Anlon had come in for a late afternoon drink after spending the day out on his boat. It was a quiet time in the bistro, wedged between the lunch and dinner rush. Pebbles was washing out glasses when she heard the sound of a stool scraping against the bar’s slate floor behind her.
“Be with you in a sec,” she called over her shoulder as she placed cleaned pint glasses in the bar’s cooler.
Anlon, appraising her shapely, miniskirt-covered backside as she leaned over the cooler, called back, “No rush, I’m not in a hurry.”
It wasn’t until she fully stood that Anlon realized how tall Pebbles was and that her shoulder-length raven hair was streaked with pink highlights. When she spun on the heels of her black sneakers to greet him, he was caught off guard by her edgy yet captivating looks and must have inadvertently showed as much through an unintentional change in his facial expression.
Pebbles wore a tight white crop top to go with the equally snug black miniskirt. Together they worked to accentuate her body’s curves, long legs and toned abdomen. On her forearms, she wore silver bangles that partially obscured tattoos on the underside of each wrist. Another tattoo on her neck was somewhat hidden by the aforementioned black and pink hair. Nose ring, eyebrow rings, tongue stud and the hint of an another tattoo on her shoulder peeking out from beneath the crop top completed the ensemble.
Her lips widened into a thin smirk and she asked for his drink order. Though Pebbles had only been on the job for a few days at that point, she was quickly getting used to the reactions caused by her offbeat appearance compared to the typical beach-blonde California girls that worked up on the lake during the summer. Some reactions were funny, others rude, but most were just plain shock.
Anlon’s reaction was different, she thought. Yes, there had been the extra eye blink that signaled mild surprise, but there had also followed a subtle raise of one eyebrow and a slight purse of his lips that came across to her like admiration more than derision.
She walked away to draw his ale request while trying to size him up further. It was one of the things she already liked about being a bartender — the chance to use her wits to create a caricature of the people she served. It made the job more fun and interesting and helped her engross customers in conversation that, in turn, led them to stay longer, eat and drink more and tip with greater generosity.
She took note of his somewhat disheveled appearance. His canary blue golf shirt was untucked and a bit rumpled. His clean shaven face and arms glistened with perspiration and she detected the unmistakable scent of sunblock. His sandy grey hair was damp and had the look of someone who had used his hands to absently guide it into place on his way into the bar. Yet, he was attractive and he emitted the vibe of someone relaxed and untroubled.
“Thank you,” Anlon said when she brought him a pint of his favorite San Diego brewery IPA. “You’re new here, aren’t you? My name is Anlon by the way.”
What an unusual name, she thought. Wait until he hears my name! She took note that he was seated alone, away from the few other customers surrounding the horseshoe bar, and he wore no wedding ring. She also noticed that, unlike most other bar patrons who came in alone, he wasn’t already glued to his cell phone.
Nodding, she extended her hand, bangles jangling, and replied, “Yes, I just started this week. Pebbles is my name. Nice to meet you Anlon.”
With these clues in mind, she started to develop a picture. She figured he was a regular given that he had noticed she was new. This meant he came here often, which in turn meant he must have a place in Tahoe or visited the area frequently. She reckoned he must have just finished golfing at the nearby mountain resort course. Golfers often stopped in Sydney’s after their round.
“Pebbles?” a curious Anlon queried while returning her handshake, “a pleasure to meet you as well.”
He spoke with the formality of someone well educated. Given his age and country club casual attire, she surmised that he must be on vacation or at least had taken the day off from work. This conclusion, Pebbles thought, was further supported by the fact that it was four in the afternoon on a Thursday and he was in a bar instead of working. He was too young to be retired and too old to be a student. Probably just took advantage of the nice day to sneak in an early summer round of golf, she thought.
“Yep, Pebbles,” she answered as she watched his bewildered expression with an inner snicker. Most people went straight to quips like “Is that your real name?” or “Where’s Bam Bam?” or other inane comments. But Anlon didn’t take the bait. He nodded his head with unquestioned acceptance, raised his glass in a salute of sorts and took a deep sip of the IPA.
