CHAPTER 18:

"Hey, is this seat taken?" Fiona looked up behind her. There was handsome, tall man standing alone behind her.

"No…it's not taken if you're going to buy me a drink first."

"All right then." The man said, taking a seat. Joe looked at them and smiled. He had seen many guys try this attempt, and surprisingly, were successful at getting a second date with the girl.

"Another Guinness it is then." Joe muttered as he poured another beer.

"I'm Patrick."

"Fiona. You come here often?"

"Occasionally after a polo match I'll drop in for a drink. It's not to often I see a pretty girl sitting at the bar."

"This is my first time here. I'm staying with a friend here in London. She said I should go out and have some fun."

"Well, she sure picked the right place." Patrick replied. He had thick black hair, and brown eyes. Fiona smiled at him and he smiled back. "So, obviously with that accent, you're not from here."

"No…I'm a true blue Aussie."

"Yeah, I figured. So, what are you doing up here in the cold north then?"

"I'm visiting my friend and her husband."

"Oh yeah…so…this may sound stupid but…you're single right? I'm not wasting time on a girl who's already taken, whose boyfriend is just around the corner in the bathroom?"

"Yes, I'm single. It's been that way for awhile." Fiona sighed, thinking of Marcus.

"Really? A girl like you?"

"Yeah, a girl like me…It was a bad break up…I went off men for awhile." Fiona blushed. Patrick chuckled.

"That happens." He replied, taking a swig of his drink. Fiona liked him, for the twenty she had known him. He was athletic and handsome and he seemed to be a good guy.

"So…" Fiona finished her beer.

"Would you like to come back to my place?" Patrick asked, hoping she would say yes.

"Well…I'll be back in a moment, and I'll let you know. All right?"

"Sounds good." Fiona was going to go off with this guy. She figured she really had nothing to lose and why not? She escaped off to the bathroom to give Jen a call to let her know that she didn't have to be her designated driver.

"Oh I love that house! It's so pretty!" Jen exclaimed, pointing at the computer screen. James liked it too. It was in a quiet neighbourhood and it was fairly new. Suddenly, Jennifer's phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's just me. Well, sure enough, you were right."

"Right about what?"

"Me finding a dat!" Fiona exclaimed.

"So I presume you don't need a ride then?"

"No! He's a polo player and tall, dark-haired and handsome."

"You are so drunk."

"I am not! I've only had two beers!"

"Whatever, just…go off with your future Prince Charming and be safe."

"Kay bye…." Fiona giggled as she hung up the phone.

Fiona hurriedly closed her cell phone. She quickly adjusted her hair in the mirror and strolled back to the bar. Patrick was still waiting in his seat, finishing his drink.

"So, I thought about it and…yeah, I'd love to go back to your place."

"Oh good. It's not too far from here, just a five minute walk." Patrick said with a smile.

"Even better." Fiona stood up and they both began walking towards the door. Patrick took a step forward and held the door for Fiona. "You're a gentleman."

"I try to be."

"Fiona's got herself a date?" James asked curiously.

"Yep, I don't have to go out and get her though, unless this guy turns out to be an idiot."

"This in essence, is kind of likely."

"By idiot I meant someone like Marcus Dane." Jen retorted. James nodded. "She'll be fine, she needed to get out. Anyways, let's get back to looking at houses, shall we?"