They made it with one last push forward, and his luck seemed to have changed—two barstools were vacated at the same time. Isaac guided her onto the nearest one and then slid onto the stool beside her, scooting his seat closer to her at the same time.
“This is the experience you wanted?” he asked, forced to nearly shout over the din.
She beamed at him and nodded.
The man next to her draped an arm over her shoulder and drunkenly slurred, “Well, hello, lass. This bloke you’re with?” He gestured toward Isaac with his pint glass. “Guarantee I’ll do you better.”
Before Isaac could react, Rachel turned to the man, said something quietly and gave a little finger wave when the man took off as if he’d been told the devil was here and refused to leave without him.
Isaac shook his head slowly, staring at Rachel as she turned back to the bar. “What did you say to him?”
“I told him we should run away together, and the faster the better seeing as I’d just discovered you were a serial killer.”
“You didn’t.”
She shrugged. “Maybe. Maybe not. Either way, he won’t be hanging around trying to befriend at least one of us tonight.”
Again, Isaac found himself shaking his head. “I don’t know whether to take you seriously or not.”
She shrugged and then waved at the bartender, made a random hand signal he acknowledged before pointing to a table currently being wiped down. Then she took Isaac’s hand. “C’mon. There’s a table opening up.”
“I feel like there’s a whole different language being spoken, and I’m not at all fluent.”
She tossed back a grin. “I took a chance and mimicked the signal I saw that resulted in a Guinness being delivered. I made it two. Or I ordered a double shot of whiskey. Either way? It ought to be good.”
They slipped into chairs, but not before Isaac helped Rachel with her coat. Sitting in the chair nearest her, he asked, “I don’t suppose you saw a hand signal that would get us something to snack on?”
“I did.” She flagged down a server. “Could we get two menus?”
“Right. Two seconds while I drop off these drinks and I’ll be with you.” Then the girl sped off.
“You’re making me feel like I have zero experience in a city I’ve been to more times than I can count.”
Again, she shrugged. “Seems bar language is universal.” Then her brow furrowed. “But I’d be willing to bet you don’t often ‘end up’ in this part of town on any given Saturday night with a woman you hardly know on a trip that wasn’t planned. Cut yourself some slack.”
“Thanks for that.” His dry tone said more than the few words.
The waitress returned and slipped laminated, single-sheet menus in front of them.
Rachel glanced at it briefly before turning to the waitress. “I ordered something to drink from the bar, so I’m ready for a meal.” She rubbed her hands together. “What’s the special tonight?”
The young woman appeared harried as she flipped through her order pad and rambled off the day’s catch as well as a soup of the day and the night’s signature drink.
Rachel leaned in, listening closely, and repeated back everything she’d said. The young woman looked up, eyes wide, and then burst out laughing. Rachel smiled, and Isaac had the feeling the two had just had one of the mystifying female-bonding moments that automatically excluded all men in the vicinity. He waited and was proven right.
“No one listens that closely. You’re not from around here, to be sure.”
“The United States.”
The girl’s eye lit. “Where?”
“New York City,” Rachel answered.
“Oh, man. I’ve always dreamed of going to New York.” A dreamy smile slowed the girl’s whirlwind demeanor.
Rachel smiled in return. “Ironically, I’ve always dreamed of coming here.”
Isaac was mesmerized, watching as Rachel connected with a total stranger in a strange land. The woman had a gift for making others feel at ease, as if they’d known her far longer than they had and far more intimately than was warrantedby the few words they’d exchanged. She was incredible with people.