brothers used to call them. But the bra in question was resting peacefully
back in her underwear drawer at home.
As for what was on her feet, there was nothing she could do
about that particular issue, either. She’d packed her only pair of high heels,
prepared to look different and sexy.
She had different covered, all right.
When she entered the bar, some of the men stopped talking and
watched her walk past them. Sliding up onto a bar stool, she quietly assessed
the bartender. He was a man around her age, she guessed, and the hairdresser in
her wanted the opportunity to restyle his hair, shorten the top, maybe....
He came over to her immediately, and with a welcoming smile
planted his hands on the bar. “What can I get you this evening?”
He had a pleasant voice, and his manner put her immediately at
ease. “Chardonnay?” she asked, feeling good about herself, all because she was
about to have a glass of wine while waiting for her date. So maybe it wasn’t a
regular date, and maybe there’d only be one, but one was better than none.
“Coming right up,” the bartender said, snapping open a bar
fridge under the counter behind him. She peered up at the ornate carving on the
wood framing the bar. It looked like a stag and a dove.
A woman dressed in a bright red top and black pants sat down on
the stool next to her. “Do you mind?” the woman asked, her blond hair—a good
color job, Marnie noted—swaying around her high cheek bones and sparkling blue
eyes.
“Not at all. I’m Marnie.” She smiled, happy to have someone to
chat with while she waited for Luke.
“I’m Cindy. So nice to meet you.”
“You, too. Are you staying at the inn?”
“Yes. It’s our fifth wedding anniversary. My husband and I were
married here in Wakesfield just before Christmas five years ago. The minister
from the local Episcopalian church married us. I wanted a church wedding so
much, and my husband was willing to go along.” She adjusted the neckline of her
red top. “You know how men are about weddings. They’d just as soon go to a
justice of the peace, but I wanted a big wedding.”
“I did, too, once,” Marnie said, drawn to this woman’s
openness.
“Are you married? Are you taking part in the Christmas Getaway
event?”
Marnie tucked her naked ring finger out of sight. “No, but the
getaway sounds like fun.”
“When we heard about it, my husband and I were thrilled. He
doesn’t usually take this much time off so close to Christmas, but I talked him
into it. One of the couples we met this afternoon is also here celebrating an
anniversary.” She glanced toward the door. “I don’t know what can be keeping my
husband. Even though we’re on holiday, he’s calling his office, but it shouldn’t
be taking this long.”
Glad to be off the hook on the marriage thing, Marnie leaned
forward wondering where her drink was. She noticed that her dress was gaping
open, and she pushed her shoulders back. “Where does your husband work?”
“He owns a business in Boston. And he’s always so busy, I worry
about him.”
“It takes a lot to start a business these days, but it’s even
harder to make a success of it.”
“Don’t I know it! I’d like to start a family, but my sweetie
feels we’re not ready. He says after he hires one more salesperson, we’ll be
able to concentrate on starting a family.” She smiled wistfully at Marnie. “Do
you have children—”
“One California Chardonnay.” The bartender interrupted their
conversation, his gaze sharp as he placed the wineglass on a Christmas napkin in
front of Marnie. “Are you staying at the inn?” he asked.
Sweet relief! Saved by a drink. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I
am. Nice spot. I’ve never been here before, but it’s really lovely,” she said,
happy to chat with him rather than answer questions that would raise the issue
of her being here alone. She’d have to be careful to keep a low profile while
she worked on the
back in her underwear drawer at home.
As for what was on her feet, there was nothing she could do
about that particular issue, either. She’d packed her only pair of high heels,
prepared to look different and sexy.
She had different covered, all right.
When she entered the bar, some of the men stopped talking and
watched her walk past them. Sliding up onto a bar stool, she quietly assessed
the bartender. He was a man around her age, she guessed, and the hairdresser in
her wanted the opportunity to restyle his hair, shorten the top, maybe....
He came over to her immediately, and with a welcoming smile
planted his hands on the bar. “What can I get you this evening?”
He had a pleasant voice, and his manner put her immediately at
ease. “Chardonnay?” she asked, feeling good about herself, all because she was
about to have a glass of wine while waiting for her date. So maybe it wasn’t a
regular date, and maybe there’d only be one, but one was better than none.
“Coming right up,” the bartender said, snapping open a bar
fridge under the counter behind him. She peered up at the ornate carving on the
wood framing the bar. It looked like a stag and a dove.
A woman dressed in a bright red top and black pants sat down on
the stool next to her. “Do you mind?” the woman asked, her blond hair—a good
color job, Marnie noted—swaying around her high cheek bones and sparkling blue
eyes.
“Not at all. I’m Marnie.” She smiled, happy to have someone to
chat with while she waited for Luke.
“I’m Cindy. So nice to meet you.”
“You, too. Are you staying at the inn?”
“Yes. It’s our fifth wedding anniversary. My husband and I were
married here in Wakesfield just before Christmas five years ago. The minister
from the local Episcopalian church married us. I wanted a church wedding so
much, and my husband was willing to go along.” She adjusted the neckline of her
red top. “You know how men are about weddings. They’d just as soon go to a
justice of the peace, but I wanted a big wedding.”
“I did, too, once,” Marnie said, drawn to this woman’s
openness.
“Are you married? Are you taking part in the Christmas Getaway
event?”
Marnie tucked her naked ring finger out of sight. “No, but the
getaway sounds like fun.”
“When we heard about it, my husband and I were thrilled. He
doesn’t usually take this much time off so close to Christmas, but I talked him
into it. One of the couples we met this afternoon is also here celebrating an
anniversary.” She glanced toward the door. “I don’t know what can be keeping my
husband. Even though we’re on holiday, he’s calling his office, but it shouldn’t
be taking this long.”
Glad to be off the hook on the marriage thing, Marnie leaned
forward wondering where her drink was. She noticed that her dress was gaping
open, and she pushed her shoulders back. “Where does your husband work?”
“He owns a business in Boston. And he’s always so busy, I worry
about him.”
“It takes a lot to start a business these days, but it’s even
harder to make a success of it.”
“Don’t I know it! I’d like to start a family, but my sweetie
feels we’re not ready. He says after he hires one more salesperson, we’ll be
able to concentrate on starting a family.” She smiled wistfully at Marnie. “Do
you have children—”
“One California Chardonnay.” The bartender interrupted their
conversation, his gaze sharp as he placed the wineglass on a Christmas napkin in
front of Marnie. “Are you staying at the inn?” he asked.
Sweet relief! Saved by a drink. “Yes, as a matter of fact, I
am. Nice spot. I’ve never been here before, but it’s really lovely,” she said,
happy to chat with him rather than answer questions that would raise the issue
of her being here alone. She’d have to be careful to keep a low profile while
she worked on the
Similar Books
