Noah

I have had no success in finding Nick. I walk into Deluca’s and, once again, the place is crowded. I bet the owners are making big money running this place. Maybe I should consider starting a place like this when I get back to Boston. The bar is huge and there are tables and booths lining the walls.

The greeter comes over to me and tells me that there aren’t any available tables. I tell her that I will sit at the bar and she points me towards it as another customer comes over to ask her a question. I weave between some of the other customers and notice the girl from the other night. She is sitting alone, and her eyes were filled with a curious deep longing.

My heart rate increases and my dick is suddenly straining against my pants. I don’t know whether I should just walk past her and take my ass straight to the bar or if I should stop and talk to her. The decision is made for me when some guy walks over and sits with her. She smiles, and her beautiful eyes immediately focus back on me.

As I watch, another guy walks behind the bar and starts taking money out of the register.

“Can I help you?” I ask, and he shakes his head.

“Do I know you?” he asks, and I force my eyes away from her and back to him.

I answer, “No.”

“Are you sure? I don’t forget a face,” he persists.

“I am very sure. I am not from here,” I say.

“Ah…I can hear that. Where are you from?” he asks, and I narrow my eyes at him wondering what the fuck he wants. I am not here to make friends.

“Boston,” I respond curtly.

“Boston? Interesting. What brings you to Chicago?”

“What’s with all the questions?” I ask.

“Like I said, you look familiar.”

“As I said, we’ve never met,” I remind him, and he starts to chuckle.

“Okay. Have you been here before?” he asks.

“Yes. I like the place.”

“I am glad to hear that. I do my best since my name is on the sign,” he says.

“You’re the owner?” I ask, and he nods and holds out his hand.

“I am. I am Frank Deluca,” he replies, and I put my beer down to shake his hand.

“It’s a nice place. You obviously do a lot of business here,” I tell him, and he nods as another guy walks behind the bar.

“Hey, Frankie. Are you going to be here a while? I want to leave early tonight to get home to Adele and my baby girl.” The other guy says as Deluca turns to him and nods. He tells him that he’ll stick around and tells the other guy to head out.

“I want you to make sure that you stay here at least until Alexis leaves. I don’t trust that annoying fucker that she is with. I wish I could make her leave with me, but I doubt that shit would work,” he advises, and Frank rubs his eyes as if he is considering the very thought.

“Yeah, that’s fine,“ Deluca advises and the other guy nods at me before he leaves.

“Sorry about that. I should have introduced you. That was my brother Alex,” Deluca tells me, and I nod and glance back towards the beauty that I’ve been watching.

“It must be nice to work with your brother,” I say, thinking about Nick.

“Somedays,” he confirms.

“You have me at a disadvantage. You know who I am, and I have no idea who you are,” he mentions

“I’m Noah,” I offer.

“Noah? No last name?” he asks.

“Just call me Noah from Boston,” I advise, not wanting to give this guy any information about myself. I don’t know or trust him enough to give him my name. This is Chicago and my brother has already disappeared.

“Okay, Noah Boston. Have a good night,” he tells me as he wanders off, * and I go back to staring at the beautiful brunette with her date. I watch as they sit and talk but I also notice they aren’t touching or whispering in each other’s ears. There is no affection between the two of them. If I was with her and someone was watching us they would notice hands moving under the table, but not these two.

A few seconds later, Deluca comes back to the bar and glances at my empty beer bottle.

“Did you need another one?” he asks, and I nod as he brings one over.

“The couple over there.” I nod towards the brunette and he follows my gaze and laughs

“That’s my sister, Alexis, and her employee,” he tells me, and my eyes wander back over to her.

“Her employee? It looks like they were on a date.”

“Fuck, no. At least I hope not,” Deluca says, and for some reason, I feel like I just received the best news I received all day.

“What are you hoping doesn’t happen, Frank?” She looks at me and back towards Deluca as she tucks her hair behind her ear.

“I was hoping it would be an easy night since Alex took off,” Deluca tells her, and she narrows her eyes at him. She’s smart enough to know when she is being lied to. She turns towards me and I nearly lose my breath.

“I am going to need a ride home. How long will you be here?” she asks, and Frank looks back toward the now empty table.

“Just hang out at the bar and we’ll leave in a few hours. By the way, this is Noah Boston. Noah Boston, this is Alexis.”

“Noah Boston?” she questions, and I turn to look at her.

“My last name isn’t Boston. I am from Boston.” I tell her, and she nods.

“I can tell by your accent,” she laughs.

“What brings you to Chicago?” she asks.

“Family,” I tell her.

“Good reason. Do you have a lot of family in Chicago?” she asks, and my gaze is drawn down to her cleavage displayed in her scoop neck shirt.

“No, I don’t. I just have one brother here,” I tell her. I realize that I don’t want to talk about family, so I refocus the questions on her.

“Do you just have the two brothers?” I ask, and she nods.

“Just the two. I do have two amazing sisters-in-law and what feels like a herd of nieces and nephews.” She laughs, and it just sounds like music to my ears.

“It must be nice to have a big family.”

“No wife and kids back in Boston?” she asks.

“Nope. No wife and kids for me. My brother does have a wife there,” I tell her, and I close my eyes thinking about Sam.

“Your brother lives here, but his wife is in Boston?”

“Have you always lived in Chicago?” I ask, hoping she doesn’t ask more about Nick and Sam.

“Yes. My business and family are here.”

“What type of work are you in?” I ask.

“I own a store at the mall,” she advises.

“How about you?”

“I own a company with a friend and my brother. We’ve had it for several years and it’s actually done quite well,” I mention. She gives me a smile.

The bartender comes over to ask if I want another beer and I request the bill. Alexis gives him a small smile and I can’t help but notice there is a little disappointment on her face. She doesn’t want me to go, and to be honest, I want to stay with her. I want to ask her for a nightcap, but then remember that Deluca is giving her a ride home and I am sure he’d break one of my kneecaps before he let me walk out of here with her.

“What are you doing tomorrow night, Alexis?” I ask her.

“I don’t have any plans,” she whispers quietly.

Smiling, I suggest, “How about dinner?”

“I would like that,” she accepts and I hand her my business card.

“My cell phone is listed. How about when you get off work you give me a call and I’ll meet you?” I tell her, and she glances at the business card and back up at me

“Okay. I’ll give you a call,” she says, and I lean over to press a small kiss to her cheek.