up on the screen. Aubree checked her watch and glanced outside her tall apartment windows. It was dark and snowy, but the walk to Love Potion #9 wasn’t that far. She threw off her cozy blanket and headed to her walk-in closet. After trying a dozen outfits, she finally picked a dark green knee-length long-sleeved dress, black tights, and cute little black ankle boots. Before leaving, she pulled on her coat, a scarf and a knit cap.
By the time she reached the bar, it was almost nine PM and the place was full of customers. Aubree saw three bartenders, including Matthew, working hard to fill orders. She hesitated, half hidden behind a tall wall that separated the bar from the restaurant portion of the large room. Matthew grinned as he shook a metal shaker and poured the contents into two glasses before topping them with cherries and umbrellas. It was clear he truly loved his job. But it still puzzled her a little that a smart man like him had left the business world just to make drinks. But if someone loved something, shouldn’t they do it? As tough as her job was, she liked it a lot. Its challenges were fascinating; the way the trading floors worked had always been so interesting to her.
Aubree wondered if she should go home since the bar was full, but as Matthew’s eyes swept the crowd, he spotted her and lifted his head in a silent greeting. When she didn’t move, he waved her over. Her heart gave another wild excited bump as she approached.
“Have a seat.” Matthew nodded at the only empty bar stool and looked at her expectantly. His blue eyes were so bright and intense.
“Just water, for now.” She blushed and ducked her head. How did a girl ask a guy to French kiss her? She didn’t really want to do that in a crowded bar.
“You eaten dinner yet?” He called out over the hubbub of the surrounding customer conversations.
She shook her head. She’d actually forgotten about dinner tonight; she been busy working late at home on project for work.
“If you can wait ten minutes, I have an hour break. There’s a great pizza place next door.”
“Sal’s?” She nodded eagerly. She loved Sal’s deep-dish pizzas.
“Great.” Matthew moved further down the bar to prepare more drinks.
Ten minutes later, he handed off his black bar apron to another young man and grabbed his charcoal gray peacoat from the coat rack behind the bar. He put a hand on Aubree’s lower back as he guided her out the front door, and her body burned from that single touch. They walked to the restaurant next door and ducked inside as wind blew down the street, showering them with fresh snow.
Aubree laughed as she brushed snowflakes off her nose and her heart stilled when she looked at Matthew’s face. His eyes were bright and clear, and his lips were curved in a playful grin as he pulled her up against him. She gasped, a little shocked that he would touch her like that, but she had to admit she liked it.
And then she saw the rush of people passing by them as they left Sal’s. Was he was just trying to make room for the others? She’d hoped he wanted an excuse to touch her. Once the flood of exiting customers was gone, he continued to hold her against him, just a moment longer than was necessary. Her body responded with a rush of heat and excitement.
“Come on, let’s grab a booth.” He curled an arm around her waist as they moved deeper into the restaurant. The pizza joint was noisy at the far end where a few men were watching a basketball game. Matthew chose a booth in a quiet corner.
A portly waiter came over and handed them laminated menus.
“Could we split a pizza?” she asked Matthew.
“Absolutely. I’ll eat just about anything,” he said with a boyish grin.
She looked up at the expected waiter. “A medium pineapple and sausage pizza please.”
The waiter didn’t even bat an eyelash as he wrote it down and left.
“Okay. I’ve heard of pineapple and Canadian bacon, but sausage?” Matthew reached for his glass of water and took a drink.
Feeling impish, Aubree responded. “Well, what can I say? I’m a girl who loves to get her mouth around a good hunk of meat.”
Matthew spewed out his water and Aubree couldn’t resist laughing at him.
“Sorry, I don’t normally crack jokes like that, but the look on your face was priceless.”
The sexy