“Did you say something, Cate?”
“I asked if you are going to stay for supper. If not, I’ll change our reservation to four instead of five.”
“I’ll stay. I can go for a run after supper.” Cate smiled and sat back, curling into Dimitris’ side.
“Good. Then we can all try the pecan crusted salmon. I heard it was divine.”
The bar’s door opened, bringing in a rush of cool air perfumed by the scent of lavender and honey. Chills ran up Lukyan’s back as he inhaled deeply. As a shifter, he already found the room overheated and stuffy, but he suddenly found it unbearably hot. He looked over his shoulder to find the source of the electricity that was charging through his body. At the door, bundled up in a ridiculous number of puffy layers, stood the one woman destined to be his forever.
He ran his eyes over her body. Even with the puffy jacket, he could see that she had nice womanly curves. Her cheeks were flushed from the cold, and golden curls escaped her hat. Unlike the look-alike blondes, this woman’s hair was soft and natural and her face was unadorned by makeup. She was lovely, and she was all his. His wolf growled its agreement.
“Mine.”
Norah took off her coat and hat and then looked around until she spotted an open stool at the bar. Since it was the middle of the week she had expected the resort to be fairly empty. She hadn’t been prepared for the crush in the small space.One drink, a light dinner, and then you can go back to the cabin.She took a deep breath to calm her nerves before She pushed down her way through the tables and merrymakers to find a seat. Two stools sat empty at the end of the bar. “Is this taken?” she asked the woman behind the bar.
“It’s all yours, hon. What can I get ya?”
“How about a glass of Pinot and some water?”
“Would you like a menu, or are you planning on heading into the restaurant?”
Norah briefly toyed with the idea of eating at the bar. There was nothing more uncomfortable than eating alone in a restaurant, a bar was a moderately less uncomfortable setting. She pushed her inner introvert and resolved to eat in the restaurant like a big girl. “I think I’ll just have the drink now, thank you.”
After the bartender left, Norah turned to take in her surroundings. It was difficult to see around the throngs of skiers, but she managed to note that the bar was richly furnished in buttery leathers and dark mahogany. As far as resorts went, this one was pretty swanky. She had made the reservation in December for a romantic getaway with her then-boyfriend, Curt. But that was before. Before she told him that she was ready to move on to the next phase in their love lives. Before he freaked out and told her he wasn’t prepared for anything serious. Before he left her high and dry to spend New Year’s Eve with a twenty-two-year-old former cheerleader. Before she gave up all hope of getting the husband and house and two-point-five kids she’d been dreaming of since she was fifteen.
“For you, ma’am.” The bartender was standing before her again, with a glass and a bottle of Pinot Noir. She poured the glass and set the bottle to the right of her glass.
“Thank you, but I just wanted the one glass.” Norah pointed to the bottle. There was no way she could drink more than one glass. She hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast this morning which meant she would be lucky to walk straight after a few sips.
“It’s from the golden haired Adonis in the booth.” The bartender pointed toward the back corner. Norah turned in her seat and was shocked to see that she was looking right into the soulful stare of the most gorgeous man she had ever seen. His emerald green gaze caressed her from top to bottom. His fuck-me eye rake was a little intimidating — and hot. Oh, yes, definitely hot. Or it was right up until she caught sight of the three other men sitting in the large booth with him. And, even worse, one of the men had his wife next to him. Yep, this was definitely less hot and more embarrassing than she had originally thought. Who really wanted to get eye raped when three other men and a woman were watching? Not Norah.
Uncomfortable as she might be, she could not seem to turn around. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but he definitely had a hold on her. Perhaps it was her imagination, but she had a feeling that there was some sort of connection between the two of them. The kind of instant bonding one might read about in a book, not the kind that actually happens in real life. But here she was, sitting in a bar, totally enveloped in the gaze of a beautiful man with impossibly broad shoulders and too green eyes. It was pretty erotic, except for the fact that four other people were watching this unfold. That part she could have totally done without.
She waved at him. In her mind, it was athank you for the winewave, but he must have misunderstood because he stood up and started toward her. Norah swallowed down her fear and an unwelcome surge of arousal. This man was beautiful. Standing she could see that he was easily six-four. His wide shoulders caused his grey pullover to hug tight against his arms and chest before angling into his narrow waist and hips. He had an athlete’s body and a predator’s gait. She took a gulp of her wine. What could she possibly have to say to Mr. Gorgeous? He took another step just as her phone rang, the shrill buzz caused her to jump. She grabbed at the device, fumbling with the buttons. The screen indicated it was Jessie, her best friend. Norah swiped the green dot and put the phone to her ear. Mr. Gorgeous stopped in his tracks, still keeping his eyes locked on hers. She held up her finger, a silent communication that she would speak with him as soon as she finished her conversation. His jaw tightened, but after a moment he nodded and turned to sit back with his friends. The one to his left laughed about something, but Green Eyes never took his focus off her. All his attention was on her. She felt like a mouse trapped in a corner by a big, hungry cat, and she couldn’t decide if she was happy to be caught or scared for her life.
She turned back toward the bar and spoke into the phone. “So you decided you felt sorry for your best friend and were going to take some time off work to come skiing, after all.” She was pleased to note that she had managed to say the entire sentence without a voice crack. One look at Mr. Gorgeous had forced all the moisture from her mouth and into her nether regions.
“Ha, you wish! You know that I would absolutely love nothing more than to leave the city and come spend some time in the great outdoors skiing with my best girl, but I’m just too swamped here. Every woman in New York City has decided it’s time to give birth. We’re short handed and I can’t step away even for half a day, much less three.”
Norah sighed. “I know. I just wish you were here. I made these reservations months ago thinking it would be a romantic spot for Curt to propose, but you know where that went. Then I thought I would make the most of it by having a girls’ getaway, but that fell through too. I know no one at the resort, so this is going to end up being three days of me sitting in a cabin by myself, doing work on my computer that I could have done at home for free.”
Jessie laughed. “Listen, little lady, you can give me the sad Norah routine, or you can have some fun by yourself. Start by going to the bar.”
“I’m in the bar.”
“You are? Norah Robinson is in a bar, by herself, without me having to pressure or strong-arm her? What is this witchery?”
“Ha, ha.” Norah rolled her eyes.
“I can almost hear your eyes roll all the way in New York City.”
Norah rolled her eyes again. “You told me before I left that I had to go to the bar every night for one drink and then eat dinner in the restaurant. I promised I would. So that’s what I’m doing. Having a drink. All by myself. It is averysad sight if you must know.”
“How sad? Like there’s not one single hottie in the bar, sad? Or like, you’re just being a big baby, sad?”
“I don’t think I’m being a baby.” Norah definitely thought she was being a baby but she didn’t care. Everyone deserved a little self-pity every now and again.
“You’re being a baby. And because you ignored the hottie comment, I can assume there is a very fuckable gentleman somewhere in the vicinity.”
