“I’m not going out of my way.” I lied, but she didn’t need to know that. If I couldn’t help a damsel in distress, what kind of man was I?
We both climbed in my Jeep and I began the drive to her apartment. She complained about the Kia and how it needed serviced. I avoided the 405 and took Olympic Road and Barrington Ave. I knew the city well enough, having driven these streets for many years, and it was only a ten-minute drive at worst. Living in Cudahy meant I had a good hour’s drive after dropping her off.
“You seem so much nicer than your buddies. What’s up with that?” Street lights provided plenty of light for me to see the friendly smile on her face.
“I wouldn’t say I’m nicer than any of them.”
“You didn’t go up and tip the strippers. You shy, soldier boy?” She leaned a little closer over the console in the jeep.
I chuckled. “How do you know I’m a soldier?”
“You guys talked about Iraq a lot. Plus, you look like a military man. A marine maybe.”
“I was a marine.”
“So why didn’t you go up and tip the dancers? A big, handsome black man like you.”
“I saved my tip for you.” I smiled. It had been a while since I’d shared a bed with a woman and I was buzzed just enough that I desired to correct that. Wendy had a nice body, killer smile, and she leaned in close.
“Ah. You’re so sweet. I hope that bitch Carrie doesn’t take it. I think I left before you did.”
“Is this it?”
I pulled up to the apartment complex, a place so much nicer than my place, I took it all in. A slow rock song played on the radio. My arm was on the center console and she placed both hands on my forearm.
“Yeah. It’s nice. I share a small apartment with Brett and Dahlia. I’m new to LA and I knew them from back home. You want to come up for a nightcap?”
“I’m good. Thanks, though.” Everyone that came to LA seemed to know someone in LA who they ended up staying with until they could afford their own place. Often, they never could. For every person who came to LA and “made it”, a hundred more came and struggled to make ends meet.
“You sure. A big, powerful man like you won’t walk a little thing like me up to my apartment.” Her finger traced a line up and down my forearm.
I hadn’t been seeing anyone for some time and I rarely picked up cocktail waitresses and took them home. The bulge that was making itself known in my jeans, though, seemed to signal that he wanted to take charge. As I met Wendy’s baby blue gaze, I got the powerful impression that she was game.
“What about Brett and Dahlia? I prefer privacy.”
“Well, this is your lucky night, then. They’re at a party in Huntington Beach. They probably won’t be back until tomorrow morning.” She leaned in and grazed her lips against mine.
They felt soft, full, and this close to me, I could smell her perfume again. Her flowery scent made me dizzy with desire.
“Well, if you need an escort, that’s something I’m good at.”
We exited the car and she lead me into the apartment complex. We made our way to apartment 323 with my hand on her lower back. She pressed her lips against mine again and I pulled her into me. She tasted better than she smelled, and that was saying a lot.
After fumbling for her keys, she opened the door and led me into the dark apartment. Flicking on a switch, I took in the immaculately furnished apartment. She wasn’t making ends meet here on a cocktail waitress’s wages and tips.
“Nice place.” I admired the modern white furniture on the white carpets. Stainless steel appliances, metallic legs on the dining room table and end tables. It wasn’t a big place, but it was furnished nicely.
“Yeah. I’m lucky. Brett is some up-and-coming executive at Universal.”
She was in my arms. One hand wrapped around my back, holding me close. Her lips press against mine with more urgency.
I return the kiss and my hand slipped down to squeeze her ass, still clad in only the red go-go shorts. The sensation of caressing her skin was intoxicating, too.
“Want a drink? Beer? Wine?” She pulled free and laid her purse on a coffee table in the small living room and headed to the kitchen.
The sudden absence of her lips left me breathless. I definitely wanted her tonight. “A beer is good.”
“Bud light or Heineken?”
