Page 16 of Old-Fashioned

As soon as I walked through the bar and up to the bar top, Abel did a top to toe and then nodded.

I wasn’t sure why he nodded, just that he did, and before I could ask him about this, Jewell came over and started flirting with him like she always does.

I gritted my teeth.

He isn’t mine.

He can’t ever be mine.

You know what they say about dreams? Sometimes, it’s best to leave them there, in the dream world.

Because the man I’d had dreams about after Miss Maggie informed me someone was amazing out there for me, the man I dreamed about, was someone just like Abel.

After the other day, I knew he was definitely the man I had dreamed about.

However, he was older than me.

And no way in hell did he want a twenty-something-year-old girl with no experience.

Shaking my head, I walked up to the bar placed the brownies down, and said, “Thank you for what you did yesterday. You didn’t have to do that; it was nice. So as payment, I made you these. I hope you like them.”

He lifted one very shapely black brow, and asked, “How’d you know it was me?”

“I got a security system installed. Saw you on the cameras.” I told him softly.

With that, I turned on my heel and headed to the storage room to drop my bag in my locker so I could get to work.

And as I walked down the hall, I whispered in my head over and over.

Don’t faint today when he gives you that look.

The look that feels as though he can see down into the deepest part of me.

***

As I got to work, I studiously avoided looking at Abel and the bar.

I took him my drink orders and then took off, because if he gave me that look… I would be a puddle of goo.

And I was grateful that the air was nice because, on my second day working here, I realized that the windows outside slid to the side and opened the place up.

I had just dropped an order of hot wings with ranch off to a table when an older man who had just gotten off a bike walked into the bar, headed to my section, sat down, caught my eyes, and did a top to toe, then smiled, “Damn darlin; had I known you were here, I would have swung through this place a long time ago.”

I winked at the old man and then said, “Well, if I would have seen your bike, I would’ve hurried in here just to meet you.”

He tossed his head back and let out a full belly laugh.

“Oh, if I were a few years younger.” He cackled.

To that, I replied, “Hell no. I know I couldn’t keep up with you, but I would’ve given it my best shot.”

Smiling at him, I took his order for a beer and a cheeseburger.

I couldn’t tell you why I did it, but I did. I leaned forward and pressed a kiss to his withered cheek, “I gotta make my rounds, Hun.”

He cackled, “Alright Darlin’, but don’t you be giving them those smiles. You hear?”

I winked at him and then tossed over my shoulder, “I wouldn’t dream of it.”