Page 8 of Rousing Renee

A drink would suffice. I walked into the Italian restaurant to find it was much busier than I expected. I found a seat at a table and sat down. A food menu greeted me from the tabletop, and I was grateful I could get everything I need from here.

“What can I get you?” The question came from a young man who’d appeared beside my table.

“Let me try the hot wings and fries, a bourbon neat, and ice water with lemon.”

“Do you have a card or a room you want to charge this to?” he asked.

“I have a room,” I said, giving him the number.

“Okay.” The waiter opened a tab for me and shortly after, he was back with my two drinks.

I sipped while listening to the music playing and thinking about Monday. It was when I decided to change up the course work that my food arrived. I was surprised how good the wings were and the fries came with beer cheese. It was good, but I preferred ketchup. I’d just finished my third bourbon when he came back to me.

“I just wanted to let you know, I’m going to take off but the servers taking over will check with you as soon as they get settled,” the waiter said while removing his apron.

“Thanks,” I said between bites.

He nodded and hurried away. He either had somewhere to be or really didn’t want to be here.

“Anything I can get you right now?” A feminine voice asked.

Though surprised to hear it here, I’d know that sweetness anywhere. “Renee McMillian.” Confirmation came when I peeked up at her.

“And you are?” she asked, not recognizing me.

“Ezra—”

“Hamilton,” we said at the same time.

“One and the same.”

“Wow… you look different.” She fisted the towel, knotting it between both of her hands.

“What did that poor towel do to deserve the mistreatment?” I nodded to the one she was twisting.

“Oh!” She dropped it, provoking me to laugh at her. “Sorry.”

“How’ve you been?” I picked up a wing and took a bite while waiting for her to speak.

“Great actually. What are you doing here?” She looked around the room and then settled her eyes back on me.

“I’m here on business,” I admitted, not sure how much I wanted to tell her.

“That’s good. Did you need another drink?” she asked.

“Yes. Bourbon neat.”

“Coming right up.” She twirled around and I was greeted with a nice view of her ass. She was wearing black pants that hugged her curves and made me remember her cheerleading days. She’d made that skirt sexier than the law should ever allow. Beautiful toned amber smooth thighs, full breasts, and lips that always seemed to be begging for something to part them.

I’d always thought she was shyer than she wanted anybody to know. Though her cheering skills had been solid and she’d seemed happy, joy had never reached her eyes.

“Here you go, darlin’. I saw there was a tab open for you. I added it to that.” She smiled my way, with her ponytail flopping around as she moved.

“How is it that you’re more beautiful than you were all those years ago?” I asked her.

“I uh… I don’t know.”

I sipped my bourbon, and it seemed like every thought I had was coming out of my mouth.

---