Page 16 of Abundance of Obsession

The security guard in the red shirt is telling a girl that the club is at maximum capacity and she’ll have to wait. All at once, his attention shifts to me, causing his eyebrows to arch. When I don’t speak first as he expects, he concedes.

“How can I help you?” he pants, rolling his eyes.

“Max sent me,” I say with a sweet smile.

“Max?” The question comes out in such a tone... I start to doubt the taxi driver’s good intentions. But then, he breaks into a smile too. “Haven’t seen him in a while. Come on in.”

Red shirt points me to the entrance, as if I were some kind of VIP. The other security guard is already pulling the barrier rope down for me.

“Thanks,” I add.

“Hey! I’m here for Max too!” One girl calls out, and a male voice tells her to get back in line. A discontented grumble mixes with laughter in the crowd.

“Bad Memories” booms from the speakers when I walk in. The bass hits me right in the gut. Everything’s vibrating.

Perfect.

My gaze sweeps across the seating arrangements, which are private booths formed by couches along the room’s edges. I also notice the dance floor and the bar, where three bartenders are serving. There’s hardly any room left in the club. The upstairs area is also packed with people enjoying themselves, laughing, and drinking.

Instead of dim lights, the room is filled with multicolored strobes. Colors mix and shift with the music.

The bar area, with its improved lighting, is my first stop. It takes some time to make my way to the counter, and then another moment before a tanned man with brown hair sees me.

“What can I get you, beautiful?” He flashes a smoldering smile and gives a wink.

What is it with these guys and winking today?

“Surprise me,” I shout.

My answer widens his smile. After tilting his head back, he holds my gaze for a significant amount of time.

“Is there anything you don’t like?”

I shake my head. And then his gaze wanders to my dress.

“Does what you’re wearing match your mood today?”

I truly didn’t see that coming. Intrigued, I nod.

“Coming right up!” The bartender slings a towel over his shoulder and turns to the row of bottles behind him.

Every move he makes is on display. In his black shirt and black pants, he looks like the kind of guy I would love to get to know better. His shoulder muscles tighten with each movement, and his shirt does an excellent job of emphasizing this.

Enchanted, I don’t hide my gaze. Not even when he glances at me briefly while working on that drink. I suppose he could mix some water, juice, and lime for me, and it would still taste like heaven.

The bartender finishes and sets a tall glass with a colorful drink in front of me. Yellow, blue, and red swirl together.

Our gazes locked. I can’t help but smile back.

“Should I ask what’s in it? Or should I just trust you?” I ask, leaning over the counter so he can hear me.

“You shouldn’t do either,” he remarks, mirroring the lean. “But I’m sure I’ve read your mood perfectly. Try it.”

Our faces are maybe fifteen inches apart. A playful gleam flickers in his eyes.

He’s interested.

Good to know, just in case I have trouble meeting tonight’s goal.