"Anthony. Anthony Smith. And you?" I smile impishly up at her stroking my thumb across the back of her smooth, flawless skinned hand. She seems to be putting on a fixated, forced face.
I frown slightly and her perfectly knitted eyebrows-which match her hair at a slightly darker shade- spike up as she replies, "You can call me Madam Red."
I smirk softly deciding not to instigate her further for her name and give her hand a small nuzzle which results in her dropping it from my face; I see that she's reaching out as the bartender drops off our drinks with genuine smoothness to her. She just seems so at ease with herself, and I'm here all buzzed-no doubt my confidence if spiked due to the alcohol swirling through my blood right now.
This conversation is getting nowhere. Quickly I make some small talk. Throughout it she replies with kind notions or small replies. She seems to be studying me, like a vulture circling its prey. I guess I'm just the road kill with half of its brains and a foot sticking up out of the gore left to cook up as the sun beats down on the black tar road.
Well I'll be damned to say it, but she's the prettiest vulture I've set my eyes on.
"So Anthony, I've been informed that you're friends with Kevin Kolb. He's done some work around my shop before. I own a few shop that is- and I was wondering if you'd like a part time job delivering supplies to each of them-seeing that you're in hard times I think you should consider working for me," I blink at her out-of-the-blue statement as she continues "-You would be able to choose your hours and you'd be making well over what you are now. That is, if you perform your duties accordingly."
Wait. Kevin worked for her? And he never told me?!
I clear my throat and reach out towards my water the waiter generously provided earlier, but she pulls it from me. Her fingers and mine had wiped off some of the perspiration in the process. I give her a questioning glance.
"I'd rather you be buzzed with false confidence for at least the next three minutes as you gauge at your response, Mister Smith."
I gaze over her once again and decide to answer honestly, "I'd like some extra pay; this job would be much appreciated Madam."
She smiles lightly, but it's the sort of smile that doesn't reach a one's eyes. I let it slide as she clarifies my agreement and I provide my contacting information which she writes down with a pen and paper in neat cursive.
Our talking consumes the next thirty minutes or so as we break through the plain-talk among two strangers. I note that when she's determined about getting her point across her voice has a crisp, demanding tone to it.
I shrug my shoulders back my eyelids turning slightly heavier than before as we run out of the polite chatter. Out of the corner of my eye I catch a perfect toothed smirk from her.
"What?" I chuckle gently and rub my face as she lets out the most astonishing, gorgeous giggle.
"Nothing," she replies and thinks about it for a moment "-You're just cute when you're exhausted is all."
I blush- she called me cute. Cute. Cute?
"Is that good?" The words are out of my mouth before I have time to grip them.
She grins and replies curtly, "Depends."
My lips crease downward again and she pats my hand briskly and stands up stretching slightly. I blink and she reaches out, placing some money on the counter and then grabbing my hand, "Come, let's go for a walk in the breeze." It's almost a command.
I stand up slowly, testing my balance. It's barely altered. I'm fine.
We lock fingers and I walk out of the bar hand-in-hand with the most gorgeous woman I've ever seen. All eyes on us.