Authors: Michele G Miller
"It's a habit. When you spend as much time as I do talking with random people, you can't help comparing them."
I thought about the people watching I did when I was looking for art inspiration. I could understand exactly what he was saying.
"Alright - look around and give me a title for someone here tonight," I insisted, laying down the gauntlet.
"A challenge, eh?" Looking amused, Gage's eyes wandered across the bar. The red glass light fixture hanging over his head cast a strange glow on his handsome face. A wicked grin spread over his face a moment later, and I knew before he spoke that his target had been found.
"See Little Red over there dancing?" he asked as he leaned toward me and pretended to wipe the bar next to me.
I casually twisted around on my stool and took a quick look around, scanning the dance floor for this "Little Red". It didn't take me long to locate her. She wore skin tight, low riding jeans paired with a
very
small red top that strained to cover her not-so-small chest. Her jeans were tucked into some red cowboy boots that reminded me of the female character in Footloose. Her bleach blond hair was teased up into a high ponytail, and she was swinging it around like a cowboy swinging a lasso.
"Oh my. Yeah, I think I see her - blond with the red tube top?" I confirmed; more than a little curious to find out what song she was about to earn.
"She looks like a ‘Roxanne’ to me." I immediately got the connection to the Police song he was referring to as he added, "She looks like she could be pretty if she covered herself up. In the song, Sting sings about how Roxanne doesn't have to turn on the red light. I doubt Little Red there needs to do it either."
"You’re not a fan of the sex kitten style, then?" I allowed myself to ask curiously. I could've stopped there and it would have been fine, however I added, "What about all of the cougars that hang around for you?"
Understanding dawned on his features and I mentally kicked myself for my jealousy-fueled comment.
"Wow…where to begin with that?"
"Please forget I said it - it was rude and I apologize," I stammered, taking a large sip of my drink to keep myself busy.
"No way, sweetheart. That one is too good to pass up. Let's see," he drawled out, scratching his hand across his perfectly scruffy chin. "The cougars, as you call them. I assume you’re talking about some of the older women you've seen hanging around the bar?"
I stamped down the embarrassment that wanted me to just get up and run. I was too curious to hear what he had to say to run away now.
"Yeah, I have to admit I've seen them hanging around you every time I'm here," I confessed.
"It's the accent."
He said it so matter of factly that I broke out into a random fit of laughter. "Oh, I have no doubt that your kryptonite voice lures them in."
Gage's head snapped around to look at me and I realized what I’d let slip out of my mouth. "Kryptonite voice, eh?"
“Shit," I muttered, more to myself then out loud.
"I like it," he admitted, and his hand brushed softly over my fingers as he took my now empty glass from my hand. "Let me refresh your drink."
"How about a Coke? I have to drive home tonight." I didn’t let myself linger on the tingling sensation that shot through my fingers. It was glaringly obvious that he’d touched me on purpose.
"Coke," he said politely as he handed me a large glass. "Now to answer your other questions. One," he ticked off the number on his hand as he talked; his voice pitched low so that it wouldn’t carry past our immediate vicinity. "The cougars are good for business. I let them flirt and eye the goods, and they leave big tips. Like it or not, it's the job. Two, do I like the sex kitten look myself?" He stopped speaking and looked around the bar area as if he was making sure we were alone. We weren't, but it was pretty quiet at the moment. Crooking his finger, he motioned for me to lean forward as he reached over the bar himself; meeting me halfway. Our faces scant inches apart, he put his lips so close to my ear that I felt his warm breath shift my hair as he spoke. "Only on
my
girl, and
only
in private."
I melted back into my seat as he stayed where he was; his gaze pinned on mine.
Oh. My. Wow.
The phrase
I volunteer!
screamed through my head as I thought about the lucky girl who got to be his private sex kitten. When his eyes flicked down to my mouth, I belatedly realized that I'd been blowing out a steadying breath. Suddenly I was smiling and looking away like a young girl first learning how to flirt. I needed a note that said 'Do you like me? Check yes or no.’
Gage pushed away from the bar and spoke to a guy who, until now, I hadn’t even noticed was sitting beside me. As he poured him something from the beer tap, I let my eyes admire the way he moved.
I'm becoming obsessed,
I silently chastised myself as he walked to the register to ring the guy up.
"Wanna dance with a friend?" a voice playfully questioned me, as hands settled on my shoulders lightly.
"Hey." I forced a smile as I looked over my shoulder at Riley. After spending the afternoon with him the day before, I still felt awkward after our conversation about dating.
"Whatcha say? They’re playing our song," he teased. Once I realized the current performers were belting out 'Friends in Low Places' I laughed, giving him my hand and following him to the floor. I couldn't help but flip my head back to see if Gage was watching us.
He was.
I shamelessly swung my hips a little more than usual as I threw myself into dancing with the rest of the crowd. Riley smiled and we both sang the chorus out loud. When our dance was over, Riley walked me back to the now packed bar and left me after explaining he had some business to take care of.
I watched him make his way back to the floor and over to one of the many girls who were shamelessly flinging themselves in his direction. Almost immediately, she inched towards him and they began to sway seductively to the music. I smiled to myself as I saw them talk to each other.
Checking out the situation at the bar and the current lack of seating, I decided it was time for me to head out. I went to move to the exit when Gage called over the bar at me.
"Savannah."
In his hand was my small clutch that I’d forgotten on the bar when I went to go dance. He motioned with his head to the end of the bar where servers usually picked up drinks and there wasn't a crowd.
