Chapter One:
Clarice had been dragged to Escala by Ardelia.
Escala was one of the classier bars in town. Ardelia was going through her latest break up and with Clarice in tow had decided to go man hunting. Clarice had only agreed because although she was hiding it well, Ardelia was hurt and she needed her best friend. Delia had thrown her new red dress at Clarice earlier and insisted she wear it.
The dress fitted snugly and hugged her figure; Delia had always said Clarice had a figure to die for. Even with Delia's reassurances that she looked gorgeous, Clarice felt ridiculous; she hadn't shown this much skin in public since the tattler caught her in the designer dress from Dr Lecter the night he had escaped. In fact now Clarice looked at her current dress properly the two were fairly similar, subtracting the designer label and plunging neck line that barely reached her navel.
After he had left her trapped in the fridge door and fled Clarice had decided then and there that she wouldn't help the FBI catch him again, She felt emotionally involved now; especially after he had kissed her.
She sighed out loud whenever she thought about it and tonight was no different.
They had just entered Escala when Ardelia noticed Clarice's vacant expression and knew instantly who she was thinking about. "Not tonight girl, come on have some fun!" Clarice only nodded and smiled weakly.
20 minutes later found Clarice sat alone watching Ardelia dance with three different men; she was currently doing the tango with Mr Tall Dark and Handsome. Clarice had been asked to dance and she had turned all but the first one down, the first being Ardelia. As Delia changed partner Clarice watched with dread as Mr Tall Dark and Handsome made his way over to her.
"Name's Benjamin." He said as he sat next to her she only nodded at him so he continued.
"Well ya see, the lads over there" he said nodding to the bar "are all taking bets to see who you will dance with first, and cos' you've turned every bloke down so far I thought I would have a go. So Whatcha think wanna dance?"
Clarice's eyebrows rose at this revelation and repressed the urge to laugh out loud.
"What makes you think you're any different than the rest of them?"
"Erm… Well."
She smiled at the look of confusion on his face, he had expected her to jump up into his arms and dance; grateful to have been asked by him. Well he had another thing coming.
"I was honest with you?" He said hopefully.
"And what does the winner of this bet receive?"
"50 bucks." He mumbled.
"Well thank you, but no thank you." He looked absolutely dumbfounded and Clarice rolled her eyes before she got up and went over to Ardelia, who was sat at the bar with a group of women.
"Hey girl! Have you danced with anyone yet?" Delia asked.
Clarice only snorted and shook her head, then she noticed the others glancing rather too obviously at a man sat at a table with a black fedora pulled over his features.
"What are they so excited about?" Clarice asked Ardelia, intrigued at why so many women were focused on the one man.
"Well he has been sat there drinking the finest wine Escala has to offer, all alone; and has also turned every single one of them down." Ardelia motioned to the group of women who were all looking longingly at him.
Clarice watched as a pretty blonde from the group approached and had quite obviously decided to take the direct approach, she was sitting so close to the man that she was practically sat on top of him. She appeared to be whispering into his ear until he said something to her and she stiffened, then turned around and flounced back toward her friends.
"What did he say Marcy?" She didn't look to happy when she replied.
"He said he prefers his women to exhibit class not utter desperation. Then I told him that I had class."
"So why are you over here then? What else did he say?"
The blonde flushed an angry red as she spoke. "He told me that if I honestly think that then I have an over active imagination."
Clarice snorted with laughter whilst the blonde threw her a dirty look.
"And I suppose you can do better?" she said haughtily.
"Probably although I wouldn't throw myself at him before I'd even introduced myself." Clarice replied with an air of indifference. She wasn't really going to hit on the stranger but she couldn't resist baiting the blonde and rubbing her wantonness in her face.
Delia however knew that Clarice was bluffing and smiled wickedly. "Go on then Clarice, give it a go."
Clarice was shocked at Ardelia and scowled at her. "No I'm not going to throw myself at some stranger."
"Aw don't be so boring. I will do it then, but if I don't pull it off you have to have a go deal?"
Clarice was going to decline until she saw the look on Delia's face, she only nodded reluctantly.
Clarice was praying to every entity that Ardelia's powers of seduction would work as she watched her down the drink she had been holding and saunter sexily toward the mystery man. Clarice watched hopefully as Delia sat opposite him and started talking whilst fluttering her eyelashes and leaning over the table towards him.
She had been there the longest of the group and Clarice was wearing a smug smile as she was sure Delia had the man hooked. The blonde looked furious momentarily and then a smile adorned her features, Clarice looked back toward the table to see Delia walking toward her, a defeated air about her. Clarice sat there stunned whilst Ardelia only shrugged and sat herself down next to Clarice.
"What happened, I thought…?" Clarice asked shocked.
"He politely declined; apparently he is only here for a quiet drink."
Clarice was still gaping when Ardelia looked at her mischievously.
"No Delia if he wants a quiet drink, leave him be to have it."
"No way Clarice, we made a deal it's your turn." Clarice shook her head resolutely, she wasn't about to make a fool of herself, if Delia couldn't tempt him she had no chance.
"You wouldn't back out from a deal now would you Clarice?" Ardelia didn't give her time to answer before she hauled her up and dragged her over to the table.
"This is Clarice." Delia said to the man before she pushed her into the seat opposite him.
"But Delia I-"
But Delia had fled back to the bar. Clarice glanced tentatively at the man opposite her to find him studying her; well she thought he was but as his hat was covering everything but his chin she couldn't tell. Clarice looked over to Ardelia to find the blonde laughing at her, this spurned Clarice on little, but not much.
"Um hi…" she tried. He only nodded at her and held out his hand for her to shake, she took it and was slightly startled to find him bringing her hand to his lips; he kissed her knuckle and then stroked the same spot with his thumb.
Clarice looked over at Ardelia to find her smirking triumphantly whilst the blonde looked ready to spit fire.
Clarice faced the intriguing stranger to find he was still holding her hand, she gently withdrew it and they sat in an uncomfortable silence, after a minute it became deafening for Clarice.
"Um, so do you have a name?" she inquired over the music.
Clarice thought she heard him reply with "Indeed I do" but she couldn't be sure as it was mostly muffled by the music. Clarice then began fiddling with her dress, she had been so busy mentally berating herself for challenging the blonde; she hadn't noticed that her companion had stood and was next to her holding his hand out. He cleared his throat and she looked up at him, surprise graced her features before she took his hand and he led her to the dance floor.
The men who had previously asked Clarice to dance were looking on at her partner in awe whilst the women at the bar were doing the same to Clarice, all except the blonde. As he pulled her closer Clarice could feel his slow heartbeat, with their bodies being so close together they could both feel each miniscule movement made by the other.
He leaned down toward her ear and brushed it with his lips.
"Why Clarice, I've never known you to be so inarticulate, I think the alcohol may be the cause."
