“None,” he said with a rueful smile. “When I went to England for University, I met an American and we became like brothers. But we’re nothing alike. He lives here in Chicago. You have to meet him soon.”
“What does he do?” Aubree asked between bites of her sandwich.
“He’s in the bar and restaurant business. We have similar tastes and interests.” Matthew finished his French dip sandwich and polished off his cocktail. Between the vodka cider drink, the warm fire, and Aubree, he really had no desire to go anywhere. He could have stayed here with her forever, drinking good cocktails and just talking.
“Want to play a board game or something?” He nodded at a stack of used boardgames sitting nearby.
“Sure, I haven’t done that in ages.” Aubree went over to the table and sorted through the games. She returned with one under her arm called Masterpiece which involved looking at famous works of art and trying to guess their value by bidding against one another at auctions.
“No checkers or chess?” He teased.
“I’m not great at either of those,” she admitted. “I don’t like games that involve a ton of planning and strategy. This one,” she tapped the cover of masterpiece. “It is one of my childhood favorites.”
Matthew ordered two nonalcoholic apple ciders while they set up the game. As they played, he realized quickly Aubree knew this game very well.
“I think…” He grinned. “You rigged this so you can win.” He tugged her by her waist onto the leather couch by the fire.
“Maybe,” she admitted with a devious chuckle that made his heart melt and his body tighten with sexual hunger. She relaxed into his hold as he settled her on his lap.
“Enjoying the day so far?”
“Yes, definitely.” She gazed at his lips and he was completely riveted. She was perfect. Perfect in a way that Lena hadn’t been. He didn’t know what to make of that. Strangely, it made him nervous because he was far from perfect.
“What’s the matter?” she asked quietly while she smoothed his brow with her fingertips as though trying to banish his worries.
“You’re so perfect,” he said quietly. “And I’m worried that when you realize I’m not…”
Her nose wrinkled adorably. “Not perfect? Okay, what’s the worst thing about you?”
“I leave clothes everywhere. I can’t cook at all. And I’m pretty sure I could burn the water.”
“That would be called boiling.” She cut in with a giggle. “I can’t cook either. Maybe we could take a cooking lesson together if you want?”
“I’d like that,” he replied and traced his thumb over her bottom lip and her cheek. There was a calmness to the moment. It felt strangely infinite, as though this peace and serenity between them could somehow last beyond their final breaths. This moment would still be here long after they were gone. He could only hope that what he felt for her right now would last too.
“Don’t take this the wrong way but I’m glad your dates sucked because it gave me the chance to meet you.” He wanted to get on his knees and thank all those idiots who’d not seen how amazing she was.
“Me too,” she leaned in and kissed him, soft and sweet. He returned the kiss, holding her safe in his arms as he made a silent vow not to screw up whatever beautiful thing this was. Her lips parted and he drew her breath inside him, overwhelmed by the intimacy that came so easily between them.
After a moment, he broke the kiss, holding her still. “You want to keep me company at the bar for a few hours?”
“Yeah.” She kissed him again before sliding off his lap. They put away their boardgame and paid for the food and drinks before heading back out into the cold streets. Tonight, Matthew wanted to show her his world and woo her in the way he knew best…with love-themed cocktails.
Aubree spent an hour helping Matthew prepare drinks behind the bar along with another bartender named Jenny. Aubree knew she would never tire of watching Matthew in his element with the way he engaged customers and the looks of delight and appreciation as he delivered finished drinks. When he had to mix a cocktail in a shaker, Aubree got a nice view of his muscled arms as he worked. He kept his sleeves rolled up on his shirt and she saw that tanned skin, so golden and enticing. Even in the middle of Chicago winter, he somehow found sunlight. She wondered if maybe his bed lay in front of the tall windows so that when slept during the morning hours, the sun warmed and tanned his skin. She wanted so badly to see if that fantasy was true, and if it was, she wanted to lie down beside him and sunbathe like a cat…after he’d made love to her all night.
“Girl, I’ve seen that look before.” Jenny said as she came over to Aubree and grabbed a tub of fresh lemons to slice.
“Hmmm?” Aubree had to force her gaze away from Matthew and on to Jenny. The other bartender was slender with short, black cropped hair, and she had a few interesting tattoos at the base of her neck that looked like crows in flight. She’d kept Aubree laughing while they worked by sharing stories of Matthew tending the bar.
“Matthew is catnip. He’s irresistible.” Jenny laughed. “And you’ve got it bad for him. I can’t blame you. He’s really good for business. So many women who wouldn’t normally order cocktails come over to the bar just to see him.”
Aubree’s face flamed. “Does he date the other woman he meets here?”
Jenny patted her shoulder. “No. Not at all. A lot of women have tried to get his attention. One woman even left her panties here at the bar with her phone number scrawled across the ass part with a sharpie.
“Seriously?” Aubree couldn’t imagine leaving her underwear like that in public…for a man.
Jenny laughed. “Seriously, you have nothing to worry about. You’re the first girl he’s let back here too. He really seems to like you.”
