"Okay, girlfriends, pull up your seats. It's hunting time and I need a hefty injection of ego-boost. This place is a male Mecca, compliments of the yacht marina out there."
Katherine Toomy--Kat to her friends--selected a table close to the railing that enclosed the outdoor dining area of the Seaview Café and took a deep, cleansing breath. She loved this place. Loved being able to look out over Darling Harbour at night. The city lights glinting on the inky water ... the moored yachts in the harbour ... the bustle of the tourists along the waterfront. It all combined to give the area an exciting ambience.
"Hey, this is great. I love eating alfresco." Kat's friend, Marly Devon, grabbed a chair and positioned herself so she could check out the water. "I can't believe I've lived in Darling Harbour for two years and have never been to this place."
Kat grinned at her flatmate, Julia. "Want to tell her why we really come down here?"
Julia chuckled. "Sit here long enough and you'll get to check out all the yachties. Some of these guys are hawt."
"Um, this isn't where you met Jason, is it?"
Before Kat could respond to Marly's question, an irate male voice interrupted the girls' conversation. "Will you please step aside? You're blocking my aim ... er, view."
Kat did a slow turn to find the owner of the voice. The guy at the small table next to them peered at her over the top of dark-rimmed glasses as if she'd committed some unpardonable sin. An open laptop and a digital camera sat in front of him, papers and folders littering the tabletop. He was obviously having a working dinner.
"Look, I'm sorry, I'll--"
"Hurry up and sit down. I'm losing my subject." He used the arms of the chair to raise himself half out of the seat and stare over her shoulder.
"Bite me," she muttered. What a dipshit, and a rude one at that. Although, for a nerdy prick, he wasn't too bad. From what she could see, he had the type of body that attracted her. Lean and hungry. And given the length of those long, jean-encased legs, he looked to be quite tall. Dark hair fell forward in a curl over his forehead. She stared past the glasses on the end of his nose to his eyes, the colour of a storm-tossed sea. Steel grey and glinting. Altogether, a nice package. It was a shame about the attitude.
With a flounce, she turned back to her friends and yanked the spare chair away from the table. Out of sheer perversity, she took her time hanging her bag on the back of the chair. Then she lowered her butt into place.
"Ouch!" Kat jumped up, hand clutching her ass. "Something bit me."
Julia pushed her chair back and rushed around to Kat's side. "How could something bite you?" She pushed Kat's hands away, trying to inspect her friend's butt for any damage.
The same male voice interjected, this time laced with concern. "Miss, are you okay?"
Kat glared at him. He'd pushed his chair back and had risen to his full height. She was right. He had to be at least six feet tall, if not more. But right now, she didn't give a damn. Her ass hurt.
)
