Elizabeth walked across the room until she got to the bar. She knew if she was going to survive this party, she was going to need a drink. Ordering a rum and coke; the red-head took a seat until her saving grace was served to her over ice. She couldn't stand the way some of the men were looking at her, basically staring in a way that some women would find offensive and others would be flattered. They weren't even being discreet about it and there was nothing she hated more than a man who felt like he could own a woman just by undressing her with his eyes.
"So do you come here often?" the man who sat next to her joked. Obviously the answer was no and she was in no mood for small talk. "Oh all the time, I basically live here." Her words dripped with enough sarcasm that it made the man leave. One man down, more to go, she thought to herself as she sipped her fourth drink of the night. "Tough crowd." This time it was new voice; another man's voice. She knew she wouldn't be able to keep this up for long. "Sometimes you just have to shoot them down. Especially when it's a bunch of drunken rich men." She said, taking another drink. "It must be hard to have almost every single man in the room and some married looking at you like a piece of meat. Almost like a prize to be won." Elizabeth looked over at the man who just referred to her as meat with a raised eyebrow.
Much to her surprise it was no other than Anthony Stark. He was probably one of the wealthiest men in the room. She was taken back the most by the fact that he was talking to her instead of sweet talking his way between a blonde models legs. "Excuse me? Mr. Stark, I hate to come off as rude, but you of all people shouldn't talk about men ogling women." "Here's the thing, I can say something like that because I have ogled you as well at some point in the night. There is no shame in it." He winked and swallowed the last good portion of his drink and put it on the bar. "Regardless of what this situation might be, I hope that isn't a pick up line you use on women." Tony laughed and picked up the refill. "Pick up lines aren't something I regularly need for women. Say what you will, but most women are dying to sleep with a billionaire." Tony flashed her a devilish grin and took a sip.
"I didn't catch your name, what did you say it was?" "Well that's because I didn't tell you my name, Mr. Stark." "Please, call me Tony. Mr. Stark was my father." He said, holding up his hand as if including the gesture would make it stop. "I'm more comfortable with Mr. Stark." Elizabeth said, downing her drink and then standing up. Tony stood up as well and offered his hand. "Well since you aren't willing to disclose your name, can I at least get a dance? They are paying that D.J. way too much to not have anyone really dancing." "Fine, just for a bit." Tony grinned at his accomplishment of her giving in. He took her hand and led her to the dance floor.
The song was something you would find in a downtown L.A. dance club. Groups of younger people stood together, hips swinging in unison. Tony pulled her in close, hips swinging and grinding together in motion. "I didn't expect you to be the type of man who would dance dirty." "It's not the only think I can do Ms-" Elizabeth thought quick. "Anne Kennedy" It was her middle name and mother's maiden name. She knew the kind of man he was. There were things about her that he really didn't need to know. "Finally you break down. I knew it was only a matter of time."
"This has been fun Mr. Stark, but I have another party I must be attending." "So soon? We were finally having a good time and I just learned so much about you." His words were clearly sarcasm. "Well if you are up for a good time you are more than welcome to join me." The red-head said taking a step away. Tony grabbed her hips and pulled her back to him. "I am always up for a good time." He whispered. Elizabeth let out a small laugh. "We are talking about different good times." "Playing hard to get, just remember I love a good fight. I am Iron Man after all."
Rolling her eyes, she headed to the door and outside to her car. "Do you know your way around Texas, ?" "Not as well as I would like to." This comment was obviously meant t be dirty. "Follow me." Taking her keys from the valet, the red-head climbed into her Silverado and pulled away from the party at hand in the large mansion. Cruising the highway she often would check to make sure she didn't lose her newest acquaintance.
Within 40 minutes Elizabeth pulled her truck into a large parking lot type of area outside of a barn. She could hear the music and see the dancing from the outside. Grabbing her cowboy boots, shorts and t-shirt, she changed in her truck quickly and stepped out. "What exactly did you bring me to?" "I asked if you wanted to come. If you don't like it I can give you directions back to the highway and you can head back to the other get together." Elizabeth said, flipping her hair and quickly putting it into a ponytail. "I don't know if you missed it, but do I look like I am even dressed to attend a honky-tonk?" "Lose the tie and suit jacket and tie. I would also unbutton the top button. You wouldn't want anyone to think you were too full of yourself." "They wouldn't be wrong to think that Ms. Kennedy." He laughed taking off his jacket.
She could tell how uncomfortable Tony was by the way he was looking around. "I thought Iron Man wasn't afraid of anything." She whispered walking into the barn. "My suit isn't on and I know rednecks carry guns like they are packs of gum." "Quick tip Mr. Stark. I wouldn't call any of them a redneck." She said walking up to the bar. "I'll keep that in mind."
