Head over Heels: A Single Dad Romance(4)

"I would love to join you," he drawled while pulling out the empty chair, "but I'm not so sure about catching up, it looks like I'll need to keep my wits about me." The slight smile that played on his lips drew me in, and I nervously licked my lips. As the chair scraped along the wood floor, I was sure he would be called away by a friend or some other woman looking to hold his attention, but the second his finely toned ass hit the chair, I was ready to claim victory.

"So, what brings you two here," Michael said conversationally as he settled in.

"Devon needs to get screwed," Mimi blurted out around a mouthful of margarita.

I saw the surprised look on his face and could have kicked Mimi for blurting that out. "I got screwed - at work - it's just a minor work thing - having to do with work," I rushed to explain. I took a deep breath, threw my inebriated friend a dirty look, and tried to save the situation, "really it's just an excuse to get out of the office and socialize."

"Socialize," he echoed.

"Yeah," I went on, "this place is close to the office so it's where us worker minions let off steam." I'm pretty sure I flipped my hair and drawled, "I guess we're kind of regulars around here."

"I know," He chuckled, "I've seen plenty of your co-workers in here, but I can count on one hand the number of times you've shown your face."

So, two things - one, he just caught me in a lie, but two, he just admitted he's been looking for me. Ok, maybe he didn't say that exactly, but it was close enough that my insides were doing summersaults over the unexpected revelation. I raised my glass and tried to replace the embarrassment I felt over being caught in a lie with the vision of him sitting alone at the end of the bar pining for me. After a few moments, both thoughts were drowned out as I realized he was waiting for me to say something.

It was now or never.

"Well," I leaned forward to put my hand on his arm and almost did a happy dance when he leaned closer. As I stroked his forearm lightly with my fingers, I murmured, "then I guess it's about time that I enjoy myself."

"Me too," he shifted slightly in his seat and I honestly think I heard him groan - right there in the middle of the pub.

"Yeah," Mimi interrupted loudly as she craned her neck to survey the room, "I come here too… sometimes…"

At the sound of her voice, I hesitated and removed my hand from Michael's arm. I savored the way my fingertips still tingled from his touch but lamented at how much better I used to be at this - but then I also used to see daylight on a regular basis.

With a slight chuckle, he pulled his attention away from me. "So, Mimi, you come here too?"

Waiting for her to answer, I felt some satisfaction in knowing he wasn't keeping tabs on her whereabouts. Biding my time, I picked up my drink and rolled the stem lightly between my hands. Michael's eyes darted back to follow my every move. Emboldened by his attention, I slowly fingered the edge of my glass and captured an ice cold droplet of water with my finger. I brought the finger to my mouth and slowly ran it along my lower lip. Michael ran his tongue along his own lower lip and I swear I almost drooled.

Instead, my tongue darted out to lick the soothing drop off the tip of my finger, and then I nestled the digit lightly between my teeth. As I lightly sucked on the long-gone droplet, I saw the muscle in his jaw twitch. I felt a warmth rush through my body and recognized his reaction was an intoxication that no alcohol could match.

"Yup," my friend answered vaguely before turning her attention back to him pointedly. "Hey, what are you doing here anyway?"

Busy watching my wayward finger, Michael had lost track of the conversation and missed his cue. When Mimi rapped her knuckles on the table to get his attention, he looked slightly startled. "I was hoping to grab a meeting," he offered vaguely and then looked around the bar.

"Oh!" with a loud sucking pop, I quickly pulled the finger from my mouth. "I didn't realize you were here on business." What the fuck was I doing? Forget about the fact that he was completely out of my league, I was coming on to someone I had to work with.

I tried my best to look respectable, but between the alcohol and my finger stunt, I wasn't sure that was even possible. I swear I don't know what it was about Michael Saunders that made me act like that. "We don't want to keep you," I tried to sound casual, but I'm pretty sure my humiliation was on full display for the entire bar to hear.

"You're not keeping me at all," he added smoothly. "I have plenty of time," after another quick scan of the room, he added, "in fact, I'm not sure my contact will even show up." He turned his head and spoke softly so only I could hear, "and, I'm not sure I want them to."

My breath caught in my chest and I wasn't even sure what to say to that revelation.

"Well let's hope they don't show up," Mimi interjected, "we don't need anyone else sitting down here." Snorting over whatever joke she had going on in her head, Mimi went back to her margarita as an awkward silence descended on the table.

While the two of us fingered our drinks and eyed each other covertly, Mimi began to sing along with the jukebox. Although the song was drowned out by my friend's off key and incoherent vocals, the spectacle gave me some cover as I waged a silent battle within myself. I spent the next few moments lamenting my last drink and debating on how - or even if - I should proceed. If something didn't happen soon, we would either spend the evening staring at each other like schoolchildren, or he would get up and find any available meeting to attend just to get away from me.