"Sorry, I'm closing up," I said to the rap on the door.
"Please, I think I left my purse in the ladies' room," she begged.
I peered through the glass, and saw she was alone. There had been robberies at bars in the area, and I didn't want to be next.
"Okay, come on in," wary of someone charging the door, and she slid in. I recognized her immediately. She had left only 1/2 hour ago with her friend, a man about her age. She had been friendly while Jack, the friend, seemed annoyed at her out-going personality. Her name, she said, was Gail.
She had jet-black hair, in a pageboy, a round face, pert nose, and soft, tempting lips. She had plenty of curves, fairly large breasts, and stood about 5'8.
"I'm sorry to bother you, Harry! I said I'd stop by again, but didn't mean this soon!"
She had an infectous laugh, a throaty purr to it, and I had liked her at once, but in the bar business, many women flirt, hoping for free drinks. And with her being 20 years older, and on a date, I had been courteous, deferring to her boyfriend.
Gail made a point of saying Jack was just a friend from work, which annoyed Jack even more.
I smiled back, "That was quick. Where's Jack? In the car?"
"No, I have my own car, we were chatting in his car, and when he left, I realized I had left my purse.
"I haven't cleaned in there yet, I hope no one walked out with it. Go check."
I was pretty-much done, and was about to have a beer before I went home, all the lights were out, except dim lights that we left on to discourage burglars.
She came back out with her red purse held like a prize. "Ta-Da!" she beamed. "I'd never look respectable tomorrow without my magic bag of tricks. Like grease paint for a clown!"
I smiled at her, seeing that she wore quite a bit of make-up, from eye-liner, to eyeshadow, lip gloss, the works, but it probably hid years on her, because she looked pretty good for her age, which I figured for 45.
"I'm having a nightcap, if you'd care to join me before you go."
"I thought you'd never ask!" that contageous smile again.
We stood at the back end of the bar, quietly chatting. There's a certain silence in a closed empty bar, almost church-like, and we spoke in whispers.
"I have to admit something," she said.
"What's that?"
"I left the purse there on purpose, hoping Jack would leave sooner, so I could stop back to see you."
"Why?"
"I don't know, I don't usually hit on guys, but Jack was rude to you, and I could see you bite your lip. I thought maybe I owed you an apology for his being such an ass."
"To tell you the truth, I couldn't see what you were doing with him. You have very different personalities."
She smiled, weakly. "I know, we dated once and now he's hooked on me, I guess."
"I can see why, you're way more fun than him. And you don't owe me anything, I deal with jerks all the time in here."
Her hand touched my arm, and her eyes softened. "Do you have an older brother who happens to be single?" she smiled.
"Nope, an only son," I grinned.
"Ahhh, my loss again! Too bad I'm not rich and famous, maybe I could tempt you, then"