Page 3 of Thunder Thighs
"Delicious." I promised.
The burger was three types of smoked meat, topped with melted cheese, pickles, onions and delicious house mustard and ketchup. Anika and I had worked hard to develop the perfect menu.
He took a bite and I watched as surprise decorated his face.
"Fuck," he muttered. "This is good." He took another bite.
I grinned, deriving an unexpected pleasure from his enjoyment. One of my barmaids caught my attention and I left him, returning to work. I tried to calm the thrum of anticipation that pulsed through my veins.
I mixed drinks, took orders, and counted down each agonizing minute to close, praying Gunnar would stay.
Please stay.
He did, nursing a second beer, watching me with a dark, thoughtful expression.
An hour before close, Anika came out, dusting her hands on her apron.
"Still here?" She whispered, leaning on the bar beside me. I kept wiping the sticky surface, trying not to glance at him for the millionth time tonight.
"Yes," my voice sounded breathy, light.
"How about you head off? I can close up tonight." Anika nodded at the room. "Go, have fun."
I grinned, "thanks." I grabbed my purse from storage and sashayed my way out from behind the bar. Gunnar's dark eyes tracked me as I approached and I shivered with awareness.
"Hey," I slid onto a bar stool beside him, trying to calm my nerves. "You want some company?"
His smile was slow and lazy. "If that company is you, then always."
That spark crackled between us; the attraction undeniable. I looked away, nodding at Anika who sat a beer before me with a wink.
"Your friend?" Gunnar asked, nodding at Anika's retreating back.
"And business partner." I tipped the bottle towards the kitchen. "I had the capital and property; she had the restaurant experience."
"Well I can safely say this is one of the nicest bars I've ever stumbled into."
I chuckled. He leaned towards me, easily bridging the gap between us. His scent teased my nose, salt, sweat and a little musk. I looked my fill, taking in the broad cut of his shoulders, the barrel of his chest, his trunk-like legs. A mountain of a man, he made me feel dainty and small – a not so easy feat.
I'd been born curvy. My body was built big and beautiful – and no amount of exercise or dieting was going to change my shape. I'd long since learned to love my curves, accentuating them, and finding pleasure in the way my body moved. I'd grown up in Capricorn Cove, compared constantly to the sun-bleached blondes with slim limbs and tanned skin. I hadn't minded. I'd been different, unique. But my body wasn't in fashion, which meant the cross over between boys who wanted me and my own attraction to them was miniscule.
I had a feeling that this god of a man before me, that he'd embrace my curves showing them the kind of love and appreciation I'd always held out for.
"Do you stumble into a lot of bars?" I asked, genuinely curious about this man.
"No," his grin was slow and easy. "I own a boat building company. Inherited it from my dad after he decided to retire. It keeps me busy."
I tilted my head, frowning. "I've never seen you in town before."
"I'm on holiday. Decided to take a trip around the coast. Saw the storm coming in and had to find a port to wait it out. Engine crapped itself just as I docked. Expect I'll be here for a while waiting for her to blow over and some replacement parts to arrive." He leaned in, his hand shifting to rest beside mine on the bar. He ran a finger lightly over my pinkie, that single touch sent all my nerves firing, delicious pleasure settling low in my abdomen.
"Maybe the god of thunder was looking out for me."
A blush heated my cheeks. "Why do you say that?"
He closed the distance between us, his big hand cupping my cheek. He eased in, pausing a half hair away from my mouth.
"Because I'm looking at an honest to god Valkyrie. And I'm praying she's here to take me to Valhalla." His lips covered mine.
