A Night to Remember...

God, this couldn’t really be happening, could it? All she wanted to do was sit here, sip on a glass of wine or three and not think about anything. She especially didn’t want to have to put the effort into making small talk with anyone. She was too spent from the show she had just been to. It had totally kicked her ass. As had the two earlier in the week. But how could she not talk to him? And why were her friends not here right now to keep her from making a total ass of herself? She shook her head and sipped the crisp, cold sauvignon blanc. None of them could make it, but she had been determined to see these shows. She didn’t have anyone to answer to anymore so why not?

She looked over at him; he was still talking to whomever. He held up a finger as if to say, just one more minute. Sighing, she picked up her own phone. She had to text someone and let them know what was happening. Finding the picture she wanted to send, she tapped out a message.

[12:10] Y’all will never guess who I’m with! And WTH aren’t you here?!

Hitting send she took another sip of wine and ran a hand over her hair. Why had he even sought her out? She had tucked herself in a corner, not wanting to be noticed. She hadn’t even considered the possibility that the band would be here. Yet, here they were, all fresh and clean after the sweat-a-thon they had put the crowd through for the last three hours. She felt decidedly wilted. Pulling the mirror out of her bag she tried to assess the damage. Not as bad as she thought, but not pre-show fresh either. Tucking the mirror away her phone started vibrating. She smiled, one of her friends was still awake.

[12:12] OMFG, really? Say hi from Hath and pinch his ass for me. Call me in the AM! :)

She shook her head. She loved her friends, but sometimes, they were just no help at all. Taking the last sip of her wine she wondered if she should just leave him to his call and head to her room. Just as she was about to gather her things he slipped the phone into his shirt pocket.

He studied her for a moment as she finished her wine. Dark, curly hair hung past slim shoulders and fell halfway down her slender back. Her shirt was pale purple and stopped just at the waist of her dark jeans. Not his usual type but then again, his usual type wasn’t really working for him lately. Maybe it was time to try something new. “Sorry about that darlin’.”

She waved her hand, “it’s okay.”

He signaled to the bar tender, “care for another?”

She nodded, “thanks.”

“You got a name darlin’?”

Again she nodded. “Stephanie.”

He looked around and then back at her. “So, Stephanie, you here all alone?” He hoped so. He didn’t want to have to talk up a whole bunch of women. He had his eye on just this one; had had it on her ever since he walked in and saw her sitting in the corner, alone.

Stephanie took a sip of the wine that had been set in front of her. God he said her name in that California-Jersey-gravel-mixed-with-whiskey voice of his. If he smiled and flashed that dimple, she was so done. “Yeah, none of my friends could make it tonight.”

“That’s too bad.” He slid his hand across the table, tips of his long fingers caressing hers. She wore no ring on that all important finger of her left hand, just one on the middle finger of each hand. “Is there a husband or boyfriend I should be worried about?”

“Nope.” Not anymore. She turned her hand over, letting her fingers curl slightly with his.

“It must be my lucky night then. I’ve got the most beautiful woman in the bar all to myself.”

Stephanie felt herself turn about seven shades of red. “You might want to put your glasses on and look again.”

He smiled and the dimple winked at her. “I don’t need them darlin’. I can see you just fine.”

Her heartbeat kicked up several notches at the sight of his dimple. He really was an outrageous flirt. She took a fortifying sip of wine. “So, do you need to socialize with anyone or do I get your undivided attention for the rest of the night?”

“Stephanie darlin’” he winked, “I’m all yours for as long as you’ll have me.”

Oh boy. Forever and a day was her immediate thought. Before she could utter the words she clamped her mouth shut. She couldn’t say that to him.

“What?” She was about to say something and stopped. “Come on darlin’. Was my offer that awful?” His fingers slid higher, lightly brushing back and forth across the delicate skin of her wrist.

She shook her head. “No, not at all. It’s just… ah the hell with it.” She wasn’t going to let this opportunity slip by. Her friends would never let her hear the end of it. Taking a last drink from her glass she channeled her inner Hath. “Well, darlin’ I can only ‘have’ you for a few hours before I need a break. BUT, I’m pretty sure I’ll never get bored with you, so looks like your mine forever.”

The laugh started somewhere around his belly and he had to toss his head back as it roared out of him. He hadn’t expected that at all. Standing, he held out his hand to her, “Stephanie, I don’t know about forever, so why don’t we start with tonight and see where that takes us?”

She looked from his hand to his face. He was smiling and his eyes were alight with laughter. Grabbing her purse she stood and took his hand. “Where are you taking me?”

He led her out of the bar and toward the elevators, “somewhere a lot more private.”