your Gran mentioned that it was pretty serious with a guy, thought there was going to be wedding bells and everything so spill."
I waved it off feeling slightly embarrassed. "Oh the usual happened; he goes and cheats on me with his secretary. My
friend
. She was gorgeous and sexy, and had plenty of time to give him attention, whereas I had just started at the law firm and was working all hours I could to impress my boss. Didn't get me very far did it?” I sighed deeply, but shrugged it off when I saw pity in her eyes. “I’m fine now Laurel. Anyway, this definitely isn't the conversation for a night out, we should be having fun. So Laur, are you going home with Mr Bartender over there tonight?” I wiggled my eyebrows and she laughed but dismissed the idea.
"Nah, I don't think so. I want to find a man, not a boy. Someone who knows how to please a woman. And he looks so young!" I watched as her gaze flew across the room and assessed all the males in the bar. Her eyes darted back to focus on someone in particular and I wanted to find out what he looked like. She always had good taste at school, most of the guys she dated were hot. "What is it?" I asked, wondering why she was just staring so blatantly.
"There's a guy over there looking this way, and I know it isn't me he’s watching. Take a look." I rolled my eyes because there wasn't a man in this place who hadn't taken a peek at Laurel as we were sat talking. I knew I was fairly attractive, but I had long wavy brown hair, short, slim, and deep chocolate brown eyes. Laurel on the other hand was all tan and blonde and long legs and curves, the stuff wet dreams were made of. I couldn't compete at all.
I swung round on the barstool and found those piercing blue eyes watching me. Blake was standing by the jukebox with one blonde haired female attached to each arm. My eyes flitted around and I noticed a few other women hanging round the edges of the bar, all ready to replace the blondes when he gave the word. He brought his glass up and tipped it my way in acknowledgement, and his eyes never left mine. The girls that were with him both snapped their heads my way and narrowed their beady eyes. I laughed and tipped my glass right back. Their reaction was to flick their hair and push their boobs into his side, both competing for his attention. It was quite pathetic to watch. I shook my head and turned back round to Laurel.
"They look ready to pounce on you. Better be careful, their claws are sharp," she warned.
"Are they really that desperate for him? Don't get me wrong, he's a total hottie but they must know what they’re getting into, right? And he comes on a bit too strong don't you think?" I asked.
"Well he doesn't usually need to come on strong. They seriously trip over their six inch stilettos to get close to him. And the fact that his attention is still on you probably pisses them right off."
"Did you know he has a tab? Who has a tab in a florist? He must have a ridiculous number of girls if he buys that many flowers." I picked up our next shot and downed it, enjoying the familiar burn at the back of my throat. Laurel paused mid drink and watched me out of the corner of her eye. "You seem awfully bothered by it- do I detect more than an attraction there? He obviously feels something, because he hasn't taken his eyes off you." I turned once again, and once again he was looking back at me. It gave me some satisfaction that I had turned his head, if only for a few minutes. However, deep down I knew I was, and never would be, the type of girl Blake Richards went for.
"For goodness sake Laur, I don't even know him. Sure he's hot and all that, but he's also arrogant and cocky and a bit of a dickhead. So that's the extent of the feelings I have for him. Now, I'm off to the dance floor, are you coming?"
Laurel tipped her head back and chuckled, "Oo I definitely hope so, but I need to find a worthy man first." I laughed and elbowed her in the side. "You have a dirty, dirty mind."

Blake

It had been a fucking long day and I needed a drink immediately. I was out of the office as much as possible visiting the properties I looked after in the hopes that someone knew
something
about that girl in the florists, but nothing. People had even changed the subject when I tried mentioning it, and I definitely didn’t want them to think I was bothered by it, so I didn’t get very far. But she was cute. So fucking cute. A little feisty too. I always had women that would do whatever I wanted so it was actually refreshing that a girl hadn’t been impressed. How pathetic is that? I was impressed because she wasn’t going to be easy. Although her eyes contradicted everything that came out of that cute little mouth. I saw her checking me out, she wanted me; but she wasn’t going to act on it. Probably a good thing anyway. But I did like a challenge. And now, she had thrown down the gauntlet.

I arrived at the bar and said hello to a few of the guys from football before getting a drink. There were so many girls in here tonight but as I looked around I realised my subconscious was trying to seek her out. And each girl that was batting her eyelids, or making those come-to-bed eyes at me was being compared to her. Too skinny, too tall, too slutty, too prim and proper, eyes too close together, nose too big, boobs too small. You get the idea. And it was frustrating as hell. I knocked back a drink before getting another and headed over to the jukebox to put a better song on. I felt a tug on my arm and some fingernails digging in to my bicep.

Turning abruptly I looked down and smiled slyly as I saw Amber. Blonde, big boobs, tight little dress that showed way too much. But my nights with her were hot and I definitely didn’t mind repeating them a few times as long as she didn’t get the wrong impression. “Hey baby,” she said seductively as she ran her hands up my arms. “You gonna get a girl a drink?”

