The Christmas Present

“Hi” Mitch said “you look incredible.”

Sharni blushed and smiled, his words quelling her concerns, “thank you” she said.

“I’ve got a table over here” he said gesturing further to the left.

Sharni walked in front of him and pointing to an empty table in the corner she watched him nod. “Grab a seat and I’ll get us a drink” he said. “What would you like?”

“A glass of sparkling wine please?”

“Done” he said “I won’t be a sec” and turning he walked up to the bar.

Sharni sat down and watched him. In jeans and a pale blue shirt, he looked good. At that time of night the bar wasn’t too busy and he was back at the table in a few minutes. He handed her her drink and holding his up he smiled and said “Merry Christmas.”

She smiled and clinking his glass she repeated his toast. They drank.

“I’m so glad you decided to come” he said. “After last time, I wouldn’t have blamed you if you didn’t.”

Sharni smiled “you couldn’t help getting sick.

“No” he said “but I was worried you’d think I was playing some sort of game.”

“I didn’t think that” she said “well not after I got your message” she admitted with a smile.

He smiled. “If it makes you feel better I made sure I was here half an hour early tonight.”

She laughed “really?”

 His smile widened to a grin. “I wanted to make sure you weren’t left wondering again” he said.

“But what if I hadn’t shown up? You’d have waited for nothing.”

He shrugged and his smile in place he said “I still wouldn’t have regretted it.”

She blushed and looked away, liking that he’d put himself out for her. He really was a very attractive man and not just on the outside. Watching his mouth as he took a drink she couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to kiss him. She hoped she’d find out before the night was over.