The Carol Wyatt Collection Read online

  “I don’t know…”

  “There’s no competition,” Kevin said as he looked around the club. “This is good.”

  Chapter 7

  Erica’s eyes moved across the crowded dancefloor while she waited for their drinks. There were three women dancing together with extremely short dresses, surrounded by men that looked like they stepped off a fashion runway.

  Her hazel eyes fell on a beautiful blond woman that was sitting at the opposite end of the bar.

  Wait, is that…

  “Oh my God!” Jenny almost shouted as she handed Erica her drink. “Your crush is here, in a gay bar!”

  “Calm down!”

  Erica immediately took a long drink as she stole another glance across the bar.

  “I can’t believe it,” Jenny said with a huge grin on her face.

  “It doesn’t mean anything. A lot of straight women go out with their gay male friends… Those three for example,” Erica said, tilting her head towards the dancefloor.

  “You should go talk to her.”

  “What?!”

  “Why not? You can’t really flirt with her when she comes into The Mezz. This is your chance… You have to,” Jenny said, gently pushing her in the right direction.

  “I definitely don’t have to.”

  “You’ll regret it if you don’t.”

  “I think I’d better have this drink first… Thank you by the way,” Erica said as she took another drink.

  “No problem. Why don’t we stay here? Otherwise you might lose her.”

  “I don’t usually sit at the bar…”

  “Why not start now?” Jenny asked. “It’s here or the dancefloor. Those are the easiest ways to meet women.”

  “Is this stalking?” Erica asked as she took another glance over at the woman she’d only even seen in The Mezz.

  “Maybe…”

  Erica sipped her drink, already feeling the whiskey warm her body. Her eyes rested on the blond again, but she quickly darted them away when she thought that she’d got caught.

  “Anyone catch your eye?” Erica asked Jenny.

  “Her… Her… and her…”

  “Okay, okay. Every woman that’s here, except my crush.”

  “Yes. I’m too good of a friend to mess with that situation.”

  “Don’t I know it,” Erica said with a soft laugh.

  Chapter 8

  “What about her?” Kevin asked, when a woman walked into the bar alone.

  Charlie’s eyes wandered across her body. “No…”

  “What’s wrong with her?”

  “I don’t know… I’m just not feeling it.”

  “Are you going to talk to anyone? You can’t be that picky.”

  “This is pointless,” Charlie said with a sigh as she knocked back the rest of her bourbon.

  Charlie was about to sling her bag over her shoulder and leave when she saw a dark-haired woman at the opposite end of the bar. They maintained eye contact for just a second before she looked away and said something to the woman she was with.

  She looks so familiar…

  “Charlie, maybe the timing isn’t right… Maybe you need to take a few weeks… You’ve been through a lot.”

  “I don’t have a few weeks.”

  “I’m not talking about you finding a wife,” Kevin said, his hand gently resting on her arm. “I’m talking about dating. When was the last time you went on a real date? One that had nothing to do with real estate.”

  “I don’t know,” Charlie said, as she brushed her blond hair away from her eyes. “More than five years ago…”

  “Okay, so you need to start slow. Just worry about approaching someone for now. Forget about the whole getting married thing. You are easily the most confident woman I know and on top of that you’re drop dead gorgeous…”

  Charlie smiled at Kevin’s compliments. “Alright,” she said as she stood up and squeezed his shoulder. “Kevin, you’re a good friend.”

  “Are you leaving?”

  “No… I need another drink and I think I’m going to ask that woman over there in the black dress if she’d also like one.”

  Kevin had a huge grin on his face as she walked away. “Good luck,” he called after her.

  Chapter 9

  “She’s coming over here,” Jenny said, tapping Erica on the arm.

  Erica was too busy trying to get the bartender’s attention to turn around.

  “Who?”

  “Who do you think?” Jenny asked sarcastically. “I’ll just leave you to it…”

  “Jenny, don’t-”

  Jenny was gone before Erica could stop her and her eyes fell on the woman who was walking towards her, only steps away now.

  “Hi,” the blond said with a warm smile.

  “Hey…”

  Erica had to pinch herself. Not only was the woman she’d been admiring for months in the same gay bar as her but here she was, standing inches away from her, and somehow interested in talking to her.

  “I’m Charlie,” she said with her hand outstretched.

  Erica gently shook her hand, noticing how soft her skin was. “Erica. Nice to meet you.”

  “Can I get you a drink?”

  “Sure… A whiskey and coke would be great,” Erica said, meeting her sea blue eyes.

  In just a few seconds Charlie had the bartender’s attention and their drinks arrived shortly after.

