Brianna flung her scarf securely around her neck in need of warmth on the cold winter night. She was on her way to another night at the local diner working as a waitress. Not something she exactly liked to spread around but it was a job and eventually would pay her way through college. So in that case she had put getting a car aside, telling herself soon enough that she'd get one. Her family didn't exactly like her way of living but she felt like she needed to prove to herself that she was able to live on her own and not have her family taking care of her all her god given life, make no mistake they were indeed her family, but this was something that she needed to do.
"There she is, my favorite girl." Greg, a regular customer spoke as she walked through the doors.
"Greg." She replied giving him a quick peck on the cheek before making her way around the counter. "What can I get for you tonight?"
"A cup of coffee will do me good on this cold night." He answered as he rubbed his hands together.
"It sure is." She agreed as she poured the warm liquid into his cup. "I hear it's only going to get colder."
"Winter was never my favorite season..." He paused to shrug his shoulders "But I've grown accustomed to it, living here as long as I have." He teased himself getting a chuckle from Brianna.
Brianna let the smile stay on her face as she admired the night's sky. "I have no problem with it, always been a fan of the season since I was a child."
"You make it sound so long ago." A voice rang as they walked through the kitchen doors.
Brianna looked over to see her boss Sheryl. "To me it seems that way." She got a scowl from her boss which only got another laugh out of her.
"You young people these days." She said with a shake of her head. Sheryl was in her early forties, the diner had been a dream of hers since she was a child herself. Brianna couldn't help but admire her, only hoping that someday she'd just have a little bit of what her boss had.
The three of them sat around talking about current events as they usually did. Brianna working the night shift barely had any customers but it was more personal and she liked it that way, it was always a time that she got to relax and get away from life's overwhelming problems.
"Well, it's about that time ladies." Greg announced as he stood up, putting some money down on the counter.
"Have a good night." Both women waved as he walked past the large window leaving the two woman in silence.
As she always did, Sheryl turned on her little radio to her favorite station of oldies. Brianna always liked to sit and drown herself in the music, it always brought back memories of her mother. At least the nice memories she'd had of her.
"So Miss Brianna anything new in your love life?" Brianna rolled her eyes at her boss's bluntness.
"You should know my answer already Sheryl...since you ask me that same question every single time you see me." Her love life wasn't something she liked to focus on too much, but being as alone as she was it always happened to creep up in her thoughts…and it really didn't help much with everyone harping her about it.
Sheryl just shrugged her shoulders. "I just think someone as young as you should be out there experiencing life, going out on dates, partying all night, not cooped up in some apartment all day."
"Twenty six is not quite young anymore Sheryl." Her boss just gave her one of those 'looks' that only somebody like a mother figure would give.
"Gosh, you make me feel like I lived in the prehistoric days."
"I'm sorry, it's just me...I guess I don't feel young anymore...I guess maybe because at my age I should've already accomplished something."
"Now you listen to me Brianna, you never dare put yourself down around me...for heaven's sake you still have your whole life ahead of you." She scolded as she whipped around to point a finger at her.
Brianna just smiled at her before she distracted her thoughts by cleaning the empty tables and counters. With a quick glance up Brianna just about tripped over her own two feet. She stared at the gentleman through the window. He was tall, dark, muscular, and very handsome. Damn, didn't she sound like a romance novel? She quickly got back to the task at hand when she noticed his eyes staring back at her. He probably thought she was weird staring at a stranger like that, embarrassed she excused herself to go to the bathroom. Maybe a nice splash of cold water would help with her nerves.
"Get a hold of yourself Bri, you'll probably never see the man again anyways." She stated out loud as she stood in front of the bathroom mirror.
Taking a deep breath she exited the bathroom. Her calming words quickly went out the window when she stepped back out into the diner. Two gentlemen were sitting at the counter and he just happened to be one of them.
She swallowed hard before walking back around the counter. "Need any help with these gentlemen Sheryl?" Brianna asked giving the two men a quick warm smile.
"I think Sheryl here has got us covered." He spoke exposing his deep masculine voice.
"Already on a first name bases?" Brianna asked curiously.
Sheryl's mouth twitched into a big smile. "What can I say? These two just happen to be quite the charmers."
"Comes naturally I guess when you're around two beautiful woman such as you two." He couldn't help but sneak a look at Brianna as he stated the comment, but it seemed to have no affect on her as she just stared looking somewhat in deep thought.
"Oh, how rude of me. Brianna this is my nephew Dave and his friend slash business partner Randy." Brianna listened as she introduced, her nephew? She sure as hell didn't see that one coming.
"Well, now it all makes sense doesn't it?" She put out her hand to be shaken. "Nice to meet you Randy." He shook it and smiled. "And Dave..." She hoped no one saw her blush as he kissed the back of her hand. "Definitely charming." She said tucking her hand back into her apron.
Sheryl eyed Dave. "Gets it from my side of the family." Dave just gave a mindless shrug.
Brianna just smiled. "So what brings you two here to Washington D.C.?" She questioned deciding conversation was the best way to keep her thoughts from wondering off.
Sheryl cleared her throat. "Dave and Randy here finally took time off of their busy schedules to come down and visit their old auntie Sheryl."
"Aw, come on now don't make me look like a heartless man in front of Miss Brianna here." He said sending a smile her way in where she nervously returned one back.
"These two here make quite a living for themselves, quite the business goons owning clubs over in California and Las Vegas..." She let it linger until Dave continued.
"We're originally from here but moved where the business took us." Brianna looked over at Sheryl who was now in a conversation with Randy realizing that Dave was only talking to her.
"Sounds exciting...sounds like something DC could use." Maybe it wasn't so bad she thought to herself, but the way those eyes looked at her stirred her nerves.
"That's actually why were down here, apart from coming to visit." He found himself studying her as he spoke. She was definitely different from his typical woman. Scratch that, she was more beautiful then his typical woman. Her tanned skin gave an exotic look to her typical girl next door features. He could tell her hair was long under all those pins. There was always something attractive about a woman with long hair…
"...so stressful I would think with your type of work." Being wrapped up in his thoughts Dave barely even caught what she said.
"Every job is stressful, Randy and I tend to not let it get to us." He managed to continue.
"Yeah, my friends will absolutely be ecstatic if you did build one over here in DC." She added a roll of the eyes to herself at the end. The friends she only talked to when they would call and try to drag her out every weekend. God bless them though, they were only trying to help the lack of a social life she had.
"I'll keep you updated then." A charming smile spread across his face.
Damn, he probably had women falling at his feet all the time with a smile like that, Brianna thought to herself, and why did it feel like he was trying to make her do that exact thing? Her thoughts were put aside when Sheryl's voice broke in.
"You two boys should be heading off now, early morning tomorrow." Dave gave Brianna a 'look' as he stood up at his aunt's orders.
"It was nice meeting you, Brianna." Randy stated shaking her hand again and reaching in to give Sheryl a quick peck on the cheek.
"Yes, it certainly was." Dave repeated Randy's sentiments as he took her hand to kiss it for the second time, then turning to give a quick hug to his aunt. She and Sheryl waved as the two left.
"My Nephew seems to have taking a liking to you." Sheryl said not being able to help the smug smile that came across her face.
Brianna just chuckled. "I have a feeling he probably treats all the women like that." And it probably works every time.
Sheryl couldn't help but agree knowing how her nephew worked. With a slight shrug of her shoulders she let the subject pass which let Brianna breathe a sigh of relief.
X-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-X