Page 13 of Batter Up!

“Hi, Red,” he said. “Are you okay? Can I buy you a drink to apologize for almost running you over?”

“That would be really nice,” I said as we walked over to the bar.

“What can I get you?” The bartender asked him.

“I’ll take a draft beer and whatever the lady in red wants.”

“Another tequila sunrise?” the bartender asked.

“That would be great, thanks,” I said.

“Coming right up,” the bartender said and began making our drinks.

I hopped up on the barstool to wait as the handsome man sat down next to me and turned so his knees touched mine.

“So you must be a regular if he knows your drink order.”

I shook my head, “Nope. First time here, actually. I’m new in town. How about you?”

“What are the odds? I’m new here, too,” he said, and I noticed the dimples in his cheeks. They somehow made him look even more handsome. “I guess I can’t ask you for a tour around town, Red.”

“I guess not,” I said with a nervous laugh. “I was just sitting here and had already ordered, so he knew what I wanted to drink.” I took a deep breath and tried to tame my nerves. “So, Red, huh? I have a nickname already?”

He nodded with a smirk. “You have red hair, a red shirt.” He looked down and pointed at my feet. “And red toenails. It fits.”

“Should I call you Green, then? You have a green shirt on and the most beautiful green eyes…. I mean you have green eyes and green shoes, too.” I couldn’t help it, but I had to giggle at something that occurred to me.

“What’s so funny?” he asked, looking amused. “Want to fill me in on the joke?”

“Well, my last name is Green, so I really can’t call you Green,” I said with another laugh.

“You can call me whatever you want to,” he flirted with a wink.

The bartender sat our drinks by us, and I took a nice sip of the sweet and tangy drink.

“Mmmm.” I said and smiled.

“I might have to order one of those if they taste as good as you make them seem to.”

I laughed, “You want a taste?”

He shook his head and reached his hand out to skim his thumb over my lip. “There is a little right here,” he said, then put his thumb into his mouth to get a taste.

I took a deep breath and shouldn’t be so turned on by something so simple, but there was just something about this man.

“Hey, Stone, are you going to play the next game?” One of his friends came over asking. He wasn’t as muscular as Stone but was even taller, somehow. He was wearing jeans and a black henley with a black backwards baseball cap.

“Nah, man. Go ahead. I might be distracted.”

His friend laughed and said, “Don’t forget what I said. D and D.”

“Do I want to know?” I asked as his friend laughed and walked away.

Stone shook his head. “He was just telling me girls are just distractions and drama, but I think you might be a good distraction.”

“I can’t stand drama,” I replied honestly.

“Perfect!” he said and took a swig of his beer. “Do you want to play darts, Red?”

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