The Unwilling Mistress (2 page)

Of medium height with long blonde hair pulled back to fall down her slender body she had moved over to greet him with a dazzling smile which he had admired absently. Her sparkling warm blue eyes had inexplicably brightened his mood a little as he had smiled back. A pretty girl in a pretty pub he had thought to himself looking around.

“Hi, what can I get for you” she had asked pleasantly, as he had placed his order before with another of those warm smiles she had moved away to get him the coffee he had asked for, before 2 minutes later placing it gently in front of him.

“Guess you’re driving” she had laughed at him making him smile back at her with a nod

“Well let me know if you need that freshened” she said flashing him another of her big smiles “better make sure you have plenty of caffeine in you”

Sitting at the bar he had watched the young women move over to serve another customer, her welcome to the newcomer just as friendly and warm, giving him the same smile. Drake had found himself admiring her more and more, although he had to admit she was not really his type. He liked brunettes not blondes, and definitely not married ones he thought spotting the wedding ring on her finger, yet there was something about that smile of hers that had his whole body on alert. Taking another sip of his coffee he had chastised himself Sophia was not even a distant memory and he was eyeing up other women....and a married ones at that.

As his mobile phone had rang he had frowned in annoyance seeing Sophia’s number appear, ignoring it and letting the voice mail pick up as he made a mental note to himself to bar her number as soon as he got home. As he had put the phone back in his pocket the woman had once again appeared before him

“Would you like a re-fill” she asked holding a pot of coffee in her hands, as he had smiled gently nodding his thanks.

“You manning the place yourself” he had asked her, his dark eyes looking at her with curiosity as she had nodded with a smile as she poured the liquid into his cup

“It’s not that bad really” she had said meeting his black eyes with her large blue ones,

“We have a good clientele here........mostly locals” she had finished with another warm grin, before having to move over to serve another customer.

As Drake had watched her absently, a small child had appeared in the bar, causing him to frown with annoyance

“Do you like my picture” the young boy had asked holding up a picture to the woman, who had laughed at him, bending down to talk quietly, while admiring his work. Others in the bar had also admired his picture, most seeming to know the child before she had taken him by the hand and led him out of the bar area and back through to another room. Drake had been annoyed at seeing such a small child, the reaction to his presence by the locals showing that he was often there making him even angrier as the boy could not have been more than seven, annoyed that anybody would bring their child into a bar especially so late at night, his frown widening as a middle aged man had entered the bar and had smiled gently at the woman

“Hi Sarah” he said softly “The usual please”

She had greeted him warmly

“Jim........it’s so good to see you, we’ve missed you” as she had taken a glass from the top shelf pouring him a whisky, chatting happily with him. As the man had put his hand in his pocket to find money, she had shooed him away, with some comment about not having to pay, of it being on the house. With a frown he had seen the man try to argue with her, before smiling with thanks and moving over to sit with friends, Drake finding himself angered with her lack of professionalism, scowling down into his coffee.

Sarah had continued to serve the customers who drifted in continuously waiting for a lull before once again moving back over to the handsome man who sat silently on the stool at the end of the bar. With another of her large smiles she had asked

“Are you travelling far” her soft voice gentle and warm.

To her surprise, as he had seemed so friendly earlier, he had given her a curt answer before ignoring her, frowning into his coffee.

“Are you OK” she had asked a look of concern in her eyes, as he had looked at her with annoyance in his

“I’m fine…I would just rather be left alone”

Sarah had blinked in surprise with a hurt expression in her eyes

“I..I’m sorry… I didn’t mean to intrude, you just seemed a little upset” she stuttered gently

Raising his eyes to look into hers he had said steely

“Perhaps you might be best spending time with your kid…although I really don’t thing that it is a place for a child….and does your boss know that you give away his drinks to your friends” he said loftily, annoyed at another woman who seemed to think that it was OK to break the rules.

He had seen the pained look in her eyes as she had silently turned and moved down to the other end of the bar, cleaning glasses as her eyes had purposefully not met his, a soft flush on her lovely cheeks.

With a sigh he had continued drinking his coffee, suddenly ashamed at the way he had turned on her, what business was it of his if she gave away the occasional drink, she had been nothing but friendly to him and he had lashed out at her. While he had had a bad day, he knew that he had been out of order turning on her, suddenly feeling ashamed at his behaviour.

Just as he had considered moving to apologise the door had burst open and a woman had rushed in, her smile as wide as the other woman’s as she had cheerfully greeted many of the customers who had returned her call

“Hi Mia”

Drake absently thinking what a lovely name, as she had flashed them a return smile before rushing over to the other woman

“Sarah, I am so sorry” she had cried as she had reached the woman behind the bar.

“Things got so mental…it took me forever to get away”.

Seeing her properly for the first time, Drake had frozen in amazement at the younger woman. She was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen, and he had found himself just staring at her. Long dark hair which was pulled back from her face and tied up in a bobble swung down her back and shoulders, swishing against her wonderful body. He had taken in her large blue eyes trimmed with long dark lashes and lips which gave the same wonderful smile as the other woman. Drake had found himself stunned by her, as she had rushed over to Sarah, stopping with a frown on her lovely face as she had noticed how upset she had looked.

“You Ok sis” she had asked, her voice suddenly full of concern, her hand gently touching her sisters shoulder.

