career. There was only so much interest she could show in Jay’s work as a personal trainer.
The subtle flirting continued over lunch. Sapphire felt as if all her senses were on high alert. She was hyper-conscious of her body and of his. When her hand brushed against his as she reached for her glass she felt as if she’d had an electric shock.
‘So, how come you got the name Sapphire?’ Ryan asked.
Sapphire smiled, ‘My mum wanted to call me Sara but my dad said that wasn’t nearly exciting enough for his daughter and that he wanted me to be called Sapphire, to match my blue eyes. Dad didn’t realise that all babies are born with blue eyes – luckily for him, and me, my eyes stayed blue.’
Ryan did another of his direct gazes into her eyes, ‘They’re an incredible colour.’ He paused. ‘But then you’re an incredibly beautiful woman.’
Sapphire, who always tried to come across as uber-cool in her dealings with men, felt herself blush. She mumbled, ‘I’m not, but thank you,’ doing a mental head slap for sounding so unsure of herself.
Ryan was having none of it, ‘Oh, I think you know the effect you have on men.’ Another pause, then he said softly, ‘You’re having quite an effect on me. I’ve hardly stopped thinking about you since we met.’
Sapphire’s stomach flipped dangerously. Fortunately or unfortunately, Sapphire was feeling too flustered to decide which, the waiter arrived with their main courses – sea bass for her, duck for Ryan – and she was saved from having to reply. Instead she steered theconversation in a completely different direction asking Ryan how he met Alfie and what plans they had for the club.
Ryan answered all her questions as if they amused him before leaning over the table and saying, ‘You can’t distract me that easily. I told you, I’ve hardly stopped thinking about you.’
‘I’ve got a boyfriend,’ Sapphire replied, flicking her hair back, still trying to play it cool.
‘Lucky him . . . what does he do?’
‘He’s a personal trainer.’
Ryan’s lips twitched, ‘Impressive body I imagine.’
‘Very,’ Sapphire replied, trying to channel thoughts of Jay and how lovely he was to stop the lustful thoughts of Ryan that were taking over her mind.
‘But—’ Ryan hesitated.
‘But what?’
‘I can’t imagine he’s your equal. I would have thought it wouldn’t take much for a woman like you to get bored.’
Sapphire shook her head, ‘Actually, you’re wrong. Jay is a lovely guy. I’m lucky to have him.’
She suddenly felt horribly disloyal sitting flirting with Ryan. She was sure Jay would never behave like this with another woman. It’s just business, she tried to tell herself. But she knew it wasn’t just business. For the remainder of the meal she did her best to pull herself together, to stop all the eye contact, but still she was aware of Ryan’s gaze, of his long legs just inches away from hers. And Ryan was on a mission to know more about her. ‘I’m sure Alfie would be jealous if he knew we were having lunch together.’
‘Why do you say that?’
‘I think he realises he made a mistake when he let you go.’
‘He didn’t let me go! I divorced him for cheating on me!’
Ryan leant closer. ‘For what it’s worth, I think he was a fool.’
‘Yeah, well, he’s ancient history now, believe me.’
‘So you don’t have any feelings for him any more?’ Ryan continued.
Sapphire shook her head. ‘I can just about face seeing him about business but that’s it.’
Ryan smiled, as if satisfied with her answer.
After the meal, which he insisted on paying for, despite Sapphire’s protestations – usually she always paid or went half – he asked if she had time for a coffee in the bar. They’d spent so long over lunch it was already five. She was due at Jay’s family in an hour and a half. She should probably make a move, but somehow she wasn’t ready to leave just yet. She was enjoying his company far too
The subtle flirting continued over lunch. Sapphire felt as if all her senses were on high alert. She was hyper-conscious of her body and of his. When her hand brushed against his as she reached for her glass she felt as if she’d had an electric shock.
‘So, how come you got the name Sapphire?’ Ryan asked.
Sapphire smiled, ‘My mum wanted to call me Sara but my dad said that wasn’t nearly exciting enough for his daughter and that he wanted me to be called Sapphire, to match my blue eyes. Dad didn’t realise that all babies are born with blue eyes – luckily for him, and me, my eyes stayed blue.’
Ryan did another of his direct gazes into her eyes, ‘They’re an incredible colour.’ He paused. ‘But then you’re an incredibly beautiful woman.’
Sapphire, who always tried to come across as uber-cool in her dealings with men, felt herself blush. She mumbled, ‘I’m not, but thank you,’ doing a mental head slap for sounding so unsure of herself.
Ryan was having none of it, ‘Oh, I think you know the effect you have on men.’ Another pause, then he said softly, ‘You’re having quite an effect on me. I’ve hardly stopped thinking about you since we met.’
Sapphire’s stomach flipped dangerously. Fortunately or unfortunately, Sapphire was feeling too flustered to decide which, the waiter arrived with their main courses – sea bass for her, duck for Ryan – and she was saved from having to reply. Instead she steered theconversation in a completely different direction asking Ryan how he met Alfie and what plans they had for the club.
Ryan answered all her questions as if they amused him before leaning over the table and saying, ‘You can’t distract me that easily. I told you, I’ve hardly stopped thinking about you.’
‘I’ve got a boyfriend,’ Sapphire replied, flicking her hair back, still trying to play it cool.
‘Lucky him . . . what does he do?’
‘He’s a personal trainer.’
Ryan’s lips twitched, ‘Impressive body I imagine.’
‘Very,’ Sapphire replied, trying to channel thoughts of Jay and how lovely he was to stop the lustful thoughts of Ryan that were taking over her mind.
‘But—’ Ryan hesitated.
‘But what?’
‘I can’t imagine he’s your equal. I would have thought it wouldn’t take much for a woman like you to get bored.’
Sapphire shook her head, ‘Actually, you’re wrong. Jay is a lovely guy. I’m lucky to have him.’
She suddenly felt horribly disloyal sitting flirting with Ryan. She was sure Jay would never behave like this with another woman. It’s just business, she tried to tell herself. But she knew it wasn’t just business. For the remainder of the meal she did her best to pull herself together, to stop all the eye contact, but still she was aware of Ryan’s gaze, of his long legs just inches away from hers. And Ryan was on a mission to know more about her. ‘I’m sure Alfie would be jealous if he knew we were having lunch together.’
‘Why do you say that?’
‘I think he realises he made a mistake when he let you go.’
‘He didn’t let me go! I divorced him for cheating on me!’
Ryan leant closer. ‘For what it’s worth, I think he was a fool.’
‘Yeah, well, he’s ancient history now, believe me.’
‘So you don’t have any feelings for him any more?’ Ryan continued.
Sapphire shook her head. ‘I can just about face seeing him about business but that’s it.’
Ryan smiled, as if satisfied with her answer.
After the meal, which he insisted on paying for, despite Sapphire’s protestations – usually she always paid or went half – he asked if she had time for a coffee in the bar. They’d spent so long over lunch it was already five. She was due at Jay’s family in an hour and a half. She should probably make a move, but somehow she wasn’t ready to leave just yet. She was enjoying his company far too
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