Nicole nodded, “I don’t think I’ve used it at least five years, but yes.”
“What I’m thinking is some curls and then,” she walked over to Nicole and started playing with her hair, just pull a little bit back here with a clip or some bobby pins; then you’ll have it off your gorgeous face and some curls will frame it. Add on dangly earrings and let a little peek of the girls out in that shirt and he will be in your thrall.”
Nicole turned and pulled both Zaina and Devin into a hug.
“Group hug girls!” They all hugged, and Nicole continued, “I don’t ever want to know what I’d do without you two.”
“Love you, Nic,” said Zaina.
“You got this,” Devin said. “I only wish I could be there to see it. Make sure you take a video, Zaina.”
“I got you,” Zaina said.
Chapter Ten
SEAN
Sean was feeling good as he opened the railroad car that was used as the outdoor bar and grill at Hop’s Heaven. It was a gorgeous evening just before the official start of fall. Temps had fallen from the mid-eighties to a very comfortable seventy-five degrees, a perfect night to be under the Oktoberfest tent for trivia night. He was confident his appetizer menu was going to be a huge hit.
Jasper came out to the rail car and gave Sean a half hug and a smack on the back. “Buddy, long time no see!”
“Jasp, thanks again for having me out.”
“Hey, you’re helping me out! Whenever we have appetizers, or any food from Jesse’s Pub, people stay longer, and drink more. Plus, it brings out the ladies. Sometimes it’s a real boys’ club around here, and that’s not my thing.”
“Jasp, you’re such a slut. Are you ever not looking to score?” Sean chided.
“I’m young, good looking and single. Why wouldn’t I hook up with—I mean get to know—as many women as possible.” Jasper ran a hand through his thick wavy brown hair that he wore long enough to hit his shoulders. “The other day, a patron thought I was twenty-eight. She said I had rakish good looks.”
“Was it that writer? The one who reminds me of my Aunt Sarah?”
“Hilarious. She’s a very young sixty. Let me tell you, she knows handsome men when she sees them. I tell you what, she writes filthy dirty romance books. Your eyes would fall out of your head if you read some of the smut she’s published.” Jasper shook his head from side to side. “She may look like a sweet little grandma, but it’s all an act.”
“I’ll take your word for it, bud.” Sean busied himself setting up the serving trays and Sterno cans for the evening.
Jasper sat at the counter, “So what do we have here?”
“I went with the classics. We have red cabbage with caraway seeds, bratwurst sliders on pretzel buns with a spicy brown mustard, German twice-baked baby potatoes, and mini apple and pumpkin tarts.”
“Damn, I asked for appetizers, and you came with a full-on meal!”
“Well, the portions are small. It’s more like autumn tapas.” Sean made Jasper a plate.
Jasper came around the bar to pour himself a Marley Creek Marzen. “Can I get you one too?”
“Just a few ounces, or I’ll fall asleep on my feet. I slept like crap last night.”
“That sucks. Or did your date the other night tire you out? I haven’t forgotten about that. You were going to tell me what happened. How’d it go?”
Sean took the beer that Jasper offered and drank a sip. “Ah, that’s a good beer! You’ve done it again, Jasper.”
“Thanks, bud.”
“Try it with the slider. It will pair well together.”
They both took a drink of beer and a bite of their sandwiches. “Ahh,” they both said and fist bumped.
“Now back to the date. What’s her name?”
