Idling in the traffic just at the end of the industrial estate that housed the giant factory I worked in, I pumped the music – classic 80's hair music – out of the plastic speakers. I was too cool for school these days. I didn't give a shit what people heard me listening too, and that was the beauty of getting older. I had no fucking shame.

It wasn't until I turned toward my friends house that I was able to see the gigantic queue of traffic before it was too late to turnaround and try another route. Being stuck in the home-time traffic sucked balls, but I had a grin on my face because I knew a delicious lasagne waited for me at Jessica's house. She worked part time – lucky cow – so I knew tea would be waiting for me on the table. Door service. Brilliant. Friends were the best sometimes.

My grin soon faded though. I'd only moved inches in the last 20 minutes and the rest of the journey wasn't looking good. I continued to text Jessica my miserable dismay, and in the end told her to freeze the damn food for another day – as soon as I was able, I'd be U-turning this joyride back in the opposite direction. I just needed a break in the two way traffic system. Eventually an opening appeared just a little further up, and I spotted my escape route. Swinging into the driveway I held my hand up to the driver that let me pass him, and then it all got confusing. A car wanted to come out of where I was trying to get in, so I angrily spun my wheel and dove across the traffic to the next exit I saw. Luckily the man that had let me cross him before, still waited patiently and I smiled brightly at him as he smiled back. What a nice dude. Cheered me up at least.

Well at least until I nose dived the curb and heard the scrap of my bumper. Jesus fucking Christ! I heard the chipping of my paint work hit the tarmac and I went beetroot red as waiting traffic watched my fuck up. I'd lost the plot by then, and literally plummeted for the familiar opening of trumpet bushels that edged the driveway to the Mole's Nest. I swung in, and it happily provided me the comfort of shade as I parked up in a secluded section of the not-so-busy pub forecourt. I turned off the engine, and pretended to be exactly where I wanted to be in case any onlookers wondered why I looked so out of place.

The Mole's Nest wasn't exactly a pub regular people frequented, at least that's the impression it held. I'd never attempted to visit before, although I'd often driven passed it. There were flower baskets hanging from the buildings edge but the flowers were long dead and I looked at the windows to see if there was actual life inside the boxed building. It could have been closed down for all I knew, it was as dim as hell. To my shock, a man did exit the entrance and he stumbled toward the opening I'd just driven into. Jesus, what a fucking dive!

It was now or never. I got out of my car, swung my bag over my shoulder and hustled toward the entrance. I wasn't getting anywhere soon in the traffic that still hummed behind me, so maybe it was about time I grabbed the proverbial bull by the horns. I needed a bloody drink. And quick.

The entrance was just an old wooden patio door, caked in crusty green flaking paint that had certainly seen better days. I didn't mind though. It was the smell that hit me which somehow made me feel right at home. A couple of strangers eyes drifted my way, and it wasn't until I looked behind the bar that I saw the friendliest looking eyes in the world.

"You looking for anything in particular love?"

Hell, he sounded adorable – a little rough around the edges but his glassy blue eyes were a wonderful sight as I hitched myself up on a barstool that actually looked brand new. Part of a potential refurbishment, I wondered.

"Do you have a glass of lemonade please?" I squeaked, and then watched as he slowly lifted a glass from the shelf before I finished my sentence.

"The names Richard..." he smiled as he poured me the drink. "... but my friends call me Tike"

"Tike. Nice to meet you. My names Stevie." I grinned.

"Stevie? Ain't that a boys name?" Tike questioned.

"Yeah..." I squished my lips together in earnest and explained. "... I guess my dad really wanted a boy. Either that or my mum couldn't stop listening to Fleetwood." I laughed, rolling my eyes playfully. I'd heard it all before.

"You like 'em too?" Tike asked, raising his eyebrows in surprise.

"I liked them enough that my dad and his friends called me Nicks. I think it wasn't until I used my Barbie doll as a microphone for Edge of Seventeen that it stuck. Even 25 years on and the name has stayed with me. My friends call me Nix too." I smiled, in offering. I hoped he'd used my nickname, the name Stevie was just plain weird.

"Well Nix, can I fix you a real drink – you look like you might need it love?"

Oh man, now I really felt like shit. Nothing worse than somebody pointing out how rough you looked – doubly worse when you'd only just introduced yourself. "yeah..." I groaned. "...splash in some of the good stuff." I pointed out the bottle of Southern Comfort.

