Capitolo 1 :: 1

Pubblicato: 23-05-05 - Ultimo aggiornamento: 05-04-06

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»Luke, let me tell you again, I don't need your help with dating. «  

His friend laughed. »When was the last time you went on a date? «  

»Does a one-night stand count? «  

Luke Phillips cringed. »No! « A brown eyebrow climbed as his moss green eyes danced with laughter. »Don’t tell me… last night? «  

Mick winked. »I’m one heck of an expert in foreign relations. «  

»What was her name again? «  

»Ursula something. « Mick shrugged. He could never remember their last names. In a few days, he’d forget even her given name. If it even was Ursula. He has been rather drunk last night.  

Luke sipped his martini. »German? «  

»Swiss… I think. «  

»Nice. «  

»You have no idea. «  

His friend elbowed him. »Zip it, man. Bridget is here. Along with your blind date. «  

Mick groaned. How many times will he have to do this? He wasn’t a serious relationship kind of guy. Not with his profession. But no need to tell his friends that. They obliviously lived their lives thinking he was a normal guy with a boring, normal job. If they only knew.  

Luke elbowed him again. »C’mon, pal. Don’t look so gloom. It’s not easy for her either. «  

»Yeah, yeah, « Mick grumbled.  

Lifting his head, his heart stilled for a second. The woman beside his friend’s girlfriend was beautiful. Tall, slender, mouth-wateringly curvaceous… The emerald green pantsuit hugged her body to perfection. Short, red-brown hair fell in lovely wisps around her face. Big, almond-shaped, hazel eyes looked a bit panicky and a lot angry. She didn’t like being here. A point for her. However, now, having seen her, he stopped thinking the blind date was such a bad idea. She was a babe.  

As Bridget towed the beauty toward the small, secluded table where the two men waited, he noted the apparition walked with a grace of a ballerina. She seemed to float across the floor. He couldn’t wait to meet her.  

»Hey, honey, « Bridget placed a soft kiss on Luke’s lips. »Sorry we’re late. A certain someone, « she leveled a side glance at her companion, »was disinclined to leave the house. «  

The redhead rolled her eyes, huffing slightly.  

Mick grinned.  

Luke cleared his throat. »Hi, Cory. « He kissed her cheek. »This is my friend and your date for tonight. «  

»Great, « she muttered with just a hint of an accent, extending her hand in greeting.  

Mick couldn’t help but grin even more. »Mick Angel, my pleasure. « He gently lifted her hand, caressing her knuckles with his lips.  

She actually rolled her eyes again. »Cory McGuire… and yes, the pleasure is all yours. «  

Bridget gasped.  

Luke chuckled.  

It will soon be yours, too. Then, the name registered. »Cory McGuire? THE Cory McGuire? «  

An eyebrow curved.  

»The illustrator? «  

The other eyebrow joined the first. »Figures, he’d read children stories, « she muttered.  

Mick smiled. »I bought ‘The Spirit of Innocence’ as a gift last week. «  

Cory melted a little. He was a daddy. She loved children. »What did your daughter think? «  

His eyes twinkled. She liked kids, huh? »I don’t have kids… Not yet. It was for my niece. «  

Niece is good. »OK, what did your niece think? «  

»She loved it. « He smiled again. »I loved it, too. Your illustrations are amazing. «  

She blushed slightly. »Thank you. «  

Bridget and Luke exchanged glances. It was a hit.  

»This is me. «  

Mick stopped his car in front of a lovely row house. »Cute. « He searched for the right word. »Homey. «  

»Yeah, « she breathed, fishing her keys out of the purse. »That’s why I bought it. «  

He followed her to the porch. He didn’t want this evening to end just yet. The blind date turned out great and he definitely wanted to see her again.  

»Do you miss your home, then? «  

Her eyes held a hint of sorrow. »This is my home now. «  

»I see. «  

Cory smiled slowly. He didn’t look inclined to leaving. And to be honest, she didn’t want him to go either. »Hey, do you want to sit with me for a little while longer? « She nodded toward the lawn chairs.  

»Sure. Have something cool to drink? «  

»How ‘bout some lemonade. « She winked. »Home made. «  

»Oh, Heaven. «  

She had a beautiful laugh, he noted.  

…  

»So, « Mick sipped his lemonade. »Tell me more about yourself. «  

She kicked her pumps off. »Like what? «  

Mick sighed, looking up at the stars. He loved late spring nights. »You told me practically nothing… Did you grow up here? Your accent is hard to place. «  

She sipped, staring at the twinkling stars. »I was born in Japan. «  

»McGuire? «  

She could imagine his eyebrow climbing.  

»I changed my name. «  

»Why? «  

There was a slight pause. »No one knew how to pronounce it anyway. «  

He could tell that wasn’t it. What are you hiding, beautiful stranger. »I know Japanese. You can tell me. «  

She gasped softly. »Maybe some other time. « The ice clinked in her glass. »How come you know Japanese? «  

»My best friend lives in Tokyo. «  

»Oh? Ever been there yourself? «  

She was trying desperately to draw the subject off herself.  

Mick wasn’t that magnanimous. »Yes, but we’re talking about you now… Cory… What about family? «  

She sighed. »I don’t have one. « Her voice trembled and her hand lifted to wipe at her cheek. »My parents died when I was little. «  

»An only child? It must have been hell. I’m sorry. «  

»It’s okay. You couldn’t have known. « She turned to look at him in the darkness. »Besides, I wasn’t alone. I had my brother to keep me company. «  

This is where the secrecy starts. He could tell by her voice. »What happened to him? «  

»He died in a … car accident eight years ago. «  

He offered her his handkerchief.  

»Thanks. « She blew her nose. »I should have gotten over it, I suppose. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to blubber. «  

»It’s OK. « He stood. »I better be going. « He lifted her up, escorting her back to the door. Her eyes were red and puffy as she wiped at them with his handkerchief.  

»I’ll wash it before returning it, I swear. « She blew her nose again.  

Mick grinned. She was breathtaking even with a red, leaking nose. »Get some sleep… Can I call you tomorrow? «  

She nodded, smiling.  

He softly kissed her forehead. »Good night, Cory. «  

»Good night, Mick, « she whispered as darkness swallowed him. 

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