Two #2
I had so many questions I wanted to ask him.
Why’d he come back to Pineville to open his business?
Why a brewery? I’d racked my brain trying to remember if he’d ever mentioned his interest in brewing in college, but I couldn’t.
And it was apparent he loved what he did.
He was a hands-on owner. And yes, I wanted his hands on me.
My girl parts tingled, and my panties become damp at just the thought of us together.
I took another quick look in his direction after the server delivered our ice water, so everyone had more time to decide what they wanted.
Tonight he wore a dark gray Henley with the pub’s logo stretched tight over his wide chest and broad shoulders.
He was at the far end of the bar where a group of college-aged customers listened avidly to something he was saying.
He commanded attention wherever he was in the room.
Female attention. And he certainly had mine.
As if he knew I was watching him, his gaze zeroed in on me. He kept talking as we locked eyes. So much was conveyed in that unspoken moment I didn’t hear Audrey saying my name until she bumped me on the arm.
“You need to go over there, Laci,” Audrey whispered low so only I could hear her.
Her words snapped the connection I had with Luke, and he flashed me a quick smile before turning his attention back to his customers.
“Does he ever not look fine?” Deidre asked no one in particular.
“He must lift weights. His arms should have their own Instagram account, damn. I need to get my guy to work out more.” Blayne added.
I silently agreed with the first comment and chuckled over Blayne’s as I finally picked up my menu and took a moment to settle my hormones.
During our last outing, the girls had all confided that drooling over Luke had inspired them and sent them home ready to tangle with their husbands.
And who could blame them? I felt inspired as well, but I wanted to tangle with the man himself and not the vibrator I’d been using a lot more since I saw him. I just needed a shot of courage first.
“Laci, would you like the usual?” Luke’s smooth as silk voice silenced the table full of women.
I looked up from the menu and found him at our table, an order pad in his hand. How’d he get there so quick? He’d also just used my name, leaving no doubt he knew exactly who I was.
Audrey shot me an “I got you” look and spoke up. “We’re kinda split down the middle on one of your menu items, and we need your input.”
“Sure. I’m at your service, ladies.” Luke grinned.
He may have addressed everyone, but he was looking at me. His open interest gave me a boost of hope and another swirl of heat in my lower abdomen.
I felt like we had a secret between us. Luke and I had another chance to see if the chemistry between us could be mixed and proven viable. I suppressed a giggle at my lame joke. Yeah, I was still a science nerd.
I caught his raised eyebrow at my not so suppressed laugh, and then he winked at me. Damn. I wiggled in my seat and sucked in a groan as the movement caused me to squeeze my thighs together, putting delicious pressure on my clit.
“Actually, we were all thinking we’d follow Laci’s lead this time. You know she likes your Candy Cane hard seltzer and claims it’s like a decadent treat or a dessert. And now you have these yummy key lime cupcakes on the menu, so what are your thoughts on having dessert first?”
“My favorite meal.” His gaze stayed on me, and my pussy began to throb at his continued, intense scrutiny. Lord, did he have any idea what he was doing to me without touching me?
A sigh erupted around the table.
“A man after my own heart.” Deidre rested her chin on her palm and leaned over the table. “So, is it ever okay to have dessert first before the main course? And of course, birthday cake doesn’t count.”
“That’s right. Birthday cake can be eaten any time.” Blayne added.
“Hey, Luke, table six is asking for you—again.” A high-pitched voice rang out. It was one of the servers sweeping past our table.
Luke’s gaze didn’t waver. “I’ll be there soon. I’m helping these ladies make an important decision.”
Deidre spoke first, “As a matter of fact, it’s Laci’s birthday next Friday. She’s going to be uh, thirty-something, and we’re going to be celebrating—it’s gonna be big.”
“Big, huh? Sounds fun.” He broke our eye contact and turned to Deidre. “Be sure to come in; the first drink is on me. And to answer your question, dessert should always be eaten first.”
Once again, his intense gaze on me allayed any doubt that he was speaking directly to me.
I shifted, again, in my seat, searching for relief at his provocative words.
Dessert. Eaten. Lord, I had sex on the brain.
I guess that tended to happen when you hadn’t had a sex partner in over two years, and my vibrator didn’t count.
“I’ll put in an order for four Candy Canes and have them out to you asap, and you let the server know about those cupcakes. Right now, duty calls. Laci, I’m so glad to have finally gotten a chance to come over and see you. If you’re going to be here for a while, let me know. I’d love to catch up?”
Our table watched him walk away in silence as all sorts of emotions hit me at once.
“Girl, you know him? Why were you keeping that from us?” Deidre teased.
I was caught. I should have told them, I know, but some things from our past were hard to share. “I wasn’t…okay, I was, but I really wasn’t sure Luke would remember me. I tutored him in biology for a semester in college before I got pregnant and married Kevin. There’s not much to tell—”
Audrey cleared her throat and gave me a look.
I was saved for a moment when our drinks were delivered, and I took a long sip. Then another. When it was obvious my friends were waiting for me to talk, I sighed and confessed all.
Deidre and Blayne listened and kept looking from him to me as I told my story. Deidre fanned herself, “He was locked on you. Hard. That my friend is a signal from the Universe that you need to go after his fine ass.”
“I’d let him play with my ass.” Blayne raised her glass of the house IPA and drained its remaining contents.
“Blayne, you’re cut off. I’ve never seen this side of you. You and Lawrence doing okay, you know, in the bedroom?”
“Girl, I’m fine, Lawrence is still fine after nineteen years, but I’m not dead. I know a guaranteed good time when I see one. And Laci, you need to have that good time and then tell us everything. He’ll give you your groove back.”
“OMG, are we on a reality show right now? Where are the cameras? You all make me sound desperate. I’m not.
Just occasionally…horny. I can’t believe I just said that.
Look, you have all been there for me during my divorce from Kevin and my empty nest breakdown when the girls left for college.
And I love you for it, but please, if he comes back over, behave. ”
“Laci, you’re right. You decide, and you know we’re here for you no matter what. We just want you happy.”
“Happy and satisfied. And that man will satisfy you. Just think about it, sweetie. I gotta go. The boys have an early lacrosse game in the morning.” Audrey stood and hugged everyone.
I stepped into her hug when she froze. “No way. Is that Kevin? Laci, that guy Luke is talking to at that table over there looks just like Kevin.”
Unbelievable. Fate wouldn’t be this cruel twice in a lifetime.