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Gia was trying to stick this social event out. Her friends had been trying to get her to come to Casper’s for the last two months. She didn’t like the bar scene. Not really, but she was enjoying the atmosphere of the place, the pictures on the wall of the war veterans, and soldier stories as well as the country music. What she didn’t like were the guys constantly hitting on her or trying to invade her space. Sure, they were good-looking cowboys, with fantastic bodies and a kind of arrogance to them. Not GQ like men from New York City but more like rough-and-tough, get-down-in-the-mud types. She wasn’t as dead inside as she was beginning to think. Not until she laid eyes on that very tall, incredibly handsome bartender. He was a Goliath and with dimples. She had that little twang in her belly and felt her cheeks warm as he stared into her eyes. That was definitely a shock to her. So she did the best thing she could do, and got as far away from him as she could. Pain…remember the pain.
She was still on edge and figured she would be for years to come. She had to admit that the guys in Houston were quite appealing. She hadn’t met one yet that wasn’t or didn’t have a great body.
As she absorbed the atmosphere and talked with her friends, she kept glancing b
ack at the bar and the attractive bartender with the dark eyes and crew-cut hair. He was gorgeous, yet very rugged and hard looking. His biceps were big, but he had a look in his eyes when he locked gazes with her and she felt something. Was it mere attraction to a good-looking man or was it something else? She tried not to stare at him, but each time she glanced his way, it seemed as if he were watching her. Not in a creepy way, but more like keeping an eye on her. Did she appear naïve or something? Maybe he was just being kind because she was a friend with Sammy and they had known one another for years.
When some idiot tried to get a little too close, she put him in his place and decided that a quick trip to the ladies’ room for a reprieve was in order. She told Sammy where she was headed then walked through the crowd. She didn’t like being out at places like this where men and women sought out attractions or whatever. She feared intimacy. She feared getting close to people, and after her experiences in New York, she feared men in general. Sure she could handle the occasional jerk, but letting her guard down to allow interest or deeper conversation made her palms sweat and her need to disappear increase.
She took care of her needs then headed back toward the front of the bar. On the way she noticed the pictures on the wall and then three men standing together in uniform. They were Marines. But something in their similar eyes caught her attention.
“That was taken when we returned home after our third tour in Vietnam,” someone said and she turned to find an older, attractive-looking man with salt-and-pepper hair. He had to be about six feet tall. Even with her heels on, she hardly reached his chest. Being five feet four inches was on the smaller side.
She was hesitant to respond but then noticed that he was one of the men in the picture.
“That’s awesome. Are these your friends?” she asked.
“My brothers. We went back two more times after that. Always met up in the same spot on our returns. Thank God we all got back safely,” he said and she sensed the relief in his voice, which was amazing considering it had been so many years ago that the war had happened.
“I’m sure it was a relief to get there and to see your brothers. Do you get to see them often now?” she asked.
He smiled and his eyes, somewhat familiar for some strange reason, held hers.
“I get to see them all the time. We own this place, along with our sons. The name is John Luke.” He offered his hand. She of course shook his hand and smiled.
“Gia Marie.”
“You’re not from the South, are ya, darling?”
“New York actually. I moved out here six months ago.”
“I’ve never seen you here before with Sammy and the girls.”
Gia looked over her shoulder to where Sammy and the others were.
“Yeah, well, they’ve been trying to get me to come here for a while. I guess I’m still trying to get used to Houston. I don’t like crowds really.”
“I get that way sometimes, too. Saturdays are a bit less rowdy. Not so many business people looking to let off some steam from their offices,” he said then winked.
She smiled and then she saw that attractive bartender approach and she wondered if Garrett was Luke’s son.
John followed her line of sight as he turned and Garrett joined them. She noticed a slight limp in Garrett’s walk, but she didn’t stare. He smiled at her as he looked her over. She pulled the small jacket tighter, despite the fact that she suddenly felt very overheated.
“Here’s one of my sons. Garrett, meet Gia Marie. She’s from New York,” Luke said as he gave them some space.
“We met at the bar,” he replied and she smiled.
She watched him closely and there was definitely an attraction. She was about to excuse herself when she felt Sammy’s hand on her shoulder, turning her.
“Excuse me, guys, I need a moment,” Sammy said and Gia wondered what was up. Sammy bent slightly to whisper into Gia’s ear. “I sat in something and I need your jacket to wrap around my waist.”
“Oh, of course,” Gia said then removed her jacket and handed it to Sammy.
“Thank you,” Sammy said then waved and walked away.
When she turned back toward John Luke and Garrett, only Garrett was standing there and he was looking her arms over. She knew she was defined from her martial arts training, but she didn’t like to show off.
“So, how long have you been living in Houston?”
