Whisper Destiny

Chapter 64

~ Natasha ~

"Hi, beautiful. Tourist? Never seen you around here before," a man with a thick French accent greeted me at the bar, interrupting my quiet moment. I was having a drink, while waiting for a table, when his voice cut through the pub's warm buzz.

Catherine and I had spent the remaining afternoon wandering through the town's charming streets before stumbling upon this small, local pub. I liked the vibe instantly—warm, homey, with wooden beams overhead and the hum of conversation in the air. Catherine had stepped outside to take a call from Astrid. At first, she hadn't wanted to answer, but I insisted—Astrid wouldn't call unless it was important.

"Are you alone?" the man asked again, not deterred by my silence. I finished the last of my drink, ready to ask for another, but before I could, he leaned toward the bartender.

"Hey, Matt, another glass for this beautiful lady," he said. "Whatever she's having, on me." Wide smile plastered on his face.

I opened my mouth to politely decline, but before I could get the words out, the same waitress that greeted us earlier appeared at my side. "Your table's ready. Please follow me."

It was the perfect escape. I shot the guy a brief smile, more out of courtesy than interest, and followed the waitress to a small table near the window, where the evening sky began to dip into shades of purple and gold.

"Can I get your order?" she asked as I settled into my seat.

"I'll take a look at the menu and wait for my wife to join me. I'll call you when we're ready," I replied, glancing toward the door to see if Catherine was still outside.

"Of course. Just flag us down when you're ready." She smiled warmly before heading off to another table.

The pub wasn't packed, but it had that comforting hum of locals talking over pints, the occasional burst of laughter cutting through the low murmur. I didn't mind waiting—it gave me a chance to soak in the atmosphere. But as I browsed the menu, I noticed the same guy from the bar approaching with two glasses in hand, one of which was clearly my drink from earlier.

"Here you go, milady. On me," he said.

"And may I join you? To keep you company?" he asked, his confidence bold but not overly aggressive.

Before I could reject his offer, Catherine suddenly appeared, sliding into the seat beside me with a fluid grace that caught me off guard. Without a word, she pulled me toward her, and her lips crashed into mine in a searing kiss that left me breathless. The sudden heat of it made the room disappear, my mind reeling from the unexpected passion.

"I'm sorry, mon cher," she murmured against my lips, her voice sultry and teasing. "I was gone longer than I intended. Are these our drinks?" She turned to the man who still standing there, dazed, and took the glass from his hand before he could react.

"Uh, excuse me," the man stammered, clearly taken aback. "I'm not a waiter. Who are you?"

Catherine barely spared him a glance. "Who are you?" she shot back, her tone now edged with steel.

"Just a local. But I don't mind keeping company with two beautiful ladies," he said, flashing a grin. "The more, the merrier, right?" His confidence returned.

She turned fully to face him, her posture commanding. "But I do mind. I don't appreciate some random guy making advances toward my wife."

Her voice had dropped an octave, dripping with authority, and I had to press my thighs together to quell the unexpected heat surging through me. That possessive tone of hers sent a thrill straight down my spine.