Reasons Why - 3

Chapter three

Chloe gave a sideways glance at the hot stranger sat beside her and gasped all over again. He was watching her with an amused look on his face. Smiling at her bewilderment. And she was bewildered. She glanced around the bar repeatedly and saw the groups of beautiful women, chatting and laughing, every now and again she caught the odd surreptitious glance from one and they had every right to be jealous. This man was quite staggering in the looks department. And he's rescued her.

Turning in her seat, she took a deep breath then met his humour filled eyes, "I'm Chloe!"

Dark eyes gazed at her outstretched hand before raising to look at her again, after a poignant and prolonged gaze, he broke into a grin, revealing a set of perfect white teeth. And Chloe even found those hot. When his fingers wrapped around her hand, he gave a squeeze more than a shake, her heart stepped up a notch, racing like a train in her chest, if her felt it too, that frisson of excitement, he hid it well. The same confident and amused grin, dark intriguing eyes looked down at her. 

"Mmm. British." He raised an eyebrow, "Chris." The  words were like a drug, and she had to shake her head to leave his eyes.

Dropping her hand she lifted the vodka and took a sip.

"Do you like?" 

She glanced at the drink, then back up at to his face, unsure whether he meant the drink or him...he seemed that confident. She'd never been this out of her depth in her life, and she was determined not to let his grand gesture floor her like this.

"I'm not the greatest vodka fan, more a beerhead, but to save me from being a prize in that game," she nodded in the direction of the three women who were sat away from them laughing, unperturbed by all they'd caused, "I'd frankly drink anything and there are a lot worse you could've chosen. And in case you didn't mean the drink, the same goes for you!"

She worried that she'd blush, but she managed to hold his gaze, and was rewarded with a  subtle change, his eyes widened and there was the hint of his own blush. It was a momentarily lapse, and leaning his arm along the back of her chair, he grinned.

"Really? You're comparing me to vodka?"

Was she? She knew that too much of him would stop her thinking straight. Giggling instead she raised the glass and dramatically looked at it, then glanced at him, "hmm, I think I can read the vodka a little easier!"

He laughed and it was a great sound, "has anyone told you that you're accent is delightful?"

It was her turn to laugh, "you have no idea how many times I've had to say H-erb, O-re-gano and arse this evening!"

"I'll argue with the way you say Erb and oreg-ano, but I think your arse is perfect!"

It was such a ridiculous line that they both burst into laughter, the ice finally broken.

Throwing his own vodka down his throat he turned to her, "beer then?" Her grin was all that was needed. A few minutes later he returned with two.

"So, what was the score earlier with the girls? You looked so uncomfortable!"

Chloe nodded, sipping her beer, "I had come out with my sister in law, she plays hockey with these girls. Apparently I breach the hockey helmet rule?"

He shrugged unknowing so she explained.

"Ah," his smile was so enticing, "just nice to know that through the hockey helmet rule I get a chance to spend time with a Britchick!"

"Lucky you!" She glanced at her watch, it was well after midnight, and she was now essentially alone. She knew her way home, but didn't want to find herself stranded.

"You on a curfew?" The arrogance and the humour were back as he looked at her.

"Oh yep, if I don't get home by one am my shoes turn into pumpkins and my wicked brother will make me peel vegetables all day tomorrow!"

He buckled in half, laughing so hard that it was a while before he responded, "you are so funny. I'm just going to go and thank those girls for giving me an in with you!"

She nudged him forcibly with her elbow, "I think I'm enjoying the fact that they aren't fighting over me, please can we ignore them?"

Still smiling he raised an eyebrow, "you wanna get out of here?"

Toying with her beer bottle in what she hoped was a suggestive manner, she looked up from under her hooded eyelashes at him, "what did you have in mind?"

He gulped, suddenly overly aware of Chloe the vixen, "club? Good music..."

She nodded, "well I'm hoping that my brother isn't representative of the whole country when it comes to music, cos Shania Twain doesn't impress me much!"

Chris dissolved into laughter again, "it's nineties night, in this basement place...I promise they won't pay MC Hammer, ok?"

After a brief stroll across a few streets, they were ushered into a pulsing nightclub. Whilst they ordered drinks, the place erupted to Nirvana, but by the time they were ready to dance the less cliched sound of Soundgarden then the Smashing Pumpkins were blaring.

"Cool club!" she leaned into Chris, glad that the choice of music called more for an energetic sway than a dance.

He grinned, "I love it here! Sit tight while I get another beer."

