-------------------------------
Chapter Sixty-Five: Dinner for…Two?
In which our heroine makes some new friends…
Shortly after, it was Max's turn to whistle as Logan emerged from the dressing room. He wore a pair of narrow legged jeans and a navy blue T-shirt that emphasized his nicely muscled torso. Max had never seen him dressed quite so casually and she liked it.
"Find your boots?" Logan asked her as she stood looking him over.
In answer she held out a foot sporting a rich, dark brown, western style boot. "Amos said you should get a pair as well." She informed him.
"Sure. When in Rome." Logan smiled at Max. He found a pair of boots in short order, and the two carried their purchases to the front of the store. Amos rang them up and packaged them efficiently, talking the entire time about this and that resident of the town and what they were doing these days.
Logan listened and made appropriate comments as needed, while Max just watched this new side of Logan in fascination.
"You want me to just send the bill on, Logan?" Amos asked when he finished with his totals.
"No, I'll pay in cash this time." Logan pulled out a roll of bills and peeled off several. "Thanks for everything, Amos. Give my regards to Andy, okay?"
"She'll be sorry she missed you. But you know women. Today was her day for her permanent wave."
Amos winked and Max gathered that Andy must be his wife.
"Maybe I'll catch her another day. Max and I will be at the cabin for a few days."
Amos gave him a stern look. "You best be spending that time with your new bride. Not traipsin' around after a bunch of old fogies."
"Yes, sir." Logan said with a wink and Max couldn't help but let out a soft giggle. On impulse she walked around the counter and gave Amos a hug.
"Thank you for the belt and the boots. I'm going to treasure them always."
The old man blushed and demurred. "When people see them on you tonight at the grill they're gonna be runnin' over here to get them a pair. Anyway for Logan's wife, nothin's too special. Now you two run along and enjoy yourselves. I gotta close this place up for the night."
"Night, Amos and thanks again." Logan called as he escorted Max out of the store, his arms filled with their packages.
Outside he looked at the bike. "How do we do this?"
"I can lash them on. I've got some bungee cords somewhere." Max rooted around in the small storage compartment under the bike's seat and came up with some cords. She had the packages secured in no time.
"Will they be safe here?"
"Not a problem." Logan assured her. "You know, I'm starving. I think we missed lunch today."
"Don't blame me. You had other appetites you seemed to be more concerned about at the time." Max told him with a stern look.
"And rightly so." Logan refused to be drawn by her. "But now I'm hungry for food, so come on woman."
He grabbed her hand and pulled her along the street to the "Mountain Man Bar and Grill".
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Logan had been right when he said the grill was nothing fancy. The interior was one big room. There was a long bar on one side of it that was fairly well occupied already. Wooden tables were arranged around a small dance floor. In front of the dance floor there was a small raised platform that was used as a stage.
There were two pool tables and a jukebox on the side of the room opposite the bar. The walls and floor were of wood and the decorations consisted of neon beer company advertising signs. Clearly residents of the town liked to eat their dinners early because most of the tables were filled with diners who looked like they were finishing up their meals.
"Logan Cale!" A buxom waitress enveloped Logan in a hug almost as soon as they entered.
"Mindy!" Logan laughed as he hugged her back. "You're lookin' wonderful. How's that rascal of a husband of yours these days?"
"Same as always. You gonna introduce me or not?" Mindy asked, looking pointedly at Max.
Logan grinned as he pulled Max forward. "Mindy this is my wife, Max. Max this is Mindy. She broke my heart when I was all of sixteen, by picking the local football hero over me."
"As if Logan Cale. You know you were way out of my league." Mindy scolded him. "He was the real heartbreaker around these parts every summer. All the local girls used to hang out at the lake hopin' Logan would notice 'em."
Max shot Logan a quizzical look and he had the grace to look embarrassed. "C'mon Mindy, I'm just managing to convince her that I'm not such a bad guy after all, and then you go and spill about my teenage indiscretions. Give a guy a break would you?"
