Page 52 of Love Undecided
While Lexie has received a lot of recognition for her wines locally and throughout the state, she’s yet to receive much recognition nationally, and this could take her business to a whole other level.
The waitress brings our drinks. “What are we dancing for, Pinkie?”
“The Wine Educator is reviewing two of my wines in their next issue!”
“Oh! Congratulations, hon, I’m so proud of you!”
Lexie sits down and drinks half her margarita in one straw pull.
I count to five in my head, waiting...
“Ack! Brain freeze!” She grabs her head with both hands and shakes it slightly. Bauer and I both laugh. He breaks the moment by reaching a hand out to her across the table. “Chance Bauer,” he says, by way of introduction.
“Oh my God, I’m so sorry! Chance Bauer, this is Lexie Harrison. Lexie, this is Chance.”
Lexie giggles and bats her eyelashes at him. “Well, hello there. You might have to be my next dashing leading man blend.”
He grins widely at her. “I’m not sure what that means, but I’m pretty sure I’ll like it.”
I can’t decide if I’m jealous or intrigued.
I see Remi approach from over Bauer’s head. Today she is dressed “casually” in tight high-waisted black cigarette pants with two rows of buttons up the front, bright red scoop neck tee, slim fit black blazer with white trim, and black platform peep-toe Mary Janes. Her hair is twisted in victory rolls and her make-up is flawless. She looks amazing, as usual.
Remi slides into the booth. “Sorry I’m late. OH, and hello handsome!”
Then she narrows her eyes at him. "Wait a minute... "
And at the same time that she says, "Chance?" he says, "Remi?" and I realize that my Remi must be the Remi he knew in college.
Oops.
"You guys know each other?" I ask, a master at stating the obvious.
"Unfortunately," Remi says, a dour look on her face.
"Hey.” Bauer puts a hand over his heart. “That hurts. Not that I would expect anything less coming from you. It is Ice Queen? Right?"
"That's so original, Neanderthal."
"And cue the frostbite,” he says, leaning back in his chair. Remi just glares at him.
Lexie and I look back and forth between them.
"Uh, so hey, Rem, I ordered you a margarita already,” I say, gesturing to the table.
She turns to me and smiles, her expression at once warming. “Thanks, sweetie.”
"And, I'm guessing there is no real need to introduce the two of you."
"No,” Bauer says. “We know each other quite well already.”
"I know everything I need to know about this guy,” Remi says. Bauer just looks at her with one eyebrow raised and an expression that can only be described as sardonic. I’m sensing there is a story here that Remi will tell Lexie and I about later.
"I will tell you guys all about it later," Remi says, smiling at Lexie and me.
Ha! Told you I was the master of the obvious.
"What's your wait, Ice Queen?" he all but sneers at her. “You may as well tell them now. I mean, I for one am dying to hear this." He settles back in his chair, stretching his legs out and crossing his arms over his chest. The move makes all his muscles bulge in all the right places.
