Page 25 of Toy Boy
I nod, holding her gaze. “Yes, I was.”
I’m not sure whether I’ve unnerved her, or flattered her, it’s hard to tell. “Why?”
“Because I like spending time with you.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“That’s exactly why I’d like to spend a bit more time with you. Togetto know you.”
She narrows her eyes, like she’s almost suspicious of me or something, but she’s actually fighting a smile, I can see the corners of her mouth trying hard not to curl upwards.
“Okay… Again, why?”
“You ask a lot of questions.”
“And I very rarely get the answers I’m looking for.” She uncrosses and re-crosses her legs, and once more my eyes are drawn to her toned, tanned legs. She’s wearing a floral, floaty summer dress and white converse, an outfit that makes her look much younger than I’m suspecting she is, but I don’t care about her age. It’s nothing but a number, right? I just know that I’m fascinated by this woman. And I shouldn’t be. But when I tell her I want to spend more time with her I’m not lying, I’m not feeding her a line or acting like some cocky, arrogant prick. I’m telling her the truth.
“I like your company, Megan. You’re different to any other woman I’ve known.”
Whoa! Was that line a touch too cheesy there?
“Yeah, I’m probably over a decade older for starters.”
“Will you stop that? Please?”
“Stop what?”
“Putting yourself down. Making age an issue…”
“You don’t think it is?”
I shake my head and sip my drink and briefly turn away, looking out to sea. The sun’s starting to dip now, the sky slowly changing colour, and I can’t remember the last time I felt this relaxed. But I can’t afford to let my guard down; to take my foot off the pedal, to lose myself in unnecessary distractions.
“Age is nothing but a number.” I smile, but she’s giving me a slight eye roll now.
“And that’s just a cliché.”
“You don’t take compliments easy, do you?”
“I’m one of the most wary people you’re ever likely to meet, and that might be something to think about.”
I frown as she once more drops her gaze, and I watch as she fiddles nervously with the string of coloured bands on her wrist. I think I might be getting to her now, and I’m glad.
“It’s been days, Xander.” She looks up, her eyes locking on mine. “You’ve only known me for a couple of days. We’re strangers…”
“Do you want me to roll out another cliché?”
“The one about strangers being friends you haven’t met yet? Try it. See what happens.”
I laugh, and she can’t stop herself from laughing, too. “Look, Megan, if you’d rather I left…”
“I didn’t say that, did I? I don’t want you to go, I just – I mean, Hanna, Iona, not to mention all the other, much younger women around here, they’re all gorgeous…”
“They are. Beachcastle Bay has been blessed with more than its fair share of stunning women.”
She rolls her eyes again, but I’m doing it on purpose now.
“But they aren’t the ones I’m drawn to.”