Chapter 4
Ophelia
I hit my selling goal just after lunchtime, so the rest will be gravy. This past year was tough, sewing all of these outfits, but clearly worth my time. And it looks like I will hustle less and sew more in the new year, at the rate I am going.
Ursula closes her table for a half hour so that she can walk around and give her hands a rest. Twenty minutes into her break, she rushes over to me, her eyes wide and wild.
“Ophelia! Oh my lord, Ophelia!”
Laughing as she tackles me, I say, “What? Woman, I am 45. I am not meant to be tackled.”
“I just saw a minotaur!” She breathes into my ear, so that my customers can’t hear her.
“Really? Where?”
Ursula looks around and shrugs.
“You’ll totally see him. He’s impossible to miss. And he’s fricken fine. Dayum.”
That doesn’t surprise me. I have always found minotaurs incredibly sexy, but haven’t seen one in years.
“Okay, I guess I should open my table back up.”
Ursula returns to her setup as I help a customer choose one of my rainbow vests. The man is hilarious and keeps making me laugh. After he buys two vests and walks away, I catch sight of the massive minotaur across the room at Selwyn’s booth. I audibly gasp and my pussy throbs for his attention.
Whoa, Ophelia, what the hell, woman?
I study him from afar as he checks out the next table.
He looks to be at least 7 feet tall, with light tan skin.
Although he’s wearing a jacket, I can tell the man is built.
His broad shoulders look like he could take down an entire football team with one hit.
And his ass. Damn, that man’s ass is tight in those jeans.
I bet I could bounce a penny off of his bare butt.
For a moment, I swear he steals a look at me, then glances away.
My entire body feels like I have been draped in fire.
Before I contemplate why I am reacting like this to a stranger, a couple comes over to ask me a question about my hand sewn purses.
After several minutes of going through them, they end up buying ten for their granddaughters as Christmas gifts.
Thanking them, I watch them walk away and suddenly notice a mammoth figure in the corner of my eye.
Turning my head, I find the minotaur looking through my clothing rack.
I know I should greet him and offer to assist, but I can’t find my voice in my tight throat.
He then looks up at me, our eyes meeting with an intensity that makes me want to faint and giggle at the same time, and the handsome bullman smiles.
“These are gorgeous. Did you make them?”
“Uh, yes. Um, yes sir.” Get yourself together, woman.
“I take it you don’t have anything in my size?” He says, walking toward me.
“No, I’m sorry. Shit. You’re right, though, I really should. I should be more inclusive with my sizing.”
The minotaur’s laugh is kind but deep.
“Don’t beat yourself up over it. It’s not like it’s raining bullmen.”
That sounds hot.
“Well, uh, if you ever want something custom-ordered, um, here’s my card. I would love, um, I’d be happy to create you something.”
Handing him my card, our fingers brush each other and the electric heat that radiates up my arm from his touch forces me to step back in order to regain my balance.
“That’s a great idea. Thank you. I’ll be in touch,” he says, turning and walking away.
Looking over to see if Ursula saw the exchange, I find her rubbing some guy’s shoulders while staring at me, her mouth gaping open. She mouths, “Dayum!”
Sitting around Althea’s table, my friends and I toast to Galentine’s Day.
“Alright, ladies. Let’s get our prinks on and then walk down to Sea Glass Tavern,” Maya says.
“Prinks?” Ursula asks.
“Pre-drinks! My tour guide taught me that term in Ireland.” Maya says, laughing.
“Sounds about right.”
After a few glasses of wine, we head out into the February chill. Ursula and Maya lead the way, while Althea and I follow, arm in arm.
“Maybe there will be some cute guys there?” She says.
“Boo on that. It’s Galentine’s Day!”
“True, true,” she says with a laugh.
“Plus, I am in a dry period, anyway. And I doubt I’ll be getting out of it anytime soon.”
“Don’t be such a negative nelly. So that hot minotaur never reached out, huh?”
“Oh, no, not at all. And that was almost two months ago, so that ain’t happening.”
“But you said it was, what was it, electric? You said it was electric being near him.”
“It was. One hundred percent. But obviously not for him.”
“You don’t know that.”
“I know the man has my card and hasn’t called. He clearly wasn’t interested. Which is, whatever. I don’t even know the dude’s name. So I shouldn't be in my feelings about the whole thing.”
“But you are?” Althea asks, softly.
“Maybe a little.”
“I’m buying you a shot!” She announces as we reach the bar and I can’t help but laugh.