Page 9 of Things We Fake
Hot damn! He looked more like a model than an accountant. Instead of the tiny little man in glasses I had pictured, there sat a blond, clean-shaven, square-jawed hunk. The pale green shirt was tightly stretched across his back, shoulders and biceps. His hair was thick and luscious, sprinkled with just enough golden strands to suggest either salon highlights or a divine touch.
I licked my lips, tasting lipstick. Ange had got it right this time! If only he would like me, too.
I walked over, heart hammering as I touched his shoulder.
“Sam?”
He turned around, looking as gorgeous from the front as he did in profile. When he saw me he smiled, and the lights in the bar seemed to dim. He had the whitest, most perfect teeth I’d ever seen.
“Yes. You must be Sue.” His smile broadened when I nodded. “It’s so nice to meet you.”
Before I knew it he was off his stool and was giving me a bear hug. Not just a polite first-date hug, but a full-body, wraparound hug.
I smiled against his shoulder, only mildly concerned about being crushed to death by an overly affectionate Greek statue. I wasn’t much of a hugger, but I knew a lot of people were. And since his hands stayed on my waist and not my ass, I could live with that.
“Nice to meet you, too,” I said when I finally managed to extract myself from his herculean arms.
He must have seen the disdain in my expression as I glared at the stool beside his, because the next thing I knew he was gripping my hips and lifting me effortlessly on it, like putting a baby in a highchair.
“Thanks for the help.” I arranged my ass on the thing as delicately as I could.
Okay, so the man was enthusiastic. A little handsy, but not in a red-flag way. More like… golden retriever energy in a human body.
“No problem.” Sam smiled again, giving me a tiny impulse to shield my eyes.
“Should we sit here at the bar, or get a table?”
“Whatever you want,” he said gallantly.
“Let’s get a table. It’s more comfortable.”
“I agree. Let’s get something to drink first.”
He signaled Lou, who did a double take when he saw me. It was the first time I was here with a man instead of my girlfriends.
“Hi, Sue.” Lou rested his heavy forearms on the bar. “What can I get you two?”
“I want a hot chocolate, please, Lou.” I couldn’t tolerate any more caffeine, but I was dying for a hot drink.
“Coffee for me,” Sam said. “As long as it’s organic and shade-grown. And if the beans are fair trade, even better. I like to feel like my caffeine addiction is doing some good in the world.”
Lou looked at me.
I looked at Lou.
I’d never heard such a request. Clearly, Sam was very conscious about his health and the health of the planet. That was admirable.
Unfazed, Lou nodded and moved away. I could’ve bet all my money that he was going to bring Sam the most ordinary coffee they had—the one he served to everyone.
As we waited for our drinks, Sam turned to me. “So, Ange did say you were beautiful, but her description falls short.”
My cheeks burned. “Thank you. I haven’t seen you around here.”
“It’s actually only the second time I’ve been here,” Sam said. “I usually have lunch at this place called Paw-sitively Yours on Hanover.”
“Don’t know it.”
“It’s a cat café.”