Her mouth pouted, her eyes raked over my chest and she bit her lip. Game on.

“Of course. What would you like?”

See, I could be a gentleman.

My eyes for some unknown reason drifted to the bar behind her and my breath was cut short. Cassie was sitting at the bar with another girl. The blonde, I recognised, some of the guys on the team had got with her which was why I stayed away. But Cassie looked gorgeous. She’d been frowning a lot when we first met but now her smile was wide, it lit up her eyes and was making me smile just watching her.
God, what was I talking about? Idiot
. Frustrated, I brought my eyes back down to Amber and realised Candy was now there too. I tried to focus on anything but the brown-haired beauty sitting within pouncing distance of me.

“Blake!” A shriek whipped my head out of its cloud. “What?” I asked cluelessly.

“Drink.” She pointed to my glass and I realised I hadn’t got her one yet. I looked back up and saw the blonde looking directly at me. She eyed me curiously before raising her eyebrow and looking back. She whispered something in her ear and Cassie turned to look at me. Her eyes narrowed at me, like she was trying to figure out what I was looking at. All I could think to do was nod, so I gave her the cockiest half-smile I could and tipped my glass in acknowledgement. I could hardly ignore her, I told myself. We had met before and it would have been rude. She laughed and I wondered what was funny until I remembered Amber and Candy were still next to me. I could feel them push into me even more. She tipped her glass back at me and swung round on the stool to give me her back. After that, I couldn’t keep my eyes off her. I knew Amber was getting impatient, she kept huffing out her breaths and snapping her fingers when I looked the other way. But my eyes just couldn’t move from Cassie.

I watched them dance, wiggling their hips in guys’ crotches, although I took note that the blonde seemed to be having more fun and I instantly felt better. Before the night was out I was going to be dancing with Cassie and her hips would be rubbing up against me. That thought alone was enough to make me adjust myself in the middle of a crowded room. She leant over to the blonde and said something to her, then left the dancefloor. My eyes followed her, she was heading to the bar. I was straining my neck to keep track of her through the crowds of people and when I saw her sit on a stool alone I decided then was as good a time as any. “Amber I’ve got to go. I’ll talk to you soon okay?” I didn’t wait for her to reply, I just hurried to the bar. As I approached, I saw the bartender smile and wink at her. Oh hell no, I was not letting him get his hands on her. She was mine. I threw my arm over her shoulder possessively. "J.D and diet coke for the lady and I'll have a beer."

I glared at him and I think he got the message. "Well I finally found you alone. Are you having a good night?" I asked.

She looked at me and smiled, and I instantly wanted to kiss those lips. “I am thank you. Where are Sindy and Barbie? Didn't think they would let you out of their sight." That’s my girl. Feisty.

"I wasn't really feeling it, so I sent them on their merry way. I think they could tell I was a bit distracted tonight." Our drinks appeared and I picked the bottle up and reached out to clink it against her glass, "Cheers".

I took a long sip of my drink watching her do the same then she leant forward against the bar, “So, what has got you so distracted tonight that you are here with me instead of them?" Her eyes held mine captive and I was taken aback at how direct her question was. She must know it was because of her. I eyed her carefully before responding. I didn’t want to come on too strong but she needed to know I was interested. "I saw you on your own and wanted to make sure you were okay." Had to wind her up though, ‘cause it was fun. She’d get all flustered like she did when we met before. "And I saw you checking me out earlier, so I thought I'd give you what you obviously can't keep your eyes off. Me."

I smiled and took another slug of my drink, but nearly spat it back out as some manicured fingers with sickly pink nail polish slowly slid round my waist. Candy. The blonde hair followed as she peered round and popped up in between us. "Blakey, I can't find Amber, come and keep me company will you?" She looked up at me seductively, ignoring Cassie completely and tip- toeing her fingers up my chest. I just wanted to rip her hands off me and tell her that she was nothing to me. I looked over to Cassie, worrying what her reaction would be but she was laughing silently. Then she mouthed 'Blakey?' to me as a question. I just shrugged and rolled my eyes, and turned to Candy, trying my best to detach myself from her grip, "I'm busy. You need to just find her yourself." She pouted and stroked her hand up my chest again. Cassie shifted in her seat, she was obviously feeling awkward. I watched her and was about to say something when she knocked back her drink in one, and looked at Candy, "I've got to find my friend anyway, he is all yours." My eyes met hers as she hopped off the barstool and shouted over her shoulder, "thanks for the drink." Her hips swayed as she strutted away and all I could think about was how her butt looked in the tight dress she was wearing. If she looked back, it meant she wanted me. Her head moved. Was she…nope, she didn’t look back. I let out the breath I didn’t even realise I was holding.