  “That was impressive,” Erica said as Charlie sat down on the stool beside her. “I’ve been trying to get his attention for the last five minutes.”

  “I’ve been tipping him generously at the other side of the bar,” Charlie said with a smile.

  “Ah… That’s the trick then.”

  “Never fails.”

  “You’re drinking bourbon?” Erica asked.

  Charlie nodded. “I’m trying to suppress my nerves… This is my first time here. I wasn’t sure what to expect,” she said softly, swirling the golden liquid around in her tumbler.

  “Well, it must be working. I was too nervous to approach you, but you have nothing to worry about,” Erica said, daring herself to maintain eye contact. “This is my first time here too. I thought a change of scenery might be nice.

  Charlie’s cheeks darkened slightly, and Erica looked away as she reached for her glass.

  “So, Charlie… That’s short for Charlotte?”

  “Yes… I was always Charlie though. I think my Dad wished I was a boy.”

  Erica laughed softly but noticed how Charlie’s face had dropped slightly. She tried to think of something to say to change the subject and get her smiling again.

  “Hey, one of the couches over there just freed up. Do you want to move? It might be more comfortable,” Erica suggested.

  “Sure.”

  Erica led the way over to one of the black suede couches in the far corner of the room. They sat down beside one another, close enough to hear each over the music but still keeping a few inches between them.

  “Do you see that brunette by the bar?” Erica asks. “That’s my best friend, Jenny. So, if you see her staring or making any weird hand signals, please ignore them. She’s much better at this than I am,” she said with a weak smile.

  “At dating?”

  Erica nodded. “She’s a bit of a player. That’s not my thing but she’s always encouraging me to go on more dates.”

  “She sounds like my friend, Kevin. He’s around somewhere. He was trying to psych me up a few minutes ago and I guess it worked. Here I am talking to you.”

  Erica smiled at Charlie as she watched her take a drink. She couldn’t understand how someone as beautiful as her would ever have confidence issues.

  Charlie seemed like the kind of person who would have their life completely sorted out.

  Erica tried to guess how old she was. Now that they were sitting a few inches away from each other, Erica noticed the lines that formed around Charlie’s eyes when she smiled. She guessed that she was probably in her mid-thirties, ma
ybe ten years older than her.

  “Well, I’m glad that you came over,” Erica said honestly. “I doubt that I would have found my way over to your side of the bar even with Jenny’s encouragement.”

  “Really? I find that hard to believe. You’re beautiful, sweet… What have you got to be nervous about?”

  “Thanks,” Erica said, meeting Charlie’s blue eyes. She could feel her cheeks darkening. “I don’t know… I’m not normally like this. If I’m interested in someone, I usually just go for it.”

  Erica left out the part about being attracted to Charlie for months. She didn’t want to creep her out.

  “I guess I was just a little intimidated,” Erica continued. “Wow… This whiskey might as well be truth serum. Sorry.”

  Charlie smiled. “It’s good to be honest.”

  Chapter 10

  If I was honest, I’d tell Erica that I just lost my father… That my life has just been completely turned upside down, both personally and professionally. But that was a little too much information for someone that I’d just met.

  Instead, Charlie decided that she would be happy just getting lost in those hazel eyes.

  Where do I know her from though?

  This is going to drive me crazy. I can’t remember seeing her out any of the nights Kevin dragged me out. I probably would have talked to her.

  She’s a bit younger than me though… Maybe eight or ten years? She doesn’t seem it though.

  Why am I worrying about it? What were the chances of this really going somewhere? She’s young and I’m looking for a wife.

  That phrase still sounds strange… Looking for a wife. Jesus…

  “Are you okay?” Erica asked. “You looked… distracted or something.”

  “Sorry. It’s been a long week.”

  Erica nodded. “Do you want another?” she asked, lifting her empty glass.

  Charlie paused for a second. “Do you normally drink whiskey?”

  “Sometimes… It depends on the occasion really. But I do love it.”

  “Do you want to get out of here? I know a great whiskey bar,” Charlie said, surprising herself.

  “Sure… Yeah. Why not? I just need to find Jenny and tell her.”

  “I need to find Kevin… I’ll meet you outside in five minutes?”

  “Okay,” Erica said with a warm smile.

  Charlie finished her drink and made her way back to the bar where Kevin was chatting to a handsome, dark haired man.

  “Sorry to interrupt,” Charlie said, her hand resting on his back as she stood beside him. “I just wanted to let you know that I’m leaving.”

  “What? No… What happened?”

  “Don’t worry. I’m taking her to Fitzgerald’s.”

  “Really?” Kevin asked with a smirk. “Wow…”

  “She happens to be drinking whiskey so…”

  “A whiskey girl… She might be a keeper.”

