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“Ah,” is his only response. But I notice the word comes out a bit breathy. He’s probably sick of entertaining the crazy patron at his bar.
His beautiful hands still lay flat in front of me. I want to trace his tattoos, entwine our fingers, feel the heat of his skin, its texture… He’s distracting me enough to loosen my tongue further.
“He was someone I met a long time ago. We didn’t part on the best terms, and I always wanted a chance to fix things.”
He says in his deep, rumbly voice, “who says today won’t be your lucky day?”
I nod absently, still not looking up, but appreciating his kind words. I let his low gravel and the vision of his strong hands soothe me. The combination is strangely comforting. Added to the wafts of vetiver and manly musk that emanate from the man. He even smells like Matt! I’m almost scared to look up. This stranger’s presence feels like a quiet, deadly storm. Catching me off-guard and unsuspecting, invading my senses, making me parched with want and need.
“I’m sorry. I’m not always like this,” I apologize lamely.
“It’s okay,” he rumbles, and the vibration of his voice courses through my body like a soothing balm. “We’re all chasing after that special someone.”
Just being able to talk about it, even in such vague terms. Acknowledging how much I miss and crave to find Mateo Romano, even to a stranger, feels so fucking good.
“Thank you for listening,” I finally say.
“Of course.” He hums pensively. “What are you gonna do?”
I let out a deep sigh. “I’m not sure. Go back to the ballroom and dance the night away? Lock myself in my hotel room to binge-watch TV and stuff my face? The possibilities are endless.”
He chuckles, and the sound is fucking delicious. It thickens the cloud of safety surrounding me. I wish I could pack his voice and take it with me. The delicious scent of him. His large, tattooed hands. The big dick energy emanating from this man. Wish he wasn’t just a friendly barman doing his job, but the ghost I’ve been chasing for almost half of my life.
Fuck, poor guy probably can’t wait till I finish my drink and leave his bar. I raise my gaze to thank him and leave, and almost fall off my stool.
It’s him! Mateo! After all these years, all this time praying, searching, and coming up blank, the man who ruined me for any other is standing in front of me.
3
PRESENT DAY - Mateo
I’ve been waiting for Zina to look up from the bar-top since I walked into this room. And the moment she does, my heart feels like it’s about to fucking explode. Because Zina Washington recognized me! After all this time… I instantly see the spark in her beautiful, big brown eyes, that says she knows exactly who I am and that she’s just as shocked, as floored as I am. Her kissable lips fall open, gaze growing wide. It’s almost funny. Almost. If it wasn’t another defining moment of my life, with this woman again.
And all the stuff she said about looking for someone? No, don’t go there. Don’t you dare fucking get your hopes up, Romano! I need to fucking apologize and make things right with this woman. That’s my priority, here.
I give her what I hope is a friendly smile and not a toothy, creepy one. Because I’m smiling so big, my face hurts. It’s her and me, in the same place. And she looks fucking happy to see me. She hasn’t run for the hills, slapped me across the face, or yelled for help.
I grin, staring back into the face I missed more than anything ever, taking my feel. Zina is even more beautiful now as a mature woman than she was fifteen years ago. All woman. With still a fantastic rack and ass, but now her features tell a story. She’s lived, been through things. Lost and won battles. And my heart warns me, saying it doesn’t know if this time it can hold back and walk away.
“Hey,” I finally say softly.
“Matt?” she asks with incredulity. “Mateo Romano?” Her tone is excited.
Fucking take my heart and run with it.
“The one and only.”
Zina lets out an incredulous laugh. “You work here?”
“You could say that,” I reply non-committally.
“Small world.” Her broad smile illuminates the entire room, hitting me straight in the chest.
“That, it is.”
“Are you… are you going to the reunion?”
I shake my head. thinking of another party, in a different place, a long time ago. “I wasn’t planning on it, but if you want an escort.”
