I walk up Main Street, heading towards the 3rd Street Promenade. As I pass the pub, I can't help but slow. Ian is out on the patio talking to a sexy blonde. She's wearing a tight black dress, red stilettos, and an I-want-to-fuck-you smile. I hate her on sight.
Ian has a rag in his hand; he must have been wiping down the tables. She's leaning towards him, her hand on his bicep. He smiles at her fondly, and I wonder if they are lovers. They certainly make an attractive couple. I'm immediately stabbed with jealousy.
Perhaps he felt the daggers I was tossing their way with my eyes, because just then Ian looks up and sees me. For a fleeting moment, a brilliant smile lights up his face. I hadn't realized that his smile for the blonde had been muted, but in comparison to the one he gives me, it was nearly a frown. My face involuntarily splits into a matching grin.
Ian's eyes drop to my chest, and I see a flare of heat as he looks back up into my eyes. Then he blinks, gives his head a small shake, and when he looks at me again, he's my composed, controlled boss.
"Kelli," he says, as he crosses to the plexiglass wall of the patio abutting the street. "What are you doing here?" He has neglected the blonde and she looks none too happy about it.
"I just finished at the gym and decided to try some of the local cuisine," I say. "I'm looking for something light and fresh. If I keep eating your stew I'm going to be as big as a house!"
"Too late," the blonde mutters under her breath, but loudly enough for us to hear.
Ian's head whips back to her and although I cannot see his face, I'm guessing his expression is fierce because she actually looks a little frightened. She retreats into the bar.
Turning back to me, it is clear he doesn't know if he should apologize for her behavior, or change the topic. I decide for him.
"So, any recommendations?" I ask.
"Recommendations? Oh, food, right. There are a million places around here," he says.
"That's not particularly helpful," I say playfully. "Could you narrow it down to say, maybe three?"
He gives me a smirk and rolls his eyes. Folding his arms across his chest, and spreading his legs, he disappears in thought. I take the opportunity to ogle him. His form is truly magnificent. I've spent plenty of time admiring his pecs, arms, and delts. I've done my fair share of imagining what his abs look like; I'm positive he has an 8-pack. I take this opportunity to admire his thighs. They are large and hard, and completely fill out his pant leg. I can easily imagine straddling his lap, those thighs underneath my ass. Preferably my bare ass, as he pulls me forward to mount him.
"Cora's," he says, startling me back to the present.
"Cora's?" I ask, a little testily. I'm annoyed because I was just getting to the good part.
"Their menu isn't very large, but everything is organic and they use high quality ingredients. There isn't anything on the menu I wouldn't recommend."
"Oh, great, thanks. Yeah, that sounds good," I say, managing to stick a smile back on my face. "Where is it?"
"Head down Main until you reach … You know what, I'll go with you," Ian says suddenly.
"What?" I ask, shocked.
"Unless you want to eat alone. Sure, right, maybe you'd rather go alone," he back peddles.
No way am I going to let him do that! "I'd love the company," I say earnestly. Looking at his dazzling green eyes I continue, "Please, I'd love it if you came with me."
He nods. "Stay there, I'll be right out." He disappears into the pub.
I'm going to eat brunch with Ian! Outside of the pub. Oh my god, this is like a date! Hold on there, Nelly, my brain objects. This is not a date. Don't you remember that blonde he was talking to? She's probably his girlfriend. He is only showing you a place to eat and happens to be hungry himself.
By the time he comes out the front door, I have myself in check. He indicates with his head that we should head north and I fall in step beside him. We walk in silence for a few moments and I can't not ask. I just can't.
"Um, was that your girlfriend?" I know I sound like a pathetic teenager, but I've got to know.
"Cindy? No," Ian answers, but says nothing else. Okay … fine, be that way. I didn't really want to know if you had a girlfriend or not.
We walk in silence a few more moments before he asks, "Do you have a boyfriend?" He gives me a quick glance.
"No," I say, shaking my head.
"You and that bozo from the other night didn't work out?" Ian asks, his eyes on the sidewalk in front of him.
What? I almost stop walking. Was he talking about Jake? How could he be talking about Jake? I hadn't even met Ian at that point. "What bozo?"
"That guy you met a couple days before you started working," he says plainly. "You left together, I assumed you hooked up."
Ian had seen me that night? He had noticed that I left with someone? He didn't even know me! My ego is inflating at an alarming rate when a thought strikes me: Ian notices everything that happens in his pub. He is excessively observant and has a meticulous eye for detail. No doubt he keeps an eye on all single women to make sure they don't get into a potentially dangerous situation. Yes, that's it. Ian the protector - that's why he noticed me and Jake.
I shake my head. "Nope, that didn't pan out. I've been single a while now. I plan to start my cat collection pretty soon; I've been a bit remiss. If I hope to reach the requisite ten cats to be a true cat lady by the time I'm 40, I have to get on it. Might you be able to tell me where the local humane society is?"
He laughs and puts a hand on my forearm to stop me from crossing the street. I had been too busy trying to amuse him that I hadn't noticed the light had changed. The feel of his hand on my arm is electrifying, and my entire body comes alive. My mind quickly jumps to what it would feel like to have our entire bodies touching, naked. If I'm this excited by a hand on my arm, I think I'd have a heart attack if he was ever laying on top of me in the nude.
"For what it's worth, I seriously doubt being an old cat lady is in your future. Some guy will convince you to lock it down with him, I've no doubt," Ian says, regarding me with a strange look in his eyes. Perhaps he's trying to imagine what sort of man would marry me. Lord knows I've tried to piece that out a few million times.
"Sure, okay," I say. We cross the street and Ian puts his right hand on my lower back and indicates that we've reached Cora's with his other arm.
I allow him to direct me to the hostess station and we pick a table on the quaint outside patio. It has a small fountain at the back and the walls are covered with bougainvillea. It is absolutely charming. A perfect place for a first date. Shut up!
"Hey Ian. What's up, man?" A waiter approaches with two waters, and shakes hands with Ian once he's placed them down in front of us.
"Not much Manny, how's it going with you?" Ian responds.
"Doing good man, doing good. My wife had a baby last month. I'm a proud papa," he says and takes out his phone to show Ian some photos.
I'm not a part of this conversation so I sit back and watch. When Ian looks at the photos of the baby, he becomes noticeably sad.
"Aw Manny, she's beautiful. Congrats man!" Ian says.
Alright, so maybe he isn't noticeably sad, but I can see it there in his eyes. I wonder if he has a child he doesn't get to see. Or maybe he wants kids but can't have them. Or maybe I have an overactive imagination and need to just look at the damn menu.
I turn my attention to the menu and my stomach growls loudly. Ian chuckles and I shoot him a look, "Shut up," I say. "I spent two hours at the gym. I'm allowed to be starving."
"I didn't say anything," he says smiling. Then he proceeds to run down the menu with me, giving me his thoughts on each of the dishes. He has literally had them all. We both decide and Manny takes our order.
"So, two hours? That's a pretty extreme workout. Why so long?" Ian asks.
"No particular reason," I say. "The gym was empty, so I had a field day in the weight room. Then, I threw in a spin class for good measure. As I said, your stew is addicting, and none too good for the thighs."
"Your thighs are perfect," he says, looking slightly annoyed. I'm guessing he's thinking about Cindy's comment.
"Ha! No, they most certainly are not. But I've spent the last 15 years trying to change them, and they've made it very clear they are happy just they way they are. So, I'm a big thighed woman, and that's the way it has to be," I conclude, a false bravado making my voice sound convincing.