Page 8 of Here In Your Arms

“Looks like you’re not done yet,” she comments on my mostly full beer.

“I know. I just wanted to talk to you.”

Her eyebrows rise in surprise. “Most guys aren’t so straightforward about it.”

“I like games, but not that kind. Can I get your name?” I ask her, going for a direct approach this time.

She eyes me up and down as her brain works. Glancing toward the other side of the bar, she seems to make up her mind and unintentionally pins me with her eyes again.

“Rory,” she tells me.

“Hi Rory.”

She smiles. “What’s yours? I mean, I could just find it off your credit card when you pay, but if you pay cash, then I’m out of luck. Plus, it feels imbalanced that you know mine, but I don’t know yours.”

“Of course!” I smile with as much charm as I can muster. “I’m Wes.”

A smile tugs at her mouth. I can see her battling with something internally as she looks at me and processes my name.

“What?” I ask her, a small smile starting in response to hers.

“Wes?”

“Yeah?”

“You have red hair.”

“Yup.”

“Ever watched Nailed It! before?”.

“Oh, no…” I can see where she’s going with this.

“WHES!” she calls out, an almost perfect imitation of Nicole Byers.

She starts cackling in delight as I chuckle softly. Thankfully, the noise doesn’t draw a crowd. I don’t mind being the butt of a joke. Everyone’s the butt at some point, and I’m happy to have an inside joke with her.

“Oh, man, I love that you went there,” I tell her, still chuckling.

“Yeah?” She looks a little unsure, even through her smile.

“I enjoy a woman who knows how to banter.”

“I’m glad. Not everyone appreciates it,” she says, sobering and glancing at the end of the bar again.

My eyes follow her to see a man sitting, his eyes locked on her. He’s built well enough, but not huge. His head is shaved bare, and he has a neat goatee framing his mouth. I make a mental note to keep an eye on him. He looks like trouble even though he’s put together well.

“So, tell me something about you.”

“Let me fill this order, Whes, while I think of something to tell you.”

“Will that always be how you say my name?” I call after her as she takes a few steps away.

“Depends on how long I know you,” she replies cheekily, and starts making more drinks for the order that has just come in.

As she works, I take the opportunity to look my fill at her body. She’s tall, not over six feet, but definitely tall. Her brown hair lands between her shoulder blades, braided back away from her face. Her body is full, her breasts and hips evenly matched. Breasts might be slightly smaller than I’ve preferred in the past, but they look perfect on her.

Her shoulders are slightly bent, like she’s worn down. I find myself drawn to that, wanting to find out why she’s worn down and how to make it better. She has a light and a mischief to her I want to see brought out all the time. All the time? Not sure where that came from. Is she the one that we need? Maybe. I’ll drag Kyle back here sometime and see if we can catch her working.

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