Page 6 of Soaring and Saucy

That little insidious voice inside of her head caused her to swallow nervously because she didn’t want to think badly about the man who seemed to glow with vitality and exuded sex appeal. When he’d catapulted off the keg and thrown his arms in the air, yelling proudly with excitement, she had almost let out a cheer too.

Nervously, she smoothed back her straight brown hair that was held with a scrunchie at the back of her head and straightened her blouse. There was no reason she couldn’t look like a lady in the middle of a dive bar, right? As she caught his gaze for a moment, she hesitated, wondering if this was perhaps a trick to see how long the geeky girl would sit there alone… and swallowed back her fear, praying that wasn’t the case.

Please don’t be a creep.

Please don’t be a creep.

Please don’t be a creep… and hadn’t realized how distracted she was until someone appeared before her eyes causing her to look up. Lance had brought over two fancy-looking glasses and smiled sheepishly at her before sitting down.

“Turns out that they are fresh out of coffee, but they made us espresso martinis instead. Have you ever had one?”

“No?”

“Then you are in for a real treat,” he chuckled softly, giving her goose bumps in awareness. “If someone makes them right, you can taste the coffee and not the alcohol. Lucky for us, they don’t make them often here, so he had the good liquor in stock to use in them.”

“I don’t drink.”

“Not even once?” and Lance hesitated as Stephanie shook her head. “Well then, I suppose I’ll have two of them – unless you change your mind,” he invited.

Stephanie clenched her hands in her lap to keep from sighing at the sight. Who knew the Devil wore the white uniform of an officer, had jet black hair, and the hottest dimple in his chin known to man? If this wasn’t temptation, she didn’t know what was.

And as if he could read her mind, Lance picked up one of the martini glasses, and licked the rim slowly. His tongue barely emerged over his lip, almost like he was tickling the glass and took a sip, watching at her. If that had been anyone else, she would have backed away in a rush… because EWW? However, ‘EW’ was the last thing on her mind. No, in fact, that miniscule lick was fascinating and instead of grossing her out, she felt insane jealousy of those sugar crystals along the rim.

One way ticket to Hell please – first class. What do you mean that’s a bad thing? Are you blind? Have you seen this guy in front of me?

“The bartender sugared the rim, just a head’s up,” he offered quietly, setting down his glass and looking at her. “It’s delicious. So, tell me all about yourself. I bet you are a librarian in some small town – eh?”

“No,” she hesitated in confusion, wondering what would give him that idea. “I’m a bank teller.”

“Okay, I can definitely work with that,” he said distractedly, picking up his glass and taking a sip again. Oh gosh, there it was, that tiny little caress of the glass with his tongue… and why am I watching his tongue?

“What do you do in the Navy? What ship are you assigned to?” she asked hoarsely. “Do you prefer I call you Lance or Trophy?”

“Do you prefer Steffi or Stephanie?” he countered easily, looking amused. “Everyone calls me Trophy, but I think you should probably call me Lance.”

“Stephanie,” she whispered nervously causing him to lean forward to hear her in the noisy bar. “Why am I being singled out to call you by your given name?”

“Because you are different… unique.”

“You don’t know me. How could you assume that I am unique?”

“No, we are getting to know each other right now, aren’t we, Stephanie? What’s your favorite season? Your favorite show?” he blurted out, smiling as he took a sip again. “What kind of things do you like to do when you are at home?”

“My favorite season?” she repeated, chuckling at the weird question only to see his smile widen as he waited. “I guess Autumn. I like the leaves changing colors and the cooler evenings. There are more deer in the area, it’s like everything is clinging to the summer season as long as possible before dying off. What’s your favorite season?” Only to see him hesitate in surprise – and she laughed.

“What? Has no one asked you the same questions or wanted to know more about you?”

“Not really?” he chuckled, smiling. “I guess I would say autumn or wintertime but for very different reasons. I like the cooler temperatures because it can get really swampy with the heat back home - and back in Florida.”

“Is that where you are from?” she interrupted.

“I’m from Alexandria, Louisiana originally. I’m currently stationed in Mayport, Florida – just on the east side of Jacksonville along the coastline – and you didn’t let me finish.”

“Oh,” she uttered, stunned that he was obviously teasing her about interrupting him. His smile was soft, his eyes were warm and inviting, softening his words. “I’m sorry. Please go ahead.”

“Don’t apologize, I just wanted to continue telling you that I like the cooler months because of the holidays, cuddling under the blankets on lazy days, and fuzzy socks.”

“What?” she blurted out, chuckling in disbelief, wondering if she misheard him – only to have Lance’s laughter join in with hers.

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