The Dare Me Date (A Small Town Romance Short Story Series) by tonya kappes

Chapter One
    “While money doesn’t buy love, it puts you in a good bargaining position.”
     ~ Christopher Marlowe
     
    “Do you realize that one year ago today we sat in this exact same spot?” I tapped the bar top, turning to look at the snuggly couple next to me. In disgust, I watched him lightly stroke the woman’s back as he leaned over and whispered into her ear. Quickly, I ducked to miss the woman’s long honey colored loose curls as she flung her head back in a hyena laugh. Running my fingers through my shaggy blonde hair, I secretly wished I had long hair like hers . “And I think they were here too.” I gestured to the couple and picked up my mug of warm beer.
    The brew had been cold a few minutes ago, but having my weekly Friday night drink at Brew Ha Ha’s with Maddie, my best friend since forever , didn’t even appeal to me, and it was normally the highlight of my week. There was nothing better than Brew Ha Ha’s fish fry Friday nights. But not this Friday.
    Valentines …”ugh”…I sighed at the realization that on tomorrow’s lover’s holiday, I was alone…yet again.
    “Did you hear me?” I waved my hand in front of Maddie’s face. Her emerald green eyes were in a stare and her mouth gapped open. A sure sign she was eavesdropping. I leaned back on my bar stool, peering over her shoulder to get a glimpse of the guy whose back was to us.
    “Shh.” Her lips pursed and she tilted her head toward the guy. Her eyes jumped out of their sockets. She made a phone with her fingers, telling me that he was on the phone and she was getting the lowdown.
    Yep, she was good at eavesdropping. If eavesdropping were an Olympic sport, Maddie would be a triple gold medalist. That was how we heard about most of the gossip in our small town of Floral, Wisconsin.
    “I should work tomorrow. I need the money to pay my rent.” I drummed my fingers on the mahogany wood bar. “I’m not doing anything, so I might as well watch all the lovers enjoy their holiday. Plus, Maggie could use an extra hand.”
    One of my many duties as hostess at Maggie’s Bed and Breakfast was to make sure that all the couples had everything they needed to enjoy their stay while in Floral. Maggie’s was well known all over the world for her five star treatment. There were only four couples at a time in the bed and breakfast, which created a yearlong waiting list on normal weeks, but Valentine’s was a different story. If you wanted a room for Valentine’s Day, you were looking at a five-year wait list.
    “Do you know him?” Maddie whispered, pointing to the guy.
    Leaning back again, I took a good long look at the back of his head. He definitely wasn’t from here. His grey sweater, jeans and fancy black shoes were a dead giveaway. Most men from Floral were a little shaggier, at least the ones who came to Brew Ha Ha for Friday night fish.
    I shook my head, straightening myself back up on the barstool.
    “You’ve been nursing that beer, Jozy.” Abraham stood behind the bar with a couple bottle of Bud nestled between his fingers. “Are you feeling alright?”
    “What? You think I’m an alcoholic?” My eyes narrowed as I watched him deliver the beers to the couple at the far end of the bar.
    “Not at all!” He shouted over the crowd that was coming through the door. He made his way back over and planted his forearms on the bar top. “By the time Friday rolls around, you are generally ready for a good cold one. Especially with the ski season in full force.”
    “Well, not today.” I pushed the warm mug away from me. Abraham was right. I loved working at Maggie’s. In fact, I started out there when I was fifteen-years-old, folding the laundry. It was nestled perfectly near the lake and ski resort that attracted a lot of visitors. Winter and summer were our busy seasons with great snow skiing and great water skiing, but Valentine’s Day brought all the lovers to Maggie’s, and this was the second year in a row that I did