Close To You: Part 1 (3 page)

7.

Scarlet went back there two days later to send more resumes off and to check her GMail. She signed in and found several from MYSUGAR.COM.

Two of them were things like "Welcome to MySugar!" and "Your registration with MySugar
 . . ."

She didn't even open these. Who does? One near the top read "You have one new message!" Scarlet opened the email, hit the link in the middle of it and found herself teleported back to MYSUGAR.COM. She logged in, went to the tab that said MAIL and saw above a standard, automated welcome message that she had one from an actual member of the site.

From: Julian Hunter

To: Scarlet Clarke

Msg: Hi! I saw you've just joined. I was looking at your profile and saw we're the same age. Do you have a photo? I have a couple on my page. Maybe we could meet up. JH.

Huh,
she thought.
Let's have a look.
She clicked his name and his member profile popped up. Julian Hunter was extremely handsome, dark hair and tanned skin. His green eyes were like brilliant jewels against his smooth, chiselled features. Scarlet felt an instant attraction to him. In his picture – and the subsequent shots she cycled through – he was smiling. It wasn't a big beamer of a smile, nor was it a cheesy grin. Just a confident smile.

She read his details.

Name: Julian Hunter

Age: 28

Nationality: American

Employment Status: CEO of Hunter Enterprises.

Scarlet went to her own profile and added a photo from her Dropbox folder, mostly stuff she had on Facebook. She picked the most flattering of the snaps, a full body shot with her facing the camera. It was taken during a trip to Mexico a year earlier.

Close enough
, she thought.

She clicked back onto her messages and hit REPLY.

From: Scarlet Clarke

To: Julian Hunter

Msg: Hi Julian. I've just added a photo. Let me know what you think! Scarlet.

Silly arse
, she thought to herself. The CEO of a big company? He was probably a fifteen-year-old, three-hundred-pound virgin from Cleveland. Either that or a sixty-year-old whacko looking for his next victim.

She logged off and left, again wondering if she was making a fool of herself.

* * *

She couldn’t help but go back there the next day.

"You're becoming a regular," the guy at the counter said.

"I should get free coffee," she said.

He laughed, as if to say, Yeah right, and told her she was at cubicle five.

The first thing she did was go to MYSUGAR.COM, and sure enough, there was a reply from Julian Hunter.

You're beautiful,
it read.
I've been on here a while and it's the first time I've seen someone I'm truly attracted to. We should meet for a coffee. Or some lunch. JH

She bit her bottom lip and hit REPLY.

Thank you Julian, that's really sweet. Sure, I can meet you somewhere. Scarlet

She hesitated, then added an
X
at the end of her message, deleted it, then added it again. She hit SEND before she could change her mind again.

* * *

She went back there that evening, anxious to see if he'd replied again, her job search forgotten. Sure enough he'd answered her back with a place, a date, and a time.

Is this convenient?
he asked her.
If not we can rearrange? JH

She smiled. It felt good to have something positive happening for a change. She wondered what James would make of it all and decided it best not to tell him for the moment. He'd only worry. And besides, it was none of his business, really. She could do without his fretting for once.

Scarlet thought to herself.
What have I got to lose?

She hit REPLY.
Great,
she typed, a smile on her face.
I look forward to it. See you then. Scarlet X

8.

Scarlet wore a tight fitting, black dress with red high heels and a small red bag over her shoulder. With the red grip in her hair, she looked a knock out, and knew it too. She was nervous, but as always, managed not to let it show.

She'd never have ordinarily set foot inside THE GOLD CRAB, an exclusive restaurant for the rich and famous. She left the brilliant sunshine of the afternoon behind and stepped inside. A waiter showed her
in, leading her through a busy dining area to an awaiting table.

And Julian Hunter.

"Hello," he said and came around the table, pecked her on the cheek. He took her in with his brilliant green eyes. "You look lovely."

"Thanks," she said but didn't add,
You look pretty damn hot yourself.

He wore a business suit, no tie, and white shirt open at the collar showing just a little chest hair. Hunter looked exactly like his profile picture. Tanned skin, brilliant white teeth. She could make out his muscular frame beneath the suit, and he was taller than she imagined. A big, strong man.

The waiter pulled her chair out for her and she sat.

"What would you like to drink? Wine okay?" Hunter asked her.

"Yeah, that'll be great," Scarlet said.

Hunter turned to the waiter. "We'll have the house red, please."

The waiter nodded and left.

"So," Hunter said. "You're more beautiful than I imagined. Your pictures don't do you justice."

Scarlet laughed. She couldn't help it. What came out was a semi-embarrassed giggle. A girlish noise she'd not made for years.

"What's so funny?" he asked, a big smile on his face. She noticed what a deep, masculine voice he had.

"It's just I don't usually get complimented like that," she said.

"Well, I always compliment those who deserve it," Julian Hunter said. "And you most definitely do. Ah, here's our wine."

The waiter arrived with a bottle of red and poured them each a glass.

"Leave the bottle," Hunter told him.

He chinked his glass against hers. "A toast."

She cocked an eyebrow. "What to?"

She saw inspiration light in his eyes. "To lunch, of course."

Ah, that's better,
she thought as she drank. It was good wine, too. Better red than she'd ever have afforded, that was for sure. It relaxed her.

"This is a nice place," Scarlet said, looking about at the Victorian-style décor.

Hunter shrugged. "I've never been here before, to be honest. It looked nice from outside."

"I'd have thought you'd eat in places like this all the time," Scarlet said.

He laughed. "You'd be surprised. I like a hot dog as much as the next man."

Scarlet sipped more wine. "I can't imagine you with a big wiener in your mouth
 . . ."

