*Author's Note: I originally started this as a short story when I was in my young 20s. I'm now mid-30s and came upon it recently in an old journal and liked it enough that I decided to continue it.
As such, there might be some more details in the later chapters that I wouldn't have had the "balls" to include in the first 2 chapters. (In other words, later chapters might have more descriptive "naughty parts".)
P.s.s. All of my stories I write for my enjoyment as a creative outlet. If other people happen to like them, then cool. In other words, I don't need or look for a breakdown of how I could have made a chapter better. I dont' care, to be blunt. They are for my enjoyment.
P.s.s.s. I first started writing this "fanfiction" when Sam Worthington was at the top of "his game". (You know. The dude from Avatar?) I'm still a little obsessed with him. Does it really matter who he is? Even in my "fanfictions", they are more of love stories than anything.
*
Typical Saturday night. Candace sat at the bar and waited rather impatiently for her friends to arrive.
Good thing their lives never depend on their punctuality, she thought, rolling her eyes to herself.
"Can I get you something, miss?" a bald bartender yelled over the blaring dance music of the club.
"Um, I think I'll have a margarita, no salt, please."
"Be right back," the bartender whirled towards the center of the island filled with alcohol and mixes.
Candace began to zone out as she watched the flurry of activity from the workers behind the counter. Someone sat down quietly on the stool to her right. Candace snapped back to reality.
She had never been good about making eye contact with people unless she was in a conversation with them. She tried to slyly eye the person out of the corner of her eye. It was a man. Plus. A rather good-looking man. Major plus.
"Margarita, no salt, miss," the bartender smiled. Candace about jumped out of her skin.
"Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you," he chuckled. "Hollar if you need anything. My name's Horace," he smiled warmly and turned his attention to the man next to her.
"What can I get for you, sir?" Although she hoped good ole Horace hadn't caught her the first time, she couldn't help but eyeball the stranger again.
"Uh, how 'bout a gin and tonic, mate."
Oh no. Candace could feel herself melting already. She was a sucker for accents, especially Australian ones. But what on Earth was someone like him doing in this city, let alone state?
She finally summoned enough courage to turn around and pretend to look for her very late friends.
"Waiting for someone, are ya? That's unfortunate."
Candace froze for a second that felt like an eternity. Was Mr.Australia actually talking to her?
"Oh," she forced herself to face him. "I'm just waiting on a few friends. They're late...As usual."
Oh my God, she thought. Did my voice really just crack that much?
"Ah. Don't ya hate that?" he smiled.
Now that Candace got a good look at the stranger, she couldn't believe her eyes.
"I don't mean to gush, but are you Sam Worthington?"
"Yah. You caught me," he grinned sheepishly, hanging his head for a second and looking embarrassed.
"Oh, wow! It's so nice to meet you!" Candace held her hand out. Horace brought Sam's gin and tonic as they shook hands.
"Well, it's very nice to meet you..." Sam looked at her quizzically, waiting to get her name.
"Oh. God, where are my manners? Candace. My name is Candace." It was all she could do to not turn into a giddy schoolgirl.
"Candace. That's a pretty name," Sam winked at her as he took a big gulp of his drink. Candace downed about half of hers at once.
Chill out, she scolded herself. He's just a regular person like the rest of us.
Her rational side was fighting hard to suppress the school girl side of her screaming, But it's Sam Worthington! Just then, a much-needed distraction started buzzing in her purse. It was a text message from her friend Sarah.
"Sorry. Won't be able to make it. Think we all got food poisoning earlier. :( Hope u r not mad. Love ya."
"Well that's just great," she mumbled to herself. Or so she thought.
"Everything alright?" Sam asked.
"Oh. Yah, everything is fine. Evidently, all of my friends are sick and can't make it now," Candace explained.
"Bummer."
She dreaded going home to her dark, lonely house, but just wanted to get away from the nervous feeling she was getting from sitting next to this incredibly gorgeous man. Movie star, for God's sake! Candace finished the rest of her drink as quickly as she could handle. She placed several dollar bills on the counter for Horace.
"Well," Candace wrung her hands, "It was very nice meeting you. I hope you have a good night." She began to get up to leave.
"Leaving so soon?" Sam almost looked a bit sad.
"Oh. Well..." she tried to come up with an excuse that wouldn't sound absolutely pathetic.
"If you're not busy, please, I insist," Sam waved his hand toward her chair. "Let me buy you another drink."
"Oh, no. You really don't have to..."
"Please? If your friends aren't coming, no need to hurry off, right?" Sam gave a little sideways smile.
Candace couldn't resist the offer. She didn't want to resist. Hell, she'd probably stay next to him the rest of her life if he asked her. She sat back down as Sam called for the bartender.
"Excuse me? Horace, was it? Could you get us another margarita and gin and tonic, please?"
"Sure thing, sir," and Horace whirled away again.
"So tell me, Candace," Sam turned towards her and smiled brightly, "have you lived around here your whole life?"
"Afraid so," she tried to calm her nerves and relax. "It's not so bad, though. You gotta love the scenery."
"It's lovely. Reminds me of some places at home." He paused a moment. "You look nervous. I don't bite." Sam's smile lit up the entire room.
Candace laughed as nervously as she felt.
"Sorry. I'm just not used to being around ridiculously good-looking men," she confessed. "I'm sure you're used to hearing that, though."
"Ah, come on now. I find that hard to believe." Sam's smile was infectious.
