“Twenty-five. How old are you?”
“Thirty-five, thirty-six in a few more weeks.”
“You didn’t deny the connection.”
“No, I’m not the type of man who kisses random women he comes across.”
She smiled full out, and he knew right or wrong, there was no way he could simply walk away from her.
Juni was the first good thing to happen to him in a long time; and if he were a glass half full type of man, he’d take the fact that he’d met her on this particular day to be a sign. Great, I really am losing it if I’ve turned to new age mumbo jumbo to explain what’s going on. I’m extremely lonely and Juni is gorgeous, sweet, and by some incredible stroke of luck, attracted to me. Why shouldn’t I go with the flow? Tonight is soon enough to return to my depressing reality.
“What time do you get off?” he asked.
“In about thirty minutes, do you want a touch up on your coffee?”
“Sure.” He observed her as she refreshed his drink. She had the long, slender fingers of an artist, a
nd her movements were easy and graceful. A Zen-like calm seemed to roll off her, and he wondered what she did to achieve it. Was she one of these new age, healthy food and yoga types? Or had she been through something that had shaped her attitude?
She replaced his cup of coffee.
“So, are you going to ask me?” she asked.
“Ask you what?”
“To do something when I get off work,” she said.
“You don’t hold your tongue, do you?” He was amused by her frankness.
“I learned a long time ago life’s much too short to live with regrets and what ifs.”
Oliver drew his eyebrows together as he turned her words over in his head. She had a story, but it was too soon to ask her what it was.
“Are you sure you’re only twenty-five?” he asked.
“I’m what you’d call an old soul.”
“I can see that.”
“You have that same look in your eyes,” she said.
“What look?”
“The one that says you’ve seen more than you should have.”
He shrugged, relieved when she moved on to small talk.
Chapter Two
Juniper couldn’t help but wonder if the handsome ash-blond haired man who sat in front of her was a figment of her overactive imagination. Nordic gods with angular jaws, porcelain skin, and broad shoulders didn’t just walk into Cupa and proceed to kiss her senseless. From the moment she’d locked gazes with his jade green eyes an electric current had sparked inside her, and she been pulled toward him like a magnet. It wasn’t like her to flirt or let a man charm her, but there was something about him that was different. As if you have any real experience with a man. She mocked herself mentally, and refocused on the mirror she stood in front of. He’d ask her to dinner when she got off her shift, and really she had no choice but to say yes.
With one last fluff of her curls she grabbed her purse and walked out of the back office.
She returned to the bar and Oliver stood from his stool. “Okay Jenny, I’m out of here,” she said. “Have a good shift.”
The brunette smiled as she shot a curious glance at Oliver.
“Thanks, Juni. Enjoy the rest of your night,” Jen said.