“Can’t waste a good babysitter.”
“I noticed you and Aud haven’t gotten up there yet.” Kyle winked at me, and I smiled at him. Audrey and I loved karaoke, but I wasn’t sure she was as musically motivated lately, considering, well, her possibly being the Chosen One to unite realms and all that. I, however, have often found myself on my composition software, desperate to flesh out the melody I only seemed to hear in Hyvenmere.
“If she shows up, we will.”
“Even if she doesn’t!” Kyle threw his arms out wide, each one holding a water bottle, as he walked backward toward the stage. I crossed my fingers at him before I turned back toward the counter, ready to take the next customer’s order, when my breath caught in my throat.
“Hi,” I breathed out.
“Did I startle you?” My handsome stranger smiled at me. His gaze left where Kyle retreated and landed on me. He wasn’t wearing sunglasses this time. Instead, his dark eyes landed on me directly, and something pulsed in my veins from the direct attention. Freshly shaven. His shoulder-length dark hair was styled perfectly, and he wore a simple white t-shirt and dark-wash jeans. Not a wrinkle in sight.
After I studied his face, he quirked a dark eyebrow at my silence.
I cleared my throat, remembering to respond, “Nope. Just—” I waved my hands around the chaos happening at the shop. “It’s busy.”
“It is.” He glanced around the space, as if just realizing he was one wrong step away from bumping into other patrons. “I should order before you’re out of supplies.”
I grinned. “Your usual?”
He bit his lip in thought as his eyes flicked over the updated menu.
“Perhaps something stronger?” he asked, and even with all the noise, I could pick up on the flirtatious tone in his voice. It made my chest heat with excitement.
“Perhaps,” I repeated. It was my turn to quirk an eyebrow at him. “So formal.” He gave me a quizzical look, as if my words threw him off. I was teasing, but he seemed genuinely worried that he had slipped up somehow.
“Well, I’m not serving alcohol tonight, because of the minors present.” I nodded to a group of high schoolers, singing the lyrics to the latest pop song. “But, lucky for you…” I waved Emma over to take over my spot. “…I know the owner.” My handsome stranger grinned, following me around the counter as I took off my apron and hung it up, “Emma, you’re in charge!” I told her.
She gave me a thumbs up and a wink, smiling brightly at the sight of me leading him back toward my office.
“This way,” I called over my shoulder, strolling with my head held high down the narrow hallway. I pulled the keys out of my pocket, glancing behind me to see that he had followed me but was staying a respectable distance away. He glanced up to make eye contact with me, his smile warming up a bit more now that we were away from the noise.
He blinked, and I noticed something.
“Do you wear contacts?” I asked as I unlocked the door. I could see the faint line against the white of his eyes.
His smile fell for a second before he casually replied, “Yeah.”
“Are your sunglasses prescription lenses too?” I followed up while holding the door open for him.
My handsome stranger cleared his throat and nodded. “Yes.”
“Ah.” I walked over to the other side of my desk, pulling out a box of some Swedish vodka I kept back here for special occasions. Or if I wanted to get fucked on my desk. Either or. I pulled out a glass bottle and two whiskey glasses.
“I don’t have anything to mix it with, but I could find something out there if you’d like?”
“No, no.” He shook his head and took a glass, holding it out for me to pour. “This is great.”
“Great.” I poured him two fingers, feeling generous with the good stuff. “I have a rule, though, before you drink.” I poured myself two fingers as he held his glass in his large hand. His fingers practically wrapped around the entire thing. He waited patiently for me to elaborate.
“What is your rule?”
“You have to tell me your name.” I leaned against my desk, my glass in my hands, crossing one arm over myself. “I’ve been referring to you as my handsome stranger in my head this whole time, and I just don’t think I can moan that well enough.”
His lips parted. Heat ignited in his gaze as he studied me. Something about watching a man sharply inhale, watching his chest expand as my words sank in for him, gave me a thrill.
He stepped toward me, and I clenched my thighs together in anticipation. Instead of crowding my space like I expected him to, he leaned against my desk beside me, his lips twitching with humor at my obvious disappointment. I leaned back to watch how his firm ass pressed against the wood before sitting up straight again.
I mostly dated men shorter than me, but I wasn’t against dating a man taller than me, either.
