Page 4 of Dark Love

“Well, hello there. What’s a pretty little thing like you doing here?” The man slurs his words as he pushes up to the bar next to me, earning nasty looks from the couple that was standing there.

What do I do? I certainly don’t want to engage in a conversation with him. I pretend to look away and hope he’ll forget I’m even here. There’s so much chaos around it’s not hard to focus on a couple that is currently making out in the middle of the dance floor. Is that really allowed in here? It can’t be legal.

Two men wearing t-shirts that proclaim them as bouncers converge on the couple before they can take their little exhibition to an X-rated level.

“That sure is a pretty skirt you’re wearing.”

The scent of alcohol and rotting flesh wafts over my face as those words are whispered in my ear.

A normal person would jump and scream, but I freeze up.

“But it would look better in a puddle on the floor of my bedroom.”

Does he really think women want to hear things like that? He’s obviously not thinking about anything. “Um. Thank you for the kind offer, but I’m here with my friends.” Hopefully, that’s enough to get him to go away.

“Ditch them and we can have some fun.” The vile man moves even closer.

“I’m sorry, but I’m not interested.” There, that should be enough. He can’t mistake my intent.

“That’s okay. I like girls that play hard to get.” He runs a finger down my arm and my blood runs cold.

This guy isn’t going to take no for an answer.

What should I do?

Mindy or Diane would know exactly what to do. But there’s no way I want to lead this creep over to them.

Where is a bouncer when you need one? What would I even say… Please help me. This guy is creepy and trying to proposition me. That’s what you would say.

But there aren’t any bouncers.

What should I do?

“Are you this shy in the bedroom?”

What should I do?

My only point of reference for things like this is television and books. The woman either decks the guy—something I’m not going to do—or they find someone else to make the guy backdown…

Hmm…

Someone scary enough that this creep would back down right away. I don’t want to cause a bar fight… club fight.

I scan the crowd. Who could I ask? Most guys are dancing with someone, or not scary looking at all.

Jackpot! The guy in the corner booth looks like he chews nails for fun while crushing people between his fingers. A sane person would run away from him. I’m normally a very sane and reasonable person. There’s got to be someone else.

“I can’t wait to beat the shy out of you.”

Those words scare the last shred of sanity out of me. I dash away from him winding my way through the crowd. For the first time since I stepped in here, I’m thankful for the boring ballet flats on my feet. They allow me to run like I wouldn’t be able to even in the lowest of heels.

Be a good guy.

This has got to work like it does on the television.

With grace that I’ve never felt before in my life, I slip into the booth next to a man capable of crushing bones with his bare hands. “Hello, darling.” My voice barely sounds breathless even though I’m about to hyperventilate or faint.

Fainting would be bad. Very bad!

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