Page 48 of The Cannon
He guides me, hand on my back, to the long bar against the wall. Four bartenders tend to the thirsty crowd. We find a spot and Sawyer raises a finger.
Immediately I know the man recognizes my Memphis Maverick. There’s no waiting to give our order. The guy practically sprints to us.
“Hey, man! You’re Sawyer Tom, right?” he says a little too loudly.
“Yeah. Hi. How you doin’?”
This light exchange makes the guy happy as all hell. I’ve seen it a million times. Atticus garners the same attention. And handles it just as graciously as Sawyer. They know if it weren’t for the fans, they’d have none of the perks of celebrity.
“What can I make you?”
Sawyer looks to me.
“I’ll have a champagne.”
“Make it two.”
The bartender gets to his job and Sawyer slips an arm around my waist. He leans in, and his breath in my ear sends chills down my spine.
“Thank you.”
“For what?” I say looking into his eyes.
“For this,” he answers, scanning the elegant and ornate room.
“I’m glad you’re enjoying it. And the best is yet to come.”
Behind his soulful hazel eyes, I see a spark of recognition for the deeper meaning.
“I know, Bristol.”
Sigh.
“Ladies and gentlemen, the performance will begin in ten minutes. Please take your seats.”
Our champagne arrives a little too late to enjoy leisurely.
“No charge!” the apologetic bartender says, holding up two palms.
Sawyer takes a sip of the golden liquid, then places two twenty-dollar bills under his flute.
“Appreciate it. Thanks, man.”
I return my glass to the bar and take Sawyer’s arm.
“Here’s the tickets,” I say handing them off.
The crowd is pooling at the open doors to the theater, so we wait our turn to enter.
“After the play we’ve got reservations at a place my best friend told me about. Supposedly it’s got oodles of ambience and great food. Think you’ll be hungry?”
“I’m always hungry.”
It’s the wink that says the most.
* * *
Le Petite Parisis just as the name implies. Kara didn’t steer us wrong. It’s a hidden gem outside of downtown Memphis, and one I hadn’t heard about before. Intimate. Sexy. Romantic. The small restaurant/piano bar doesn’t try too hard to win you over with high-end décor or art.
