“Actually,” he leans forward, elbows on the table, “I noticed you when you walked in. I was going to come over sooner, but then that guy sat down,” he pauses to take a sip of his beer. “For a second, I thought he was your boyfriend or something. Then I saw him walk behind the bar and tell one of the waiters to bring you a drink. After that, I spent a few moments talking myself into coming over here.”
“How does him going behind the bar equate to him not being my boyfriend? For all you know he is.” I’m interested in what he has to say about this revelation.
He studies the margarita in my hand for a few seconds, and glances toward the bar. No doubt to the guy in question. “Well, mostly because he watches you like an overprotective brother, and he’s staring at me like he wants to break my jaw. If he was your boyfriend, I probably wouldn’t be in this fine establishment much longer.”
“Oh.” It’s so weird being on this side of the conversation. It’s usually me approaching men. Confidence isn’t something I’ve ever had a problem with. But this…it’s knocking me back a few steps. I have no idea what to do from here. At this point I’ve usually talked them into buying me a drink before we head off to be alone.
“Am I right?”
“Well, you’re not wrong.” Seriously, Kate, pull yourself together. I take a long pull from my drink. It feels like half of the drink is gone when I’m done. It takes everything in me not to throw my hands to my head from the rush of the drink. Something else that isn’t typical of something I do. Slamming drinks ended in my early twenties.
“Want to dance?” He scoots the chair back and stands. His hand held out to me, waiting for me to take the leap.
Chapter Two
Xander
Indecision flashes across her face as she struggles with the decision to join me on the dance floor. I have a feeling this isn’t something she’s used to. Maybe she doesn’t come to bars often. Admittedly, even though I live in Asheville, this is the first time I’ve been to this bar. I usually go with my friends to Dallas and hit the clubs there. Tonight, though, I needed something a little more low-key. Turns out it seems like it was a good idea.
“Maybe you could tell me your name? I mean, you know mine.” There, that should ease her mind some. Then we wouldn’t exactly be strangers.
“Oh, sorry, it’s Kate.” She throws back the rest of the drink and wipes her hand on the napkin she’d discarded on the table.
Kate glances up at me through her eyelashes and a small smile lifts the corners of her mouth. That small gesture seals the deal, and I know she’s going to come with me. She lifts her hand and places it in mine.
Her hand tightens on mine as she gets out of her seat. She follows behind me as I lead her to the dance floor. There’s a stage at the front of the room, but there isn’t a band playing. I’m not sure how they are handling the music, but an upbeat song I’ve never heard is playing through the speakers.
It’s obvious she knows it because she immediately starts dancing. Her hips swaying back and forth. She turns until her back is against my chest, grinding against me, making me wish we were anywhere but in this bar. It’s not something my thoughts normally turn to. Tonight, I feel like living on the edge. It’s the only reason I approached her to begin with, aside from how beautiful she is. Stepping outside of my comfort zone is the only thing I could think of to make this day slightly better.
Other people are moving around us, but I barely notice. My eyes are glued to the woman in front of me. And that’s exactly what Kate is…a woman. She’s not the college age girls I typically go for. Hell, I thought she’d shoot me down and tell me to leave when I sat down at her table.
My hands reach for her hips and breathe a sigh of relief when she doesn’t push them away. Our bodies move in sync to the music without a care in the world. Both of us needing this release more than I think either of us know. I don’t even know her, but I know whatever was bothering her before I asked her to dance has floated away as the beat of the music surrounds us.
The song changes to something a little slower and cozier. She turns around and wraps her arms around my neck. My hands moving from her hips to encircle her waist. Her head rests against my chest, and we sway gently to lyrics talking about new love and the happiness found there. Love isn’t what I’m looking for. She looks like she’s at peace, and I’m glad I can provide that for her. Even if we are strangers.
When the songs over, she grabs my hand and pulls me off the dance floor. That’s not what I expected. I mean, I didn’t think she’d want to stay out there all night, but after two songs she’s ready to toss me aside.
To my surprise, she stops once we’re clear of being jostled by the others dancing. Leaning on her tiptoes, her lips are inches from my ear. “Wanna get out of here?”
This was not how I expected this to go. I hoped, but I didn’t really think it would happen. “Um, sure.”
“Cool. Let me close out my tab, and we can head out.”
“I need to do the same.”
She pulls us to the bar and the guy I saw at her table earlier is settling her ticket. Someone else is taking care of mine, but we’re close enough that I can hear their conversation.
“Don’t you think he’s a little young for you?” I can feel his eyes on me.
“Hello, pot meet kettle,” she laughs before adding, “I am perfectly capable of taking care of myself, Eric. And I didn’t think this would bother you so much. There’s a bigger age difference between you and Joan, right?”
“This is different.”
“No, it’s not.” I see her sign her receipt out of the corner of my eye. She says something else to him, but I don’t quite catch it.
The only two words I hear are “not serious” and that’s a hard agree on my end. As attracted as I am to her, I don’t need to jump into any sort of relationship. No, thank you.
Seconds later, she slips her hand into mine. “Let’s get out of here. I hope you have a car because I walked here.”
