Page 6 of Survival Game

He knew he wasn’t the most discerning of people when it came to relationships—thoughts of his ex sent cold chills through him—but surely, he had to get a break sometime.

He wanted to find a man who was warm and funny, and didn’t use his fists as a solution to everything. Someone who wouldn’t break Kyle and leave him bleeding and ashamed on the floor.

His insides churned and he closed his eyes, thankful that piece of his life was over.

“London? You okay?” Lucinda reached over and covered his hand with her own. “Your hands are freezing. Where did you go right then, or don’t I want to know?”

He blinked. “I just closed my eyes for a second.”

Lucinda’s compassionate gaze washed over him. “You were gone almost a minute; you didn’t hear a word I said.” Her stare darkened. “London, you have to talk to someone about this. God knows it’s been a long time but it’s obvious you’re still stressing about it. You told me you were going to see someone.”

Shit. Here come the bosoms.

His defences went up like solid steel gates. He picked his napkin off his lap and wiped his mouth. “Luce, I told you, I’m fine. I don’t need a therapist.”

I don’t need to relive my life as a puppet, telling some stranger I was a willing, idiotic marionette who didn’t have the guts to leave a psychopath. I don’t need anyone else knowing how spineless I was.

She leaned back, green eyes sparking emerald fire. “I know you think you deserved it, that you were gutless, but that’s not true. People with abusive partners get into this rut—”

He threw down his fancy napkin. “Can we leave this alone please? You didn’t come five thousand miles to rehash my past. I want to have fun while you’re here, not be browbeaten into submission.” He chanced a weak grin. “Been there, done that.”

Lucinda gazed at him then exhaled and nodded. “Fine. You want to move onto more sappy subjects, how’s that boss of yours? And the nightclub? You still enjoying it there?”

He nodded, grateful to be back to less hurtful memories. “I love it. It’s hard work, long hours, and you need the patience of a saint, but it’s great. Ryan is a cool boss, his partner Mango is scary on the outside but a kitten at heart, and I get to run the club the way I see fit when Ryan isn’t there. Which isn’t often. The man’s a sucker for work.”

“Have you met anyone you’d be interested in working there?” Lucinda asked curiously. “I mean it is a gay club.”

Kyle remembered a man dressed in a paramedic’s uniform with bright green eyes, chestnut hair and brawny arms. “There was this hunky guy I met a while ago called Eric. He’s a paramedic who attended a heart attack incident we had in the club. He’s a friend of Ryan’s. I think they dated once but it didn’t work out.”

“And? You interested in him?” Lucinda leaned forward, eyes bright with interest.

He shrugged. “I don’t really know that much about him. We didn’t get much time to talk when he was there last. He was on his way out with Ryan. He’s really yummy though.”

And how he’d envied Ryan that night he spent with Eric. He’d seemed like a truly nice bloke.

“So call him. Ask him out. What have you got to lose?” She motioned the waiter over to bring the bill. “Grab that bull by the horns, babe. Maybe we can double date and I can find a nice girl to bring with me. We can hang out, shoot the breeze and have some fun together.”

He took the bill the waiter had brought over, only to have it plucked from his hands by scarlet-tipped fingers.

“Mine,” she said with a steely eyed glare. “You don’t get to pay this one. Don’t even argue or I’ll shove a Tampax down your throat.”

He gaped. “What? That’s disgusting. Why would you even say something like that to me in public?”

She gave a wicked grin. “Because talking about lady things was always one way to shut you up. Remember that time we got stoned and we had a whole discussion about vaginas and what we lesbians like to call them? I think the best one was bearded—”

He hurried to press his finger to Lucinda’s wicked mouth. “Please, don’t say it. You can pay the damn bill.”

She smirked and opened her purse to take out her credit card. “You can leave the tip if you like. Don’t think I didn’t notice you ogling that waiter’s groin earlier. He certainly wears tight well. I could see every cock ridge he had to offer.”

Kyle groaned. “Dear God, can you keep quiet for a minute before they kick us out of here for all the sex speak?”

She waggled her eyebrows at him. “Then we get to not pay the bill. Win-win all the way.”

The bill was duly paid—he winced at the price of a fancy lunch for two in a Covent Garden restaurant—and before long they were standing on the pavement in the cool evening air.

Lucinda wrapped her bright green faux-fur parka around her. “So, what are your plans for tonight then? I’m going over to see my sister and her kids in Edgeware. You’re welcome to come along.”

He tried to hold back his horror at that suggestion. Lucinda’s sister Maggie was a brash, noisy woman with a heart of gold and three rambunctious and rowdy spoilt children. He’d only visited them once before and that had been enough.