"Thanks, I totally forgot I left it."
He cracked a small smile as he handed me the purse. "You’re welcome. You looked like you were enjoying yourself out there. You leaving?"
For one moment I considered staying, but then decided against it. I didn't need to play with fire. Gage the Aussie superman was
fire
.
"Yeah, I have to work in the morning. I'll see you later."
Wednesday - May 1, 2013
Bad Ideas
While enjoying a night in with the girls and between chick flicks, I filled Sara and Candace in on my "date" with Jack, the strip club hustler. We’d barely seen each other over the past few days, and they still hadn't heard the whole story. Their gales of laughter ringing through the room proved without a doubt that there was no sympathy for me.
"This was a stupid idea. I'm not gonna find some guy in the next four or five weeks that I'm going to feel comfortable enough to actually ask to the wedding,” I griped as I ate chicken and broccoli from a takeout container on the floor. "It's a weekend event. An
entire
weekend
filled with my family. I can't put some poor guy through that! God, if we actually
did
like each other, by the end of the wedding he’d run as fast as he could in the other direction."
"Honey, this has never really been about you finding a wedding date," Sara mumbled as she stuffed a California roll into her mouth.
"Um, yes it has been."
"No. This was about you finally allowing yourself to open up to men again," she reiterated. "Sweetie, go out on these meaningless dates, get some free drinks and see what the guys of today have to offer. Stop putting so much pressure on them and on you."
Candace chimed in. "Sara is right for once, Savannah. There are a million fish in the sea, and somewhere out there is the right one for you…but until then, there’s no reason you can't chill with the little minnows and have some fun swimming in the waves."
I snorted. "God, really Cand? The fish and sea analogy? You guys really
are
desperate for me to date, huh?"
"YES.” Sara sat up, her eyes taking on an excited gleam. “It's our senior year, baby. After this year we’re all off to different places to do different things, and I want to know that I'm sending you off well prepared. I don't want to be getting calls at all hours of the night because you’re lonely and sitting in your fabulous apartment full of cats, bored. I plan on living life girl, and I want to know you are too."
Shaking my head at Sara, I picked through my box looking for some chicken. "You guys are too much. I’m not going to be sitting around bored."
"That's because we’re getting you out of your no-dating rut now."
I rolled my eyes. They seriously thought I was hopeless, evidently. "Blind dates, though? What exactly am I accomplishing by doing this?"
"Girl - you're meeting guys. Maybe one of them will be cool and you'll decide to see them again."
"Jack was practically a pimp, out trolling for his next go-go dancer. You really want to tell me these are the guys I have to look forward to?" I gave her the 'Are you kidding me?' look.
Sara coughed. "Or maybe they’ll all be idiots. Either way, the point is you’re finally going out. Plus, you’re learning how to play the game."
"I don't
want
to play a game," I all but whined.
"Hey - you met Jax, didn't you? And what about Brian?"
"Touché."
"See, two solid choices for future dates. I mean really, Savannah. Live a little and stop worrying so much about it. Besides, girl, every time you go for drinks you end up getting to see Saucy McAussie," Candace pointed out tactfully.
"Mmmhmmm, I'd like some of that sauce."
"Sara!" The sudden image of Gage made my cheeks redden.
Sara had no shame. "Don't worry – it’s pretty clear he isn't interested in what
I’ve
got to give him."
"What? Did you hit on Gage?" I spit out without thinking.
"Ooohhhh, reeeallly? First name basis, are you? Yeah, I hit on him to no avail. He must be made of stone."
"Sara, just because he avoids
you
doesn't mean he's made of stone. I've seen him checking someone else out once or twice." Candace's eyes landed directly on my face.
"Nuh-uh. We're friends – or, I don't know what you’d call it. He antagonizes me."
"Whatever. He so has the hots for you, Savannah."
"You should totally bring him to the wedding. Every female there would be envious of that jolly rancher." Sara laughed and waggled her eyebrows suggestively.
"Is this what we’re looking for in our dates now girls? Eye candy?"
Sara tossed a fortune cookie my way as she laughed. "I don't know about you, but I've
always
looked for eye candy."
"He's a bartender, Sara. My family would eat him alive."
"Don't be such a snob," she accused. For a moment I took in her demeanor and was afraid she meant it. I’d always wondered if my friends thought I was as shallow as I thought my mother was. Was I really my mother? Sara's pinched face made me question myself.
"You know better than that. I'm not the snob, they are. He would be out of his league dealing with them.
I
can barely deal with them, and I'm one of them," I explained. I hated to admit that my family was made up of snobs, but they were. They wouldn't purposefully be rude to Gage, but my mother didn't know how to
not
be the rich little socialite she was. She typically didn't have the street smarts to talk to someone who wasn't as cultured as she was.
"Alright. Let’s not bother any more with this conversation. Savannah wouldn't have the guts to ask Gage to the wedding anyway," Sara teased; tossing another roll into her mouth.
"Guys, I barely know him. Why in the
world
would I ask him to that wedding? He'd think I was loony."
Giving me that knowing look of hers, Sara challenged me. "Just admit that you're interested in him."
I allowed myself to think about Gage for a minute and felt my face turn beet red. The way his golden eyes cut through all the noise and haze of the crowded bar when he looked at me. The way his voice sounded like the caress of satin falling over my naked body. He was intoxicating, for sure.
"Four weeks, Savannah. Give him
four weeks,
and if he hasn't repulsed you by then, ask him." A knowing smile played on her face.