20 Questions

Chapter 9

When the morning comes and I open my eyes, it takes me a minute to realize where I am. The clock reads 8:13 a.m. and I have slept like a baby, but I am starving since I hadn't eaten anything for dinner last night. I reluctantly roll out of bed and take a quick shower. Today is going to be a blue jeans and white fitted shirt kind of day. It's my sexy Jennifer Aniston outfit, before she settled on the unfortunate shag haircut phase. I put on a little makeup, put in some silver hoops and wear my hair back in a loose braid.

I feel good today. This place is good for my soul.

When I enter the lobby, my nose tickles with the enticing smells of wood burning and cinnamon rolls, making my mouth water and my stomach growl. After reviewing the menu on the bar for a minute, I order a bacon and cheese omelet with green peppers and a big cup of hot chocolate from the friendly bartender. I guess him to be around my age, with sandy brown hair and hazel eyes. There is a scar above his right eyebrow that gives him a bit of an edge, along with a silver bar piercing through the top of his left ear. He's an attractive man, but I can't pretend that any guy holds a candle to the man on the plane. I realize it's utterly unhealthy and far too late to do anything about it, but I can't seem to get him out of my head.

I brought one of my trashy romance novels and I fully intend to sit by the fire, read and enjoy my breakfast. I make small talk with the bartender and after a short time, I grab my food and find a place on the couch, next to the fireplace. People come and go in the lobby, but I am too involved in my breakfast to care. I finish my omelet but continue to sip on my hot chocolate and read my book. I do plan on leaving the lodge, but not today. Today is a day of relaxation and literary porn.

I'm on chapter three of my book when I hear the group of guys from last night enter the lobby with all the subtlety of a pack of wild hyenas. It appears that I am not the only person in this lobby inconvenienced by their arrival, several people raising their eyebrows and crumpling their noses. Four guys take seats on the stools at the end of the bar, grabbing the remote to turn on Sportscenter, having zero regard for the other guests that may be enjoying the current channel. I attempt to go back to my reading, but it's impossible to concentrate over their obnoxious bantering. I shoot a glare their direction, simultaneously catching one of their gazes. He leans over and whispers something to his buddies before standing up and heading my direction. The rest of the group follow suit and I suddenly have an overwhelming desire to crawl under this couch.

Well, this is going to be awkward.

There are four of them and one of me. I pretend to go back to my book, but I feel the stares of four grown men inching closer to me. I'm feeling slightly intimidated when I look up to see that I now have company, knowing there's nothing I can do about it.

"If looks could kill, we would all be slaughtered on the floor," says the red-haired guy, releasing a nervous chuckle. He appears to be in his late twenties, his stature is stalky and he speaks with a slight twang. His eyes carry a kindness that make him both welcoming and the least likely to piss me off.

Making a valiant effort to contradict my menacing approach, I raise my hand and extend my most sincere apology. "No, it's fine. Sorry if I gave you the wrong impression. I was just looking to see where the noise came from. I'll try to keep my resting bitch face at bay next time."

"Yeah, we are loud for sure. Sorry about that. I hope we didn't interrupt your reading too much. And you're wrong. Your face is beautiful, nothing bitchy about it." He smiles, taking a seat on the couch across from me.

Yeah, I like him. I'll let him live.

He leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees and tilting his head to the right. "So, what's your name, darlin'?" He's not bad to look at with his turquoise eyes and thick shoulders but engaging in a conversation is not high on the list of things I want to do today.