A Kiss In The Dark

By Carly Wakefield

A Kiss in the Dark

Sheridan McOwan is a man of means. A self-made wealthy man, but he’s beginning to realise how poor he is when it comes to the things that money can’t buy. He has a loving family back in Scotland that remind him of what he is missing out on in his personal life. The closest to him being his cousin Aggy, who sends him to an event, when Sheridan himself refuses to do anything to help his own situation. Much to her glee and to his annoyance it turns out to have a profound effect on him.

At her first and only participation at an organised dating event, Bella Greenwood experiences a kiss unlike any other before, or after that event. But that is as far as it went. One night, one kiss... nothing after the lights comes back on.

First impressions went better than expected, a second one was disastrous. Can Sheridan overcome his ego and his fears, and make it third time lucky to bring him the riches he was missing.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Carly Wakefield
• Release date: Feb 24, 2018
• ISBN: 9781370348206

Book preview

A

Kiss

In the

Dark

By Carly Wakefield

Copyright© 2018 by Carly Wakefield

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition, license Notes

This eBook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This eBook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organisations and events described in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.

Acknowledgement

Kitty, I couldn’t have asked for more. Thank you.

Dedication

For my readers, who have been patiently waiting for something new while life got in the way of work. Words cannot express how much I appreciate each and every one of you.

♥

Chapter One

What are you going to wear to ‘A Date in the Dark’? Keeley asked, sitting at the other end of the couch, sipping her coffee in Bella’s apartment.

My pyjamas. Bella stated matter of factly, making Amira scoff from the arm chair.

Seriously?

Why not? Bella asked. It clearly states that the entire event will be held in the dark. I don’t see the point of all that effort to get dolled up when nobody will see a bloody thing.

Bella was seriously having second thoughts about this whole event. Internet dating was risky enough and there were pictures involved there (a percentage of which were genuine, at least). This event could have every psycho, crazy and ugly from at least a fifty-mile radius in one room, in the pitch black. She tamped down the panic and cursed her overactive imagination for even beginning to think of a knife wielding psycho being present in the first place.

If only she could have used her powers for good, but she had no control over her constant musings.

Amira snapped her back to reality. "Well I don’t care if it is in the dark, I’m totally getting dressed up for the occasion. If all goes well, someone will be seeing me at the end of the night." Confidence dripped from Amira’s tongue making her two friends sure that she would indeed have someone to go home with after their ‘date in the dark’.

Come on Bella, make the effort, cajoled Keeley. "Even if it’s just to make you feel better in the dark." Keeley was quietly confident, the voice of reason and sound advice. She was also the most understanding of the two and was sympathetic to Bella’s knocked confidence since her last relationship had ripped it to shreds.

Fine, I’ll upgrade to sweat pants, just for you Kee.

Keeley giggled.

To be honest, I’m not even sure I want to go now anyway─

Stow that crazy imagination of yours! Amira instantly cut Bella off. We really need to find you a better outlet for it. You know I think it’s an awesome thing, especially since you concocted that plan to catch that cheating bastard ex of Keeley’s. But, I think it holds you back sometimes.

Bella didn’t want to get into this debate again so she distracted her, What are you wearing Amira?

Well, I’ve been eyeing this Caleigh Armsden dress for a couple of weeks, so I think I’m going to treat myself.

To a red-carpet dress for a night in the dark? Keeley asked incredulously.

You’ve got to invest in yourself to get anywhere in life, retorted Amira. It’s classy and gorgeous; just like the kind of man I want to attract.

Keeley and Bella fought the urge to roll their eyes at their friend. The three of them were close and had been for a few years now. They were more than used to Amira’s over the top ways. Plus, they actually believed in Amira’s confidence that, even in the dark room, she was more than likely going to garner the majority of the attention she wanted.

Right, said Keeley, eager to get the conversation back on track. "You have three wardrobes stuffed full of the most amazing clothes in your room. Surely you can find something."

It was true, Bella was a self-confessed clothes hoarder. If the truth be known, she only used about a quarter of one of her wardrobes. She just couldn’t bear to let things go.

As a child, she had dressed up whenever she could with her favourite being a vintage 70’s dress from her aunt. It was stunning. A bold red with intricate embroidery at the top: an empire waist that billowed out to a full-length skirt with yet more embroidery at the hem and long fluted sleeves with yet more embroidery. At just ten years of age, it had drowned Bella yet it made her feel like a princess. Then puberty hit like a ton of bricks. Even though she was finally tall enough, there was no way she could squeeze her ample tits and ‘child bearing hips’ into it. After a gruelling diet and gym regime, she went searching her gran’s house, totally ready to rock the dress. Unfortunately, gran had bagged it up for a charity shop the year before. Bella had wanted to cry. That was when she vowed never to throw another item of clothing away again. In a couple more years she would have her very own selection of vintage clothing to either wear herself or sell on Ebay. It was a win – win situation.

Coming out of her reverie, Bella noticed a mischeivious glint in Amira’s eyes as she looked at Keeley. They both nodded and looked over to the hallway that led to Bella’s bedroom.

Oh no! You’re not getting nea─

But it was too late. The girls were already at the door to her room.

Two hours and mountains of clothes later, Keeley and Amira had chosen Bella the perfect outfit for their Date in the Dark. Refusing to give them the satisfaction of knowing, she realised that she was actually looking forward to the night now and had started to wish it wasn’t going to be so dark.

~ * ~

Sheridan McOwan looked