"Da hell?" he jumped back.

"Um...I'm so sorry, please...I'm so sorry."

"Don't worry about it."

"Can I buy you another drink?"

He stopped. Looked at her. REALLY looked at her and smiled. She looked like she belonged in another time. Sad, dark eyes, gorgeous afro, baby tee tight against her breasts that were, he had to admit, nice.

"Don't tell my mother when you meet her but sure, you can replace my drink. Gin and coke."

"Are you sure?" her eyes were dancing.

"Huh?"

"Well...you're one of those pretty guys, you sure you don't want an Apple Martini?"

He laughed. A deep, rich laugh. "Aw...you got jokes I see."

"I'm just messing with you. I'll be right back." and he watched her walk away. Her white pants hugging just right. About an inch of her middle exposed looking lovely and he knew he wanted to touch that middle in the small of her back where the spine dipped in and the heat beat like a heart.

He moved to the side of the balcony in a corner. Tucked in so he could see the door and every one else. He knew this scene well, watched it often. Recognized the faces of those to whom this was a normal pastime.

And she walked back to the door and he watched her look for him without saying anything. He wanted her to work for it. To look all over worried he'd left and then relieved when she found him with her eyes. She stood there and he watched her shrink in size. Her fancy bag without a handle tucked up under her arm. Her shoulders slumped just a little and she let her right foot go limp a bit in an uncertain kinda way rocking it on the heel she was wearing. Her stomach, which was flat a minute ago, protruding slightly with her posture.

He still didn't move. He simply watched her. Circling her with his eyes.

And then she saw him and she stood up straight, sucked in her stomach and threw her shoulders back again convinced that, once again, she was hot shit and a force to be reckoned with. In that moment of uncertainty he knew he'd fuck her by this time next week and he'd be out here again looking for another one just like her. Easy pickings they were.

Easy damn pickings and to be honest...the shit just wasn't fun anymore. New shit is just like all the old shit.

*sigh*

When she walked over to him and handed him his drink he tossed it back and reached out for her hand.

"I'm sorry, I hope this is okay. I just wanted to touch you. See how warm you are." and she jumped a little...startled. "Would you like to dance with me?"

He leaned in to her a step closer, still holding her hand and if she was ice you'd hear her melt but she wasn't so she simply caught her breath and said softly..."Yes." and he lead her to the dance floor.

And they danced.

And he pulled her to him and fit her grooves in his and let his hand dip two fingers on her skin which was hot and moist from her dancing. Her eyes still dancing with blue green stuff on her eye lids. She knew what she was doing.

She's done it all before.

And they talked and he got to know her without listening to a word she had to say but he smiled just right and held her hand whenever they were moving through the crowd. Protective.

Like a man.

When he walked her and her girl to her late model car he stored her number in his phone along with her name, email addy and a picture. He always asked for a picture. "So your face comes up when I call you."

She giggled.

He got in the car and drove home stopping on the way to fill up the car with gas. He pulled out his phone and called her.

"Just checking to make sure you got home safe."

And she thanked him for calling. For being so thoughtful.

"What's a good time to call you tomorrow? I don't want to email you and wreck your flow." he said.

"You can email me if you have something to say."

And they laughed lightly as he continued the drive home. "Sweet dreams. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

He raised the garage door and pulled in and, before going inside, he took the garbage can to the end of the driveway off to the side a bit. Then...he went inside and flipped through the mail on the counter while drinking a large bottle of water from the fridge, turned off the lights and went upstairs to the bedroom.

"Hey baby. You have a good time tonight?" she asked.

"Yes." He leaned down to kiss her and laid across the bottom of the bed propped up on one elbow and smiled at her. "I'm too old for this."

"He's your brother. It's nice that you make time for him once a week."

"Yeah...I guess. Did the baby go to sleep easy?"

"Yes. She was so cute tonight in that lil sleep shirt your mother sent her."

"Imma peak in on her before I take a shower. Some thirsty chick bumped into me and made me spill my drink."

"Please don't wake the baby, Baby."

"I won't." He stayed and kept looking at her. "I love you so much."

"Awwww honey. I love you too. I was just thinking before you got here just how blessed I am to have a husband as loving as you are."

And he got up and kissed her again, took the remote and changed it to ESPN.

Then...he looked in on his beautiful daughter and took a shower.

Home.

Older shit.

- See more at: http://creoleindc.typepad.com/rantings_of_a_creole_prin/2010/06/google-voice.html#more