Pebbles became distracted by the entrance of a loud quartet of 20-something beach-goers who’d stumbled into the bar already half-lit after a day of jet skiing on the lake. She excused herself to tend to the new guests. However, she found herself every so often peering over at Anlon, still crafting a picture of the man.
He had now been there half an hour and just ordered a second IPA. She hadn’t noticed him check his watch or pull out a cell phone to text or email, so it seemed to her he wasn’t waiting on anyone. For the most part, he idly watched a Giants baseball game on the TV hanging above the bar. He kind of came across as someone who was bored and killing time. Traveling businessman maybe?
Every now and then she caught him gazing at her. But it wasn’t a leer; the drunk beach-goers were doing plenty of that every time she leaned forward or bent over. His gaze was more a look of thoughtful study. His striking green eyes followed her movements not her body parts, she noticed. She speculated he was attempting to size her up as well. Suddenly self-conscious, she smoothed down some loose strands of hair.
What a beautifully disruptive young lady, Anlon thought, observing her glide around behind the bar. The way she dressed, her piercings and tattoos and even her name all reinforced to him the image of someone who liked to shake things up.
And while her alluring appearance and unusual attire demanded attention, it didn’t feel to him as if Pebbles was the sort of woman who sought attention for attention’s sake. If she was that shallow, he would have expected her to be loud, more openly flirtatious and overly demonstrative. But as he observed her filling orders and bantering with customers, her manner was warm, reserved and cleverly engaging. There was a genuine quality about her and so he perceived her disruptive appearance as more a statement of independence rather than a cry for attention.
Anlon assumed she was one of the bistro’s seasonal fill-ins given that the previous week Sydney had chatted with him in the bar and mentioned with a wink that his expanded staff would be starting soon.
Sydney, knowing Anlon was a confirmed bachelor, was forever trying to match him up with women when he dined or had a drink at the bistro. However, given the steady parade of classic California blondes Sydney had introduced over the years, Anlon doubted seriously if Sydney had Pebbles in mind when mentioning his incoming summer crew.
When Pebbles delivered his refill, curiosity got the better of her and she abandoned her silent study of Anlon. Now she wanted data to analyze. “Waiting on someone?”
Anlon nodded thanks for the beer and said, “No, just taking the edge off the day before I head home.”
Ah, Pebbles recorded mentally, so he’s not a vacationer or traveling businessman. He lives in Tahoe.
“Long day at work?” she followed up, looking away to wipe down the bar counter on each side of Anlon so as to avoid seeming overly interested in his answer.
“No, no work today. I was out boating on the lake this afternoon. It was hotter than I expected and I developed a thirst for an ice cold beer or two.”
Okay, she catalogued, strike that…he wasn’t golfing. So far she wasn’t doing very well measuring Anlon. She pondered further. He must be a banker, tech executive or an attorney. Most of the people who she’d met so far that lived on the lake were from Silicon Valley or San Francisco and resided on the Nevada side of Lake Tahoe to escape high California taxes.
Invariably they were technology titans, investment bankers or lawyers.
“Ah. It must have been beautiful out there. I went hiking around Mt. Rose this morning and the lake was so blue from the summit. Do you go out on the lake often?” she queried in response.
Cleverly engaging as he’d imagined, Anlon smiled to himself. He could tell she was curious about him but rather than interrogate him outright, Pebbles was making an effort to connect with him while she elicited the information she sought. Okay, he thought, I’ll play along and see where this goes.
“Some weeks I go out almost every day, but most weeks I’ve got other things going on. How about you? Do you like getting out on the water?”
Pebbles shook her head and said, “No, I’ve only been up here about two weeks. I’m not a local, just working here for the summer. But I will before I leave in August I’m sure.”
So he has a lot of free time but in spurts. Ruminating on this new information, she mused…maybe he’s an airline pilot. She could imagine him all dressed up in a uniform looking very distinguished.