That caught him off guard; she could tell by the way his laughter escaped in a burst. He shook his head.

"Are you always this forward?" he asked her, still chuckling to himself.

"Forward? We're just talking about hot dogs, aren't we?"

The waiter returned to take their lunch order. They both ordered salads. Hunter asked Scarlet to pick their desserts, and she chose two Key Lime pies.

"Good choice," Hunter said as he watched the waiter walk away. "I've not had a Key Lime pie in years."

"I've never had. It sounded naughty enough to order, though," she said.

"You've never had a Key Lime pie? Ever been to the
States?"

She shook her head.

"I lived there for a time when I was a kid. I had it once. It's really good for you," he said. "Contains one of your five a day . . ."

"I do believe
yer lying to me, pardner," Scarlet said in her best mock cowboy accent.

Hunter pulled a face that was somewhere between John Wayne and Dean Martin. "I wouldn't be lyin' to a lady, Ma'am."

"They don't really talk like that, surely," Scarlet said.

"Some do. Believe it or not, there's some of the old boys over there still talk like they're out on the range when they live in the city. Drive their
trucks wearing mock cowboy hats and smoking Marlboro red," Hunter told her. "Anyway, I think we got sidetracked. I was asking you about yourself."

"I don't know if there's much to say," Scarlet said. "I used to be a receptionist, but I'm currently between jobs. It's a tough market out there."

"Sure is," Hunter said. "In this economic climate."

"And what is it you do?" she asked him.

"I run a company. I took it over from my Father, a couple of years back."

"Oh. What, did he retire?"

Hunter's smile faded momentarily. "No, he died."

"Oh sorry. I didn't mean to
–"

He held up a hand. "Honestly, it's nothing. So are you with anyone?"

She shook her head. "No. I've not been in a relationship for a while. Yourself?"

"Me neither. This is all new to me, to be honest," he said.

"I find that hard to believe," Scarlet said.

"No, really, I just don't find the time. Or I haven't up till now," he explained. "There was a lot to do after Dad died. I guess I just forgot a lot of other stuff."

"But now you have the time?"

Hunter sipped more wine. "I've rearranged things within the company so I have more time for myself. I do a lot of travelling. It helps that we're a worldwide business. Gives me an excuse to vacation wherever I want."

"It must be a good life," Scarlet said.

"Yeah it can be," he said, almost wistfully. He looked away for a second, then turned back to her and smiled. But for that brief moment, Scarlet got the impression there was something else there
that could possibly be a downside to being rich and handsome. Jetting all over the place. She was about to ask him what had made him sign up to a site like MYSUGAR.COM. Then their salads arrived.

* * *

They talked about the kind of movies they liked, music. Scarlet told him a few stories from her other jobs. She'd had some good times, she realised as she related them to him. Hunter was a keen listener, and when he spoke about himself and some of the places he'd been, she found herself entirely captivated by his smooth, silky baritone. The flash of his teeth as he spoke. She could smell his aftershave from across the table. Something rich and masculine, a leather, spice, and tobacco smell. She watched his hand when he lifted his fork. He had lovely hands, the skin darkly tanned with a sprinkle of hair, complemented by well-kept, tidy fingernails.

The
key lime pie was to die for, a heavenly mixture of sweet, tart, and meringue she kicked herself for never trying before. After, Hunter picked up the tab, adding a generous tip for their waiter.

He handed the man a twenty. "There you are, pal. That one's off the books, okay?"

"Thank you sir!" the waiter said, slipping the note in his pocket in a flash.

They left, and Julian Hunter opened every door for her like a true gentleman. A sleek, black Lincoln MKS sat outside. The driver got out, opened the back door for them.

"Do you want a ride home?" Hunter asked her.

Scarlet didn't hesitate to accept the offer, and slid into the back seat. Hunter went around the other side and got in. The driver peeled away from the curb and navigated the afternoon traffic.

"It was a really great lunch," Julian Hunter told her. "I'd like to do it again some time."

"Me too," she said.

The driver glanced back at them. "Where to, Mr. Hunter?"

Scarlet told him her address. She watched Hunter press a button, sending a screen up between them and the driver.

"There you go, a bit of privacy," he said.

"You didn't have to drop me home," she said. "It's really nice of you."

Hunter shrugged. "Don't mention it."

"I'd love to do this again. I don't suppose you get much free time."

"I'm actually free the next couple of days. I'm in town for some business meetings. I don't want to be too forward with you," Hunter said.

"Not at all," she said. "What did you have in mind?"

They came to the crossing before her street. The Lincoln slowed to a stop at the lights.

"This Saturday? About six in the evening? I know a great little place down by the beach," Hunter said. "I could come by, pick you up outside if you want."

"I can make my own way, I don't want to put you out," Scarlet said.

He put his hand on hers. It was a purely friendly act, nothing implied by it. But still she felt the hairs stand on end at the back of her neck. "Honestly, it's my pleasure."

The car moved again and Hunter's hand left hers. "That'd be really nice."

He smiled. "Then it's a date."

The driver pulled up outside her block.

"Well, this is me," Scarlet said.

Hunter leaned forward. She thought he was going in for a kiss, but he took her hand in his again, lifted it to his mouth and kissed it instead.

"Goodbye," he said softly.

She felt the colour rush to her cheeks. The driver opened the door for her.

"Bye," she said, and got out.

She walked inside her apartment block and when she turned back in the doorway, the Lincoln was still sat there. She realised that Hunter had watched her walk away. She called the lift to take her to her floor.

Wearing the black number with the red heels to accentuate her legs and behind had been the right decision after all.