things… His haunting eyes reminded her of pools of maple syrup, framed with jet black lashes. His eyebrows were rather thick, yet somewhat groomed. He emitted a natural sexiness, alpha-maleness, the kind you couldn’t put a name to. A person either had it or they didn’t. Even the way he sat and moved was interesting to see. He wasn’t loud and boisterous, but he made people do a double take all the same. His head was always held high. He reeked of confidence on confidence, the emotion compounded like stacked concrete bricks leading up into the clouds, the top never to be seen by the naked eye. Speaking of eyes, she found herself avoiding direct eye contact with the man.
Her physical attraction to Aries was growing by the second, being fed by a steady diet of his appeal. This wasn’t what she wished for, no good would come of it. Maybe as the night wore on, the feeling would dissipate, although the more time passed, the more she doubted that.
He intrigued her, especially when he seemed to drift into his thoughts, seeming so alone in those moments. Despite her. Despite all the people around them. Yet, strangely enough, she didn’t feel left out. It was almost as if she was watching someone working and taking care of necessary tasks. He studied the menu, while she studied him. For instance, how thick his hair was… His hands were huge, befitting a man standing 6’4 with a sturdy build. On his right hand, he wore a gold band with black italic words etched on it, but she couldn’t make out what it said. I wonder if that’s his old wedding ring?
“It’s a ring I had made.” She blinked and cleared her throat, startled by his words. Somehow, although his gaze had never left the menu, he’d noticed her staring. “It has my Motorcycle Club name on it. We had a member die a few years back and some of us got rings to remember him.”
“Oh… I’m sorry to hear about the passing of your friend. That was an interesting and nice gesture to create jewelry.”
“He always wore a gold band on his right hand that his father had given him, and that’s what gave one of our members the idea. Anyway, I’m a member of the Georgia Vulcan Riders Association.” He placed his menu down and began to play with said ring, rotating it back and forth. “Kawasaki Vulcan riders… That’s the bike we use. I like being in the club. Helps me blow off some steam. It’s family oriented, too. No bullshit, silly policies and craziness. I’ve already had my share of that and don’t wish to go back.” She wondered what he meant by that. “We do charity events sometimes, and socialize. Ride, obviously…Get out and travel.”
“Are they only located here in Georgia?”
“Nah, we’re all over the country.” He waved his hand. “We’re in Florida, Michigan, West Virginia, California, Texas, Colorado… hell, almost everywhere.”
“Wow. I don’t know much about motorcycle clubs but that actually sounds interesting.”
Their waitress approached and he sat a bit straighter, taking charge as she took their order.
“I want to get an appetizer for the two of us.” He picked up his menu and glanced at it.
“Of course, sir. What would you like?”
“The jumbo lump crab cakes and the oysters on the half shell. Are you fine with that?” he asked her.
“I like crab cakes.”
“Okay, and go ahead and ask ’er what she wants for dinner. Let the lady go first, then I’ll take my turn.” He placed his menu face down on the table, crossed his arms, and appeared rather vexed as he looked about the restaurant again. Yes, there it was – his natural expression.
“Yes, ma’am, what would you like?”
“I would like the wood grilled eight-ounce beef tenderloin with the furikake seasoned potatoes, sugar snap peas, and mushrooms.”
“Excellent choice… and you, sir?” She took her menu and tucked it under her arm.
“I honestly have no idea what the hell this is, but it sounds good.” He laughed lightly and was greeted with a smile from the waitress. “I’ll try the Sichuan jerked chicken. It says here that it comes with almond wild rice, right? Is it any good?”
“Sir, the entire meal is absolutely delicious. It’s one of my favorites. It comes also with a nice cranberry BBQ sauce, avocado relish, and yes, wild rice.”
“Can I substitute that with potatoes of some sort? I don’t really care for wild rice too much.”