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Two Girls' Night Out
"Come on, Lisa... You know I'm not the bar-hopping type!" Candice whined.
Lisa Marie ignored her friend's protest and literally yanked her toward the establishment.
"The Red Saloon is different," she insisted. "I may have just discovered it last week, but they really do have terrific men at this place!"
Candice rolled her eyes and basically gave up. Unlike Lisa, she wasn't looking for a man to hook up with... In fact, she wasn't even seeking one with whom to have a relationship, serious or otherwise. The last time she'd had a date, about a month and a half earlier, the guy had actually stood her up. The brunette just didn't get it... She was intelligent, successful and had a good personality. On top of that, she knew she was attractive - beautiful, even, according to not only her friends but all the men she met. So, what exactly was it about her that they found apparently so fundamentally undatable?
Lisa Marie dragged her by the wrist to The Red Saloon's entrance. She was not at all enthusiastic as the older woman made a whole production out of it, calling and waving to the patrons.
"The party's finally here!"
Several men, who apparently knew Lisa, cheered. And then, so quickly that Candice's head nearly spun, she disappeared into the crowd.
The younger brunette stared with disbelief, inwardly groaning. How could Lisa just abandon her like that? She shook her head as she merely stood there for a moment.
"Hey, beautiful... You come here often?"
She turned toward her left to see a very sleazy-looking guy in a cheap suit. He was ogling her with a cheesy grin on his face, a drink in one hand. His breath reeked, and she would have bet her bottom dollar he was an alcoholic.
Disgusted, Candice pushed past him without a response. She hastily made her way to the bar, relieved that there were plenty of empty stools. Quickly, she settled into one.
Unfortunately, that same man who'd tried to pick her up plopped himself onto the stood just to her left. He was right there, in her face and tried to put an arm around her.
"Come on, gorgeous," he said. "My name's Stan... Whaddya say we get to know each other better?"
The brunette frowned and removed his arm from around her shoulders. Looking the guy squarely in the eyes, she put it in a way that would leave no room for questions.
"No," she said firmly, and loudly enough. "Not interested."
Stan laughed as though she'd told him a hilarious joke.
"C'mon, baby doll... You can't say you haven't had your eye on me! What's your name, babe?"
She looked around frantically, as though searching for some help. She literally had to push the man away from her, out of her personal space.
"My name is I don't want to be bothered!" she snapped. "Now, would you please leave me alone?"
The man laughed again and got close to her, putting an arm around her once again. And Candice was moments from putting her high-heeled-clad foot up his ass!
"Hey!" she heard a new man's voice snap. "The lady said she didn't want to be bothered." She realized it was the bartender.
"She knows she wants me!"
The bartender stepped closer to where they were and grabbed hold of the other man's shirt collar.
"She told you to leave her alone. I suggest you do that or your ass gets thrown out of here bodily." He pointed to the bouncer in one corner.
"Okay, okay!" the guy muttered, and he backed off, putting up both hands. "Gimme another scotch on the rocks."
"No dice," the other man said with a shake of his head. "I'm cuttin' you off, pal. You've had enough."
Stan stared at the guy, sort of dumbfounded. He shook his head and placed his now empty glass on the bar, then stalked off.
Candice watched him leave, her gaze briefly catching Lisa Marie on the other end of the place. She had two very eager men hanging all over her at a booth, and they were taking turns tossing peanuts into her mouth as she laughed and flirted with them.
Then, she turned forward again, her gaze instantly meeting that of the bartender. She'd never been so grateful toward anyone in her life!
"Thank you," she breathed, overwhelmed by what had just happened.
The man smiled warmly at her.
"Hey, don't mention it. I had to help a damsel in distress."
The brunette chuckled softly, her gaze still on him. She noticed he was kind of cute, with sparkling blue eyes and short brown hair. He didn't look to be that tall, either, maybe just a couple of inches taller than her own height of five-seven.
"My name's Allen," he told her, offering his right hand. "Allen Jones - but everyone calls me AJ."
Smiling, she was more than happy to shake his hand.
"Candice Beckman."
So nice to meet you, Candice." He smiled at her. He was actually surprised she was in the place, as she didn't seem like the type who would go for The Red Saloon. She appeared to be a whole lot classier, upscale. "So," he said, "Can I get you a drink?"
Candice hesitated, as it hadn't been her intention to drink alone. She cast another look Lisa's way and saw that her friend was downing a shot of something as the men with her cheered her on. Yet, she didn't want to be a stick in the mud. And since AJ had told that pestersome guy to back off on her, she decided she could certainly let her hair down.
"Sure... I'd love a margarita."
He met her lovely brown eyes and offered a short nod.
"Coming right up."
*
Time had just seemed to float right by since she'd been sitting there. She was still sipping her one margarita, carrying on a nice conversation with AJ the bartender. Things were going quite well, and she felt truly comfortable for the first time since she'd gotten there.
Suddenly, Candice felt a nudge at her left shoulder. Her chat with AJ interrupted, she turned to glance just over her shoulder.
"Come on, Candi." It was Lisa Marie, who had a guy on her other side. She noted this one wasn't either of the two she'd seen her friend with earlier. She arched an eyebrow.
"I'm ready to call it a night." She gave her a telltale look.
Candice slowly turned back to the friendly bartender. It was too bad Lisa was her ride. She was reluctant to leave, but then again, she had to meet a client for a brunch meeting the next day.
"Okay," she relented. She reached into her purse to pay for her drink, her gaze meeting the man's.
"It's on the house."
The brunette was thrown off by the remark.
"I can pay," she protested.
AJ shook his head and laughed a tiny bit.
"Jeez, can't you let a guy do something nice for you once in awhile? Candice, it's okay," he said. His eyes were so kind as they fixed on hers, a small smile on his face.
She nodded, giving in.
"Thanks. Have a good night."
"Goodnight," he replied.
Candice stared after him as he turned to wipe off some glasses, her breath held as she grabbed some bills anyway.
She felt she should at least leave him a tip. She placed some cash on the table, then followed Lisa Marie and her
guy for the night out of the bar.