For some unknown reason I was grinning like I was having the best time of my life. Maybe I was? It had certainly been a long time since I'd dared to do anything without assistance. Tike had been a pleasure to talk with. It was a good two hours since I'd walked in, and I'd struck up a few conversations with the people Tike pulled into our debates. I could get used to this place. I felt comfortable, and it wasn't lost on me, that it was because I was the only female casing the joint. No girl could ever deny that being the sole centre of attention was kinda sweet. Even if it was only old buggers that spoke to me, I still enjoyed being the focus of most conversations that sprang across the length of the small bar room. If I was anything, it was honest.

Some of the bars company had eluded me though. From where I was sat I could see a pair of boot covered feet that crossed over each other as the owner was secluded around the corner. I'd seen them fidget every now and again, and I'd wiggled on the bar stool a couple of times to try and politely peak around the edge of the wall, but I couldn't see anything. I wondered who it was. Was he hiding from everybody, or just me?

It wasn't long before my phone buzzed again, and Tike watched me fiddle with some buttons and ignore a response.

"That thing has been rattling for the last hour love. You have a better place to be?" he asked.

Not unless you counted wishing on a time machine to take you back to what you knew best; I had nowhere else I'd rather have been right now.

"It's just my mum. Turns out being almost 30 doesn't stop your mother from worrying about you..." I gulped awkwardly as I met Tike's eyes in explanation. I'd sounded a little contrite with my inner thoughts and I felt guilty for sounding so ungrateful, I knew there were far worse off people than me in the world. I knew that. "...it's nice that she cares though. It's just sometimes, I need my space, you know what I mean?"

"That I do little lady. That I do. How long are you drinking? I see you pull in with your car. You know I can't let you leave in that right?"

Shit.

What had turned out a spontaneous arrival, the almost three hours that I'd sat here for hadn't gone without drink. It was nearly 9pm and to be fair, this whole evening had been a little out of character for me. At least for the new me. The old me would have been a regular in these surroundings but doing it alone had somewhat lost it's edge of fun. Now I was just a sad loser, like the rest of the punters that idled around the bar. Most of them loners - like me - just like the guy with the boots. The guy that I still hadn't got a look at. Dammit!

I watched Tike's eyebrows raise in question as I still contemplated an answer for him. I sipped my concoction of mixed spirits, and immediately felt the rush of heat hit my chest. I think I was a little tipsy and it made me not have a care in the damned world. About bloody time!

"You know what Tike..." I giggled. "...I only work around the corner. I might just set up camp here tonight and waddle off to work first thing tomorrow morning. You reckon they'd even notice I was in the same clothes? Probably not, I barely even notice myself these days." I cracked up laughing.

I just didn't have the right answer for him. I didn't know what I was going to do. I couldn't drive my car that was for sure, and I just wasn't ready to face my little dilemma yet. I was content with where I was for a change.

TIKE

Tike smiled. If anything he'd detected a hint of pain that laced her vocals. He'd never seen her before – in the flesh, at least – and if he was honest, it was nice to look at a pretty face instead of the wrinkly regulars he usual served. He still wasn't going to let her drive home though, no matter how she tried to act the sober one. He briefly wondered if Wolf would let her go anyway.

"You let me know when you're ready to hit the road. I'll call you a taxi sweetheart. I ain't the type to let a young girl loose with a head full of alcohol and a flair for trouble. I saw the way you drove in here..." he chuckled. "...like a bat out of hell, and your bumper didn't look too good either."

STEVIE

What the bloody hell was wrong with me? I sucked up my bottom lip, and straight away felt my eyes watering. Thankfully no tears dripped, and I'd hoped he'd put my glazed eyes down to the drink, but in all honesty, I was embarrassed. It'd been a long time since anybody had called my number out, and I'd forgotten that most barmen could read a customer's story just by looking into their eyes. Damn philosophical barmen!

"Ha, well. I won't be causing any trouble in here Tike. You're lucky you've only witnessed my erratic driving. You wouldn't want to see me 10 years ago. I'd 'ave been dancing on this bar top by now..." I quipped as I made a motion to stand up from the stool. Just about ready to get out of this conversation before anything else focused on me.

