Page 5 of Under the Mistletoe

“Paul, care to tell this guy what happens when he doesn’t do what he’s told in my bar?” I asked my regular, who was still sitting at the bar, not taking my eyes off him.

Paul chuckled a little and held up his hand where he was missing three fingers from a work-related construction injury. It was all I could do to not laugh, but I knew for most, this tactic had been and still was effective as hell.

The second the guy caught sight of Paul’s hand, the smile washed from his lips, and he sat up a little. He then looked at me just as I grabbed the knife I used to cut up lemons and limes. I held my look and watched as he slipped off the stool and grabbed his jacket, scurrying right out the door of the bar.

“Thanks, Paul,” I said as the door closed, and then I looked at Noelle.

“Thank you for that,” she said, looking up at me. I could see the look in her eyes. I was her hero, and it was almost as if she were begging me to take her right then and there.

Three

Noelle

After Bentley chased that creep away, he took the rum and soda and poured me a whiskey instead, adding two ice cubes before setting the glass down in front of me.

“You probably won’t like it, but I always remember you asking me what I drink.” He chuckled as he met my eyes. “Try it.”

I wiped the condensation off the side of the glass, then picked it up and took a sip of the light-golden liquid. It took my breath away, and it burned, yet made me feel warm as it went down. I took another sip, this time keeping it in my mouth.

“It’s good,” I said, taking yet another sip.

“Drink it slow, don’t need you passed out over in the corner.” Bentley chuckled as he added some glasses to the dishwasher.

As I sat there sipping on my whiskey, I couldn’t help but wonder why he kept chasing the men away from me. Well, I could understand the first guy, but the other two after that wereabout my age, yet he kept his eyes on me every time he had to step away from where I was sitting.

Maybe he was doing it as a favour to my father, I thought to myself as my eyes focused on him. I wished it wasn’t because of that. I’d had thoughts of this man for the past five years, and they weren’t friendly, clean thoughts either.

I let out a sigh; I wanted the reason he kept chasing them off to be because he wanted me for himself, not because he felt an obligation to my father to keep me safe.

He placed a plate of fries and a bottle of vinegar in front of me, along with a piece of the chocolate fudge cake and then went over to make some drinks for a couple of customers.

“Salted those myself, exactly how you like them.” He added, then winked as he grabbed a bottle from the shelf.

I couldn’t help but smile. He’d been saying that since I was a little girl. I shoved one fry into my mouth. Like always, they were perfect. I popped another in my mouth and heard my phone vibrate against the bar. I grabbed it from my small clutch purse to see a message from Kelsey, who I’d left at the other party.

Kelsey: Where the hell did you go? Been looking for you.

I tapped the side of my phone, debating telling her where I’d gone. I remembered her reaction when I’d mentioned earlier I wanted to stop by and see Bentley. At first, she gave me a disgusted look, and then she warned me. She’d gone after a man double her age a while ago and ended up with a broken heart. He’d taken advantage of her, slept with her, and made her all these promises, and then one night she found him out for dinner with his wife and kids. She’d cried for days over it, and in the end vowed never to go after an older man. When I told her I didn’t have to worry about Bentley, that he wasn’t interested inme that way, she just shook her head and said, “No, but you are interested in him, and that is enough to start something.”

Noelle: I’m at Bentley’s bar.

Kelsey: Are you serious? Why did you lie? Melinda just told me you said you were going home.

Noelle: I didn’t lie. I was going home, but I got a flat tire.

Kelsey: Did you really get a flat or was it a flat of convenience?

Noelle: I’m shocked you’d think that of me…

Kelsey: I just don’t know if you would stick a screwdriver in the side of your tire just because or…

Noelle: KELSEY!!!!!!

Kelsey: What? I’m just saying…

I rolled my eyes, annoyed with my best friend. I was about to text something when I looked up and caught Bentley looking at me. He winked, then turned back to what he was doing. When I looked back down at my phone, Kelsey had already messaged.

Kelsey: Just be careful. Don’t get in over your head.

---