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I’M NOT USED TO DRINKING. I mean, I’ll have a drink every once in a while on a special occasion, but three margaritas in one night is like six bottles of wine for normal people. In other words, I was more than a little sloshed.
I managed to find my way back to Southbank Station where I stood, squinting at the tube map hanging on the wall, trying to figure out my way home. I swear it kept moving on me. The map, I mean.
“Need help?”
I blinked at the man who’d suddenly appeared at my side. Dark hair shone glossy as a raven’s wing beneath the fluorescent lights. Blue eyes rimmed with dark lashes stared down at me until I thought I might melt. “Nik?”
“Hey, Emma. You’re looking a little...” he lifted a brow as if not wanting to offend me.
“Tipsy?” I giggled like a dork. “Yep, jusht...just had three margaritas.”
“Bad date?” he guessed.
I swayed back so far, he actually had to grab my shoulders to keep me from falling on my behind. A traitorous part of me wished he’d grabbed a bit lower. “How’d you know?” I whispered in awe, blinking slowly to keep him in focus.
He chuckled. The sound sent warm tingles dancing through me. Stars, the man was sexy as all get out. He could really be a cover model for a romance novel. I should suggest it to Kate. She was a writer. She probably needed a hot man for her covers.
“I had a feeling.” His voice was a soft rumble. I could listen to that voice all day. Too bad he wasn’t Mr. Darcy. My Mr. Darcy, I mean. Probably he was somebody’s Mr. Darcy, even if he was a Wickham.
“Excuse me?” he asked with a frown.
“What?” I frowned. Were there two of him?
“You said it was too bad I’m not Mr. Darcy.”
I blushed. I think. The alcohol was making me flushed and overwarm so maybe it wasn’t too obvious. “Did I say that out loud?”
“Afraid so.” He might have smirked a little. It was hard to tell, what with my vision problems.
“That’s not good.”
He looked amused. “Come on, love. Let’s get you home.”
“I’m not sure how I feel about this whole ‘love’ thing,” I mumbled as he helped me swipe my Oyster card. The gate swung open, and I managed to get through before it slammed shut. It was a near thing though.
“It’s no big deal,” Nik said, joining me. He wrapped an arm around me and guided me to the escalator. “It’s like how people in America call each other ‘girl’ or ‘dude.’”
“Oh.” I frowned, disappointed. I’d kind of hoped it meant more than that. Then I told myself not to be an idiot. Nik was cute and all, but he wasn’t the right guy for me, so who cared what it meant when he called me “love?” Not me. “What’ve you been up to tonight? You have a date, too?”
“Of a sort. I had dinner with my sister.”
“Oh. Too bad.”
That tickled him. “Perhaps.”
“Why were you at Milk & Bean instead of Sophie?” I blurted.
“You know Sophie?” He seemed surprised, but again, it was hard to tell, what with his face multiplying.
“Sure. Met her when I vishited...visited Kate. Both times. I dunno why people keep dragging me out for coffee. I like tea.”
“So you said.” He was clearly amused. He hesitated as I swung down one of the side tunnels. “I’m farther down,” he said, jerking his thumb toward the escalator leading into the belly of the tube system. “You sure you can make it all right?”
I tried to make that scoffing sound people make when they’re shrugging something off. Instead it came out like a horse sneezing. “I’ll be fine. Gone this way a hundred times.”
“All right then. Good night, Emma.”
“’Night, Nik.” I paused. “Thanks for the escort.”
Dimples flashed, and I suddenly found myself lost in that blazing smile. Oh, my. He was definitely trouble.
“Anytime, Emma,” he said softly. “Anytime.”