She stayed on the dance floor watching him make for the bar, he seemed to know everyone in there judging by the amount of pats on the back he received. It took him ages to get to the bar, then equally long enough to get back to her. But he was all smiles.

"Loved watching you dance!" he grinned handing her a bottle of Coors.

Smiling coyly, she laughed, "loved watching you sashay to the bar...wiggling that 'ass' for my benefit?"

He burst out laughing, "you are one crazy lady!" 

Twirling in an elaborate and rather provocative manner, she ended with a bow, then uncurling to her full height, she grinned, "I aim to please!"

  "Oh you do that!"

It was three am when the night started to wind up, Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls had caused her to be propelled into his arms for a romantic sway together. He smelled so good that Chloe was struggling to concentrate on the here and now. Her eyes were level with his jaw, the hint of a five o'clock shadow, and those full lips that were...

She shook her head and met his eyes, "I think I should make my way home."

"I'll walk you!"

"I'll be fine..."

He took he hand and she had to get used to the trauma that contact caused, "it's not a subject open for debate. Ok?"

Out in the street he led her to a cart where a vendor was selling hot dogs, buying two she watched as he loaded it with sauces and relishes, when she gave him a questioning look he smiled.

"It's all about having the full experience! And you have to load these babies!"

As they left town it was a juggle to eat without spilling sauce on her, that would be a real faux pas as it was she'd really enjoyed Chris' company, and though she didn't want more than this, being walked home, she didn't want to look like an idiot in front of him either.

Once they'd crossed the footbridge out of town, they joined the boardwalk, retracing the route she'd run earlier in the week. Chris munched on his own hotdog and there was a pleasant silence between them.

"Good?" he asked when he'd wiped the residual sauce from his mouth, all evidence of the hotdog gone. 

She watched him roll up the used napkin and toss it into a bin, chewing appreciatively. "It's very good!" She announced, "I can't believe how many perfect palate sensations I've had since I've been here!"

He stopped in his tracks and stared at her, just as she popped the remaining inch of hotdog into her mouth, his eyes widened at the rather unintentional provocative gesture. When he finally was able he smiled, "I can't believe that it's after three in the morning and you're using language like that! I've seen you drink a few beers, and they weren't the first!"

It was a while until she'd swallowed the food in her mouth, when she had, she smiled, "i don't feel drunk, and it's true, I mean it was only yesterday I discovered Tim Horton's coffee, then there's salmon jerky, wow! My brother seems intent on introducing me to all things Canadian, and whilst we have hotdogs at home, they don't taste anything like this...I LOVE that relish, the green one!"

Smiling Chris took her hand, and chuckled to himself as he led her the long walk along the boardwalk.

After ten minutes of more companionable silence, Chloe had to remove her shoes, her feet were killing her. So she tugged him towards a bench then slipped the shoes off.

"Do you want a ride?" he offered towards his back. 

Chloe shook her head at the vision her mind created of being wrapped around his torso, clinging on to his neck, "I'm too heavy, I'd kill you!"

He gave her a pointed look up and down, she was tall, and though she'd put on weight in the few days she'd been with her brother, she was not overweight. "I don't think so!"

"I'll be fine," standing, her finger looped through a strap from each shoe so they hung at her side, her other hand sought for the warmth of his, and off they walked.

The conversation was light, friendly but also extremely safe. Chloe had sworn that after David she'd give men a wide berth, but this level of superficial closeness was just what she could manage. As the inner harbour gave way to the outer harbour, they stopped at a bench in front of one of the many huge blocks of retirement condo's that seemed to flank this part of the waterfront and sat together. 

Chris leaned back against the bench, his arm stretched out behind her, "I have to say that those trousers, or whatever they are, are driving me crazy!"

She looked down at the leggings that clung to every curve and had a glossy, reflective element to them. She knew they were flattering, that was why she'd both bought them, then worn them, but she didn't realise how dramatic an effect they were having on this handsome man. Not that he was all that shabby himself, dressed in black jeans and a tight, fitted grey t-shirt that managed to not make him look camp. 

She ran her hands along her thighs, a self conscious gesture, but as she looked up to Chris, she saw it was having a significant effect on him. His eyes were smouldering and his lips were getting closer and closer to hers. There was a split second when she had to decide what she wanted. Until even half an hour ago she'd have fought against kissing him, she didn't need this complication, but as he got closer, his breath on her cheek, she upturned her face and met those delicious looking lips as they sought hers.