Sexy.
She lifted her glass at him in response, feeling her face warm. He motioned to the bartender that he was moving over her way, which meant he likely had a tab going, then got up and started her way.
Valerie felt her heart speed up. She and Isabel had been playing the guess-what-he-does-for-a-living game among some of the other bar games they enjoyed playing such as guessing what he drives and his age. Isabel had pegged him for some kind of construction worker who cleaned up nicely and thought his name was Forrest or Hunter because of the aura of mystery. Valerie had said he looked more military because of his rugged good looks and had gone with Sebastian or Brett because of the sex appeal he exuded. He was very easy on the eyes, but she’d secretly hoped that, while she’d promised Isabel to finally be open to meeting someone, this would stay a fun, peaceful girls night out like the one she’d been having so far. Now she’d have the irksome task of turning on the charm for this guy. She glanced down at her drink as he got closer.
“Valerie.”
Hearing him call her by her name made her flinch and she jerked her face up. This close he was even better looking, and he seemed to catch himself, so before she could ask where he knew her from, he pointed behind her. “I caught your name earlier when your friend said it.”
Valerie tilted her face ever so slightly, wondering when he’d been close enough to hear Isabel speaking. From what she’d remembered, he’d been sitting at the bar this whole time.
He pointed at the empty stool next to her, the one on the other side where Isabel’s drink wasn’t obviously taking up that part of the table. It pulled her out of her thoughts for the moment, and she nodded, giving him the go-ahead to take the seat.
Already she was beginning to look for fault in him as she had with every other guy who so much as flirted with her. She’d always wondered about people who came into bars by themselves and drank alone. What were their stories? She’d been thoroughly scolded about it by Isabel and made to promise she’d stop, so she chased away the disquieting notion that maybe he was lying about having heard Isabel say her name. There was still something a little too familiar about him, but annoyingly, she couldn’t figure it out.
“My name’s Bruce,” he said, holding out his hand, and she shook it, smiling at how far off she and Isabel had been, though she had said Brett.
“Well, you already know my name,” she said, taking her hand back.
Isabel was suddenly there, but she grabbed her phone from her purse. “I have to make a phone call. It’s too noisy in here. I’ll be outside for a little while.” Valerie didn’t even get a chance to introduce her to Bruce when Isabel winked at her and walked away.
The moment Isabel was out of sight, Valerie’s phone lit up with a text. She read it casually because it was from Isabel.
I’ll be strolling around the organic food market a few doors down for a little bit to give you time alone with Mystery Man. He’s even hotter up close and he smells delish. Remember. Stay open-minded Valerie. You can do this!
Valerie hit the button to black out her phone and set it back down. Yes, she could do this, damn it. So far she liked his smile and his name, and Isabel was right. He did smell damn good. She’d forget about any first impressions he may have already given her and remember that she still knew nothing about him. She wouldn’t start judging before she got to know him. But she did have to know one thing. She wasn’t judging; she was just curious.
“You always go into bars and drink alone?”
His eyes brightened and he smiled. “No, actually, I was stood up.”
This time her eyes went wide. The last thing she wanted was to start up with another Alex, who’d make her stand in line with all his other girls.
“Oh really? You had a date?”
He chuckled softly and shook his head. “No, my buddy was supposed to meet me here for a few beers, but he couldn’t make it,” he explained. “I was actually getting ready to leave when I saw you and then couldn’t.”
From far away, his eyes were simply dark. This close she could see they were this unique gray. The way he looked at her now was more than playful. There was something intense about his eyes. She hated to admit it, but it reminded her a little bit of the intense way Alex would gaze at her.
Downing what was left of her drink, she took a deep breath, wondering if this was a good or a bad thing. The objective here was to forget Alex—move on—not be constantly reminded of him.
“Things like this never happen to me, so I’ve never believed in fortuitous encounters,” he said, looking down at her empty glass and then bringing his eyes up to meet hers again. “I don’t see a ring on your finger. You seeing anyone?”
She shook her head, feeling the small pang in her heart. “No, I’m not.”
That slow gradual smile made an appearance again, and he pointed at her glass. “May I buy you a drink so maybe we can disprove my theory that I should be so lucky as to meet someone as beautiful as you on pure chance?”
She stared at him for a moment, trying to figure him out. Was this a line or was he really serious? Deciding she wouldn’t over think it but enjoy the moment, she shrugged. “Sure, why not?”
Within minutes, the bartender took their order, and she had another drink in front of her. “So,” she said, turning on the charm and relaxing a bit. “Tell me about yourself.”
~*~
Alex
Not a day had gone by that Alex hadn’t thought of Valerie since that infuriating phone call when he’d last spoken to her. He was trying to stay positive. Even losing his scholarship was something he was trying to find the silver lining to.