"Who's your friend?" The bartender asked. "Tony Stark." He introduced himself, hand extended. The man stared at Tony's hand then quickly filled it with a bottle of beer. "Hope you like Bud." Tony made a face to show is distaste of the man and took a sip. "Well this is certainly a good time." "You are probably the only here who isn't enjoying themselves. If you haven't noticed everyone is dancing." Elizabeth said, grabbing her beer in one hand and his in the other, leading them to the dirt dance floor. "Please tell me you know how to country swing dance." "I'm sure it can't be that hard. I have seen some of the people who do it." "That is line dancing Mr. Stark." Elizabeth stared at him in shock to what came out of his mouth. He must have realized he offended her. "I meant no offense to you."
The red head chugged her beer and put it on a table nearby. Tony followed suit and grabbed her hand. "If you want to dance we can." "Not if it makes you feel like you are uncomfortable." Tony let out a pained sigh and grabbed her hand. "I let you drag me all the way here, I can suck it up and dance." Elizabeth grinned from ear to ear and at the beginning of the next song she grabbed his hand.
"That was intense and just so you know I never want to have to encounter something like that again in my entire life." Tony said, getting another beer. "Mr. Stark, it really wasn't that bad. Stop being so melodramatic." "I am not sure how often you believe me to do things like this. Just so you know, it isn't often, almost never." "It is something I do almost every weekend." "Ms. Kennedy I don't doubt it, I have seen your physique." Tony said, sipping his beer. Color began to sweep across her cheeks. He was charming, and that made him dangerous.
The more she thought about it, the more it alarmed her. She knew of Tony to be the kind of man who uses a woman for sexual desire than never talks to them again. That wasn't what she wanted. If Elizabeth could make it through this night without ending up in Mr. Stark's bed, she would be beyond pleased with herself. "What is going on in that head of yours Ms. Kennedy?" He asked, breaking her thought. "That I am going to need another beer." "You should probably slow down a bit." He said gulping his down trying to keep at pace with her. He was no match though. If she partied and drank like this almost every weekend, he knew the beer would make short work of him before it fazed her.
Elizabeth laughed at his concern. "Everything is bigger and better in Texas!" She climbed on top of the bar and grabbed the bartender's cowboy hat. "Please don't tell me this little festival is going to turn into a scene from Coyote Ugly." The bartender just gave Tony a look and laughed. "Mr. Stark, our girls here are a little classier. There is not water, not leather chaps. Just good, clean, sexy, organized fun." The emphasis on the word sexy and the look he gave to his new friend put Tony on edge.
"This is line dancing darlin'." A blonde said, following after Elizabeth, and climbing on top of the bar. "Yes, but in a more provocative way." Another blonde added in also climbing up. A few more girls climbed up, a total of five, and once the music started, it was off from there. Girls in short shorts, tight t-shirts and cowboy boots shaking their bodies like it was a well frequented routine. Tony struggled to keep his jaw off the floor and his mind out of the gutter. Elizabeth looked down and gave him a wink than quickly turned around and continued dancing.
After the 4 minutes the song was playing, the girls hopped down and went back to the dirt dance floor. "C'mon." Elizabeth said, doing the two shots of whatever the bartender put out. "You probably shouldn't mix those, beer and liquor. You could get sick." "I had 2 or 3 beers and with all the dancing I am less than concerned." She took two more shots placed in front of her. "You can either join me, or I can continue doing yours too." "You can have them. I drank more than enough for both of us at the other party. I still have a good buzz going on."
Elizabeth stared at him with her dark blue eyes. That was the first time the entire night he noticed her eye color. It was the first time he ever noticed a woman's eye color without reasoning. Elizabeth took two more shots than grabbed Tony's hands and dragged him back to the dirt floor. Elizabeth knew she was drunk; she had more than she bargained and ate not nearly enough to make up for amount of alcohol she consumed. He twirled her around and she started to get light-headed. "I might end this party early tonight Mr. Stark." "Please don't call me Mr. Stark, Ms. Kennedy." Elizabeth was taken back for a moment until she remembered she lied about her name.
"I'm sorry, Tony." The way she said his name got him going all over again. "Come back to my place with me. We can take the plane. It'll only be about 3 hours." Elizabeth knew how long it would take to get back to Manhattan. She currently lived in a flat in downtown New York, but she wouldn't tell him that. "Fine, let's go." Despite her better judgment, she knew as much as she wanted to fight with Tony about not going back with him, she wanted it all the same.
Elizabeth threw her car keys to a brunette. "Take her home for me." She called out. The girl nodded and stuffed the keys in her pocket. Tony led Elizabeth back to his car and they climbed in. The roar of the engine matched the pounding in her chest. Strong and eventually easy to ignore.
