He would have stuck out like a sore thumb in his Armani
suit.
Inside, the air was thick with the fragrant odors of
hot cheese and fresh crusty bread. A TV over the bar blared a
basketball game. He stopped at the counter and ordered the beer on
tap, a dark ale, then took his cold mug to the table. As he
approached, Mike looked up and saw him and waved him over.
“Glad you could come, Zack. You’re the man of the
hour.” Mike had to shout to be heard over the noise.
“I think you’re the man of the hour, Mike. I just did
my job.”
“Whatever. Glad you could make it.”
He slid into a rickety captain’s chair across the
table from Rose and Lizzie.
“Hi,” he mouthed. Both sisters smiled at him. But
then Lizzie looked away, distracted by something the young man next
to her said; and Rose continued to stare directly at him.
“Thank you,” she yelled over the din.
“You’re welcome,” he yelled back. The atmosphere
certainly didn’t lend itself to the more intimate conversation he’d
hoped to have with her.
But something felt different, he realized. She wasn’t
avoiding making eye contact with him. In fact, she held his gaze
almost as she had on that night in his bedroom so many months ago.
As he registered that fact, his pulse sped up and his cock
stirred.
Or was he imagining her interest in him because he
wanted it to be true?
She looked beautiful, as she always did to him, in a
simple, dark green sweater and black slacks. The sweater hugged and
defined her breasts, and he wondered if she was wearing a bra. He
couldn’t seem to think about Rose without thinking about her naked
body and how much he missed being with her on Sunday mornings.
But over the course of the trial he’d come to notice
and appreciate more than just her body. Now that they’d be parting
ways for the last time, he guessed he could admit to himself what
had really happened. He’d fallen in love with Rose.
And it sure as hell hurt.
But hey, he could buck up and get through this
evening of celebration, couldn’t he? For Mike’s sake he could drink
his beer and chow down on some pizza and make a little small talk
when there was a break in the noise. And as for being in love, he’d
get over it. Yeah, he’d be okay again once he didn’t have to see
Rose in the courtroom every day, prim and gorgeous in her navy
suit.
The pizza came, several huge platters of it, steaming
hot and loaded with toppings. Everyone fell to eating. More beer
flowed. The volume on the TV got turned down some and Rose tried to
strike up a conversation with him.
“What ever happened to your escaped client? Did the
authorities catch him?”
“Nope. He’s long gone. The fool had less than a year
left to serve, too.”
“That’s a shame.”
“How about you, Rose? Did you ever find another
Sunday morning client?”
“No.” She leaned across the table and brought her
hand up to her mouth. “I’m the head chef in a real restaurant
now.”
“Seriously? You quit naked cheffing?” Why did that
please him so?
She nodded. “One of my other clients, a woman, went
rogue on me. I figured it was only a matter of time till they all
did.”
He grinned. “Wouldn’t blame them. You were definitely
the tastiest thing on the menu, Rose.”
Even in the low light he could see her pleased
blush.
Another round of beers appeared at the table and a
few more well wishers dropped in. Chairs were rearranged to make
room, separating him from Rose. He checked his watch. Almost ten.
He could make a graceful exit now and not be missed.
He went over to Mike and shook his hand and said
goodnight. Then he glanced toward Rose. She stared at him from
across the crowded space, her eyes big and dark.
“Good night,” he mouthed and gave her a little
wave.
She raised her hand in response.
He shrugged into his jacket, then made his way
through the maze of tables and out the front door.
He’d gone maybe two hundred feet when he heard his
name called. His heart
suit.
Inside, the air was thick with the fragrant odors of
hot cheese and fresh crusty bread. A TV over the bar blared a
basketball game. He stopped at the counter and ordered the beer on
tap, a dark ale, then took his cold mug to the table. As he
approached, Mike looked up and saw him and waved him over.
“Glad you could come, Zack. You’re the man of the
hour.” Mike had to shout to be heard over the noise.
“I think you’re the man of the hour, Mike. I just did
my job.”
“Whatever. Glad you could make it.”
He slid into a rickety captain’s chair across the
table from Rose and Lizzie.
“Hi,” he mouthed. Both sisters smiled at him. But
then Lizzie looked away, distracted by something the young man next
to her said; and Rose continued to stare directly at him.
“Thank you,” she yelled over the din.
“You’re welcome,” he yelled back. The atmosphere
certainly didn’t lend itself to the more intimate conversation he’d
hoped to have with her.
But something felt different, he realized. She wasn’t
avoiding making eye contact with him. In fact, she held his gaze
almost as she had on that night in his bedroom so many months ago.
As he registered that fact, his pulse sped up and his cock
stirred.
Or was he imagining her interest in him because he
wanted it to be true?
She looked beautiful, as she always did to him, in a
simple, dark green sweater and black slacks. The sweater hugged and
defined her breasts, and he wondered if she was wearing a bra. He
couldn’t seem to think about Rose without thinking about her naked
body and how much he missed being with her on Sunday mornings.
But over the course of the trial he’d come to notice
and appreciate more than just her body. Now that they’d be parting
ways for the last time, he guessed he could admit to himself what
had really happened. He’d fallen in love with Rose.
And it sure as hell hurt.
But hey, he could buck up and get through this
evening of celebration, couldn’t he? For Mike’s sake he could drink
his beer and chow down on some pizza and make a little small talk
when there was a break in the noise. And as for being in love, he’d
get over it. Yeah, he’d be okay again once he didn’t have to see
Rose in the courtroom every day, prim and gorgeous in her navy
suit.
The pizza came, several huge platters of it, steaming
hot and loaded with toppings. Everyone fell to eating. More beer
flowed. The volume on the TV got turned down some and Rose tried to
strike up a conversation with him.
“What ever happened to your escaped client? Did the
authorities catch him?”
“Nope. He’s long gone. The fool had less than a year
left to serve, too.”
“That’s a shame.”
“How about you, Rose? Did you ever find another
Sunday morning client?”
“No.” She leaned across the table and brought her
hand up to her mouth. “I’m the head chef in a real restaurant
now.”
“Seriously? You quit naked cheffing?” Why did that
please him so?
She nodded. “One of my other clients, a woman, went
rogue on me. I figured it was only a matter of time till they all
did.”
He grinned. “Wouldn’t blame them. You were definitely
the tastiest thing on the menu, Rose.”
Even in the low light he could see her pleased
blush.
Another round of beers appeared at the table and a
few more well wishers dropped in. Chairs were rearranged to make
room, separating him from Rose. He checked his watch. Almost ten.
He could make a graceful exit now and not be missed.
He went over to Mike and shook his hand and said
goodnight. Then he glanced toward Rose. She stared at him from
across the crowded space, her eyes big and dark.
“Good night,” he mouthed and gave her a little
wave.
She raised her hand in response.
He shrugged into his jacket, then made his way
through the maze of tables and out the front door.
He’d gone maybe two hundred feet when he heard his
name called. His heart
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