The Barista

Mine

"How do you feel?" Liam asks as we step into the restaurant. "Was that massage worth it?"

I nod with a smile that spells 'relaxed'.

"I can't describe how I am feeling right now. My body feels like Gelatin, yet I feel alive. I could sleep right now, but it's too early."

"You?" He smiles. "I mean, if you want to skip dinner and go straight home, it depends on how soon you plan on sleeping."

I can't bite back my smile while flashing my eyebrows. "Okay. I'm ready for a repeat of last night."

"Nah." He shakes his head, his beautiful eyes staring into mine. "It wouldn't be a repeat, Elle. I'm the kind of guy who prefers to do better than the day before. If I do one push, I'll do ten. So that means if we did what we did, I want to make it better than yesterday."

I look around the restaurant. "Are you kidding? Liam last night was amazing. I don't think it can get better."

He slides a chair out, gesturing for me to sit. "It can get better, Elle. And I'm going to make sure of it."

"Okay," I say softly and sit. "But first, tell me about you. I know you're an Easton. But I want to know a little about you."

He sits and raises an eyebrow. "Like what?"

I shrug. "I don't know. You keep talking about how you want a relationship and..."

"I didn't say I wanted one." He's quick to argue. "I said I could win you over and achieve a relationship with you. I didn't say we had to have one. Why? Is that what you're trying to do? Are you trying to find out more about me so you have leverage to consider starting a relationship?"

My lips curl into a smile. "Yep..." I pause as a waitress stands in front of our table.

She's a beautiful blonde girl no taller than five feet and has the brightest blue eyes. She hands us each a menu with a wide smile.

"Hi!" She gleams. My name is Ashley. Can I get you two something to drink right away?"

Liam looks at me and returns his attention to Ashley. "We both will take white wine. What's the special for today..."

"No, I won't," I argue politely. "I want a chardonnay."

Liam and Ashley both smile, holding back their laughs. Liam points at the menu. "The most intelligent girl on this planet just said she didn't want white wine because she wanted white wine. There is a first for everything."

I look at Ashley and hand her my menu. "I'm ready to order too. But if I can ask first. He said to bring us a white wine. What type of wine were you considering bringing."

She glances down at the menu. "I'm not sure. I think I was going to bring a Tokaji wine."

"Thank you," I say, smirking and looking at Liam and his uncurled lips. "Tokaji is a sweet wine. I prefer a dry wine. Dry like Chardonnay. I can imagine that wasn't Ashley's first thought."

"Honestly." She interjects and takes Liam's menu. "Chardonnay was the last thing on my mind."

I raise my eyebrow, staring at Liam and his blank expression. "And you two chuckled at me, why?"

Liam clears his throat. Embarrassment is evident on his face. "You, Elle Adams, are a pain in the ass. You are a little too intelligent for your good."