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Prologue
Leah Kaplan twisted the strap on her handbag nervously. Her feet were already starting to ache in her sky-high heels. She had so much hair spray in her hair it was a wonder she could hold her head up. The dress she was wearing was an awful lot tighter than what she was used to. Maybe this was a mistake.
“Hey, relax,” Georgie said, taking her by the elbow and pulling her along the street. “This is a great pub, it’s your birthday, you’re going to have a great time. I’ve heard the band is awesome.” She stopped at the curb as a tram trundled past, its trolley pole sparking on the lines overhead. The air was thick with summer heat, the sun having given the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick a thorough baking that day.
Leah sighed. She did need to relax. It was her birthday. Her nineteenth birthday. She was plenty old enough to go out with a friend, to a bar, for a few drinks if she wanted to. It was just that she never had before. It was also the fact that her parents had no idea where she was. They thought she was sleeping over at her friend’s house, doing facials and foot spas for her birthday. Which was exactly what Georgie had intended for them to think. Her parents were suspicious of Georgie at first; A new friend from work, when they didn’t even want Leah working. They had been unsure how to handle their daughter’s stubborn insistence that she was going to get a job, since she’d never defied them before. Then she’d brought this new friend home from the office. Bright and vivacious and chatty; everything Leah wasn’t. But Georgie figured out the lay of the land pretty quickly; deeply conservative, overprotective parents and a daughter desperate to spread her wings, even just a little. She’d taken matters into her own hands, working her charm on David and Lynne Kaplan until they were putty in them. It made Leah feel guilty, lying to them. But she had really, really wanted to go out with Georgie. She wanted to have a grown-up drink at a grown-up bar. She wanted to live a little.
Her heart thudded uncomfortably hard in her chest when the bouncer at the door asked to see her proof of identification. Her fingers shook as she took it out of her wallet. Her brand-new driver’s license. Another thing her parents hadn’t wanted her to do. The bouncer looked from her photo to her face and back again. Leah was gripped by the terrible fear that he was about to deny her entry. She knew she looked young for her age. How humiliating. She exhaled with relief when he simply stepped aside and let them in, with a small smile for Georgie when she slapped him on the shoulder with a “Cheers, mate!” before moving inside. Oh, for the confidence of a stunning, blue eyed, busty blonde who lived on her own and was answerable to no one, Leah thought, following Georgie inside.
The pub was dimly lit and crowded. Leah tapped her hand on her thigh to the beat of the music. The band was good. The crowd parted before Georgie, like magic, as she eased her way through. A gentle push, a sexy smile, a tap on the shoulder, and they were standing at the bar. “Watch this,” Georgie said, leaning on the bar and folding her arms under her breasts, pushing them up as she leaned forward. The bartender was there in a flash.
“What can I getcha?”
“Two glasses of Moscato, thanks,” she said, fluttering her eyelashes.
“You got it.”
“You are shameless,” Leah said, in some amusement.
Georgie grinned at her and gave an unrepentant shrug. “He’s cute.”
“He’s got a pulse. Of course you think he’s cute.”
“Now, now, don’t be like that. Or actually, be like that, coz it’s true. I love men and I’m not afraid to admit it.” She threw her arm across Leah’s shoulders. “And what about you, missy? What are we gonna do with you?” With her arm still around Leah, Georgie turned and surveyed the room.
“Nothing.”
“Bullshit. Look at you.” She turned back, pointing at the polished glass that lined the wall behind the bar. “Look how gorgeous you look. You could pull a guy in five seconds flat, if you gave it a go.”
Leah looked. Her dark, sable hair was pulled into a high, perky ponytail. Her wide, grey-green eyes were smoky. Her rosebud mouth slicked with a rich, dark lipstick. The little black dress hugged her slim form. She looked almost…sexy. The girl gazing back at her from the polished glass looked like someone Leah thought she might like to be. She looked like she belonged. “Maybe,” she said uncertainly.
“No maybe about it, hot stuff.”
The bartender returned with their drinks, definitely filled beyond the allocated line on the glass. Georgie paid, gave the bartender a wink, and taking their glasses, led the way towards the front of the room. “Let’s try and get a table near the stage.” More magic maneuvering through the shifting crowd and they were sitting at a table right near the stage, on the edge of the dance floor. The guys that had been sitting there before they arrived were lined up behind them. More of Georgie’s magic. “Right, so take it easy on that drink. It’s pretty big and even though it’s only Moscato, being your first alcoholic drink, you’re probably going to get pretty buzzed.”
“Right. Okay.” Leah took an experimental sip, smiling as it tickled her tongue, sweet and a little fizzy. “It’s good.”
“That’s the way.” Georgie raised her glass, clinking it against Leah’s, then settled back on the stool. “Oh. My. God. Check out the singer. Sex on legs. Seriously.”
Leah glanced up from her glass of wine. Hewassexy. Not that she knew all that much about it. But he was tall, with dark brown hair that showed a hint of red under the lights. He had a great voice and she loved the sound of his music. Music had always been her one little rebellion when she was younger. She could get an mp3 player, iPod or anything and listen to whatever she wanted to. So she always chose music she knew her parents wouldn’t like. No Country & Western, no Folk or Blues music. It was rock, alternative, grunge, a bit of heavy metal. And this guy, this band sounded amazing. He sounded amazing. And Georgie was right. He was sex on legs. What a funny expression.
Leah took another sip of her drink, really enjoying the taste of the wine, the atmosphere, being out. She tapped her fingers on the table to the beat of the music, started moving her body. Took another sip of wine.
“They are great, aren’t they?” Georgie asked, bouncing in her seat.
“Yeah.” Another sip of wine and Leah started feeling a little lightheaded. It was very pleasant.
“How’re going with the wine?”
“Good. I like it.”
“Ooh, yeah, you do. Drink up and I’ll get you another.”
“It must be my turn.”
“Not on your birthday.” Georgie swayed seductively, clicking her fingers in time to the music. She looked so gorgeous and she was such a good friend. Leah sighed happily. “Stop looking at me. Watch the band.”
Leah turned her attention back to the stage with a laugh. Then felt the breath whoosh from her lungs as her gaze collided with the singer’s. The moment passed in a flash, so fleeting Leah could almost have thought she imagined it as he looked away, down at his guitar. But no sooner had Leah got her breath back than he wrapped long fingers around the microphone to belt a long note and when he was done with that, he looked straight at her, smiled and winked.
