“Just who do you think you—” My words freeze in my throat. I know my jaw is hanging low, but my brain can’t seem to communicate with my mouth at this exact moment.
I have a type; I’ve always had a type. Jack was my type. Tall, strong, dark, clean cut, it’s my type. This guy in front of me, he is nothing like what I look for in a man, but somehow my words halt, and my knees go wobbly. I take a step forward, gripping the bar to steady myself.
“Are you all right?” His accent isn’t as heavy as everyone else I’ve met here. His sandy hair falls down to his shoulders; a thick layer of stubble covers his strong jaw line. His eyes are blue, his chest broad; the t-shirt under his button-down flannel peeks out. The jersey fabric tight across his obviously firm chest. I wonder what it would feel like to have those strong arms grip me, but I immediately do my best to push the thought from my mind.
I stare at his full, peachy lips as he speaks again, “Miss, are you okay?” I can see him waving a hand in front of my face. I know I should say something.
I shake my head. “Huh?” I’m embarrassed again, but continue, “Yes, of course I am. I’m just tired.”
He laughs a low and sexy growl. I feel my cheeks flush as I realize once again he and several patrons of the bar are laughing at me.
“Is there a manager here?” I ask, focusing my glare, determined not to drool over this guy any longer.
“You’re looking at him,” he chimes with a smile, and I notice him looking me up and down. I’m not sure what this means. I’ve never been great at determining when a guy finds me attractive. So I assume he must be looking at me for a much more sinister reason.
“No,” I insist, shaking my head. “There has to be someone above you.”
“I don’t think so.” He smiles. “Unless I sold recently and forgot about it.”
“You own this place?” I see his expression shift from light and jovial to one of annoyance. My tone of disbelief has offended him. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”
“I know,” he interjects. “You’re just tired, right?” He is not amused, and I pull my lips in tightly, then sigh. Leave it to me to make an enemy of the guy who owns the place before I even manage to get checked in.
“Is there any chance you have a room available?” I ask, pulling my shoulders up and trying my best to appear sweet and innocent.
The man walks away from me; I notice his backside is just as compelling as the front of him. Leaning through a doorway he shouts, “Bea, can you come here for a second?”
I can hear a bit of huffing coming from an unseen room, followed by some clanging, before an older woman sticks her head out. “What is it?” she asks, staring at the apparent owner.
“This young woman would like a room.”
“And what exactly would you like me to do about that, Holden?” the woman snarls in an agitated state.
“I’m sorry, Bea. I know I put a lot on your plate today, but can you please take care of her?” Now that I’ve heard it, I can’t quit thinking about his name. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone with that name. It seems to suit him, I think.
He instructs me to follow the fuller-figured woman. Her silver hair twists into a bun on top of her head, and the lines around her eyes show a life full of stories. We climb a narrow and steep staircase to the left of the bar. I can hear her grumbling. I do my best to lift my suitcase up high enough, but it still bangs into every third stair or so.
A sigh of relief passes through my lips when we reach the top of the stairs, and I’m a little sad I’m so winded, while this Bea woman, who is clearly older than me, seems to be completely unscathed. I follow her to a side table in the hall where she flips through several papers.
“Now, we’re not too fancy around here—only four bedrooms and the common bath is at the end of the hall.” My heart sinks a little at that confirmation. “My husband, Abner, and I stay out back in the guest house if you need us outside of operating hours.”
Abner, the man with the mustache, who had carried in my bag. They seem like an odd couple, yet somehow so appropriate for one another. “Holden is in the last room on the left, but he doesn’t always wake up when you knock, so if you need something, you can always get me.”
“Holden?” I had figured this out, but for some reason I didn’t want her to think I had.
“The owner, you met him downstairs.”
I gasp. “Wait, he stays up here?”
“Well, yes, it’s his inn. Where else would you have him stay?”
“No, I mean ...” I don’t even know what to say.
