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Continuing on my walk, I found a little boutique a few feet further down that snagged my interest. Stepping into it, I was able to find a few things to add to my wardrobe and help me not run out of clothes as quickly. Feeling energized by the new threads, I decided to grab some food and eat there, hoping the social interaction would be good for me. I’d never been one to be a hermit, so going two weeks without interacting with more than the housekeeper was starting to get to me.
A bar a block over caught my eye, so I stepped in, blinking as my eyes adjusted to the darker environment. The place wasn’t busy since it was late afternoon, so I made my way to the bar and placed my bags on an empty stool. It felt easier to sit at the bar since I was alone. I looked out into the space, people watching as I waited for the bartender to walk over.
“What can I get you, doll?”
“I’d like the cheeseburger. Hold the onion with a side of onion rings. And the largest Diet Coke you have.”
He stopped, raising his eyebrows. “Hold the onion, but onion rings?”
“Yep.” I nodded, not feeling I needed to explain myself. He laughed, shaking his head.
“They taste different,” a rich voice said as they sat on a barstool over from me.
I turned toward the sound, finding myself ensnared in deep chocolate eyes. They reminded me of chocolate brownies with a layer of caramel mixed in. I tried to catch the gold strands, but they seemed to move with the light. That was when I realized I’d been staring at this guy, moving my head to see his eyes better.
Placing my head on my hand, I pretended to have been looking for a spot to put my elbow. “Exactly. He gets it,” I said, turning back to the bartender to find he was no longer there. “Hmph.”
Patting the counter, I tried to ignore the chuckle I could hear next to me. I did not need to turn and acknowledge him. Nope. I did not need to. With a strength I didn’t know I possessed, I managed to keep my gaze focused straight ahead for a solid minute.
When I finally gave in to the urge to turn, I let out a breath, realizing I’d been holding it simultaneously. It sputtered over my lips, making the guy laugh.
“Easy there.”
His voice sounded like he was perpetually laughing at you, keeping a secret only he knew. I could tell he was the type of guy that would ruin me, and for once, I was glad I wasn’t on the market. Well, I hoped I wasn’t.
The knowledge that Asa was out there made my mood drop, and I turned back to the front, this time having no difficulty keeping my gaze there.
“Sorry if I offended you,” the guy said a few minutes later, a hint of remorse in his voice I wasn’t expecting.
“No, I just remembered someone I miss.”
“Ah. Far from home?”
“Yes, but don’t think you can kidnap me, and no one would notice. Because they would. In fact, I have to check in every 30 minutes, so, yeah.” I crossed my arms, lifting my chin.Try to steal me now, potential kidnapper.
He chuckled, holding his hands up in a placating gesture. “No plans to kidnap you here. But that’s good to know about the check-in. That’s smart.”
When he acknowledged my thinking, it did something to me. A fluttery feeling beneath my breastplate began to emerge, and I found my cheeks heating. Ah, sugar sticks, I was blushing. I didn’t need to be blushing over a random guy.
Clearing my throat, I pulled out my phone to pretend it was time to check-in. It seemed to work as he didn’t interrupt me again. My food came out a few minutes later, and I dug in, realizing how starved I was. Those vending machine donuts only went so far.
“I’m impressed,” the guy said when I’d cleared my plate, only a burned onion ring left behind.
Shrugging, I decided it was better to not engage with this guy to save myself from embarrassment. I waved the bartender over once I was done, ready to put some distance between the too handsome stranger with the deep voice and magic eyes and me.
“Can I grab my check?”
“Sure thing. Do you need anything else?”
“Nope. I’m going to run to the little girls' room, but I’ll be back.”
He tapped the bar as I slid off, walking down the little hallway with my bags. If I was going to sit and wait for things to be clean, I’d better wash them all. Slipping on the new things, I tossed the tags into the trash and turned in the mirror, checking them out. I’d gone with a simple blue jean skirt that had some rips in it and a navy-blue sleeveless polka-dotted shirt that had a cute bow in the front. It paired well with my Chucks. I looked cute. Not that I was trying to impress anyone. Nope.
Grabbing everything, I walked out and relaxed when I saw the guy was no longer at the bar. I sighed, even if I was a little disappointed he was gone. Looking for the receipt, I realized there wasn’t anything in my spot either.
Motioning for the bartender, I waved him over. He looked at me oddly, probably realizing I’d changed.
“Can I help you, ma’am?”
