Counterfeit Love Read Online Free

her eyes settle on Byron. He seemed different from the other guys she’d met in Hong Kong. There were plenty of hot guys around, but they were all a bit too self-assured. This guy had something edgy about him – cute, but fidgety, looking around, playing with a coaster on the bar. Definitely plenty going on in his mind , she thought.
    Lucy hoped he’d be worth getting to know, that he’d have some kind of story to tell. But as she studied him, Byron turned and flashed her that lopsided grin again, and Lucy felt her insides quiver. Lucy wondered what it would be like to lose herself in his tanned arms, to forget herself for a day, to put aside her professional ambitions and just see where things went, to sample a little craziness – whether he was the right type of guy or not.

‘So I’m guessing he’s here on business,’ Charlotte said as they waited for Byron to return from the bar.
    ‘He’s too young to be here on business,’ Lucy said. ‘He can’t be much more than twenty-two or twenty-three. I’d say he’s a new recruit – a banker, or maybe a lawyer.’
    Charlotte frowned. ‘In the Art Bar on his own. In Lan Kwai Fong alone. On a Friday night? Not very likely. Maybe just a tourist.’
    Lucy nodded. Her friend could be right. It didn’t make a lot of sense for a guy his age to be on his own in a bar, unless he was just there on holidays. He might even be a student en route to his Chinese course in Shanghai or Beijing. Lucy felt a tingle of excitement at the idea that Byron might be just making a brief visit to Hong Kong. A holiday fling might be just what she needed – a perfect way to have some fun without getting tied down.
    ‘Looks like we’re about to find out his story,’ Lucy said as Byron manoeuvred his way towards the table. He arrived carrying three mojitos and a smile that was enough to disarm an entire army of ice queens. Lucy felt herself relax as he sat down, handed her a drink and put another in front of Charlotte.
    ‘Thank you very much.’ Charlotte smiled at Byron and then gave Lucy an encouraging nod. Lucy knew why – Charlotte was a big fan of chivalry. She spent her life looking after other people and always appreciated someone else making an effort for her.
    ‘Byron, as in the poet?’ Charlotte asked after Lucy had introduced them. ‘Cool name. It suits you.’
    He nodded. ‘My mother’s a tragic romantic.’
    ‘And you?’ Charlotte asked.
    ‘More tragic than romantic,’ he smiled.
    Lucy’s skin prickled at the comment. It sounded like Byron was flirting with Charlotte – or was she hitting on him ? Surely not. Lucy and Charlotte had an agreement that they’d never hit on the same guy. They’d laughed when they made the deal – a guy would need a split personality to appeal to both of them, as they had completely different tastes.
    Lucy had simple but strict criteria for a boyfriend – he had to be interesting and useful. Charlotte also had strict criteria, but they changed regularly and tended to be more obscure. The number one quality that she was looking for in a guy (this week) was proficiency on the sitar. Lucy suspected Charlotte’s peculiar taste was a spin-off from working with petulant celebrities with quirky tastes. At least it made for interesting double dates!
    ‘So how long have you been in Hong Kong, Byron?’ Lucy asked to divert his attention back her way.
    ‘About twenty-two years – off and on.’
    ‘You’re a local. What do you do?’
    Byron shrugged. ‘Oh, it’s pretty boring. I doubt you’d be interested.’
    ‘I’m interested in everything,’ Lucy replied.
    ‘I dig up dirt.’
    ‘Oh, like a geologist?’
    Byron nodded.
    ‘That’s really interesting,’ Lucy said, genuinely. There were actually few things that didn’t interest her.
    ‘What are you working on?’ Charlotte asked.
    ‘Something big.’
    ‘Oh, really?’ Lucy leant a little closer to Byron. Maybe he could be a useful contact. ‘Where?’
    ‘Can’t say.’