“I know he’s quite fit, is he not?” The woman smiles up at me, pulling out a piece of paper with details printed on it about the inn and the surrounding area. For the first time I see humor on her face, and I think I could like her.
“I suppose, fit enough, but I also found him quite rude.”
“Rude?” Bea seems puzzled by my statement. “That isn’t something I hear often about Holden. My Abner, now I hear it all the time about him.”
“I don’t think accusing me of passing gas is polite or mature,” I say, my face burning from the embarrassment.
“What?” Bea is suddenly bursting at the seams with boisterous laughter. “Did you happen to say ’Pardon me’ to Abner at any point?”
“Huh? I mean ...” I think about her question, retracing the conversation. “I suppose I may have.”
“That’s one of Abner’s favorite jokes when we get Americans.” Bea gasps between laughs.
“What is?” I feel as though I’m the only one not getting an obvious joke.
“In Britain, when we say ’pardon me,’ it’s because of flatulence.”
“Oh!” My embarrassment falls away into laughter as I realize now what she’s saying. Then it goes right back to embarrassment as I think about Holden even jokingly imagining me farting. That is the last thing I want a man like Holden to think about.
“Don’t worry, dear, you’ll pick up on their humor quickly enough. Now, how many nights will you be staying?” Bea asks me, pulling out a set of keys.
“I have no idea,” I reply honestly.
“Are you running from something, sweetheart?” Bea laughs, and though I know to her it is just another joke, her words sting with truth.
I shake my head. “Just trying for a spontaneous adventure.”
“I see, well the nightly and weekly rates are all in the info I gave you.” Bea pauses, looking into my eyes as if studying me. Her glance shifts, and I can tell she sees something in me, but I’m just not sure what. She places the keys in my hand, wrapping my fingers around them. She adds, “Why don’t you get settled in, and we can run your payment in the bar later this evening? I have a kitchen to get back to.”
“I’m grateful; thank you,” I say in response and look at the key.
“Back down the hall, first door at the top of the stairs,” she instructs. The room is the farthest from the bathroom, but also farthest from Holden, which in the moment seems like a good thing.
I turn and make my way to the door, sliding my key in, and drag my luggage inside, thrusting it up onto the bed. Light drenches the room from the window on the left wall. I’m thrilled to see, just as I had desired, my room is one with the window box of flowers. There’s no dresser—just a small double bed, and nightstands that could double for clothing storage, if needed. On the far wall, opposite the window, is a wardrobe of chestnut colors. Shoved against the wall with the door I’d just entered through is a small desk. It isn’t fancy, but it is functional. I imagine how perfect the room would have been for Jane Austen to create one of her enchanting characters.
I’m not one to tire, but it seems as though I’ve felt the need to nap every day since leaving on this trip. Perhaps this is the jet lag I’ve heard so much about, but never experienced. Flying overseas is what it took to suck the wind out of my sails apparently. Of course, if I’m being completely honest, I’ve pretty much felt like this since Jack and I split. Kenzie keeps telling m
e I’m depressed, but I refuse to believe it. I won’t accept that a man could put me in such a state.
Hoping the embarrassment I experienced earlier will have slipped from everyone’s mind after a little time, I decide a nap is exactly what I need. Then I will slip downstairs for a bite to eat and some exploring. Now if I can quit thinking about Holden’s half-cocked smile long enough to fall asleep, I’ll be all set.
***
“Let me get this straight,” Kenzie starts, but I know where she’s headed before the words ever leave her mouth. “You’re staying right down the hall from an insanely hot guy, and you haven’t done anything about it yet?”
I laugh; I miss her smile and her inappropriate comments. “I’ve been gone less than a week, and you would already have me jumping in bed with the first hot guy I see.”
“First off, I’m sure he isn’t the first you’ve seen, and second, do you think a kiss would be so terrible?”
“I talked to him for two minutes, and it was completely embarrassing.”
