Page 2 of Midnight Prince
Hazel
Iturned the headlights off on my car and stared at the bar across the street. It wasn’t that I was worried, I could handle myself. Maybe I was just… okay, I was totally overdressed. I just saw a lady walk in there who was wearing sweats and a hoodie. I was used to bars that had a dress code. I had on black heels and my favorite red dress. It had a gold belt around the waist – which showed off my curves – and flowed down to my knees. It was a classic fifties look. And for this bar, it was too much.
I should go home. This was crazy. Going out alone… Okay, Maeve said the bar wasn’t too bad and the owner was her friend.But still.
I saw a man walking toward the door, his head hung low watching where he stepped. As he neared the bar, the one streetlight showed he was wearing black slacks and a blue button-up shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and a vest. It was chilly tonight, but I was crazy enough to wear a dress. He hesitated with his hand pressed to the bar’s door and turned and faced me.
Holy hell, he was… he wasn’t what Hollywood would call sexy, but he would turn heads. Sharp jaw line, high cheekbones, and the shadow of dark facial hair was what made him attractive. When his eyes met mine, he smiled and pushed the door of the bar open. Oh fuck, he saw me watching. How embarrassing.
You can do this, I told myself.Come on, Hazel, you got this. I grabbed my purse and car keys, sucked in a breath as I looked at myself in the rearview mirror. Makeup looks good.. My hair was as nice as it could be after I had a quick shower, wash, and blow dry.
I am only nervous because this was new. I can do this. Go into the bar and meet some locals. Maybe meet someone who has a clue on how to renovate houses and ask for tips.
As I made my way across the road to the bar, I could hear the call of wolves. They were chilling calls. I had heard them close to my house, but that was to be expected living so close to the woods. It was something I was still getting used to.
The warmth and smell of old tobacco hit me first. The jukebox was playing old rock music from the seventies. I scanned the room – a pool table and a few booths towards the back. I felt some of the men in here stare at me, it was a little uncomfortable. I never thought of myself as sexy, but now that so many eyes were on me, I felt like maybe I wasn’t as unattractive as David said I was. Ugh, I needed to stop thinking that. He was the ugly one in that relationship. Not me.
I straightened my back and made my way over to the bar. I took a seat on a very worn wooden stool, it rocked as I tried to get myself seated neatly and crossed my legs.
“You must be Hazel. Been wondering when you would be coming by here.” I smiled at the older man behind the bar, his salt-and-pepper beard touched the top of his large belly. He wore a checkered shirt that he wiped his hand on before he offered it to me. I smiled at him as I took it.
“I’m Wilson. Maeve told us all about you. Great to see a new face in town. And doing up the old Johnson place. That will look great when it’s done.”
I smiled and nodded. Wow, news really does spread in a small town.
“Thank you, Wilson. Great bar you have here. I love the town. Russet is just beautiful.”
He smiled at me. “So what will ya have, Hazel?” A hand dropped down beside mine on the bar, I flinched slightly. I wasn’t expecting someone so close when the bar itself stretched all the way down the building with only one other person at the far end.
I tried to ignore this person and think of what I would like to drink, but the man beside me gave off a foul odor that I couldn’t block out. Like he never got the memo on showers and personal space.
“Gin and tonic, thank you,” I answered Wilson. I watched him eye the guy beside me before moving on to make my drink. I stared straight ahead, not wanting to make eye contact with this foul guy.
“Hey, pretty lady,” his deep voice grumbled. My body tensed up at the words. I didn’t want this guy to be near me. He was obviously one of the single guys Maeve told me to avoid. And I knew with that smell he was giving off, it wouldn’t be hard to want to avoid him.
“What, cat got your tongue? Am I not good enough to speak to?” I could hear the anger rising in his voice. I shook my head.
“Oh, sorry. I didn’t realize you were talking to me. I couldn’t hear well over the music.” I tapped my ear to emphasize that I was having issues hearing him. Best to not anger him more. “I am waiting on a friend, he will be here soon.” Lies… always go with lies. I followed up with a curt smile and nod.
I heard the stool beside me drag on the dirty wooden floor as he took a seat. He didn’t seem to care if I was waiting for someone and his pungent smell made me nauseated. Wilson pushed my drink in front of me as he eyed the man seated beside me.
“Thomas, I think it’s best if you let the lady drink alone.” A loud bang made me jump, the man – Thomas – had his fist on the bar as he growled at Wilson. Wilson put his hands up. “Come on, I don’t want any fights in here tonight, just leave the lady alone. Go back to your boys, have a round of beer.” Thomas stood up abruptly, the stool crashing to the ground.
I held my breath as I leaned away from him and perched on the edge of my stool. I wrapped my shaky hand around my glass slowly, trying to pretend this wasn’t happening.
The sound he made was terrifying and I froze in fear, thinking that he would attack Wilson. Or worse… me. But he surprised me when he walked away. I let out a breath and slowly brought my drink to my lips, trying not to shake it all over myself.
I took a big sip and placed it back on the bar. I caught someone from the corner of my eye, picking up the overturned stool. It was the man from before, the one who had paused to look at me. I turned and smiled as he stood on the other side of the stool, giving me some space. Okay, I take it back… hewassexy. He was more than that. His hair was slicked back, his nose was slightly crooked, but that just added to his look. Imperfect beauty. Those eyes though… oh, man. Ice blue, you could melt in those clear waters.
When he smiled… butterflies formed in the pit of my stomach.Wow. This guy was a natural charmer, he didn’t need to say anything to get my heart racing.
“Hello, you must be Hazel.” He stretched his hand over and I took it without even realizing I had moved. I nodded and smiled. He chuckled. But I could tell he wasn’t laughing at me. Well, maybe at my dazed look. Did I speak… have I moved? I shook my head and laughed.
“Oh my gosh, I am so sorry. Yes, I’m Hazel. Who are you?” He pulled the stool closer to himself and sat down, waving to Wilson before turning back to me.
“Ben. It’s nice to finally meet you, Hazel. I heard you bought the old Johnson house, out on Josephine Ave? So what brings you to Russet?”
I blinked a few times. What was wrong with me? When I was in my car earlier, he was just a man, but now, here with him beside me, I was speechless and my body was heating up at every word. I nodded. Wow, everyone knew where I lived. That was a little creepy and would take time to get used to.
He chuckled again as Wilson pushed a glass tumbler towards him, an amber liquid sloshed inside.
“If you ever need any help, I have been known to be good with a hammer.” He tossed back the glass before placing the empty tumbler back on the bar. He smiled and winked at me.
Wow, was that a pickup line? Was he trying to pick me up?
