Mel just wanted to leave gracefully. The bar wasn't overly crowded and most of the patrons were well behaved and reasonably up market, but she'd had work-related engagements every other night this week and would have rather gone home to a hot bubble bath and a cold glass of white wine. Instead, she was being "entertained" by two increasingly drunk associate publishers from a magazine in which she ran a considerable amount of advertising for her firm.
The more senior one kept wrapping an arm around her as he talked too loudly in her ear. The slurring in his voice was becoming more and more pronounced, and he became emboldened enough to press an overly friendly kiss on her cheek more than once.
"Okay - take it easy." Mel laughingly cautioned. But she wasn't finding it particularly funny. Even though it had been months since she'd carved out any time in her busy schedule to go on a date - much less have sex - she was not okay with his "come-on" behavior. It was decidedly unwelcome and was simply making her uncomfortable. She shrugged away from his arm and moved closer to the bar, her excuse the need to place another drink order.
She leaned in to speak above the noise to the attractive female bartender. They silently shared an eye roll at her tipsy friends, and Mel asked for another bourbon and bitters on the rocks.
As the bartender walked away to prepare it, Mel's eyes were caught by those of a man standing on the opposite side of the circular bar. Her breath caught in her throat. He was gorgeous.
He was tall - easily more than 6 foot. His ruggedly handsome face was tanned a golden brown, sporting a very square jaw, high cheekbones and nose that would have been aristocratic but for the slight bump at the bridge - evidence of an old break, perhaps. His hair was thick, silvery blond and was a tad unruly, but his eyebrows were darker. She couldn't tell the color of his eyes from this distance, but they seemed to be light. He was leaning forward slightly, his weight resting on powerful, tanned forearms exposed to the elbow by his rolled up shirtsleeves. It looked as if he'd been wearing a suit, but had removed his jacket and tie and turned up his cuffs. There were several people gathered behind him in animated conversation - but he didn't seem to be aware of them - his attention seemed to be focused entirely on Mel. His mouth was bent into a slightly crooked, sexy grin.
Feeling foolish, Mel suddenly realized that he must have been looking at someone behind her - perhaps one of the many lovely young things that were drifting around the bar. She turned, only to see that there were no women in that line of sight and even the men were some distance away.
As she turned back to look at the handsome stranger, he laughed a little, his impossibly white teeth flashing brilliantly against his tawny skin. He leaned forward even further on the bar, tilting his head slightly as he smiled at her. Mel found she was smiling at him in response, almost against her will. His eyes narrowed as he continued to look at her, which gave him an almost predatory edge. She felt a tiny shiver run down her back - a thrill that seemed to course through her.
Just then, the bartender returned with her drink. She unintentionally stood between Mel and the tall stranger, obscuring him from view. Mel reached for the bourbon, bestowing a smiling thank you on the bartender. As the young woman moved away, Mel took a brisk, steadying breath to prepare for seeing her handsome stranger again. She wasn't exactly sure what to do, but she definitely wanted to engage him in some way.
The smile died on Mel's lips as she realized that he was gone. Scanning the bar, her disappointment mounted. She didn't even see the back of his head - not anywhere in view. Could he have left already? Probably. The electric attraction that Mel thought she'd felt was undoubtedly one-sided, she cynically mused.
Deflated, she turned back to the two magazine reps, only to see them both half draped around a pretty blond on a bar stool nearby. Of course, she thought, par for the course. Mel scooped up her handbag and made her way around the bar to find a ladies room, after which she planned a speedy exit.
Since the lounge was attached to a small boutique hotel, the restrooms were one floor below the lobby. Mel pushed through the door to the hotel reception area and pressed the elevator down. The sudden quiet of the lobby was some relief after the over-stimulation of the bar. As she waited for the elevator to arrive, she thought more about her handsome stranger.
He'd probably been leaning on the bar waiting to pay his bill, and then promptly left. What Mel had interpreted as interest was merely a figment of her overactive and rather "pent up" imagination. That's what she got for being celibate for so long.
The elevator finally arrived. Mel stepped back as a couple emerged. She stepped into the car and pressed the button to go down. Leaning back against the wall of the elevator, she blew a tiny frustrated sigh through her lips as the doors began to close.
Just then, an arm shot through the opening - stopping the doors just before they closed. Mel was momentarily concerned for the person who'd risked having their hand caught. Springing forward, she hastily pressed the Open button. As the doors slid open again she looked up, humor lighting up her face. She gasped audibly as her tall stranger stepped into the car.
"Thanks." He said, his voice deep velvet. He moved toward Mel and reached a hand toward her. She was unable to move - she watched his hand move nearer, as if in slow motion. For a brief second, Mel anticipated what it would feel like as he slid his strong hand around her waist. Her brows knitted together as that hand moved right by her. Understanding dawned as he pressed the Close button on the panel next to her.
Flustered, she tried belatedly to step out of the way, her cheeks growing scarlet, but found herself fairly cornered by his impressive frame.
"Oh! Sorry..." she murmured. Mel pressed her back to the elevator wall. In this confined space, his presence was simply overwhelming. Her heart was pounding. Up close he was even more handsome than she thought. He smelled faintly of spice and cigar smoke. She felt a rush of wetness in her tights, and momentarily regretted not wearing panties. The look of the smart pencil skirt she'd chosen that day would have been ruined if she had visible panty lines, but now she would have welcomed the extra armor.
"Why are you sorry?" He asked, leaning toward her. He had to bend to make eye contact - Mel realized that he had to be at least 6'4". Even in her high-heeled boots, she barely came up to his shoulder. There was a hint of humor, but also something dark and sexy in his eyes as he regarded her. Mel noted they were very pale blue, framed by blond-tipped lashes.
"What? Oh... Well... I guess because I was in your way..." Her voice sounded husky and breathless. Her chest was heaving slightly. She watched him as he pointedly looked at her breasts swelling against the deep V of the open neck of her white blouse. He took his time looking her up and down, and then his eyes moved back up to hers. They sparkled with enjoyment.
"How can you be in my way, when I'm the one who followed you?" His voice was just above a whisper. He watched Mel's face acknowledge what he said, and then he gave her a devastating smile.