I loved talking, I loved sharing opinions of everything and anything – that wasn't directly about me. "...I'm gonna make myself comfortable over in the corner. I'll call myself a taxi later, don't you worry about me. I can take care of myself." I smiled with a soft chuff of laughter.

TIKE

Tike watched her wiggle her way around in the half booth that she'd chosen to settle into. The booth was in the very corner of the room, and it had high walls around the back and to the sides. She'd clearly chosen that seat to keep herself to herself. Luckily the booth faced inward toward the room, and he was able to clearly see her if he walked to the other end of the curved bar, pretending to wipe down the beer taps.

He hadn't intended on upsetting her, but he'd seen the glint in her eye when he'd half-heartedly mentioned she was trouble. It was just an expression. Obviously a bad one! He could see how she hitched her elbow onto the table to try and hide her face away with her hand. He'd pressed his own lips together in remorse when he left her be.

Walking back toward the middle of the bar, he watched the entrance to his watering hole with a squint of his eyes. Another customer broke through the haze of smoke that still lingered in the air. An illegal linger since the no-smoking rule hit, but his place was so small on the radar his customers never quite grasped the new rule in public places.

He waited to size up the new arrival when he watched the young lad, that had entered, zip up a hoodie that looked slightly awkward on his body. He'd clearly had something bigger on underneath. What the fuck was he hiding? His eyes cased the joint, scoping for someone - with a helluva purpose etched on his face. Tike already knew he was too damned old to get involved with anything heavy. He couldn't remember the last time he'd had to break up a confrontation. He was the wrong side of 65, maybe 68 – he'd lost count of his years!

STEVIE

I wasn't that upset, it was more nostalgia than anything. Tike had made me feel so welcome but I'd managed to let my hair loose – figuratively – and now I was just left to reminisce on the days long past. I was sucking on my straw when I'd watched Tike saunter back toward the other end of the bar. The booth I'd picked was a little way off from the rest of the room but I had a clear shot of my previous stool at the bar. Seeing Tike's steely eyes watch the entrance that was out of sight to me, caught me slightly intrigued. I tried to sit up a little straighter so I could see the entrance but I couldn't crane my neck anymore without breaking it. In the end my eyes darted back to Tike as I saw his head whip to the dark corner of the bar – suddenly watching something else.

I was definitely interested when I finally saw the owner of those booted feet I'd been trying to see since I spotted them an hour into my arrival. Jesus mother-fucking Christ! I even watched Tike's Adam's apple bob in his throat as I found my own mouth drying instantly with the view that now transfixed me. Was it too cliché to sound out that I'd never seen a more sexual human being in my entire life?

He was tall, like really tall. He had to be at least 6 foot 3, maybe 4 inches. His shoulders were broad, and his skin. Holy Hell. He must've had some black parentage because his skin was a permanent tan, and he had arms that twisted with taught muscle. I focused more on his face when I finally pulled my eyes away from his strutting demeanour, and then, well then, I almost slipped off my seat.

His fucking hair!

It was black, maybe dark brown – no wait, I saw some golden slithers too – and it was fairly long. I'd just caught the length before I watched his fingers rake through the sides as he quickly bunched up the mid-length strands and rapped it in a band he'd pulled from his wrist. Wrists that I could see now were covered in leather support straps. Now I could see his face. Fuck!

He was beautiful.

It all happened so fast but us girls always managed to capture every damned detail, right before you realised your jaw was hitting the floor. It took me a moment to gather myself and I gripped hard around my tall glass of spirits, and then his beautiful face was gone. I was no longer able to see him as he walked passed the side of Tike's bar and fired toward the entrance with what looked like a dark face of anger. Jesus, he looked pretty mad. I didn't even get to see his legs, the bar obscured most of him and I would have taken a bet that he was wearing leathers. Was that even cool these days? I'd seen his t-shirt though. A badly faded black colour that now looked grey, and I could've sworn I saw some kind of thin material scarf, maybe a bandana around his neck. I hadn't missed the mumble of words in Tike's direction as he'd walked passed him either. God, did Tike actually know this dude? He was bloody gorgeous. Something told me though, that maybe he wasn't the type of guy who heard that a lot. I chuckled to myself as I imagined slurring all over him. Pathetic! Get a grip Stevie!

AN

Hope you're sticking with me ladies (and dudes, I guess :) ) The smut will come.. I promise.

Please review. It makes me smile, and I'll always send a note back for your time.