Page 49 of The Perfect Pick Up


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With a chuckle, Felix pulled her closer and whispered in her ear. “Even though I think you’re gorgeous, I’m not sure I can summon anything so impressive after my run-in with the wildlife this afternoon.”

Thea dropped her head, giggling into his chest. Damn, it was good to laugh. Joke with another man who wasn’t Daniel, or her brother. She’d spent so long priding herself on her ability to annoy Felix, she’d forgotten how funny he could be. As if sensing her acquiescence, he curled his arms tight around her, and Thea lay her head on his shoulder.

His body was warm and hard under her touch, and she closed her eyes, a smile lacing her lips. He’d called her gorgeous, and she may as well just admit it. The feeling was mutual. She wanted Felix Walsh. Wanted to have sex with him. Drive away her loneliness and succumb to the thoughts of him that had visited her every night for weeks.

The beat of the music pulsed, and Felix continued the hypnotic play of his fingers above her bottom. Thea mentally willed them to move lower, but as they slowly spun, another couple nudged into them, breaking the spell of the music. Thea’s head lifted to see an olive-skinned woman wearing a purple kaftan and a gold turban grinning at her. Her dance partner wore a matching robe, and a stringy ponytail hung at his shoulder.

“Thea Fox! How lovely to see you out and about.” The woman spoke just as if they’d met at a bus stop, not during a hot and heavy slow dance at a wedding.

The woman’s eyes drifted over to Felix, taking him in. “And who’s this delectable man?”

Thea snickered. “This is Felix Walsh. Felix, this is Gloria.”

He nodded but didn’t smile. How very Felix.

“Ah, yes,” Gloria purred. “I heard we had a celebrity in our midst. And then about your unfortunate incident on the terrace. Don’t worry, your secret is safe with us. We won’t be racing off to the tabloids. But if you’re still having some trouble, I’d suggest you dip your testicles in a bowl of yogurt. It’s very cooling.”

Felix’s eyes grew to hubcap proportions, and Gloria gave a throaty laugh. “Come on, don’t be shy. A mosquito bit Crispin on the ‘ashram’ recently, if you catch my drift.” She gave Thea a slow wink. “After thirty minutes coated in Chobani, he was right as rain.” She patted the back of the young man who gyrated against her, and Thea stifled a giggle. Gloria Cunningham was definitely an acquired taste.

“And besides. In some cultures, bees are a sign of fertility.” She pulled apart from her partner, placing a claw-like hand on Thea’s shoulder. “Just between us girls, I can smell animal magnetism a mile off, and that man,” she nodded towards Felix, “reeks of it. Once the swelling goes down, I wouldn’t hang around. Crispin and I have been on retreat, learning about the tantric arts. We can give you both a crash course if you like?”

Gloria wiggled her eyebrows at Thea and Felix and gave her partner a hearty slap on his bottom before screeching, “Giddy up!” and moving away.

“Who the hell was that?” Felix asked, wide eyes following the couple into the depths of the crowd.

“Oh, you’ve never met Daniel’s mother before? She’s the one who created the pottery at the silent auction.”

Felix snickered. “The giant dick?”

“That’s the one.”

He chuckled, meeting her eyes from under his fair lashes. “Well, Daniel’s mother got one thing right.” Felix brought his lips to Thea’s ear. “I reek of animal magnetism, and don’t you forget it.”

Thea took a breath through her nose, his cologne lacing the air. “Yes, Mr. Walsh.” With a smile curling on her lips, Thea tucked into his body, and they danced the remaining bars, his hard body underneath her fingertips.

21

THEA

Thea took Ammy’s hand and gave Daniel and Amber a grin. They’d spent the last ten minutes looking after her while Thea freshened up. “Thank you. Sometimes, it’s hard to grab even a few minutes to yourself with little people around.” To be fair, she’d had almost the whole day to herself with Felix, and the memory of his hands still lingered on her skin.

Daniel’s eyes glinted in the chandelier that hung overhead. “I hope you were the only one doing the grabbing. You and Walsh looked pretty cosy on the dance floor.”

Thea’s cheeks heated, and Amber batted Daniel half-heartedly with a hand. “Thea can grab whoever she wants as long as she has permission.” She turned to Thea. “Are you heading off? It’s a long drive back to the village.”

She nodded. Felix was in reception, organising a fresh ice pack. “I wanted to thank you for having us both, and Felix, here today. I know it could have been all kinds of awkward.”

Daniel yawned, stretching one long arm into the sky before weaving it around Amber’s back. “I’m never one to stand in theway of young love, but I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.”

Ammy giggled, unwrapping a sherbet lemon. Daniel’s mum had given her an enormous bag, and the crimson on her cheeks confirmed she was suffering from an intense sugar rush. “Mum’s not in love yet. She’s just on a date.”

“I’m not!” squeaked Thea.

“Yes, you are. And I know why.”

“Do you?” snickered Daniel. “Why?”

“It’s because you’re lonely. And he has a big…”