{ Andy }

The pub door was flung open, and the icy air from outside crept in, sending a chill down my spine that made my skin prickle. Although I didn't notice who came in, I pulled a face of disgust at feeling the cold run down my back.

I didn't look up from the screen until Nora returned, accompanied by a delicious aroma of freshly cooked food. She set an oval plate on the table with what looked like battered fish and crispy chips, making my mouth water instantly.

'Do you like fish?' Nora asked, pointing at the plate. 'Fish and chips, a true British classic that never fails.'

I nodded, feeling a weight lift off me as I recognised the dish. I'd researched the typical food of the area before coming, and this plate looked very appetising.

'Yes, thank you so much, Nora,' I said with a grateful smile.

Nora went away for a moment and came back with a napkin, cutlery, and a glass of fresh water. I set my phone aside and, with my fork, speared a crispy chip and dipped it in the tartar sauce that came in a small bowl next to the plate. The sauce, with its smooth texture and salty, creamy flavour, exploded in my mouth, and I couldn't help but let out a sigh of satisfaction.

I cut off a piece of fish that was still hot and steaming, and as I brought it to my mouth, my eyes involuntarily drifted to the bar in front of me. There stood the most attractive man I had ever seen in my entire life.

His face was a perfect blend of masculinity and sensuality, with a broad jaw and fiery red beard that matched his hair. The beard was thick and well-groomed, curving slightly upwards at the corners of his lips, giving him an air of mystery and allure. When our eyes met, his emerald green eyes shone intensely, leaving me breathless. His lips curved into an irresistible smile, and I suddenly felt a strong thump in my chest, as if my heart had skipped a beat.

I wouldn't lie if I said I was completely hypnotised by his imposing presence, which seemed to radiate an energy and confidence that filled the entire place. His height and broad back made him stand out from the rest, and his tousled, copper-coloured hair gave him an incredibly attractive touch. The intricate Viking tattoos covering his arms and neck made him look like a warrior from another era, a man who had fought a thousand battles and emerged victorious from all of them.

I felt a wave of heat take over my body, inevitably flushing my cheeks, as if my face was on fire. It was as if an invisible force had me trapped, forcing me to stare at him without being able to look away. My heart was beating so intensely that I feared it would burst from my chest. I felt paralysed, unsure of what to do or say, only able to gaze at him in a daze.

'Mierda,' I muttered in Spanish, with the feeling of having lost control of my body, an intense tingling running through my skin.

I couldn't believe I was reacting this way, like a teenager with her first love. But I couldn't deny the attraction I felt for that man, having no idea what to do about it.

I looked away, seeking refuge in the glass of beer I brought to my trembling lips, feeling an intense tingling across my skin. The cold liquid caressed my lips, but failed to quench the fire that was burning my skin, a fire that seemed to grow with every second that passed. I choked on the beer's gas, which made me feel even more embarrassed, if possible. Could the situation become any more mortifying? I asked myself ironically, feeling like I was sinking into an increasingly uncomfortable situation.

Of course it could. And, as if fate wanted to torment me, the red-bearded man rose from his seat and made his way towards me, his green eyes fixed on mine, making me feel completely naked, vulnerable and exposed before him.

'Ey, lass,' he said in a deep voice with a thick Scottish accent, causing my stomach to flip. 'Need a wee bit of help?'

I shook my head, raising my eyes to meet his concerned and curious green gaze. I tapped my chest lightly, trying to catch the breath that seemed to have gotten stuck in my throat, as if my body was struggling to re-establish the normal rhythm of my breathing. I felt as if I was drowning, and his closeness only made things worse, as if his presence increased the pressure on my chest.

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'I'm fine,' I managed to say in a hoarse voice, trying to stay calm, though my heart was still pounding frantically.

He looked at me sceptically, as if he didn't believe a word, his eyes scrutinising my face for any sign that I was lying.

'Sure?' he whispered, moving even closer until our faces were so near that I could feel the warmth of his breath on my skin.

'I'm sure,' I repeated, this time in a barely audible whisper.

'Alright,' he said with a mischievous smile. 'If you run out of air again, I'll be right there.'

