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The waiter colass of wine When the waiter leaves, ato his broad chest and those full, beautiful, lips It concerns ic I’ into a hot mess and he’s barely said tords I break the silence and look up at hi like I thought you’d be"

"Really?" he asks, now grinning at me

I nod shyly, and the waiter returns with the glass of wine I take a sip as he says, "So, tell me what you think now"

A coy sirlish, but the wineand look at hiood night"

"It’s going to be interesting, to say the least" He carries hiuys around here He’s self-assured There’s a slant to his shoulders that tellson cocky He leans back in his side of the booth, watchingeyes remain on my face, and his eyebroitches once in a while as I speak

I’m so nervous that I can’t shut up "Yeah, it is This is the first time I’ve been in here I never co is so far away There’d be four towns crammed into this space back home, but I suppose that’s whatland"

He nods "Texas can be like that Do I detect a slight accent froh A slight accent is an understatement I’m all accent "Sydney"

He leans forith a quizzical look in his eyes "You’re from Australia? No way" A sht they only talked that way in Jersey" He winks and grins at uard I expected uy seems perfect In the back of lad she’s late I’ with hier I sit with hi out the girl I used to be "My name is Sydney I’m from Cherry Hill in New Jersey, wise ass"

"I’htened an otherwise dreadfully dreary night" He raises his glass and nods before taking a drink It’s a flattering, here’s-to-you movement that makes me want to know more about him I mean, who does that? He’s different and I adlance at him for a second I like the way he looks at me I like the way he says my name I like him "Glad I could be of service I’ers pull my silverware toward me and I unfold it and put the napkin on hs "I can see that"

Millie’s voice rings out behindon the other side of the restaurant I’ve been calling you" Millie is wearing a cute little dress with a swishy skirt She gives me a look and stands there with her hands on her hips, as if I’ve been bad

I s it I look up at her, wondering why she doesn’t slip into the booth next to me "I turnedwhile I was talking to this fine man, could I? Come on, Millie Sit down I’m sure Brent will be here any second" I look past her to see if he’s here yet

Mille shakes her head She has a smile of disbelief on her face She leans closer to me "Brent’s already here, you lunatic Now come away and leave this nice man alone" She looks up at him and then back at me

The s, and then back at the beautiful man across the booth Horror slips over id I look at his shoulder I can’t meet his eyes "You’re notat antly bug out ofhere with hi and he didn’t bother to say that I had hiet louder and squeak as I scold his, see of stubble on his beautiful jaw "I thought you were trying to pick me up" My mouth forms an O and I stare at him for a second, unable to blink My hands quickly cover od, to myself under my breath I hear his voice and see his sood job I would have been happy to buy you dinner"