Page 6
Story: The Christmas Bet
When a taxi pulls up, I give him the hotel name and pull out my phone. Shit. It’s already seven. Nothing like being late for a ‘date’. Of course, I never even got his number. I’m just taking the chance and actually meeting him at the hotel. For all I know, he could stand me up, and I wouldn’t even be angry over it.
Once outside the hotel, I pay the driver and scoot out of the back seat. As the cool air hits my skin, I smooth out the skirt of my dress and look at the time. Quarter past seven. Okay, not too late.
As I make my way through the public spaces of the hotel,White Christmasby Nat King Cole plays, giving my heart a little flutter for the love I have for this season. I’m not ashamed to admit I have the Christmas stations playing on my satellite radio at the office or that the Hallmark Channel is always on at my apartment when I’m home. I’m a sucker for a good romance story. Add it the Christmas element and you have my full attention.
I smile and hum along with the song as I find my way to The Bar, which is adjacent to the Grand Saloon. This place is absolutely stunning.
The Bar is a long narrow bar that has French flair with plush red velvet walls. Large chandeliers hang high above the tables and chairs, and a checkerboard black and white floor add to the opulence of the space.
I spot Conner along the wall across from the bar sitting at a small table. Well, he stayed and waited, even though I was late. He sits across from a bench along the wall in a white leather chair. Walking over, I take slow deep breaths and just hope that this will be over fast.Drinks, dirty sex.
Part of me feels really guilty for thinking that. The other part of me is wildly excited about it. Internally, I groan. I really am a confusing person.
When I come up next to him, he looks up and immediately stands up. “Hi, Conner. Sorry I’m late.” I clutch my purse and give him a soft smile.
“Allison.” He places both hands in his pockets, his lips turn up slightly. “No worries. I’m just glad you’re here. Please sit.” He takes his hand out and gestures to the bench, then lets me get settled before shifting his chair closer to me around the table and sitting down.
“Thank you,” I say softly.
“What would you like to drink?” Conner asks as he motions one of the servers over.
“A merlot, please.”
He nods. Once the server makes his way over, Conner gives him my order. “She will have a glass of your merlot, Chateau Pabus, and I will take another Baccarat G and T please.”
“Absolutely, sir. I’ll be right back with those.” The server smiles and takes off towards the bar.
Conner turns back to me. “So, Allison, how have you been?”
I clear my throat. “What, you mean since you and my best friend ganged up on me to get me here tonight? Just fine, thank you.” Was I a bit snarky? Yeah. Just a little.
He lets out a chuckle. “You didn’t have to show, you know. You could’ve gone about your Friday night while I sat here drinking alone.”
“Well, that’s not who I am. So, I’m here. Tell me, why me? Why not anyone else in the bar?”
Conner shrugs. “Honestly, you caught my attention the minute I stepped foot into that bar. Your smile, your beauty, it stopped me dead in my tracks.”
“There were plenty of beautiful women in that bar,” I counter.
“None that I saw. All I could see was your radiance. Just you. So, I had to take a shot. I had to at least try.”
I bite my lip and look down at my hands. That was actually sweet. He was laying it on thick, but it was sweet nonetheless. And now I feel even worse for being a bit of a bitch. “Look, I think we may have started off on the wrong foot. Can we start over?” I look up at him, and my eyes meet his.
“Actually, I would really like that,” he replies as our drinks are set in front of us.
When the server leaves, I pick up my glass and hold it in front of me. “To do-overs.”
“To do-overs.”
We clink glasses and each take a sip. The velvety wine hits my tongue. Intense notes of cherry, pepper, and oak hit me all at once. I close my eyes and savor the taste. I open them to see Conner studying me.
“This merlot is good.” I place the glass down in front of me. Then I lean back and cross my legs together. Conner is tilted forward with his arms on the table, his drink in one hand as he continues to stare at me.
“So, Allison, what is it that you do for a living?” He sits back in his chair.
