Tulsa. It wasn't my choice, but I had to go. The first company to take the plunge on one of our new products was there, and as part of their purchase contract they got a week of my services. I'd spend the days troubleshooting, and the nights back at the hotel writing reports. As busy as I was going to be, it was probably for the best that I wasn't going to be someplace more interesting. I'd hate to spend days hunched over a computer and nights in front of the laptop while the good times in, say, Miami or Las Vegas raged on without me.
The hotel was on the outskirts of town, part of the vast sprawling development that was taking over the scrubland. I hadn't rented a car, not playing to go anywhere, and saw that my only option for dinner was one of those upscale grills, the kind of place that have TVs blaring in every corner of the room; exotic, colorful mixed drinks; and a young, peppy waitstaff. All this was just an excuse to charge twelve bucks for a hamburger. I didn't care -- dinner was the only part of the day I was going to have to myself and all I wanted was a place to relax for an hour, forget about computers, and drink a decent glass of wine. But I'd settle for two out of three.
I sat at the bar, my back to the rest of the place, and busied myself with the menu, trying to find a simple steak under all the cute phrases and elaborate descriptions. I heard the bartender approach and ordered a scotch on the rocks without even looking up. By the time I had decided between the "Angus Blast" and the "Heavenly Heifer" my drink was there and I put down the menu to find myself facing the greatest pair of tits I had ever seen.
"See anything you like?"
I tried to wipe the stunned expression off of my face, and looked up to meet the eyes of the bartender, a cute, young woman with a lovely open face and bright, smiling eyes. She had her blonde hair pulled back in a ponytail. She wore a loose blouse buttoned over a white tank top. But it wasn't loose enough to hide what was underneath. I realized that I was supposed to speak.
"Are the steaks here any good?"
"Best steaks in Tulsa."
"I've never had a steak in Tulsa."
"Then I guess you'll just have to take my word for it." She laughed, and I could see the tip of her tongue between her white teeth. I couldn't tell if this was some sort of flirtatious gesture or if I was just seeing things after a long day in front of the screen.
"I guess I will," I said. "But I trust you explicitly -- you don't look like the type to lie to an innocent out-of-towner."
"Oh no," she said, "never."
"Fine. I'll have one of the best steaks in Tulsa -- and this menu's giving me a headache, I'll let you pick which one. And a glass of cabernet."
"Super." Another winning smile and she bounded away.
I watched her walk. I was certain that with that chest she would be on the chubby side all around -- nobody wore that much padding in once place only. But I was wrong. Her curves tapered into a thin waist, delightfully flared hips, and long legs displayed beautifully in her tight blue jeans.
I took a long pull of my drink and commended myself on my luck. Not only was the view first-rate, but the meal wasn't halfway bad either. As the place either hadn't filled up yet (or never would), I had time to chat with Penny, the divine bartender. She was a local, attending a nearby community college, and dreaming of leaving Tulsa. In light of this, I admit that I may have exaggerated my own circumstances just a bit. When I said that my apartment had a view of the Golden Gate Bridge, I merely neglected to mention that the view required that you leave the apartment and walk for a couple of miles first. Penny had the same laughing, flirtatious attitude throughout, and I was dying to know whether this was just part of the job or if any of it was directed specifically at me. When she leaned over to pull glasses out of the dishwasher, I caught an eyeful of her pillowy canyon of perfect cleavage. I wished that I could shrink myself down to an inch high and dive right in.
I tipped generously and caught her eye on my way out.
"This place isn't half bad," I said. "I may be back."