Jade had no idea how she'd ended up at this point with two men standing in front of her, both naked and ready. This definitely had not been her plan this evening when she'd gone out. She put the blame firmly on her inability to make a decision, though looking at both of them now, why exactly did she feel like she had to choose just one?
Jade had stopped by Maguire's after work. The fact that it was a Tuesday told the entire story. She'd been up and moving at 4 am, and she hadn't stopped until nearly 7pm. Still, the project was done, and she was in need of some celebrating.
She'd asked a few of her work mates to tag along, but they'd left the office like zombies, barely acknowledging the invitation.
So she'd come here alone. It wasn't like it was the first time that she'd had a few by herself. Jade was more than comfortable with her own company, but she'd hoped for some companionship tonight. She nursed her vodka-tonic at the bar, pleased with herself that the project was complete and wouldn't be waiting for her in the morning. She'd already cleared that she would be coming in late, so she saw no reason to drink and run.
Lost in her own thoughts, she barely realized that the bartender was holding another vodka-tonic in front of her.
"I didn't order a second," Jade said without emotion. She was a bit annoyed that the bartender was so forward.
"Not from me, from the guy down the bar," he said, cocking his head to the left.
Jade's focus moved to the man who was sitting at a barstool near the televisions that had been tuned to the latest sporting event. He gave her a smile. He was tall, blond, and on the thin side. He barely made eye contact before looking down at his drink. Jade wondered how long it had taken him to work up the nerve to send the drink. Jade picked up her new drink, walked down the length of the bar, and sat on the stool next to his.
"Thanks for the drink. I'm celebrating the completion of a big project, and I'm definitely in need of alcohol. I'm Jade, by the way."
"I'm John," he replied. "What type of work do you do?"
Jade described the project and her work, carefully editing out anything that might be too specific and allow John to find her later. She didn't give identifying details until she got to know someone better.
John was an architect who was in town for a meeting and a possible project to add a new tower to the cityscape. Jade subtly checked his finger, but he was single. No band and no tell-tale tan line. He talked about his work and the project for about 20 minutes.
John looked down at the bar again and then looked into her eyes. She was pretty certain that he was going to suggest a rendezvous, but he didn't. "I have to take a call here. I'll be back. Promise." Before she could answer, he had walked outside while dialing the phone.
Five minutes turned into fifteen, and there was still no sign of John. Jade shrugged and allowed her thoughts to roam over what her next steps at the company might be, now that she had finished this project.
She was barely aware that someone sat down on the other side of her when he spoke. "Hey, what's up?"
He was definitely not John. This man was a couple of years younger than Jade with dark hair and gauges in his ears. The openings were just beginning to show daylight. He had a lightning bolt tattoo running down his right arm, the arm closest to her.
He wore a tight t-shirt and skinny jeans that left little to the imagination. He was definitely well-built, Jade thought as she checked him out.
The man knew the bartender well enough that he got a drink without having to ask for something.
"What is that?" Jade asked, trying to make conversation.
"Manhattan. Wanna try?" he asked, holding the drink out for her.
She made a face. "Not really a whiskey girl," she confessed.
"That's too bad."
He let the moment go, but Jade said, "I'm Jade. What brings you out tonight?"
He smiled. "Thought you would have known. I've been over there playing guitar for the past hour. My name's Leo."
Jade felt her face flush a little. "Sorry, I didn't. I'm Jade."
"Yeah, I did see you over here, talking to Mr. Straight-Laced. Did he leave without you?" He tsked with his tongue, letting her see his pink tongue long enough to wonder what he could do with it. "He's an idiot."
Jade smiled. "He said he was supposed to come back, but that's been a while," she said with a shrug.