“Well, I’m an event planner here in the city. Conventions, trade shows, meetings, things like that. What about you?”
He smiles. “Lawyer. Currently working to become a partner with the firm I work for.”
Once outside the hotel, I pay the driver and scoot out of the back seat. As the cool air hits my skin, I smooth out the skirt of my dress and look at the time. Quarter past seven. Okay, not too late.
As I make my way through the public spaces of the hotel,White Christmasby Nat King Cole plays, giving my heart a little flutter for the love I have for this season. I’m not ashamed to admit I have the Christmas stations playing on my satellite radio at the office or that the Hallmark Channel is always on at my apartment when I’m home. I’m a sucker for a good romance story. Add it the Christmas element and you have my full attention.
I smile and hum along with the song as I find my way to The Bar, which is adjacent to the Grand Saloon. This place is absolutely stunning.
The Bar is a long narrow bar that has French flair with plush red velvet walls. Large chandeliers hang high above the tables and chairs, and a checkerboard black and white floor add to the opulence of the space.
I spot Conner along the wall across from the bar sitting at a small table. Well, he stayed and waited, even though I was late. He sits across from a bench along the wall in a white leather chair. Walking over, I take slow deep breaths and just hope that this will be over fast.Drinks, dirty sex.
Part of me feels really guilty for thinking that. The other part of me is wildly excited about it. Internally, I groan. I really am a confusing person.
When I come up next to him, he looks up and immediately stands up. “Hi, Conner. Sorry I’m late.” I clutch my purse and give him a soft smile.
“Allison.” He places both hands in his pockets, his lips turn up slightly. “No worries. I’m just glad you’re here. Please sit.” He takes his hand out and gestures to the bench, then lets me get settled before shifting his chair closer to me around the table and sitting down.
“Thank you,” I say softly.
“What would you like to drink?” Conner asks as he motions one of the servers over.
“A merlot, please.”
He nods. Once the server makes his way over, Conner gives him my order. “She will have a glass of your merlot, Chateau Pabus, and I will take another Baccarat G and T please.”
“Absolutely, sir. I’ll be right back with those.” The server smiles and takes off towards the bar.
Conner turns back to me. “So, Allison, how have you been?”
I clear my throat. “What, you mean since you and my best friend ganged up on me to get me here tonight? Just fine, thank you.” Was I a bit snarky? Yeah. Just a little.
He lets out a chuckle. “You didn’t have to show, you know. You could’ve gone about your Friday night while I sat here drinking alone.”
“Well, that’s not who I am. So, I’m here. Tell me, why me? Why not anyone else in the bar?”
Conner shrugs. “Honestly, you caught my attention the minute I stepped foot into that bar. Your smile, your beauty, it stopped me dead in my tracks.”
“There were plenty of beautiful women in that bar,” I counter.
“None that I saw. All I could see was your radiance. Just you. So, I had to take a shot. I had to at least try.”
I bite my lip and look down at my hands. That was actually sweet. He was laying it on thick, but it was sweet nonetheless. And now I feel even worse for being a bit of a bitch. “Look, I think we may have started off on the wrong foot. Can we start over?” I look up at him, and my eyes meet his.
“Actually, I would really like that,” he replies as our drinks are set in front of us.
When the server leaves, I pick up my glass and hold it in front of me. “To do-overs.”
“To do-overs.”
We clink glasses and each take a sip. The velvety wine hits my tongue. Intense notes of cherry, pepper, and oak hit me all at once. I close my eyes and savor the taste. I open them to see Conner studying me.
“This merlot is good.” I place the glass down in front of me. Then I lean back and cross my legs together. Conner is tilted forward with his arms on the table, his drink in one hand as he continues to stare at me.
“So, Allison, what is it that you do for a living?” He sits back in his chair.
“Well, I’m an event planner here in the city. Conventions, trade shows, meetings, things like that. What about you?”
He smiles. “Lawyer. Currently working to become a partner with the firm I work for.”