Chapter Two #2
I chuckle. “Not exactly.” I meet her gaze and nod to the empty chair closest to her. “May I?”
She uses her foot to push out the chair and waves her hand as an invitation for me to sit. As I lower myself into the seat, Vikki, the waitress approaches, so I raise my hand at her.
“Hey, Vikki, can I please get the house draft, and the lady will have…” I look at her empty glass, unable to tell what she’s been drinking. “Well, I guess she’ll have whatever she’d like.”
“I’ll have a chocolate martini, please.”
“You got it.” Vikki makes her way to the bar, leaving me and hot momma staring at one another.
I can’t help the chuckle that escapes, earning me a curious look.
“What?” She asks.
“I’d really like to know your name so I can move on from thinking of you as lucky number seven or hot momma. Not that the latter doesn’t apply, but, I’m sure you’d rather not be called that.”
She erupts with a deep throaty laugh that has my balls tightening.
Damn, Xander, keep it together.
“Oh, I don’t know. Kinda has a nice ring,” she chuckles. “I’m Michelle. And you’re Xander.”
I dip my head in acknowledgement but keep my eyes locked hers.
Being this close to her again, I take in the details of those sexy silver-gray eyes that are almost too big on her tiny heart-shaped face.
Delicate lines fan out from the corners while thick lashes that don’t need enhancing crown her lids.
I take in the slender slightly up-turned nose and her plump lips that, like her eyes, should seem too big for her face.
But she’s perfect. Cute yet beautiful. Her short asymmetrical bob of dark hair is classy, streaked with silver, not gray, somehow catching the light so it gleams.
She does her share of assessing, making me wonder what she sees when she looks at me. I’m comparable to wrestling legend, André the Giant, next to this tough Tinkerbell.
“Thank you, for earlier, up on stage, with that guy,” she says in clipped segments.
“Well, you looked like you were handling it just fine.”
“I’m not sure I would’ve thrown him in the crowd, no matter how much I really wanted to.”
“That’s why I’m here. For the heavy lifting.” I chuckle.
“I think it’s much more than that. You and your band are terrific. Every song was perfect.”
“Thanks.” I can’t help but preen. Hey, even guys like hearing compliments. “We have a lot of fun.”
“Do you always perform here? I’ve never seen you before. I mean, this is actually my first time here, but I must have missed you in the past during the Music Fest.”
Vikki returns with our drinks, setting them on the table. Even though the drinks are on me—meaning free—I slip her some bills for a tip, knowing how hard she’s working this evening.
“Thanks, Vikki.”
“You bet. Catch ya later.”
As she walks away, I turn to look at Michelle, who’s watching intently.
“You must be a regular. You at least know the waitress.”
“To answer your question, we do play here often, and I am a regular. My sister, Dina, owns the bar with her husband, Mr. loud-mouth-on-the-mic Jerald.”
Michelle sputters with laughter, and I’m fucking enchanted with her.
“We also tour, mostly around Florida, but have had some out-of-state gigs here and there. When we aren’t playing, I help Dina.
” I take a pull from my beer as I watch her drink her martini.
I’m drawn to her mouth as she licks some remnants of chocolate off her lips, making me want to help her out with the sweep of my tongue.
I take another drink, hoping to cool my libido. “So, are you local?”
“Highland Beach.” She gives me a curious look. “I’m sure you look a lot different than you did in high school, so I don’t recognize you or your name.”
I laugh. “Well, even if I had graduated from here, you still wouldn’t, considering you must’ve graduated, what, ninety-seven?” Her burst of laughter is startling at first, but then as it continues, I realize I must be wrong about her age. “Okay, how far off am I?”
She wipes her mouth and collects herself as she gives me a big smile. “I should thank you very much for the compliment. I graduated in eighty-nine.”
I’m silently stunned for a moment, and I’m sure my mouth is hanging open. “What, you… you’re fifty?”
“I am,” she chuckles. “Just this year.”
I search her face again as if I’ll find more evidence to the contrary. I shake my head. “Well you certainly look ten years younger.”
“Thank you. What about you?”
“Fifty-two. Graduated in eighty-seven from Vero Beach but moved to Delray shortly after and have been here ever since. Well, when I wasn’t traveling or in the service or looking for gigs.”
“You were in the service? Which branch?”
“Served in the Army for four years as a mechanic. Didn’t stick. Preferred using my hands on the guitar rather than with tools. Although I did construction for a while.” I chuckle before taking another drink. “How about you? What keeps you busy?”
“I’m a counselor and I teach yoga.” She looks at her glass while swirling her finger along the rim. I notice her delicate fingers with short, neat nails void of any color, and she has no rings on either hand.
“Yeah? Think you could teach a big lug like me to become more flexible?”
She looks up at me, and I can see laughter in her eyes as the corner of her mouth begins to twitch. Before she can say a word, Holly walks up to the table. “Sorry to interrupt, but it’s time for our next set.” Her gaze toggles between me and Michelle a few times.
“Oh hey, yeah, okay.” Before Holly can turn and leave, I say, “Meet Michelle. Michelle, my band mate and friend, Holly.”
“Nice to meet you,” Michelle says. “Fabulous vocals. I told Xander you’re all perfect.”
“Well, I love hearing that, thank you. You sticking around for our next set? We’ve got a few more originals written by the man himself.” Holly slaps a hand down on my shoulder.
Michelle grins as she turns to me. “Oh, yeah? Well, I can’t pass that up. Count me in.”
Holly nods. “Hope to see you again, Michelle.” She turns to me. “See ya up there,” she says before making her way to the stage.
I watch her walk away then turn back to Michelle. “You and your friends gonna stick around then? I’d love to talk more, maybe buy you another drink.”
She smiles. “I rarely drink.” She holds up her glass. “This is actually my first of the night, so thank you. I’ll stick with raspberry seltzer afterwards.”
“That mean you’re staying?” I give her a charming grin, hoping to convince her if she isn’t already.
“Yeah.”
“Great!” I stand, excited as a schoolboy on his first date. “Great,” I say again, earning a chuckle. “I’ll find you after our set.”
“I’ll be here.”
I hold her gaze as I begin walking backward, still grinning like a fool. It doesn’t last long as I bump into someone and hear a squeal. I turn quickly in time to catch the tray of drinks Vikki’s holding, saving them from crashing to the ground.
“Sorry, Vikkums, sorry.” As soon as she’s steady, I pull more money from my pocket. “Hey, do me a favor, please? Take a raspberry seltzer to Michelle and make sure she doesn’t run out.”
“Sure, Casanova. Now get up on stage or we’ll have some cranky patrons to deal with.”
“Yeah, thanks.” I kiss her cheek and run to the stage.
“Not a word,” I playfully grumble to my band mates as I situate myself behind the keyboard.
Holly and Willie make the zipper-lip motion while Rafe just laughs.
He then taps lightly on the rim of his snare drum, counting off before I launch into one of our original scores.
It’s a rocking ballad Holly and I co-wrote about starting over after hardship.
Because who hasn’t had shit in their lives and the need for a fresh start?
While singing, I focus most of my attention on Michelle, wondering what else I’ll discover about the counselor-slash-yoga instructor.
Can’t wait to find out.