Page 3 of Yes to The Holidays
Even with my heels on, this man towered over me. Since I wasn’t sure Gods walked amongst us, I decided he must be a movie star. And he was helping me with my coat. Maybe he was a method actor and needed to practice being kind to a mousy businesswoman.
“Hope you don’t mind. Perhaps I should have announced myself.” He held my coat but offered a hand. “Odin. Nice to meet you.”
Okay, God it is. “Nice to meet you. I’m Janie.” His hand was large and warm, surely capable of magic.
“Would it be presumptuous to invite you to sit at a table with me?”
Yeah…no controlling the warmth, or wetness, rushing to my core now. “I don’t want to impose.”
He smiled, dimples flashing through the short stubble on his face. My mouth went dry.
“I’d love the company but don’t want to make you uncomfortable.” He passed my coat to me with a smaller smile. “Pleasure to meet you, Janie. Enjoy your evening.” He could do voice-over acting with that smooth, deep voice.
He turned to go to the bar. I scanned quickly and didn’t see two seats together, but there was a booth open along the wall. “Wait, we can go grab that table over there.” I’ve been through some shit and a little eye candy was well deserved.
He turned back and nodded toward the table. “After you.”
I straightened my shoulders and took a few steps to the table in the corner. We both scooted in on opposite sides of the round booth. “Is this one, okay? I always feel bad for taking the larger table, but you can see outside from here, and I love the holiday lights.”Really, Janie?
“This is perfect. I’m enjoying my visit.”
Visit. He’s visiting. From out of town. “Oh, are you here on business or pleasure?”Please say business.
“A little of both, I suppose. Mainly business, but why not explore a new area? This is oddly my first trip to Georgia.”
A cute, perky server with a high blonde ponytail came over with a gorgeous smile. I slumped a bit into my seat.
“Hi, I’m Michelle. Do you need a menu, and can I grab you a drink?” she directed it right at him, ignoring that I was even sitting across from him. There goes half her tip. It was the holidays, so I wouldn’t completely shaft her.
“Why don’t you ask my companion? She’s the local here.” He winked at me.
I straightened in my seat. Donald would have never corrected a stranger like that, especially a cute girl.
“Of course, what can I do for you, ma’am?” I’d seen better acting in elementary school plays.
I smiled at her. “I’ll have a Blue Moon in a bottle if you got it and a menu would be great.”
“I’ll have the same, please,” he said.
Michelle smiled briefly, then hustled off to the bar.
“Do you really like those or are you just being agreeable?” I asked with a hint of mirth.
He chuckled, the baritone in his voice resounding. “Is it not a good thing to be agreeable? Especially to a beautiful woman?”
Welp…there goes those panties. “I suppose it is. But I hope if you had ordered something else first, it would be fine for me to order what I want.”
Odin paused, examining my face. “Of course, that would be fine. I love a woman with a mind of her own.” The last bit was like butter.
The server showed back up, giving me a moment to gather myself before I completely forgot who I was or what I was doing. She placed our beers on coasters, handed us both menus, and said she’d return in a few minutes to take our orders.
He looked at the menu, rubbing his chin with his free hand. Those long fingers were hypnotizing.Get a grip, Janie!His fingers? But seriously. Just wow. It had been months since I had sex, and that is a loose term with Donald. Don’t get me wrong, I usually arrived, but it was nothing to brag to the friends about.
“I’m starving. I mostly snacked today while I was out and about. What’s good here? Or do you know? Have you been here before?”
“Oh, it’s all good. It’s bar food, but they pile it high, and it does the trick. I’ve been coming here a lot in the last few months.” I started to take a sip, then realized how that sounded. “I don’t mean a lot, just more than before. I’m not an alcoholic or anything.”Smooth, Janie.Real smooth.
He grinned, his enchanting eyes moving over my face as I finally took that sip. “I enjoy a nightcap most evenings but don’t often overindulge. Still, as long as you’re safe, what’s wrong with enjoying yourself?” He dropped the menu and his fingers laced together as he sat his elbows on the table.