"Oh I'd love to hear Mindy's stories about you, Logan." Max said sweetly. "After all, you know all about me when I was sixteen. It's only fair."
"Mindy, do you have a table for us? I'm starving." Logan changed the subject.
"Sure do honey." Mindy led them to a table set for two in a secluded corner. " Max I'll catch you later," she whispered to Max with a wink, when Logan was momentarily distracted.
"I'll look forward to it, Mindy." Max smiled back at the woman.
The two settled in at the table and perused the one-page menus. "What do you recommend Logan?"
"Steak, baked potato, salad. Basic down home cooking, Max. Can't go wrong here with that."
Another younger waitress came over bringing them a pitcher of beer and two glasses. "Mindy said this was your brand, honey," she said giving Logan an appreciative look and leaning over as she filled the glasses. Making sure that Logan was afforded a clear view of the ample assets contained in her low-cut shirt.
Max shot her a glare. "We can pour our own beer thanks, honey. If you're done ogling my husband we'd like to order now."
The girl straightened and tossed her head. Max continued to stare at her and she pulled out a pad and a broken off pencil. "What'll you have?"
"Two steaks, medium rare, baked potatoes with all the trimmings and two salads. House dressing."
Logan ordered with a reassuring smile at Max. He deliberately reached across the table and took her hand, caressing it as he stared into her eyes. The waitress stood there a moment more, but then turned and walked away.
"Max, pull in your claws. She's just a silly kid." Logan teased.
"I didn't notice you looking away from the little floor show that silly kid just gave you," she retorted.
"Could it be you're jealous?"
"Hmph. As if." Max picked up her beer and sipped it, pointedly turning around to scan the room.
Logan chuckled as he followed suit.
Dinner was as Logan had promised, simple but good. The only flaw was their waitress. She seemed to enjoy antagonizing Max by brushing up against Logan every chance she got as she delivered their food and drinks. Finally, dinner was over and the table cleared. The room had filled up while they ate, and some musicians were on the small stage, tuning their instruments and fooling around with the placement of several large speakers.
Logan poured the last of the beer into Max's glass. "Looks like we need some more." He looked around for their waitress. Max grabbed the pitcher and handed it to him.
"Why don't you go get it, sweetheart. Unless you want to see your little friend splattered all over that wall over there."
Logan raised an eyebrow but took the pitcher and headed over to the crowded bar. The stools were all filled and patrons were standing behind them waiting for drinks. Max watched a moment and saw several men turn to Logan, shaking hands and slapping him on the back. The waitress was busy elsewhere and she sighed as she relaxed back into her chair.
The band started playing a country tune and Max sipped her beer as she listened. Logan was still talking at the bar. She was thinking of going over to get him when a man slipped into the chair he had vacated. He was good looking in a rough sort of way and he let his eyes run up and down over Max as he flashed her a broad smile.
"What's a sweet thing like you doin' sittin' here all by your lonesome?"
"Waiting for my husband to bring back some beer." Max replied shortly, not liking the look he was giving her.
"Aw honey, looks like he done forgot about you. Anyways I saw how Lulu was getting' the eye from him durin' your dinner. You need a man who's gonna give you the attention you deserve," he leered.
"Did you have some reason for sitting down here other than to insult me?" Max retorted.
"Honey that ain't no insult. You're just about the prettiest thing I've seen in a month of Sundays. I'm offerin' to let you see what a real man's like rather than some pretty boy who don't know a good thing when he's got one." He hitched his chair over to Max and dropped an arm over her shoulder. She could smell the beer on his breath.
"I've got a man. Not some drunken sot."
Max started to pull away from him but he tightened his arm around her shoulder. The band was playing loudly now and the dance floor was filled. Her view of the bar was obstructed and she had no idea where Logan was. She didn't want to make a display here but it looked inevitable.
The band launched into a loud number, her visitor leaned closer, and Max was about to make her move.
Just then a hand dropped onto the shoulder of Max's 'friend'. She looked up to see Logan standing there with a frown on his face and then all hell broke loose.
End of Chapter Sixty-Five…TBC
