Nicole put her head on Zaina’s shoulder for a moment and then stepped back, ready to head outside and see Sean.
***
SEAN
He was refreshing the bratwurst sliders tray when she walked into the tent. A light breeze was blowing and it tousled her hair as she sauntered his way. He barely took note of the fact he’d loosened his grip on the tongs he was using to hold a slider. It fell to the ground as he visibly gulped, taking in her slim waist and the curves of her hips. He imagined pulling on the tie that held her wrap shirt in place. One pull and those soft breasts nestled in a lacey black bra would be his to lavish with attention. He shifted as his jeans grew uncomfortable with his growing arousal. Fortunately, he was behind the bar and she’d never know.
She made eye contact with him, and she smiled a soft smile. He bit his bottom lip in an effort to contain himself.Why was she there?She closed the gap and was suddenly leaning on the counter in front of him. He wanted to lean over and kiss her supple lips. He pictured himself reaching over and brushing the back of his hand against her cheek and then gripping her face lightly. He imagined bending down and kissing her, at first gently and then hard and fast as he slid his hands down to her waist and pulled her to him.
“Fancy meeting you here,” he said to break the hold his daydream had on him, hoping to relieve some of the pressure of his zipper rubbing against his cock.
“Hi Sean,” she said so softly he could barely hear her over the music playing and the noise of the gathering crowd. He gestured one second with his finger and walked away from the buffet to the end of the bar where she stood.
“Sorry about that. I couldn’t hear you.” He put his arms on the bar and leaned into her space. He could smell that delicious vanilla and jasmine scent of hers.
“I’m here with my friend, Zaina.” She pointed to where Zaina was drinking a beer and laughing as the guy running the trivia night handed her a paper.
“Do you usually come to trivia night? Gad, that sounds like a cheesy pick-up line. I didn’t mean it to sound like I was saying, Hey, there pretty lady, come here often?" He said in an over-the-top tone.
“Oh, no.” She shook her head, and he delighted in the way the curls bounced around her heart-shaped face. “I didn’t think that at all, and no, I don’t usually come to trivia night. I’ve only been to Hop’s Heaven once or twice.”
“Gotcha,” he said nodding, his chest fluttering with hope. He clenched his fist to try to stop himself, but he had to know. He blurted out, “So, why did you come here?”
Her cheeks burned red, and he felt like a fool.
“I came here for you.” She said simply and put a hand on his arm and static electricity shocked them both. They jumped back and laughed nervously. Then Nicole was looking at him again, and all he saw was her longing.
“Why me?” Sean asked softly.
“I’m here to apologize for coming off so disinterested at the end of our date. It was not you; it was all me. And I’m sorry. I was a total jerk.”
“Apology accepted,” he said quickly.
She smiled widely and then looked down. “I was hoping,” she looked up and met his eyes, “we could maybe go out again?”
Internally, Sean was doing a happy dance and high fiving all the voices in his head. Externally, he tried to play it cool, nodding slowly. “I would be down for that,” he said. “What did you have in mind?”
"I know you have to run the restaurant, and I’m sure the last thing you’d like to do is to go out for a late dinner—"
“I have a hard time turning off my restaurateur brain at other places, so yes, that’s exactly right.”
“Monday is parent teacher conference day, so I don’t go into work until two. I was thinking we could go to Marley Lake for a walk, and I can bring a picnic lunch for us?”
Sean smiled and his dimples flashed. “I love it; it’s a date.”
Nicole hopped up and gave him a half hug over the counter. Sean restrained himself from pulling her up and over, and the bar and into his arms. She smelled so good.
“I can be ready by eleven. Would you like me to pick you up?”
“Nah, I can drive. It’s a date then?” Sean confirmed.
“I’m so excited!” Nicole blurted.
“Me too,” he said, and he winked at her.
She gave him a little wave and walked over to where her friend with the pink wig was sitting. Her friend looked familiar, but Sean wasn’t sure where he’d seen her before.
Chapter Eleven
