Sitting at the bar, Nick Steel kissed Christina Lords for the first time over glasses of white wine. “You’re dangerous,” she told him, accepting the kiss, but pushing him away. Her hand stayed on his knee. His hand stayed on the nape of her neck.
“Dangerous? Me? Why?” he asked, leaning his forehead next to hers. Her hair smelled good.
“Because you’re a nice guy, Nick. The kind of guy that’s easy to fall in like with,” she said, looking at him. Her pretty brown eyes were flaked with spots of green, almost like the freckles scattered across her tiny upturned nose. She smiled easily and he could feel the pull of her allure.
“Ever think I might be having the same problem with you?” he asked. A restaurant bar wasn’t a quiet or romantic, but the sounds of silver against china faded into the background as the universe shrunk to just them. There was his hand still on her neck, just below her ear, her hand on his knee, and their foreheads touching. Date number three and time to seal the deal. Were they going to be more than just friends?”
“Oh stop it. You don’t want a woman like me,” she told him, her eyes fluttering away from him, but her hand stayed on his knee. Did she squeeze it? “You know my past.”
“I’d rather know your future,” he said and she kissed him. He had given her lips a peck, but she gave him a real kiss. No tongues, not yet. Not here in public. But their kiss lasted for more than moment.
“You’re sweet,” she said.
He started to tell say how sweet she was, but the man standing next to them interrupted. “You’re Cindee Sinns!” the guy said, pointing an accusing finger at her. “I’d know you anywhere! You’re fucking hot as hell!”
The bartender was quick to react. “Hey, buddy!” he said, leaning between Nick and Christina. “Let’s not have a deal here.”
Staring with wide-eyes, the man ignored the bartender. “I’ve seen everything you ever did!” he said, as if fandom or brand loyalty gave him a right to intrude.
Christina groaned and Nick struggled to maintain his composure. “We’re trying to enjoy a drink here.”
The man noticed Nick. “You know who she is, right? She’s Cindy Sins. You seen her movies?”
Nick rolled his eyes, gave Christina a reassuring smile, and faced the stranger. It wasn’t the first time he did this. “Dude, I’ve seen every movie she ever made and the ones that have never been released. Now tell the woman she’s beautiful. Tell her you have fun jerking off to her and then give us some space, okay?”
“Yeah, okay,” the guy said, nodding his head. To Christina, he stammered, “You really are beautiful. And I, you know, what he said.”
“I’m glad you had fun,” she told him, never facing him. “Thanks for being a fan.”
“Yeah, yeah, okay, cool,” the guy said, slipping into creeper status. “Can I get an autograph?”
Nick fielded the question for her. “Sure, buddy. Fifty bucks.”
“F-fifty bucks? For what? A fucking autograph?”
“No, for interrupting her time. Time is money, you know that,” Nick said, smiling.
“Fuck that,” he said, turning away without noticing the bartender moving up behind him. Before storming off, the guy turned back to Nick. “Your girlfriend’s a fucking slut.” That’s when the bartender guided the man way.
“Now, where were we?” Nick asked Christina, putting his hand back on her neck and pulling her forehead back to his. “Kissing, right?”
“No, we were done with that,” Christina said. Nick knew it would take her a moment to refocus after the interruption. “Sorry,” she mumbled.
“Don’t be. It’s okay.” He moved his hand from her neck to her hand. “I sort of like that word ‘girlfriend,’ though.”