Chapter 2 Common sense

But really, take a look at him. Fuck. The abuse I would inflict upon him if I weren't married Nita bit her lower lip.

"Exactly. He's around a 12 out of 10. And I'm... I looked down at the black cocktail dress I was wearing, which barely covered my contours.

I was delightfully plump, not overweight. Curvy. ample, robust, if you will. However, it was obvious that I enjoyed french fries. Furthermore, I like dipping those fries in ranch dressing.

When Bella placed her hand on the small of my back, she prodded me out of my thought process. "You totally babe," I said.

Nita took my empty beer and gave me a gentle shove, saying, "Just go over there and say hi."

Normally, I'd be too nervous to approach a man that stunningly attractive, but the previous tequila shot we'd shared had evidently rendered my speech filter and common sense useless. I'd be damned if I didn't at least get a steamy make-out session because it was my birthday. Not for nothing had I shaved my legs and crammed my buttocks into a too-tight frock.

I gave myself a little confidence talk and was about to approach him when I noticed he had left. Fuck. Had I lost my opportunity?

My stomach dropped.

From behind me, a deep voice said, "Excuse me.

I turned and had a flush. He was standing there, all six feet and more of him, grinning. At me.

He extended a hand and introduced himself as Carlos. "I figured I should just introduce myself instead of trying to make eye contact through a crowd of people," the speaker said.

He was attractive, humorous, and straightforward. In full swoon, I was.

I put my hand inside of his. "Clara here.

I'm not one to be timid, so I stared directly into his warm, brown eyes, the contact of his hand sending a jolt of electricity through my body. He had large, powerful hands with a tight grip. When I realized he was talking to me, I was still having trouble getting rid of the thought of what those large hands were capable of.

I'd want to fetch you a drink."

I replied with a seductive smile, almost denying that everything was going so well. To get this guy, I must have had some seriously good karma.

He took in my curves as well as my little black dress, which left very little to the imagination, before turning to give the order. Do they have the air conditioning off? My chest began to feel warm, and between my knees, heat began to stream from my cheeks.

What beverage do you have?" Did he ask? Everything he said sounded impure, thanks to his pouty lips and Hollywood smile.

I answered, attempting to maintain my composure, "Whatever's fine." But no tequila, please.

"Earlier, I saw you take a shot. He grinned, and I put my palm on my hip in faux offense. "I don't think I've ever seen someone make a face like that before," I said.

"Do you always treat the women you meet in bars so kindly?"

He smiled and waved to the barman, saying, "I guess that's the reason why I'm still single."

I laughed and tried to figure out how this guy could be single.

He returned after a minute with two martinis. What is the occasion, then? In a toast, he raised his glass.

I clinked my glass against his and proclaimed, "It's my thirty-first birthday," before taking a sip.

Happy birthday, dear. What's it like to be thirty now?"

I smiled, eyeing him up and down. "I'll let you know at midnight." However, I believe it will feel absolutely incredible.

God, Clara. I shouldn't drink tequila because of this. I completely lost all restraint.

Carlos didn't appear to mind, despite my fear that I could come across as being overly assertive. He was giving me a sultry, intense look as he spoke, periodically lowering his gaze to my lips.

Just what had he asked me? Yes, he had inquired as to whether I had any intriguing pastimes.

I took a breath and grinned. Yes, I really do enjoy cooking.

How coincidental. I enjoy eating.

I shook my head jokingly. You are aware that your pick-up lines are terrible, right?"

He smiled at me with an awesome, mega-white grin that conveyed that he found me amusing and wasn't in the least bit upset by the fact that I was making fun of him.

Actually, I'm relieved that we ran into one another tonight. Your game really needs a lot of development, I said.

You're offering to assist?" The edges of his eyelids wrinkled.

I studied him while biting my lip. "Depends. Why should I care?"

The satisfaction of knowing I won't be out there harassing a vulnerable girl with terrible pickup lines?"

I sighed. I said, "Fair enough."

He drank again while keeping an eye on me from the glass's rim. "How do we start?"

As I tapped my finger against the glass' edge, I gave him a chilly evaluation. "You're going to need to put in a lot of work."

His laughing mouth twitched. "Clearly."

I put my drink down on the bar and turned to face him. It resembled getting hit in the face with a GQ magazine.

I took a sip. "Let's get started." I fixed my prankish gaze on his. What's truly going through your head right now?"

Carlos took a while to respond. His eyes sank once more before softly settling on my eyes after passing over my cleavage and lips. "I'm curious as to how a woman like you could be single at thirty. And I'd like to know if your cozy matches how sweet you appear.