“Where do you hail from?” Anlon asked, pleased he’d pegged her status as a summer worker. He was careful not to offer her an outing on his boat, at least not yet. Anlon was cautious when it came to women. Most he met nowadays were more interested in his money than in him. It was one of the downsides of sudden notoriety and instant wealth that he’d learned the hard way. And it was one of the reasons he now led a fairly solitary lifestyle.
“I’ve been kind of a vagabond for the last year, but I’m originally from the South,” Pebbles answered. “Have you lived up here long?”
Anlon replied, “About three years. I’m originally from the East coast but I lived most of my life in Cali.”
As they talked, the early dinner crowd started filing in and there was a sudden surge in new bar customers. Pebbles noticed Sydney giving her the evil eye and said, “Oops, better get busy or I’ll be in trouble. Are you hungry? Need a dinner menu before I scoot?”
“No thank you,” he politely replied. “I’ll order in pizza when I get home. I can’t risk missing The Hunted tonight.”
The Hunted was a wildly popular suspense serial with breathtaking, unexpected twists. It was nearing the end of its third season and the promotions for the final two episodes of the current season hinted at major plot reveals and a turn of events that devoted fans were warned not to miss.
It just so happened that Pebbles was a rabid fan of the show too and she thrust her palm towards him in an urgent “stop” motion as she walked away. “Don’t say anything. I’m an episode behind.”
Anlon laughed and raised his hands in surrender, “I promise, I promise. I won’t spoil anything. Go take care of your customers young lady.”
Later, when she finally managed a free moment again, she turned to where Anlon had been positioned and saw that he was gone. At first, she was miffed because she overlooked the $50 bill he left underneath his empty glass in payment of his unpresented $12 tab. Then she found herself inexplicably disappointed that their conversation had been truncated. And Pebbles was intrigued to boot. Despite leaving her a sizeable tip, Anlon hadn’t said or waved goodbye. “Who is this guy?” she wondered aloud.
It hadn’t taken long for them to bond after that first afternoon exchange at Sydney’s. A week later, Anlon invited her out on his boat. Unsure of his intentions, she hesitated another full week before accepting his offer, even though Sydney cajoled her constantly in between to leap at the opportunity.
“If you don’t take him up on his offer, you’re nuts! Do you know how many women I’ve tried to get him to take out on his boat or have dinner with him? He meets you once and you get invited? You have no idea who he is, do you?” an apoplectic Sydney rambled when she first told him of Anlon’s invitation.
“No, why should I? And why should that matter? Don’t get me wrong, he was nice and I liked talking to him, but I don’t want to give him the wrong idea.” she responded while reloading beer bottles in the refrigerator beneath the bar.
“Anlon, or should I say Doctor Anlon Cully, is a brilliant scientist — or was. He tells me all the time he is ‘mostly retired’ now. Anyway, he was a scientist on a team that patented a way to get better fuel mileage out of our cars while at the same time drastically cutting emissions. That patent made him crazy rich. He’s as eligible as they come missy…even if he is a bit older than you,” Sydney explained.
“Hey, look, I’m just here for the summer. I’m not looking for a hookup. And I’m definitely not looking for a soulmate. If that’s why he invited me, I don’t want any part of it. And just because he’s rich doesn’t mean I should fall at his feet. God, Sydney, are all the girls up here so shallow?” Pebbles ranted, now standing with clenched fists pressed against her hips.
Sydney shook his head in disbelief and started to walk away from the obstinate barmaid. He turned briefly and wagged a finger in her direction, “I saw you watching him the other night and it wasn’t casual indifference I saw in either of your eyes. I damn near had to pry you two apart to avoid a revolt from other thirsty customers. And if you think Anlon’s interested in shallow girls, you don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Though she adopted a stubborn attitude on the subject for a few days, the combined effect of two more relaxed and playful bar conversations with Anlon and Sydney’s unrelenting badgering finally led Pebbles to lower her guard.
That day on the boat had been close to magical. The weather had been surreally beautiful, their conversation light and wandering, his manners thoughtful and respectful. In fact, he never made a single, romantic overture verbally or otherwise. By the time the sun had set and they were strolling down the dock back to his house, she felt a little disappointed he hadn’t made a move on her.