Sarah had talked softly to her obviously telling the gorgeous brunette of his outburst Drake realised, as he took another mouthful of his coffee, with a sigh seeing how the two women had looked over at him. Two sets of large blue eyes watching him, one hurt and the other angry. As Sarah had moved her eyes quickly away, the younger woman had held his gaze, causing strange sensations to move through him, as it had been Drake who had felt the need to look away, not quite sure why, normally not one to back down from any situation, but feeling so strange at that point.

The younger woman had then said something he couldn’t hear, which had made the other woman laugh gently before moving into the room behind the bar to collect the small boy. He had watched as she had given her sister a hug, before leaving, purposefully not looking at the man who had berated her, as he had felt like a bigger heel knowing that he had been out of order in his attack on her, sighing angrily at himself as he had noticed that the younger woman had seemed to have taken over from her sister and was now laughing with the other customers as she poured drinks.

Drake Trent gave another small sigh before standing to leave, suddenly wishing he had kept quiet, knowing that there was no way the younger woman would give him the time of day now, never mind… with a frown he wondered what else he had expected, hoped for and leaving the small pub he had notched the whole experience as the cherry to the rest of his day, giving a wry smile. As he had reached his car he had heard a voice behind him shouting at him, stopping the tall man in his tracks

“Excuse me, could I have a word”

Turning around he had come face to face with the dark haired beauty from the bar, and with a smile his eyes had slid appreciatively over her

“Can I help you?”

He had noticed a contemptuous look enter her eyes as his had portrayed his obvious interest in her

“Who the hell do you think you are?”

She had asked, her hands balled on her hips in anger, her head cocked slightly to look up at him

Drake had looked at the woman before him in surprise, his expression changing quickly

“Excuse me” he asked in annoyance, as she had continued

“How dare you talk to my sister like that” she cried through clenched teeth

With a sigh he had looked down on her

“You think it is OK for her to bring her young child in here” he asked the woman before him, seeing as she had shaken her head

“No, this isn’t any place for a child”

She had said, seeing the triumphant look enter his eye, as she had continued, her voice dripping with disdain

“But that isn’t her child. She’s looking after him for his mum while she visits her husband in hospital, and for your information it was only because I was late that he was here at all. And as for giving away drinks, don’t suppose you noticed where she took that glass from did you.”

Drake looked at her blankly, as she had continued her large blue eyes flashing with anger

“Didn’t think so”.

When a customer buys us a drink we put a glass up on the top shelf so that we know how many drinks we were bought during the night for tips. If my sister wants to give one to a man who has been coming in here for years and years, and who has hit a rough patch losing his job, so that he can still meet up with his friends then who’s damn business is that but hers”

Drake had looked at her with surprise

“I didn’t know” he muttered gently, feeling uncomfortable

“No, but by God you were quick to judge” she said “Sitting there in your fancy business suite, looking down on her. Well you had no right to judge her because she is a much better person than you could ever be” she finished her small frame stiff with indignation, before turning away a look of complete contempt on her face to return to the bar

Drake Trent had suddenly felt very angry. He wasn’t sure who with, with himself for jumping down her sister’s throat or at the small spitting beauty shouting at him, and as she had walked away from him, he had moved forward catching her by the arm and swinging her around

“Your right”

He had said softly, seeing the surprise in her eyes as she had glared back at him

“I really shouldn’t have taken it out on your sister, or judged her, but then again you should be the one apologising. Seems to me that you are the one who caused all the problems tonight”

He angrily bit out, his tone low and hard, while his dark eyes held hers

“You knew that she was looking after a small child and you still arrived late, so before you get so self righteous lady perhaps you should make sure that you are whiter than white yourself next time”

Mia had shaken of his arm glaring at him before moving back into the bar her cold look portraying more than any words ever could.

Drake had watched as she had moved away from him, her long hair swishing against her body, which while stiff with indignation and anger moved gracefully never looking back as she had returned to the bar.

Reaching his estate Drake had poured himself a large whisky, his thoughts once more returning to the young woman in the bar. As he had driven home, memories of her had kept returning to him, exciting him as he had remembered the way her eyes had flashed so blue against the darkness of her black hair, her wonderful body so stiff and indignant as he had held her to return her anger. She was magnificent he realised his body knowing that he wanted to know her better. With a sigh he had also remembered the sweetness of her sister. He had turned on her and she had been guiltless of all his accusations and with a frown he realised that he owed her a huge apology making a mental note to fix that as soon as possible, before moving to his room and some much needed sleep.

As Mia had closed up the bar, her mind kept returning to the stranger from earlier. While she was angry at his outburst to her sister, she had not been able to stop herself from feeling a strange excitement as he had grabbed her, his large hand touching her skin. She had found her whole body shuddering with expectancy, and she had been confused. She had never seen such a handsome man, his black eyes so deep and impenetrable, his air so authorative, and his body so tall and lean with wide shoulders moving down to slim hips. Despite herself she had wondered what a man like that would feel like against her, giving herself a shake and smiling suddenly. He was obviously not from around these parts judging by the expensive suit he wore and the expensive car he had driven away in, the chances of seeing him again were slim to none. With an uncomfortable realisation, she had been glad, not understanding the way she had reacted to him, finding it unsettling. As she had wearily made her way back to her sisters house, she had felt tired, worn out from dancing and then taking over from her sister at the bar, so she could meet up with her lawyer, a family friend, to discuss her husband’s case. Mia had also frowned remembering how close she had come to being discovered in Jake’s office, shuddering at the implication of that for both herself and Sarah, knowing that she did not dare tell her sister what had happened.