Free Just My Luck by Rosalind James

don’t think he’s suffering. I might’ve hurt his pride, but he seems to have enough of that to spare. Looks like you and Hannah have the inside track on attracting rugby players who are . . . worth attracting. I could have got laid, I’m pretty sure. I could have had casual sex with the captain of the All Blacks. Lucky me. But I think I’ll hold out for something a little more special.”
     
     

New Opportunities
    They said the hair of the dog was the best remedy. If that were true, Ally thought, opening the door to Devon a few days after she and Kristen had returned to Wellington, she should be cured any time now. Being asked out by a handsome, charming guy, after her recent disastrous almost-dating experience, was good. Being asked out by a handsome, charming guy who disliked Nate Torrance as much as she did was great.
    Devon greeted her with a flashing smile and a quick kiss that did nothing to depress her fizzing spirits.
    “You’re ready, I see,” he said approvingly, casting a glance down her body. Not enough to be sleazy, just enough to make her feel appreciated.
    “I am,” she agreed with a laugh. She’d been pretty excited when he’d called, at the prospect of having a real, grown-up date. No pretext of consulting about the event this time, he’d simply asked her out for dinner because he liked her, because he wanted to be with her. And wasn’t that something?
    “I’ll have to give it some thought,” he’d said when she’d asked how she should dress, where they were going. “Find someplace good enough for you. Someplace special.”
    Which had given her some pretty good warm fuzzies, but left her still confused about what to wear. After a serious consultation with Kristen, she’d settled on a not-too-short skirt, a not-too-low-cut V-neck sweater with tiny buttons down the front, and some not-too-high heels.
    “A little sexy,” Kristen had approved when she’d had Ally outfitted to her satisfaction, “but not over the top. Second-date appropriate wherever he takes you, unless it’s a bowling alley. And just enough to make him wish he could see more.”
    “You’re the expert,” Ally had agreed. And judging by Devon’s expression, Kristen had come through again.
    Devon held up the plastic bag he was carrying. “Can I interest you girls in a glass of wine before we go out? We’ve got time.”
    Ally exchanged a quick glance with Kristen, settled on the couch for the evening.
    “I was just going to my room.” Kristen uncurled her long legs and stood quickly. “You two go ahead.”
    “Nah, please stay,” Devon urged. “I’ve hardly had a chance to chat with you yet, and you know what they say. The best friend’s important.”
    Kristen smiled again, sank back down as Ally went for glasses.
    “Just sorry it’s taken so long,” Devon said when the wine was poured, “to see you again, Ally. Hazards of meeting somebody you like in mid-December. Did you have a good holiday, though?”
    “You did pretty well,” Ally said with a smile. “We’ve only been back a couple days. And yes, we did. We spent it with Kristen’s sister and brother-in-law. The very best part was that they have a great bach on the Coromandel, near Hahei. That was quite the bonus.”
    “Really,” Devon said. “Your sister’s married to a Kiwi, is she?” he asked Kristen. “Or did they emigrate?”
    “A Kiwi and then some,” Ally laughed. “Her sister’s married to Drew Callahan.”
    “Really,” Devon said again, taking another sip and sitting back in their single good chair. “That would explain how you know Nasty Nate.”
    Ally choked on her wine, which made him laugh. “Yeah,” she managed to say at last, getting up for a paper towel and laughing at herself in her turn. “And he doesn’t improve upon further acquaintance. You were absolutely right about that. We saw him over Christmas too.”
    “Bet you did,” Devon said. “He takes care to cement his friendship with Drew, I’m sure. Quite