Free The Dog House (Harding's World of Romance) by Nell Harding

felt somewhat shabby , at best student-like.
    “It’s just fish and chips,” she told herself in exasperation, turning away from the glass and heading to her car, irritated that this dinner should leave her so rattled. He was a complete stranger and she really had no reason to care what he thought, she reminded herself irritably as she climbed behind the wheel and started the engine of the old Vauxhall. Still she found herself readjusting the rear view mirror to apply a thin layer of pale lipstick and to try to give a bit of life to her fine hair.
    Still not satisfied, she flicked the mirror away and glanced at her watch before heading down the valley road. If she was early enough, she might still have time for a shot of courage before she had to face the infamous Colin Parker.
     
     
     
    The One-Winged Duck was lively on Friday evenings, with a local band playing Celtic music and a crowd that spilled out onto the terrace despite the chilly evening. This had been Fiona’s favourite haunt the previous year, before Sarah was transferred out to the Glen Murray Inn, and the familiar pub atmosphere and bustle helped to calm her nerves.
    She elbowed her way up to the bar, recognising a few of the regulars and stopping to exchange greetings. Soon she found herself drinking a beer with two of the handy men who had been involved in the attic renovations at Mackenzie House, laughing about how paranoid Fiona had been about letting them demolish anything.
    She was finally starting to feel in a proper Friday evening mood when Colin entered the bar. Immediately there was a slight change in atmosphere, a sort of mini-pause in conversations as people looked up in surprise before continuing where they had left off. Fiona found herself equally thrown off by his appearance and it took her a bit longer than the others to concentrate on her drinking mates again.
    Colin was either unaware of the effect he caused or used to creating a stir with his entries. In any case, although it was obvious that he was no regular here, he seemed casual and confident, and suddenly extremely sexy.
    At first Fiona put it down to the beer she had consumed on an empty stomach, but it was also the change of setting. Rather than in a posh or organised event, she was seeing Colin now as a real man in the ordinary world. He was wearing jeans and a crisp shirt, the top buttons undone although still too elegant for the surroundings, but it suited him. His handsome face radiated an amused calm, his blue eyes alert and friendly as he nodded at the people he passed. Fiona felt an unexpected rush of pleasure that this striking man was looking for her.
    At once she felt herself flushing, hating the fact that her face was so transparent and that everybody could probably see the effect he was having on her. But she returned his wide smile as he walked up to her to kiss her lightly on both cheeks, while Fiona blushed harder and tried to ignore the blatant stares of her companions.
    “Fellows, this is Colin,” she managed in an almost off-hand way. “Colin, this is Gary and Stu.”
    Colin nodded and shook their hands in his usual friendly manner. “Gary, Stu. Should I get us another round?” he asked Fiona.
    Stuart and Gary nodded keenly, but Fiona suddenly wanted to be elsewhere, away from their frankly staring eyes and the murmurs in the bar around them. Maybe this was what Colin had meant about getting away from paparazzi and the rest.
    “Actually, we have to go,” she said with an apologetic grin to the two men, picking up her jacket in a hurry. “We have dinner plans.”
    Colin smiled accommodatingly, obviously in the mood to let her call the shots. She was glad that he had offered to join the gang, but equally glad that he didn’t seem to mind her hasty departure plans.
    “And so where are our pressing reservations?” he asked her in a teasing voice.
    She shot him a wary look, never sure if he was making fun of her or not. “The Old Wharf,” she replied