Falling From Disgrace

Ironically, Heather’s phone began to shrill and she cursed when she saw it was her ex-husband’s number flashing on the screen. She excused herself from Adrianna and her new male friend so she could take the call outside.

“Can I get you another?” a deep voice asked, and when Adrianna turned towards the source, she was taken aback by how close his face was to hers. He was standing behind the bar, leaning across it and staring at her with large, striking blue eyes. This wasn’t the same man who had taken her original order, and yet he was already holding the bottle of Tanqueray, keeping his mesmerizing eyes directly on Adrianna’s.

“Please,” Adrianna answered, and then felt her pulse quicken as she took in the rest of him.

Now this was a man she would not mind taking home to her bed tonight. His hair was very dark and tapered, cut very short at the neckline and then gradually grew in length towards the top of his head. His skin had a slight olive tone that blended very well with the darkness of his hair. His eyes were deep set, yet still large and Adrianna looked closely to see if he wore colored lenses. No one she had ever encountered with hair and skin like his had eyes that color. They were clear cerulean. His nose was slightly crooked, which gave him just enough edge so that he didn’t look too perfect, and his square jaw, upper lip and chin were covered with stubble. Lips that looked soft and pink turned up in a grin as a strong hand garnished her drink with a lime and then placed it on a napkin in front of Adrianna.

She smiled in thanks, tipped her drink towards him in a silent toast, and then took a sip just as Heather returned from outside. She did not look happy.

“I have to go!” she fumed, digging into her purse to fish out a ten dollar bill to cover the one drink she hadn’t even finished.

“Why?” Adrianna cried, not nearly ready to leave before seeing if the hot bartender was interested in even flirting with her.

“Trevor is throwing up and my useless ex doesn’t know what to do. I can’t believe this, the one free night I have in I don’t know how long and it’s cut short! I’m sorry, Ade. You’ll be alright getting home?”

“Yeah, sure, don’t worry about me. Go help your son.”

Heather gave Adrianna a quick hug before scurrying out of there as fast as she could in heels. The man Heather had been talking to looked disappointed but then hopeful when he eyed Adrianna sitting there. She shot him a “don’t even think about it” look and then turned her back towards him, feeling dejected. She had made the effort to go out that evening, was interested in the bartender, but didn’t want to sit in a crowded bar alone. Her mood turned foul and she downed the rest of her drink and then slammed the tumbler on the bar.

“Easy there, sweetheart,” the blue-eyed bartender admonished. “You break it you buy it.”

Embarrassment washed over her features and Adrianna murmured, “Sorry.”

Blue-Eyes laughed and moved so that he was standing directly in front of her again. “I was only half teasing, don’t get upset.”

Adrianna straightened her shoulders a bit and sniffed. “I’m not upset, I’m annoyed. My friend had to leave to take care of her puking toddler.”

“A beautiful girl like you won’t be without company for long,” he told her and then nodded towards something over Adrianna’s shoulder.

She turned in her seat to find two of the frat boys looking appreciatively at her. With a roll of her eyes she turned back towards the bar and huffed, “Not interested.”

When she began pulling out her wallet to settle her tab, the bartender said to her, “Oh, don’t leave yet. Keep me company.”

“How do you know I’d be good company?”

“You just look like someone who might have something interesting to say. Come on, one more drink, on the house, and if you aren’t having a good time, you can leave.”

Adrianna thought on it for a moment and then placed her wallet back into her purse. “Alright.”

When her third drink was placed in front of her, she pulled out a cigarette and without missing a beat her bartender reached into his back pocket to produce a lighter. She leaned in, cigarette in her mouth, and then brought her hand to his to steady the flame. She didn’t really need to do that but she wanted an excuse to touch him.