Burning Up. Sarah Mayberry

for him. After eating alone, he’d exhausted the possibilities of television for a few hours, then finally retreated to bed to read some of his scripts.

      Now it was three in the morning, and he was awake. And unlikely to be going back to sleep, the way he was feeling right now.

      Grabbing his crutches, he tucked them into his armpits and headed for the door. Just for laughs, he took the broad steps down to the ground floor two at a time, then hopped into the living room. The room was dark and filled with shadows, but he’d identified the liquor cabinet earlier and now honed in on it unerringly. After swigging a mouthful each from three bottles, he identified a nice single-malt scotch and poured himself a generous tumblerful. He could have turned on the light and read the labels, but where was the fun in that?

      Grabbing the bottle in one hand and the tumbler in the other, he made his way to the long couch in front of the fireplace. Stretching out along its length, he settled into the cushions and savored the burn of good alcohol sliding down his throat.

      Technically, he wasn’t supposed to drink in combination with the painkillers he was on. He laughed as he poured himself another generous drink. He’d never been good at coloring within the lines.

      As he stared out into the dark night, his thoughts gravitated to the absent Sophie again.

      What was her story, anyway? It was possible she was married, of course. He’d checked for a wedding ring—none, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t. He didn’t do married. He didn’t do anything that smacked of hassle, trouble or strife. Or, more importantly, commitment. So perhaps it was just as well that Sophie had slipped away from him this afternoon, remembering the way her big brown eyes had stared at him as he’d zeroed in for the kill. She wasn’t like Candy-Cindy, ready to barter her body in exchange for a brush with fame. He recalled the feeling he’d gotten from Sophie—that sense of warmth and earthiness.

      No, it probably was just as well that nothing had actually happened between them.

      He laughed soundlessly as he swallowed another mouthful of scotch.

      Who was he kidding? If the opportunity presented itself, he’d take advantage. Hell, he might even go so far as to make an opportunity present itself.

      Grinning in the dark, he reached for the bottle to top up his drink again.

      

      HE WAS DRUNK. Or at least he had been at some stage during the night. Even standing a few feet away from him at eight o’clock the next morning, Sophie could smell the alcohol coming off his body—his almost-naked body—stretched out along the couch in a boneless sprawl.

      Or maybe naked was a subjective assessment. Some people might consider the skin-hugging, black boxer-briefs and chest-moulding T-shirt he was wearing more than ample clothing. Nudists, for example.