"Gees, why doesn't she put some vodka in this drink?" I muttered while sitting with the happy hour crowd. I was to meet him here at 7:00 pm, it was 7:40 pm, he was, only, 40 minutes late.
I am smart enough to know how to be single in a crowd, that is very easy to do. Way too easy. The ability to time your alcohol consumption makes you appear to be in total control of your environment. When to buy your own, when to let some stranger buy it, or one of the crowd to buy, all of this creates the illusion.
It's all a smoke screen though. It just sets the stage, gives a place, means, a venue to live in. I have always felt it is a better thing to be aware than to be held hostage to any thing that takes you away from awareness. I was aware of the fact that he was getting ready to play. Well frankly, I couldn't think of anything that I wouldn't like to do more than play him, like he was playing me.
I was restlessly watching the games go by.
His indifference to time management, that one has a right to expect for the, 'most important girl in his life,' spoke more eloquently than any words could. It's not like I didn't expect it. I could sense that he was getting ready to play that game. The boundaries had been laid out quickly by both of us after we decided we were a couple.
As far as I was concerned my boundaries were going to be nothing more than a reflection of his; exclusive, (with, 'semi,' stitched between each letter of that word,) intimate enough to be interesting, sexually charged when needed, all around quite congenial. Evidently a congenial relationship that was not going to encompass being on time.
So, do you see? I was waiting, watching and I guess, I was hunting. Well, considering it anyway. No, that last part is not entirely accurate. Finalizing the decision is the better phrase. Heh heh..
"Buy you a drink?"
I looked up at the stranger who had walked over to the crowd I was with. As his question penetrated my reverie he stood right beside me, so, so, deliciously put together, and there.
He wasn't going anywhere as my eyes literally scanned his body. Thirty-five or so, dressed very well, no ring evident, well groomed, deliciously tall, (oops there's that word again,) hair dark brown. Right by my side, was a very handsome man standing there asking me if I wanted a drink. My God he had such dark eyes. Ok, you get the picture? Burt Reynolds, Tom Selleck, George Clooney, Harrison Ford, (in his younger days?)
I know, spare me. Mom's dream lover. Well, he was at least 10 years older than me. Truth be told? Much better than what's his name. Alvin actually.
I was done assessing this man. "Certainly."
His hand reached to mine. He lifted slightly as he requested me to stand.
"Oh," He wished to take me to his table, "certainly."
I looked around at my little group, they were all occupied. Only June noticed that I was
accumulating all my paraphernalia and placing it in my purse. I slid off my stool. I hoped she understood that my tiny smile was saying that the prospect of a drink with this delightfully handsome stranger was just a wee bit more enticing than waiting for some idiot that clearly wanted to just play out another facet of a game.
Personally I didn't care. This appeared to be a game I definitely wanted to be involved in.
We walked to a table in the back of the room far away from the crowd. I was glad. I thought it was a very good plan.
"My name is Gerome."
"Uh, Denise."
"You look bored."
"Oh. Well I don't know, it's difficult to be bored if you are concerned about the amount of vodka in your screwdriver." I laughed.
"Oh," his eyes seemed to twinkle, "serious about your liquor hunh?"
"No," I paused to give myself time to phrase the proper words so he wouldn't get the image of a 24 year old lush into his mind, "she's just doing her job, making drinks and I'm just drinking 'em, while musing as I always do."
"I see," he continued, "you really don't care about the amount of alcohol in your drink but notice that you should?"
"Right!" I laughed heartily, "Anyway I'm a take charge girl."
"Hmm, interesting." he said pensively, "Take charge?"
"Yup." I continued, "If I really cared? I would stop at a liquor store on my way home, buy my own vodka and make the damn drink my way!" I lightly hammered my fist on the table.
"Well! You go girl! Nice to meet you Denise."
"Oh." I deliberately stepped out of my 'scene.' "Thank you." I then mock bowed to the non existent crowd.
"There's nothing wrong with being a take charge girl Denise."
"It's over rated."
"Hmm, over rated, I don't think so. Reality is always better don't you think?" he said.
I moved my head to the side and smiled, "Works for me." I tagged the sentence with a cute sly lilt. It was time to transform my smile to one that accepts a very pleasant overture, "Nice to meet you Gerome."
"So." He sat back slightly turned as if leaving the table, "What's my boss buying the lady to drink?''
"Oh." I said pensively , "Expense account hunh? Alsbach."
"Well well," he said, "last time I checked, pricey."
"Yup, Sis has one back there, she knows how to make my drink."
"Sis?" he paused then laughed, "Cute, 'she's just doing her job ...' ok, we'll help her do that then. Be right back."
I watched his every step to the bar avidly.
"Good catch girl!" I mused aloud adjusting things while looking in the compact's mirror. Overall I decided that I had chosen well in regards to my attire.
This dress just perfectly adorned my body. There are so many ways out of it, ... oh, never mind. It always helps through if it is enticing, right?
The light pink fabric drapes over one shoulder to the lower part of my waist where it buttons under the fabric from the other side. Both pieces of fabric criss cross just perfectly over my breasts and makes a very delightful V just below mid point on my waist.
The skirt falls to the absolutely perfect place on my legs, yeah I know, don't say it. I never wear panty hose so if the flap of the skirt moves just right, glimpse of garter time. Anyway the accent that night was a coral hued skin tight Camisole.
Anyway Gerome was back.
"That's quite a drink." he said sliding back into the booth.
"Oh, it's just a brew that I designed."
"I see," he nodded his head, "ok." shrugged his shoulders, "A brew hunh? Do I need my crystals?"
I looked up at him from stirring my drink, "Crystals?" then laughed. "Oh I get it. Nah, I'm sure there is enough crystal around our drinks to protect us."
"I was thinking about me actually." he chuckled.
"I'm not a threat, I'm just a girl." We seriously needed to get around this.
"I've noticed. To us ..." he held up his drink.
I nodded my head and tapped my drink against his. We each took a drink of our respective concoctions, "What did the boss buy you?"
"Maker's Mark."
"Maker's Mark? Straight?" I was surprised.
"Yup." he nodded, "no pussy footing around, gonna drink? Drink!"
"I guess," I said stirring my drink, " ... maybe I need the crystals." I laughed and took a sip of my drink.
"Nah." he said, "Your sister's bar, your drink as potent as mine, I think our crystals are in stand off mode."
"Stand off!" I burst out laughing, "That's good. Touche`."
"So," he said, "I need to use the men's room,"
"Oh, I can get us a bowl of popcorn, I'll go with,"
"Oh," he interrupted, "order us an appetizer if you wish."
"Courtesy of your boss right?" I laughed lightly.
