The One Night Stand

Chapter 1

  Catherine Stone scanned the bar, surprised to see how few men were in the crowd. Most of the bars her best friend frequented were overflowing with the opposite sex. Catherine smiled to herself; it was only a matter of time before Nicola converted to lesbianism. After all, Nicola had been trying to entice Cat into a threesome for the entire twenty year friendship.

  "Cat, over here!" Catherine recognised her friend's posh English accent calling to her over the hum of the crowd. She made her way through the crowd to her friend. The pair embraced warmly.

  "Darling. How was your flight? You're looking gorgeous, as always." The stunning blonde Nicola greeted her best friend with a kiss on each cheek, before eyeing her up and down appreciatively.

It had been six months since the women had seen each other in person. They talked every day on the phone or via video chat, technology bridging the long gaps between catch ups.

  "I thought the last place I'd see you was a lesbian bar Nic." Cat joked admiring the crowd.

  It was late summer in London but still cold compared to the summers Cat was accustomed to back home in Australia. It took Cat's body a few weeks to acclimatise to the miserable UK weather so she wore warm coats while the locals wore summer attire.

  The bar was warm so Cat removed her designer coat revealing a fitted, long sleeved white blouse, the buttons straining at the chest, emphasizing her full breasts. She'd walked to the bar straight after a meeting with her publishers, whose offices were nearby, so Cat was conscious she was far too overdressed for the casual pub crowd.

  The few men in the bar glanced at her in appreciation when she smoothed the back of her black, knee length pencil skirt before taking a seat at the bar beside her friend. Cat wasn't as tall as her best friend, but her six inch stiletto heels made up for what nature failed to bless her with.

  "It's not a gay bar Hun, I told you he is a 'chick magnet'. You'll see for yourself soon enough." Nicola handed Catherine a glass of champagne. The two women clinked their glasses and took a sip.

  Catherine scanned the crowd again, this time mentally counting the men in the room. Five men in a crowd of about sixty women.

  Wow, this guy must be something, she thought, taking another sip of bubbly.

  Cat enjoyed catching up with her best friend but she didn't enjoy having to accompany her to gigs at cramped little bars on open mic nights. But, she never complained, she accepted it was all part of Nicola's job. Nicola Starr was a very successful talent agent, but she wasn't above attending tiny gigs in back alley bars and pubs.

  Cat checked out the largely female crowd again and knew exactly why Nic was at the tiny bar. The talent she was scouting must be a good looking young male musician. Those male artists were the lifeblood of Nic's business. Nicola Starr had a very keen eye for 'talent' and she always got her man, or woman, whatever the case may be.

  The performer tonight was rumoured to be the next wonder boy of the music scene. Even Catherine's eighteen year old niece had squealed in awe when Cat mentioned his name at dinner on Wednesday night at home back in Bronte.

                        

  "Aunt Cat, I follow him on Instagram... he is gorgeous! I wish I could come to London with you ..." Samantha Collins exclaimed, eyes pleading to her mother across the room.

    "You should have thought about that before sneaking out to go to that concert. You're grounded... for life young lady." Catherine's sister Jane replied, she didn't even bother looking up from spooning out the dessert.