Shaken Not Stirred (Mixology) Read Free Page B

have been
impossible not to be. Tall, around six foot, with jet-black hair,
he was striking. He was definitely my type.
    “I thought we’d head down to the beach. I
know a great spot there that’s perfect for a picnic.”
    “Do you take all of your dates there?” I
wondered what was so special about the spot he wanted to take me.
We were on the Outer Banks, so the beach was everywhere.
    “No. I’ve never had a picnic date
before.”
    “I have, but not on the beach.” Mine had been
in a park at night during high school. The picnic was great and all
until I discovered my date had packed condoms in the picnic basket.
That date didn’t last long. Neither did our relationship.
    “Oh.” There was a definite note of
disappointment in his voice. “Did you enjoy it?”
    “Not particularly.” No reason to share the
details. “I have a feeling this one will be much more
enjoyable.”
    “Good.” He downshifted as we headed farther
from town. The wind cooled down the seat, and a few minutes in, I
let myself relax. It was only a date. Just because the guy was
older and someone I barely knew didn’t make it any different than
other dates.
    Who was I kidding? Of course it did. The only
guys I’d dated before had been friends first. I had no idea how to
handle the “getting to know you” part of dating.
    We didn’t talk much on the drive. He kept
glancing over at me with this grin on his face. I enjoyed the wind
in my hair. If I did buy a car, I wanted a convertible. Of course
that was what I wanted, but with my finances, I’d end up with a
secondhand compact.
    “You okay?” He pulled into a spot.
    “Yeah. Definitely.”
    “Okay. Just checking.” He pulled a woven
picnic basket out of the backseat.
    “Wow, you went all out.”
    “I’ll be honest. I picked it up. But it’s
better this way. Trust me.”
    “Then I’m sure it’s going to be good.”
    We walked down the beach until we found the
spot he’d been alluding to. He unfolded a large blue and red
blanket, and we spread it out on the sand.
    I sat down with my legs stretched out,
waiting for Colin to join me. He placed the basket on his far side,
kneeled, and pulled out a bottle of pinot grigio and two
glasses.
    “Wine?” He’d never struck me as the wine
type.
    He smiled. “Despite the time, this is a
date.”
    “Oh really?” I smoothed out my skirt, wishing
I’d worn shorts instead. I hadn’t thought about the awkwardness of
sitting on a blanket in a skirt. I’d been thinking more about being
cute. That was pretty surprising for me. Usually, I put
practicality first.
    “Yes. I’ve waited quite a while for this
date.” He moved to sitting.
    “Have you?” I wondered where he planned to go
with the conversation. We both knew how many times he’d asked.
    “Yeah, since the first night I saw you at the
Grille.” He opened the wine and poured us each a glass.
    “Wow, I guess I made a good first
impression.”
    “I liked how much time you spent measuring
out everything. You were very meticulous. It’s like you view
bartending as a science.”
    I shrugged, ignoring the fact that he must
have been watching me that night. He’d only ordered a beer. “It
kind of is.”
    He handed me my glass. “I guess you’re right,
but most people don’t see it that way.”
    “I guess not.”
    He lightly clinked his glass against mine.
“To you finally giving this a shot.”
    I smiled, willing the awkwardness away.
    He leaned back on one hand, looking so
comfortable with the situation. I wondered how I appeared. “Have
you decided whether you’re staying around after Labor Day?”
    “Yes.” I sipped the cool white wine.
    “And?”
    “I’m staying.” I set aside the wine and
leaned back on my elbows. The sun beat down on my face, and I loved
it.
    “Really? For good?” He watched me
eagerly.
    “Well, for the winter at least.”
    He leaned over slightly. “That’s
fantastic.”
    “Yeah, it’s the best thing for me right
now.”
    “I have to