“From what you’ve told me, it was harmless fun.”
“Harmless or not, most of the bar was laughing about my possible flatulence. Not exactly a great way to lead in to, ’Hey, you’re pretty hot, wanna make out?’”
“Not that you ever would,” Kenzie says.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I ask, defensive. But I know exactly what she means. I’ve never taken chances. My version of living on the wild side is walking from the bathroom to the bedroom without putting my robe on first. Yep, that’s right, naked. I’m not like Kenzie. She is able to throw caution to the wind and embrace life with every fiber of her being.
“Nothing, forget I said anything—”
“Uh huh, yeah,” I moan with sarcasm.
“Oh, before I forget, Jack has been poking around.” Her declaration startles me.
“What do you mean ’poking around?’”
“He came to the apartment, asking why I was here, where you were, all that fun stuff. You know how he gets, typical Jack, trying to bully the information he wants out of people,” Kenzie explains.
My chest aches, and my head is swirling. The idea of Jack finding out where I am makes me feel sick. I need time away, and my hope is the distance between us gives me the strength I currently lack around him. If I’m lucky, he’ll forget all about me. “You didn’t tell him anything, did you?”
“Are you serious? Of course I didn’t.” From the tone of insult in Kenzie’s voice, I’m certain she’s being completely honest. “I did tell him that you were selling the condo and asked me to take care of the place while you work some things out. I swore to him that I didn’t know where you are though.”
“And he bought that?”
“I doubt it, but I wasn’t budging, and I think he knew that.”
“Thanks for dealing with my mess,” I offer.
“Are you kidding?” Kenzie laughs. “Living in your incredible condo, dealing with your ex, is still loads better than my mom and dad’s incessant nagging.”
“Still riding you, huh?” I know things between her and her parents are volatile.
She sighs an extended breath. “Mom just knows how to push my buttons. She started in on the crap about when Ben and I are getting married.”
“What did you tell her?”
“To mind her own damn business.”
“I bet she loved that.” I laugh. I can see the scene unfold in my head.
There is a momentary pause, before Kenzie continues, “She has a point.”
“What? Kenz, what are you talking about?”
“Ben and I have been together almost as long as you and Jack were. You guys lived together and were about to get married. What the hell are Ben and I even doing? I can’t even get him to agree to get an apartment with me.”
“Don’t say that.” I know she cares about Ben, but she just grows impatient with the life she wants now and the stage they are in. “You know Ben loves you, and he only wants what will be best for the two of you.”
“I don’t know if he loves me more than his stupid video games.”
“That’s just silly,” I reassure her. “He works hard, and you know he plays those things to unwind.”
“I suppose.” I hear her swallow hard; I don’t think she believes me. “Enough of this depressing talk. Why don’t you go downstairs and speak to Mr. British McHottie.”
“You did not just say that,” I groan, rolling my eyes for good measure.
“I most certainly did, and if you don’t go hook up with him, I’m going to get on a plane, fly my ass over to England, and take care of this guy myself.”
“Shut up.” I try to keep my laughter down to a dull roar, unsure how much they can hear down in the pub.
“I’m serious, though; it’s dinner time there, right?”
“Yeah, so?”
“So ... go down and have dinner. Sit at the bar, chat him up a bit,” Kenzie instructs. My heart starts to race. I’m still a little humiliated about earlier, but the idea of doing something completely out of character has me on the edge of my seat.
“Well?” she presses.
“All right, I’m going!” I insist.
“Oh my God, no you’re not,” Kenzie grumbles in disbelief.
I rise to my feet. “No, I promise. I just stood up, and I’m getting ready to head out of my room.”
“Ahhh!” she squeals in my ear. “I can’t believe it. Go get him, and then call me and tell me everything about it.”
“Love you, Kenz.”
“Love you, too, slut. Later.”
