Talking Dirty with the CEO - By Jackie Ashenden Page 0,7

bit of anonymity.

Joseph raised his glass in their direction in a gesture of thanks. But put it down again without tasting whatever it was they’d bought him. He hadn’t come here to drink—alcohol tended to make him too edgy and he was feeling edgy enough already. No, he’d come here to meet Naughtygirl25.

It wasn’t normally his thing. Not at all. But, dammit, he just hadn’t been able to say no. There had been something about her unexpected request for a date that had intrigued him. And he hadn’t been so intrigued by a woman in a long time.

Usually he wasn’t that bothered. A bit of flirtation, a bit of fun between the sheets…that’s all he needed. And that’s all the women he chose needed, too. He didn’t want anything else from them, though sometimes he wondered what it would be like to have more than just a couple of nights here and there. To be in a relationship with someone. But the thought was always an uncomfortable one. Commitment wasn’t ever going to be something he was capable of, no matter how attractive the idea was to him.

Irritated with the track his mind seemed bent on, Joseph shifted against the bar, scanning the place, surreptitiously looking at women’s chests and checking for sheep brooches. He was happy not knowing what she’d look like, the anticipation of finding out coiling inside him, tight as a spring. Of course he hoped there’d be chemistry—he’d be up for adventures on sheepskin rugs if she wanted—but if she didn’t do it for him, then he would enjoy having a drink with her in any case. She’d been witty and fun online, and that counted for something.

His phone vibrated in the pocket of his jeans. Pulling it out, he glanced down at the screen. A reminder about Jude’s exhibition opening tonight stared back at him.

Shit. He’d forgotten. As usual, he’d been so focused on one thing he’d forgotten everything else. The reminders were supposed to help, but often he forgot to check them or dismissed them without thinking. God, he hated that part of himself sometimes, especially when he let people down. Important people like his sister.

Cursing, he glanced at the time. Jude’s photography exhibition would probably go on until late so perhaps he could go there after he’d finished his date with Naughtygirl. Hell, maybe he could even bring her with him if they got on well enough.

Quickly Joseph sent his sister a text.

I’ll be late. Sorry. Got caught up. Usual story. Okay to bring a date?

Jude would understand. She was used to the ADHD playing havoc with his memory.

A moment later, a text came back.

Sure. No worries. Who’s the date? Actually, no, don’t tell me. She’ll be gone by morning anyway.

Joseph snorted. Judith tended to be snarky about his transient love life.

After flicking off a sarcastic reply, Joseph put the phone back in his pocket. Then he picked up his half-empty bottle of beer and took another scan around the bar.

Where the hell was Naughtygirl25? He was getting antsy, the familiar, impatient tension building inside him. When he felt like this, he’d often spend an hour on the treadmill or get on with some work. But he couldn’t do that now. Instead he began recounting in his head every single thing he’d done that day, a trick he’d learned as a teenager to help himself relax and concentrate.

It was as he was going over the minutiae of the afternoon’s third product launch meeting that he spotted an interesting-looking woman—very tall, very skinny, with a quantity of chestnut hair swept up on top of her head. Sexy, though. Very sexy. He was a leg man all the way, and her legs, left bare by the extremely short black dress she wore, were spectacular. Though it wasn’t just about her legs. There was something unusual about her. Unlike all the other women in the bar, she appeared to be the only one who obviously did not want to be here. In fact, her whole manner projected intense discomfort, as if she were marching to face a firing squad. Beside her stood another woman, blond and curvy, who kept leaning over and whispering in her ear. The interesting brunette had a hand planted over her heart, a growing, almost mutinous look on her face. As if her friend were telling her things she didn’t want to hear.

Joseph watched them, interest piqued. As if sensing his gaze, the brunette looked in his direction. Her pale face was