Blind-Date Baby. Fiona Harper

carry on with her life. She certainly hadn’t been expecting to feel this.

      ‘Grace?’

      Even his whisper was sexy. Low and growly. She tried not to shiver more than she already was doing.

      ‘I’d really like to see you again.’

      Her body was telling her to yell yes, drag him back into the coffee shop and make use of one of those squashy sofas. And just that thought alone was enough to throw a bucket of cold water all over her. She didn’t do one-night stands, or necking in doorways. She did soulmates and love at first sight—with marriage and baby rapidly following. This wasn’t for her. Blinddatebrides.com wasn’t for her.

      She wriggled out of Noah’s arms and retreated behind the door, using it as a shield as she held it half-closed. ‘I’m sorry, Noah. I just don’t think that’s a good idea.’ And before she could talk herself out of it, she shut the door, flipped the catches and walked through the shop without looking back.

      Noah stared at Grace as she disappeared into the barely lit café. In the gloom, she became a dark grey blob, then, suddenly, the interior of The Coffee Bean was plunged into darkness.

      He just kept on staring, even though he was now staring at his own reflection in the glass. The one woman he’d found who’d really caught his interest had just given him the brush-off. He couldn’t remember the last time that had happened in the previous five years. The irony of it hit him so hard he started to chuckle.

      Aware that the pubs were emptying and people were starting to fill the High Street, he pulled himself together. Men who stood and laughed at their reflections in shop windows were likely to be carted down to the local police station to sleep it off.

      He looked himself in the eyes.

      Well done, Mr Best-selling Author. You’ve finally found the secret to repelling women: be interested.

      The narrow flight of stairs that led up to her flat seemed especially steep this evening. Grace opened the door at the top and, once she’d taken her coat off, she looked down at herself. Who was she kidding? In Daisy’s prom dress and Daisy’s shoes, she looked like someone playing dressing-up.

      Sophisticated? I don’t think so!

      She stripped the clothes and the stockings off right where she stood and marched into the bedroom to find her pyjamas. Once dressed in her striped three-quarter length trousers and vest top, she stood, hands on her hips, and glared round her room. It was cluttered with lotions and potions, clothes borrowed from Daisy and clothes Daisy had returned.

      There was no point trying to go to sleep. Not going to happen.

      She fetched Daisy’s laptop and took it into the sitting room, where she collapsed onto the sofa with it. Once it had booted up, she logged into Blinddatebrides.com.

      Blinddatebrides.com is running 12 chat rooms, 36 private Instant Messaging conferences, and 4233 members are online. Chat with your dating prospects now!

      Grace clicked on the ‘New to the site’ chatroom where she’d found Kangagirl and Sanfrandani earlier on, but none of the names listed in the conversation were theirs. She shook her head. It had to be midday in Australia and she had absolutely no idea what time it would be on the west coast of America. Sanfrandani was probably fast asleep.

      She was about to turn the blasted machine off when it beeped at her and a little window popped up.

      Kangagirl is inviting you to a private IM conference. Click OK to accept the invitation.

      Grace didn’t hesitate. Another window popped up.

       Kangagirl: You’re back! Tell us how it went!

      Englishcrumpet: Us?

      Sanfrandani: I’m here too! Englishcrumpet: Shouldn’t you be in bed? Sanfrandani: LOL! Only if I want to get fired. It’s three o’clock in the afternoon! Englishcrumpet: Oh. Kangagirl: So… Sanfrandani: Yes! Juicy details please!

      Juicy details indeed. There were no juicy details. It had just been a kiss.

      Yeah, right. And caramel moccachino was just plain coffee.

      Englishcrumpet: We had dinner and coffee and then he left. Sanfrandani: The question is: are you going to see him again? Englishcrumpet: I don’t think so.