Saving Grace

Chapter 27: Colt

"The new usual?" The bartender asked.

"Yep, just a water tonight. Thanks Nate."

"You know, usually when a guy gets his heart broken, alcohol is the elixir; the way to forget." He said as he poured me a glass of water, setting it down in front of me. "This lady must be pretty special to get you changing your ways."

"That's because I don't want to forget Nate. Not anymore." I took a drink, setting it back down. I turned my head toward the door and then looked back at Nate to say something, but I almost gave myself whiplash as I turned to do a double take. I blinked, looking around.

Had I imagined her?

"Nate, what's in this water?"

But then I heard it, the voice I could never forget. I turned back around, searching the room. There she walked, in route to her seat. As if feeling my presence, she looked up, her eyes connecting to mine. She stopped in her tracks, almost causing someone behind her to run into her. She quickly apologized, her cheeks turning that cute crimson shade whenever she got embarrassed or flustered. Then her eyes locked back on mine, and it was as if we were the only two people in that room.

I slowly stood up and she hesitantly walked toward me, leaving a very confused hostess.

"Grace-"

"Colt-," we said at the same time.

She looked down, biting her bottom lip, and tucking her hair behind her ear before looking back up at me.

"It's nice to see you. How have you been?"

She was acting shy and reserved. She hadn't said but a couple words to me, but I could already tell she was holding back.

"I've been...good. How-"

"That's really great." She responded, cutting me off. "Um, so how's the food today?"

How's the food? Hell no. Not gonna work.

"How's the food? Would you like to talk about the weather too Grace?"

"Well I--I," she stammered, narrowing her eyes. "I don't know Colt. What about you? How is the weather, hmm?"

Now we're getting somewhere.

"Can't complain. It's getting colder, but I suspect that's what happens when the seasons change." I winked, teasing her now.

She pursed her lips to the side, glaring at me and shaking her head.

"I don't know why I bothered coming over to say hi. I should have known you were just going to act like...well, like you."

"Well considering I am me, I'm not sure how else I am supposed to act."

Finally. There's that smile.

She crossed her arms over her chest, which only served to push her breasts up more and cause me to internally groan.

"I'm sorry. I guess I'm just nervous."

I took a step closer and leaned in, my nose grazing her hair. I could hear her breath hitch.

"Do I make you nervous Grace?"

She looked up into my eyes, my lips mere inches from hers. I dropped my gaze to them, before looking back into her eyes. Desire flashed across them before disappearing just as quickly, but it was there; I saw it. She placed her palm against my chest and pushed.

"If anything, you make me annoyed."

I chuckled, taking a step back.

"All apart of my charm. But I guess I can say the same."