His eyes roamed over my face, studying every feature, every curve, as if he wanted to etch my image into his memory. If I hadn't been so focused on trying to remember how to breathe, I might have tried to say something more.

Finally, he moved away, allowing me to regain control of my thoughts, at least enough to avoid choking again. I didn't take my eyes off my phone for the rest of the meal, or at least, that's what I tried to do, because every now and then I would sneak glances at the man who, sitting at the bar in front of me, had his back to me, as if he was trying to ignore me.

'Come on, Andy, write it down! You'll see how it works,' my friend Virginia had said to me between laughs and glasses of wine, after we finished the first season of Outlander, and I confessed my love for Jamie. According to her, if I wrote down the qualities of my ideal man and asked the universe for it, it would deliver him to me on a silver platter.

At the time, it seemed silly to me, but Virginia had convinced me that I had nothing to lose by trying. So, with no hope, I had written down the characteristics of my ideal man: tall, green eyes, red hair, a sense of humour, and a Scottish accent.

The temptation to take a photo of him and send it to my friend so she would be surprised was very strong. There he was! With his fiery red hair and seductive gaze, he was the embodiment of Jamie Fraser, but in a Viking version. The universe was playing a cruel joke on me, as if it had decided to fulfil my request literally, knowing that a man like him would never notice a woman like me.

'A coffee?' Nora asked, appearing out of nowhere and taking my empty plate.

I startled slightly, as I had been so focused on looking at the Viking that I hadn't noticed her arrive. I nodded, trying to look innocent and staring at my phone as if I hadn't been looking elsewhere. Nora laughed softly and went to prepare it. I regretted it instantly. I wasn't much of a coffee drinker, especially at that time of day. But I had already nodded, and Nora had gone to make it. I felt a little frustrated with myself; now I would have to drink it. Although, come to think of it, I had gained a few extra minutes to keep enjoying the view, which I was glancing at again, trying not to appear too obvious.

I wondered if they were brothers at the exact moment the waitress approached him at the bar and they started talking in hushed tones. And right then, as if they had guessed my thoughts, they turned towards me, making me feel like a child caught in the middle of mischief. I blushed and lowered my gaze to my phone again, trying to feign innocence. I was crowning myself with failures that night, and not in a positive way.

Barely a couple of minutes had passed when Nora brought me a coffee that seemed excessively large.

'Next time, a half coffee,' I said, and Nora burst out laughing.

'Shall I add milk and sugar?' she asked with a smile.

I nodded with a resigned sigh, knowing that I would have to pour in half a sugar bowl to make it drinkable. When she returned, she left me a small porcelain jug of milk and a couple of sugar bowls. As I struggled to take a sip of that bitter liquid, I heard the redhead clear his throat, which made Nora laugh heartily again.

'That man,' Nora said, nodding her head towards him.

I glanced quickly at him, feeling my temperature rise, and then turned back to Nora with a neutral expression.

'Yes?' I asked, curious to know what was going on with him.

'He's my cousin,' she told me with a mischievous smile.

She started talking at full speed, but I didn't understand anything until she stopped abruptly and pointed at me with her left index finger, then pointed at her cousin with her right, and finally brought her fingers together with a mischievous look.

'What? No!' I said, my face burning with embarrassment. Luckily, the word 'no' was universal.

'No?' she asked with an amused expression.

'No, no, no,' I said emphatically, and without thinking, I took a sip of the coffee, which I still hadn't sweetened, causing me to pull a face of disgust at its bitterness.

The girl laughed and shrugged, walking away towards the bar under the amused gaze of her cousin and the smile of her co-worker.

I had made enough of a fool of myself for today, so I took out my wallet and left a twenty-pound note on the table, hoping the bill wouldn't be higher. Before making a fool of myself again, I quickly put on my coat.

'Goodnight, Andrea,' Nora said before I went out the door.

'Goodnight, thanks for everything,' I said in a slightly choked voice, looking towards Nora.

I directed my last glance at the man, who was smiling at me with amusement and waving goodbye, leaning on the bar with his elbow. Once outside, away from the warmth of the fireplace and the searing gaze of the Viking, I realised how little I knew about men and how much I had to learn.