The woman was petite, but with strong, muscular arms. I couldn’t imagine her putting away a lot of food as she was suggesting with this menu. The waiter arrived, and I decided not to question it further.
“We’ll take two bottles of your finest wine,” I said and then smiled at her challenging grin. “And it looks like the chefs will be busy tonight.” I folded the menu and handed it to him. “We’ll take everything they’re cooking off the menu tonight as well.”
The waiter’s eyes widened. “Sir,” he said. “We will need to move you to another table for that. Our tables are reserved—”
I pointed to where Alex and Collin sat at our usual larger-than-most table in the corner of the restaurant, surrounded by windows instead of walls. “Those two are my colleagues, and they’ll gladly take this table and offer theirs up for the lovely lady and me.”
“Sir.”
I smiled at the man. “I know this is completely out of the norm for you, young man,” I said. “However, the tip will be fine and should help with the drinks you buy all of your friends at the pub tonight when you find yourself telling them about the crazy man asking to switch tables with other guests.”
He chuckled while Avery cleared her throat. “You’re not doing any of that,” she said. “I’ll just take the fish.”
“I have to disagree with my lovely wife,” I said, watching her eyes bulge at the statement. “You see, it’s our fifth anniversary, and we chose to come to London. I’ve had reservations since last year for this place. I also am fortunate to know those men enjoying a table that is quite frankly too large for them. Being at this place was the reason London made my lovely bride’s bucket list, and I hate to disappoint her.”
He looked at Avery. “I will speak with my manager, and we will do our best to accommodate you and your husband.”
I whipped out my cell and opened my group chat with the guys.
Jim: Hey, get your asses up and switch with us.
Alex: What the hell are you doing to that waiter?
Collin: What the hell are you doing, period?
Jim: Just do it. We don’t have enough room for the food at this small table in the middle of the room.
Alex: Unless you’re making a move on that chick, bring her to our table with us.
Jim: I’m not going to intimidate a woman I hardly know with your ugly mugs, watching her eat. We take the best seat in this place every time we eat here. Just do her a favor.
Collin: Her or you? Jim is just horny after Jules made the moves on him.
“Are you and your friends finished working out the eating arrangements?” Her voice interrupted our lame-ass banter. “Yes.” I rose. “Follow me.”
An extremely formfitting dress showed her well-shaped, muscular legs and wrapped tightly around her breasts, which were pressed together, pronouncing a cleavage that could only make me drool at this point.
“This is Collin and Alex.” I introduced the guys, eying them, and as the casual guys they were, they were trading tables with us like we were at a diner and not a five-star restaurant.
“Didn’t catch your name.” Alex arched a brow at my lack of proper behavior.
“I’m Avery.” She shook her head. “And I have no idea what’s going on.”
Collin grinned and took her hand next. “Make that four of us.” He eyed me. “I don’t think Jim knows what’s going on either, and he’s orchestrating this incident.”
“These two are friends of mine, Avery. Forgive me if I mentioned how you and I met onboard the plane without your permission.”
“Why would you think you had to apologize for telling a story about a crazy lady on a plane?” She smirked, and I could quickly tell the guys were captivated by the amiable and appealing nature of the woman—and those damn blue eyes. “I’m flattered that my story made it to your highlight reel.”
Alex eyed me and smiled. “Nice catch,” he mouthed from where he stood behind the woman with a subtle thumbs up.
Once the staff turned our parade of chaos into a graceful situation that wouldn’t disturb their customers, Avery and I were seated, and a candle was lit for our table.
“I almost forgot,” Avery said, placing the napkin in her lap and smiling at me. “It’s our anniversary dinner. I hope you plan to order the entire dessert side of the menu as well. You know I like variety.”
“If you keep smiling at me like that, you’ll get anything you want from me.” Fuck. Did I just say that? Out loud?
“Is that so, Jim?” She hung onto my name in some taunting, yet suggestive way. “You’re not actually going to order the entire damn menu, are you?”
“Language, darling,” I said while the waiter approached. “We’ll be enjoying the entire dessert menu tonight as well.”
The man’s lips pinched together in humor. “Excellent choice.”
“My wife always makes excellent choices,” I said, to which Avery’s expression darkened some.
“What’s with you?” she questioned. “Seriously. All of this. You are ordering everything off the menu and moving your friends out from their seats—I’m not sure I’m getting any of this.”
“Well, I saw a beautiful woman sitting alone. I remembered her well from our flight together. I also find her attractive, and I couldn’t imagine her dining alone tonight. Am I at fault for taking advantage of a situation with a beautiful woman left alone?”
Her lips twisted, and her eyes narrowed. “I’ll give you that,” she conceded. “I’ll also not be a total bitch and refuse your generosity because you keep telling me how beautiful I am.” She said the last part with a certain kind of sassy sarcasm that I adored. “The married part, though?”
“Yeah, I guess that was a bit over the top.”
“Well, I pinned you as a stiff lawyer or something like that.” She took another sip of wine, “It turns out, you’ve got an interesting sense of humor too.”
“It’s dry humor, but it works at times.” I smiled and sipped my new glass of bourbon.
“Well, it worked tonight. I appreciate the company. I’ve had a bit of fun touring London on the two days my sister had off to spend with me, and now I’m pretty much enjoying the historical sites alone. So, running into a friend who helped me with my idiot ex on the plane is a welcome surprise. I have to say thanks at least—a serious thank you—while not drunk and spilling my sad stories to you. In fact, I’m shocked that after hearing about some of the shit I go through, I’m sitting across from you at the moment. I figured you’d be the last person on the planet to entertain my sorry ass again.”
The appetizers came, and she lit up with excitement. “Enjoy some of the fine delights that England has to offer,” I said after the waiter left. “Dig in, gorgeous.”
“Gorgeous is starving,” she said, filling her plate.
I casually added a few oysters and buttered bread, and I watched as she began to eat like we were old friends. How many women had I watched pick at their plates for fear of eating in front of me? I never understood that. Were they scared to eat? Get dirty? Nervous? Who knew; it always made me feel like shit, though. I had no idea how to make them comfortable enough to eat more than a few bites of protein and maybe a vegetable.