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When that didn’t happen, she knew what their bill would be and the shock that would follow. Silly tourists, enthusiastic from their arrival in this heavenly place, hadn’t yet learned the valuable lesson of setting a price before ordering a treat.
Sure enough, as they happily enjoyed their fancy drinks, their glee for having arrived in paradise became obvious, and Sophia felt her sympathy take shape. Finished and ready to move on, they were given the final bill, and that’s when the blow of finding the price of their entertainment to be outrageous, they revealed their shock. Only one, a frizzy-haired, older, argumentative woman, questioned the waiter angrily.
“Seriously? You expect us all to pay twenty-five euros? For each drink? It’s outrageous… ridiculous.”
Sophia knew she shouldn’t interfere. It wasn’t done, but how could she sit by and watch her father’s countrymen be cheated so badly.
She stepped over to where the bar’s owner stood, a smirk on his face as he watched yet another group of people being robbed. When he saw her, at first, he lit up with greeting until he noticed the disgust on her face. “Henri, you either discount their drinks, or I’ll make such a fuss, they’ll be talking about it for days.”
A whistle from Henri caught the waiter’s eye. A shake of Henri’s head made it known for the waiter to step down and be reasonable. A friend of the confrontational woman had seen Sophia’s approach and seemed to know she’d made the difference. The lovely, short-haired woman nodded her way, a thank you for sure.
Once the final bill had been settled, the still angry woman picked up the empty goblet-styled glass and stuck it under her arm. “Even at half price, the cost is pure highway robbery. I’ll be taking the glass too. Though I still feel cheated, it will remind me to check the prices first.”
Off she trotted, her party amazed at her cheek, yet willing to take her side, laughed at her brazen behavior and no doubt feeling better about the whole situation. Especially when the waiter stood down and said nothing.
Sophia returned to her table to find she had a guest relaxing in the chair opposite from hers. His handsome face took her breath away. A well-trimmed beard and mustache, plus aviator-style sunglasses hid most of his face, yet she felt an instant attraction.
He was the exact type of male she’d learned to stay away from. The sort who attracted her, spun her senses and in the past had made her behave like a sappy female rather than a strong, modern woman.
“I’m sorry. You’ve taken my table. I only stood up for a minute to say hello to an old friend.”
The cheeky bastard looked at the empty plates and glass and then glanced to the ground as if searching for something. Finally, he said, “No name that I can find. The rest of the tables are full.” He grinned with a sly kind of a smile that had her catch her breath, waved his hand at her chair, and spoke softly, “I’m more than happy to share this one… Sophia.”
