Valentine’s Day
Oriana
A man walks into a bar.
He looks around the room and smiles, but then a sense of satisfaction seems to come over him. This is his place: his project, his baby. He’s worked his entire life to make this place fantastic, and it is.
Tonight, the bar is decorated in red, pink, and white. Valentine’s Day isn’t the busiest day of the year, but it’s not even seven, and the room is already packed with people ready to celebrate love and happiness and togetherness. A couple of girls are already dancing and more are lurking on the edge of the new dance floor, obviously thinking about whether they’re ready to make their move and jump in on the fun.
Me?
I’m watching the bartender make his way into the room. He moves slowly, carefully. He’s like a panther or a tiger: sleek, seductive, and self-assured. Confidence is not a problem for Dale Brennan. It never has been.
No, if anything is a problem for Dale, it’s the fact that there’s only one of him and he has to split his time between working at his bar and making love to me.
Trust me: he finds plenty of time for both.
His eyes lock on mine as he pushes his way through the crowd. He’s late tonight. Usually, he opens the bar, but tonight, Audrey and I covered that because he had a super-secret errand to run that he couldn’t be bothered to tell us about. Well, he didn’t tell me. Judging by Audrey and Kyle’s sly smiles and sneaky grins all night, I think they both know what he’s up to.
I can’t wait to find out.
I pour shots for the group of college-age guys at the bar. They hoot and holler as I hand them their drinks. The one in charge, the leader of the little gang, shoves a wad of money into my hand.
“Keep the change,” he says happily, and they down their drinks. I’m grateful for the generous tip, but right now, I’m all about Dale. My eyes are on him as he nears me. Closer, closer, he moves. Someone else orders a drink and I make it, moving on autopilot, as he gets nearer and nearer.
When I turn around to make change, I feel his hands on my waist. His breath is hot on my neck as he kisses me, ignoring the cheers and whistles from the customers at the bar. The regulars are used to us being touchy-feely by now, and the rest of them? Well, it’s Valentine’s Day. No one seems to mind.
“Hello, beautiful,” he murmurs.
“Hey, handsome,” I ask him. “Looking for a date tonight?”
“I think I found one.”
“Is that right?”
He turns me around so I’m facing him.
“Yeah,” he says. “That’s right.”
“Tell me all about her.”
“Well, she’s pretty,” he kisses my forehead. “And sweet,” he kisses my cheek. “And entirely hot for me,” he kisses my lips, taking me, owning me. He ignores the fact that we’re surrounded by people and he just dominates my mouth for a long minute.
I love it.
I crave it.
I need it.
In many ways, I’m still new to Greenville. In others, I feel like I’ve been here an eternity. It’s been a couple of months now, and I’m finally getting used to the way things work around here. My customers are comfortable with me now and rarely try to give me a hard time. When they do, I’m tougher now and know how to put them in their places.
Kyle and Audrey have been incredible when it comes to staying safe and sane. Kyle even showed me some self-defense moves, and Audrey? Well, she gave me pepper-spray and offered to take me to the shooting range so I could learn to be a “proper country woman.” I haven’t taken her up on the offer yet, but I plan to very soon.
Dale and I are taking things slow, but that doesn’t mean this relationship isn’t incredible. It is. I’m still living with Mrs. Bot, but I spend most of my time at his place these days. Mrs. Bot actually offered to start giving me a discount on my rent because I use so little electricity now that I’m rarely actually home.
I told her to keep her money. She can use the funds and I don’t mind paying her. She was one of the only people willing to give me a shot when I moved to town and I’m not the type of person who forgets the people who have been good to me.
Like Dale.
Like Mr. Wonderful Dale.
“I am hot for you,” I whisper.
“I know.”
“How was your errand?”
“Hey! Can I get a drink?” Someone yells, but Dale holds up a finger, indicating he needs a minute, and the man goes silent.
“It was good,” he says.
“Did you get what you needed?”
“I did,” he tells me. “I had to go pick up something in Cahel.”
“You did?” I raise an eyebrow. Cahel is a larger city about half an hour away. We go there occasionally to get supplies for the bar, but Dale just went last week. I have no idea what he could have gotten.
“I did.”
“And what did you need?” I ask, swallowing hard, because he’s looking at me like I’m something special, like I’m important and valuable and perfect. He’s looking at me like he didn’t buy something for the bar, and judging by the way the whole crowd has suddenly fallen silent, I’m guessing the rest of the patrons know this, too.
“You,” he whispers. “I need you.”
He drops to his knees, then, behind the bar, and he pulls out a ring box.
“Dale,” I whisper, and my hands fly to my mouth.
Is this for real?
This can’t be real.
None of this can be real, but when I look at his eyes and see the tears forming there, I know it must be real.
“It’s too soon,” I whisper, but he shakes his head.
“I’ve known you for just two months, Oriana,” he tells me. “And our time together has flown by, but I already know that I want to spend all of my time with you. I want to get to know you for the rest of our lives. I want to have babies with you and buy a house with you and grow old with you.”
“Dale…”
He opens the ring box. A silver ring with a blue stone set in a band of diamonds stares up at me.
“Will you make me the happiest man in the world, Oriana?”
The whole bar is silent. I don’t even think anyone is breathing as their eyes rest on me, waiting for a response.
This really is my moment.
When I came to Greenville, I wasn’t looking for love. I was looking for an escape, a way to break free from the painful past that was haunting me. I was looking for comfort and rest and peace, and I found that. I found it in Dale. He’s the one who makes me laugh and he’s the one who makes me feel safe. He makes me feel like no matter what happens, everything’s going to be okay.
With Dale, I’m never afraid.
I’m never alone.
I’m never scared.
He makes me feel brave, and he makes me feel loved.
There’s nothing I can say, except for yes.
“Yes,” I whisper, and the bar goes wild.
I’m ready for the rest of my life.
I’m ready for my happy ending with Dale by my side.
And I know that our future? It’s going to be a good one. It’s going to be nothing but bright.
THE END