AllFreeNovel
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Linea yelled and scooched far away from me, giving me a disapproving look.
Laughing, I picked up my drink and swallowed a mouthful.
My gaze skated around the room. Busters was a beehive this Friday night. It seemed everyone had clocked out after the work week ended and decided this was their favorite way to wind down.
It definitely was mine. Every few weekends, Linea and I showed up, had a few beers, and relaxed. Not that the karaoke singer's rendition of “Poker Face” was providing any form of relaxation.
“What is that?” Linea frowned and faced the stage.
The guy was in his element. He strutted across the stage, tossing his non-existent long hair over his shoulder.
“The diva we didn't know we needed.”
My friend laughed and shook her head. "I want to go up there and tell him to stop. I've had a long week. He's ruining my evening.”
“Don't.” I eyed her.
“I won't.”
Keeping my eyes on her, I sipped my beer.
Linea chuckled. “So, about next week's schedule…”
“What? No. It’s the weekend, Linea, no shoptalk.”
Linea and I ran our own business, cleaning homes for a living. We loved helping others by creating spick-and-span, organized havens for them. It was fulfilling and fun working with my best friend. But it also bled into after-work hours.
“Fine.” She raised both hands and shrugged.
Linea grabbed her phone, and blue light illuminated her face. I slid lower in the booth, blew out a breath, and shot a gaze around. I could name almost every face my eyes connected with, and a couple waved. I waved back.
Lively chatter rang out around me. I could easily start up a conversation with anyone while my best friend was snapping different angles of her face to post selfies on Instagram. But chatting with the same people was all I ever did.
Every day, the same routine. Clean houses. See the same faces. Visit our hometown bar.
I loved living in a small town; I really did. But lately I’d been…bored. I just wanted something different. Anything at all to spice up my life. But in Hannibal, that was too much to hope for.
Or was it?
My eyes fell on the entrance just as a man walked in. Unlike those making up the typical crowd at Busters, he was dressed to the nines. A black suit clung to his tall frame, and a dark blue tie ran down the front of the white button-down underneath.
I tilted my head, trying to make out his features. His face was turned down, concentration fixed on his black umbrella. With long deft fingers, he fastened the tie wrap. Lucky umbrella.
Then his gaze lifted.
My heart clenched.
Deep gray eyes set in a rugged, strong face took in the room. Those stormy eyes bounced off me, and my breath caught. A sensation snaked through my belly—something foreign and delicious.
His gaze fixed on the bar, and his body followed. Lean strength sparked through with every measured step he took.
He dropped lithely onto a bar stool, his back to the booths. I shook myself out of my trance, glancing around. I’d lost myself there for a minute.
Judging by the ladies turned in his direction, I wasn't alone. All but Linea. She was still focused on her phone. I elbowed her and nodded to the man.
She leaned over, trying to make out his face. “Oh my.” She sat back. “Who’s that silver fox?”
"Hell if I know." My words came out a little breathless.