The phone clicks. I take a deep breath and prepare to make my way downstairs. You can do this, I tell myself. I laugh at my internal pep talk, shaking my head, and step out into the hall, telling myself silently, You’re just going down to grab a bite to eat; no big deal.
Much to my surprise, every table in the pub is full. There aren’t exactly a lot of tables in the first place, but given the rural setting, I never expected to see it so active. I can’t help but smile when I have a seat at the bar, thinking of Kenzie’s comments.
“There she goes again.” I hear Abner’s voice to my left, and let out a gust of air. Yeah, all was not forgotten by him. “You do find yourself amusing, don’t you?”
“Quit giving the poor girl a hard time,” I hear Holden’s voice as he approaches from the other end of the bar. “Don’t mind him. He’s like that with everyone. He thinks he’s a comedian or something.”
My grin splits my face in two, and I make a mental note to never say ’pardon me’ again in present company.
“I can’t help that I was born hilarious,” Abner replies, leaning toward me with a wink. “Any more than she can help being beautiful.”
“Oh yeah,” Holden adds, looking at me. “He’s an incorrigible flirt, too.”
I giggle— Abner is just as Bea described: a harmless and sweet older man.
I look up at Holden, who is now standing in front of me. Bea was right about him, as well. In this moment, ‘fit’ seems like a mild way to describe his physique. Jack is slender, and while he is lean, there isn’t any bulk to him. Holden is broad, solid, and I imagine he could pick me up with ease.
“Hungry?” he asks me, peering into my eyes. He doesn’t shift his gaze when I look up at him. I push back the dark strands that have fallen from my ponytail and look around for a menu. I see nothing.
“Um, yeah, I could eat.” I want to say I’m starving and please direct me to the nearest side of beef, but I restrain myself.
“Great, what will you have?” he asks, using a damp cloth to wipe down the bar in front of me.
“What do you have?” I inquire, my voice trembling in the slightest, as I see his shirt shift upward and expose the flesh on his hip. He points over his shoulder where I see a handful of items scribbled onto a chalkboard. “Oh— well, let’s see, how about the fish and chips.”
“Ab, can you tell Bea we need a tourist special,” Holden directs the old man wi
th a grin. I watch as Abner hops to his feet and makes his way around the bar, more than happy to relay the information.
“Tourists’ special, huh?” I huff.
“I think every American who comes into this place orders fish and chips.”
“If it annoys you, why have it on the menu?”
“I never said it annoyed me,” he corrects.
“I see.” I grin, observing him as he returns to work. I try to ignore Kenzie’s voice in my head, telling me to jump on him. For all I know, he is married. I lean my head to one side, trying to catch a glimpse of his left hand. He reaches for a mug, and I see his finger is bare. At that, my stomach flutters.
“So ...” I begin, clearing my throat, willing myself to be brave. I find out it is not so simple to will this. I swallow hard.
He turns, lifts an eyebrow, and asks, “Did you need something else?”
“Oh, no, not really. Just trying to make conversation, I suppose.” There, I said an entire sentence to him, so now the ball is in his court, and I can relax.
“Do you do that a lot?” Holden asks while busy making drinks behind the bar.
“Do what?”
“Try and make small talk with complete strangers?”
And there it is. My face goes hot, and I can only imagine bright red. I bow my head, unsure what to say in response, “I ... um ... I ...”
My breath catches in my throat as, without warning, a strong hand touches my arm. I look up, and Holden is leaning down, smiling at me. He lifts my chin with a single finger, and looking into my eyes, he says, “I’m just playing with you, all right?” He then goes back to making what looks like a Tom Collins.
I feel awkward, but I give a soft laugh to try and break the silence.
“So what brings to you to our little corner of the world?” he asks, sliding a mug of beer down to the gentleman at the end of the bar. I lift my eyebrows, impressed by his aim.
“I’m here to visit Chawton.”
The XOXO New Adult Collection: 16 Full Length New Adult Stories Page 164