“To answer your question, we do play here often, and I am a regular. My sister, Dina, owns the bar with her husband, Mr. loud-mouth-on-the-mic Jerald.”
Michelle sputters with laughter, and I’m fucking enchanted with her.
“We also tour, mostly around Florida, but have had some out-of-state gigs here and there. When we aren’t playing, I help Dina.” I take a pull from my beer as I watch her drink her martini. I’m drawn to her mouth as she licks some remnants of chocolate off her lips, making me want to help her out with the sweep of my tongue. I take another drink, hoping to cool my libido. “So, are you local?”
“Highland Beach.” She gives me a curious look. “I’m sure you look a lot different than you did in high school, so I don’t recognize you or your name.”
I laugh. “Well, even if I had graduated from here, you still wouldn’t, considering you must’ve graduated, what, ninety-seven?” Her burst of laughter is startling at first, but then as it continues, I realize I must be wrong about her age. “Okay, how far off am I?”
She wipes her mouth and collects herself as she gives me a big smile. “I should thank you very much for the compliment. I graduated in eighty-nine.”
I’m silently stunned for a moment, and I’m sure my mouth is hanging open. “What, you… you’re fifty?”
“I am,” she chuckles. “Just this year.”
I search her face again as if I’ll find more evidence to the contrary. I shake my head. “Well you certainly look ten years younger.”
“Thank you. What about you?”
“Fifty-two. Graduated in eighty-seven from Vero Beach but moved to Delray shortly after and have been here ever since. Well, when I wasn’t traveling or in the service or looking for gigs.”
“You were in the service? Which branch?”
“Served in the Army for four years as a mechanic. Didn’t stick. Preferred using my hands on the guitar rather than with tools.Although I did construction for a while.” I chuckle before taking another drink. “How about you? What keeps you busy?”
“I’m a counselor and I teach yoga.” She looks at her glass while swirling her finger along the rim. I notice her delicate fingers with short, neat nails void of any color, and she has no rings on either hand.
“Yeah? Think you could teach a big lug like me to become more flexible?”
She looks up at me, and I can see laughter in her eyes as the corner of her mouth begins to twitch. Before she can say a word, Holly walks up to the table. “Sorry to interrupt, but it’s time for our next set.” Her gaze toggles between me and Michelle a few times.
“Oh hey, yeah, okay.” Before Holly can turn and leave, I say, “Meet Michelle. Michelle, my band mate and friend, Holly.”
“Nice to meet you,” Michelle says. “Fabulous vocals. I told Xander you’re all perfect.”
“Well, I love hearing that, thank you. You sticking around for our next set? We’ve got a few more originals written by the man himself.” Holly slaps a hand down on my shoulder.
Michelle grins as she turns to me. “Oh, yeah? Well, I can’t pass that up. Count me in.”
Holly nods. “Hope to see you again, Michelle.” She turns to me. “See ya up there,” she says before making her way to the stage.
I watch her walk away then turn back to Michelle. “You and your friends gonna stick around then? I’d love to talk more, maybe buy you another drink.”
She smiles. “I rarely drink.” She holds up her glass. “This is actually my first of the night, so thank you. I’ll stick with raspberry seltzer afterwards.”
“That mean you’re staying?” I give her a charming grin, hoping to convince her if she isn’t already.
“Yeah.”
“Great!” I stand, excited as a schoolboy on his first date. “Great,” I say again, earning a chuckle. “I’ll find you after our set.”
“I’ll be here.”
I hold her gaze as I begin walking backward, still grinning like a fool. It doesn’t last long as I bump into someone and hear a squeal. I turn quickly in time to catch the tray of drinks Vikki’s holding, saving them from crashing to the ground.
“Sorry, Vikkums, sorry.” As soon as she’s steady, I pull more money from my pocket. “Hey, do me a favor, please? Take a raspberry seltzer to Michelle and make sure she doesn’t run out.”
“Sure, Casanova. Now get up on stage or we’ll have some cranky patrons to deal with.”
