Page 4 of Yes to The Holidays
“You’re absolutely right,” I said. How many ways could I enjoy myself with him?
We stared at each other for several seconds and were interrupted again.
“You ready to order?” the server asked.
I ordered cheese fries, skipping any chili or peppers. Not that I was planning for anything later. Just, at thirty-two, heartburn could be an issue, so I was being practical. He ordered a mushroom Swiss burger, no onions.Interesting. No. Not interesting. The man probably just didn’t like onions. Or perhaps he also got heartburn occasionally.
“If you don’t mind me asking, how old are you, Odin?”
“Thirty-eight, you?”
“Thirty-two.” Another intense stare session had me clenching my thighs. Grabbing my beer, I continued, “Snacking all day. What were you up to?”
He finished his sip, then put the bottle down on the table and relaxed against the booth. “I took a scenic drive to North Georgia. There was an orchard I stopped at because I love fresh apple cider. Plus, it was a beautiful drive and an even more beautiful day. The weather here is fantastic.”
“Ha! If you stay two more days, it’ll either be back to eighty degrees or maybe twelve degrees with ice on the road. It’s Mother Nature Roulette here. Where are you from?”
“New York. Originally Maine.”
“Oh, I pegged you for a Viking or something with that name.” I may have been sipping that beer too fast.
“My grandparents were from Norway, and my father came here as a young child. My mother’s grandparents were from Sweden. They very much enjoy tradition.”
I’ll take a Viking over a movie star any day. “That’s wild that they met.”
“It’s a beautiful love story. Maybe I can tell it to you some other time?”
I swallowed hard. “Didn’t you say you were just visiting?”
He nodded, gazing with hooded eyes. “For now. But you never know. Things can change in an instant.”
Polishing off my beer, I set it down just as the server came with our food. Once we had our orders she asked if we needed another drink. I nodded. I was about to do something crazy and needed the nerve for it.
We finished our meal with small talk. Odin told me he arrived last night, where he visited today, and where he still planned to see. I offered a few local spots that lots of folks didn’t know of that he may be interested in as well.
“Sounds amazing. Maybe you can accompany me since it’s off the beaten path? Show me the hometown tour.”
I was loose and warm after several beers, and he was just yummy. I didn’t have anything else to do this weekend. “Sure, I’d like that.”What the hell?I could have my cake, eat it, then send it home.
The server brought the check, and he snatched it up before I could get to it.
“I am capable of paying, sir.” I tried to hold in a hiccup.
Without a word, he stood with the check, winked, and went to the bar. I pulled some cash out, more than I planned to leave her, but after getting tipsy and enjoying some fine company, I was feeling generous. Honestly, I couldn't blame her for her previous behavior; the man literally looked like a Norse God. Tossing the cash down, I grabbed my coat, but he was instantly at my side, taking it from my hands.
“Allow me,” he said, soft and low.
I pushed my arms through the coat, and he lifted it to my shoulders. Instead of letting go, he brushed a finger over the exposed skin of my neck. Turning, I was staring up at a heated gaze before glancing straight ahead at his rounded chest.
He offered his arm, so I threaded mine into his. The warmth of his skin seeped through the shirt.
“Did you not bring a coat?”
He shook his head. “No,” he said as he began leading us outside. “Even though it’s cooled down, it’s still quite mild to me.”
I nodded. He’s from up North and a Viking, so he probably liked it cold. He’d hate it here in the summer for sure.
We stepped out onto the sidewalk, and the city was still buzzing. Nothing like New York. I’d been there a few times for business trips over the years, and it was always humming with people no matter the weather or time of day.