  Charlie ignored that comment and leaned in to kiss him on the cheek. “Enjoy your night.”

  She weaved her way through the crowd and found Erica outside waiting for her. It was a warm, muggy night but Charlie was glad to get some fresh air.

  “Ready to go?” Charlie asked her.

  Chapter 11

  “Charlie, how’s it going?” the dark-haired bartender asked in an Irish accent.

  Erica took in the bar around her, all the old signs on the walls, the rusty license plates, and sports memorabilia mixed in. The pub was crowded with most of the brown leather booths filled.

  “I’m good thanks,” Charlie said. “Damien, this is Erica. Erica, Damien.”

  Erica shook his hand across the bar. “Nice to meet you.”

  “Any booths free?” Charlie asked, taking a look behind her.

  “Yeah. Yours is always free.”

  “Perfect,” Charlie said with a smile. “Can we do some tasting?”

  “Sure. Give me five minutes,” Damien said. “I’ll send down a few samples.”

  Erica followed Charlie down to the far end of the bar and they both slid into the last booth on the left.

  The table between them was of old, knotted pine that was used throughout the bar. Everything had a rustic feel to it.

  “So, are you famous?” Erica asked.

  “No,” Charlie said, laughing softly. “I just love this place. I’ve been coming here for the last… Thirteen years? Yeah. Pretty much since I turned twenty-one.”

  Ah. She’s thirty-four years old… Was that a purposeful reveal?

  “So, they treat me like family,” Charlie said.

  When the whiskey arrived, their waiter set down a wooden tray that had eight small brandy snifters in two rows of four. Erica assumed that there were four for each of them to try.

  Charlie picked up the card that was on the edge of the tray and read over what they would be tasting.

  “Have you done this before?” Charlie asked.

  “No. I’ve always wanted to though, so I’m looking forward to this.”

  “Okay, well those four are yours. Why don’t you go left to right? There’s water there if you want to add some to your glass.”

  “Alright,” Erica said, lifting her first glass to her nose to see what flavors she could get from the amber colored alcohol.

  Erica brought the glass to her lips and took two small sips, letting the whiskey slowly move through her mouth and down her throat leaving a slight burning sensation.

  “I like that one,” Erica said as she watched Charlie try hers. “It’s almost fruity… I can’t think of any other way to describe it, but I usually just have Jameson or Jack Daniels though, so I feel like I might be missing out on a whole other world here.”

  “That’s an understatement,” Charlie said as she took a drink from her glass. “That one was Scottish. The Macallan. Fine Oak. Ten years old.”

  “Wow. Okay. I’ve definitely been missing out. I won’t ask how much a bottle of that costs.”

  “If you like whiskey, you’ll find a better option than Jack Daniels. It doesn’t have to be really expensive. You’ll just figure out the kinds of flavors you like, and it shouldn’t be hard to find an affordable option. You probably won’t be able to go back to JD and coke though,” Charlie said, her blue eyes holding her gaze.

  “I think it’s time I moved on anyway,” she said, picking up the second glass to examine it before taking a few sips.

  “Well?”

  “Hmmm… I’m almost getting… Honey? Or caramel?” Erica guessed as she took another sip. “That one is delicious, very easy to drink.”

  Charlie glanced down at the card she was holding. “That was a bourbon. Old Rip Van Winkle. Another ten-year-old bottle.”

  “Have you had all these before?” Erica asked, suddenly worried that this was boring for Charlie even though she was having a great time.

  “Not in a long time. I have my favorites that I usually stick to.”

  Erica took a drink of water to clear her palate before reaching for the third glass.

  “This one has almost…” Erica took another taste. “I’m getting a spice kind of flavor.”

  “Yes. That one is The Dalmore 15, a Scotch whisky,” Charlie said before she took a sip from her glass.

  “I still think the second one was the best so far,” Erica said, taking another drink of water.

  “You should add some water to those glasses if you’re going back to them. You can taste the flavors a bit better sometimes with a few drops of water.”

  “Thanks for that tip… I don’t plan on wasting any of it. That’s for sure,” Erica said with a smile. “Okay, on to the last one.” Erica could feel Charlie’s eyes on her as she tried the last whiskey.

  “How’s that one?” Charlie asked as she took a sip from her glass.

  “Wow… Completely different,” Erica said, going back for another sip. “It’s got a lot more going on… There’s a hint of spice with this one too but it’s… I’m not sure how to describe it.”

  “This
one has a more complex flavor. There’s more layers to it,” Charlie said as she took another drink. “So, is the second one still your favorite?”