Even as he stood in his driveway holding her helmet while she boarded her scooter to leave, he had simply said in parting, “Today was so much fun Pebbles. Thank you for hanging out. Maybe we can do it again before summer’s over.”
No kiss, no hug, no handshake, not even a fist bump. Given her earlier skepticism about even going on the pseudo-date, it surprised Pebbles she was somewhat crestfallen by his polite, gentlemanly farewell. She replied, “It was an amazing day Anlon, thank you. I’d love to see you again.”
As the words came out of her mouth, she blushed. She hadn’t meant it that way, but she was too flustered to correct herself. She started the scooter and fled down Lakeshore Drive. She was halfway to her apartment when it dawned on her that she never retrieved the helmet from him before driving off. Ugh, she thought, how embarrassing.
It was a representative example of the unconventional relationship that developed between them over the summer. While romantic tension hovered unexplored at the periphery, their relationship remained one of friendship. Neither of them totally opened up to the other but they took enjoyment from being around each other nonetheless. And even though they only saw each other once or twice a week, as summer neared an end, both grew melancholy about her impending departure.
It was Anlon who first broached the subject aloud as they sat around his fire pit drinking Cabernet one mid-August Friday happy hour. “So you’re moving on at the end of the month?”
The buzz from the red wine swirling through her brain brought an honesty to the surface she’d not displayed to Anlon previously, “I don’t know, AC. I’m not so sure I want to go just yet.”
His eyebrows rose in surprise while staring down at the reflection of the flames dancing along the bowl of his wine glass. He uttered with equal candidness, “Oh? In that case, I wish you’d stay a little longer. This summer has been the most fun I’ve had in a long time, and it’s because of you.”
As his sincere words filled her ears, she felt a warm sensation flow through her body, spurred on by the wine and fire pit’s glow. She turned and smiled at him, “I want to stay, because of you...but, I want to go, because of you too. It’s hard to explain.”
Anlon nodded his head, be
lieving he had an inkling about her inner conflict. He knew she was fiercely independent, kept her distance and never had intended to stay beyond summer, but he also sensed she didn’t want to let go of their friendship.
Secretly, however, he was thrilled with the news she was considering staying because he didn’t want to let go either. Anlon had not been very open about his feelings towards her, mostly because he wasn’t sure he wanted to step beyond friendship. He liked his uncomplicated life and worried a full-on relationship would disrupt it, but he knew with absolute certainty he wanted her in his life someway, somehow.
He didn’t know how to straddle the line between the two “wants” but with defenses lowered by the wine, he felt it was time to be more transparent. He leaned towards her, his eyes locked with hers, and asked, “Is there anything I can say or do to sway you to stay? It would be devastating to lose you in my life.”
Pebbles flushed redder than her wine as a heart-stirring smile flashed across her face.
Her mind wandered back to the previous day when she climbed up a rocky slope near Sand Harbor and sat soaking in the sun. Sydney had once teased her that Tahoe has a way of invading one’s soul and to not be surprised if she found it tough to leave at the end of summer.
As she surveyed the lake’s postcard worthy vistas, she silently cursed Sydney for his prescient warning. And yet the ache she felt when she thought about leaving seemed interwoven with memories of Anlon as much as Tahoe’s silent calling.
Anlon’s sweet entreaty was the final catalyst that melted her resolve. Pebbles affirmatively nodded, stood and reached for his hand, tugging him to stand as well. She wrapped both arms around him and held him tightly, nuzzling her face against his shoulder. They rocked gently and she raised her lips to kiss his cheek. Decision made.
And so she stayed. Pebbles continued to work part-time at Sydney’s and took a second job working at Heavenly ski resort over the winter, learning to ski and snowboard in her free time. She even traveled with Anlon to his Los Cabos home once during the winter and fell in love with his cliff-side view of the Sea of Cortez.
Shadows of the Stone Benders (The Anlon Cully Chronicles Book 1) Page 5