Kara looked around the bar with her two girl friends at the table with her. She was looking for the most out of place and found him. "Geek with the clothes out of a military mag but wearing the slip on loafers," she announced to her two friends. She saw him glance toward their table and wondered if he had heard her over the music in the bar.
"Yeah but will you do the bet now," Val asked looking at her friend and saw her look as if a challenge had been accepted. She looked at her friend of many years and wondered if she really had it in her to do this after her run of previous bad relationships.
"No, I wouldn't do it, Kara," Jill said sipping her vodka tonic between words almost. "This was all just for fun and kidding around wasn't it," she asked and heard Val's silence and saw Kara's look of "I'll get you for this later."
Kara picked up her handbag and put it on her shoulder. She straightened her dress while getting up from the table but paused as she looked at him again. She had never even seen this guy in the bar before and he looked like someone you wouldn't even find in a geek convention. Her eyes went to her two girl friends at the table with her once again and saw the I dare you look in Val's eyes still.
"Well, what are you waiting for, you little bitch? Go and get him. You'll probably never even get near him," Val stated as she prodded Kara. She knew Kara was nervous but knew that this guy was probably a computer geek that was so safe that grass grew under his feet.
"You don't have too," Jill said as she looked at Kara staring at the man. She looked at Val smile and then opened her small purse. "Here is your five hundred. Now let Kara alone," Jill said watching Val push the money back to her.
"No, I want Kara's hard earned cash or her to honor the bet," Val said with a devilish tone. "Besides, she is the one that needs to get laid or else go mad," she stated bringing up the fact that Kara hadn't had a man in over a year now. She looked at Kara take a deep breath and then walk away from the table without a backward glance. "I've done this plenty of times. It's nothing," Val stated to Jill seeing Kara again glance back.
Kara looked at him even more nearing the small table in the corner of the bar. She saw the cowboy style hat on the table and that he had a bag that probably contained his computer in it by his side pressed between himself and the wall of the bar. She glanced back now almost was half way there and looked back to see Val staring hard at her and saw Jill even waving her on now.
I looked at the people in the bar and saw a young woman walking his way from the table he had been watching. I knew that wasn't going to ever happen here and almost laughed at himself for even thinking such a thing. I believed in lucky but this was just fate, I guessed.
Kara walking gracefully and seductively as she could now nearing the table, she felt someone's hand touch her and she jumped slightly forward too fast, losing her footing falling forward only to land with her head in the man's lap, quite literally.
"I don't think you meant this for me somehow," I said helping the young woman up slowly to her feet. He noticed that she was all right but very nervous and blushing as red as a ripe cherry after the incident.
Kara looked up and realized that she had landed right in his crotch, smelling the fragrance of cologne him and something else but couldn't remember the scent. She looked up into his eyes as they stared down at her now. She thought they looked caring and yet a little nervous. "I'm very sorry. I was coming to introduce myself after seeing you from across the bar and some creep decided to grope me at one of those tables over there," Kara said, nearly in tears now in embarrassment. She had not thought about anyone groping her as she came over to this table.
"I'm certain that the person won't do that again," I stated watching her pull down her dress and then slide into the chair across from him at the small table. She had totally caught him off guard when falling into him and now thought this small talk was it due to that alone or more, I wondered.
Kara regained her composure and then looked at the man again. She thought he seemed safe enough and since he hadn't made any crude remarks or anything, maybe he was safe to use like this. She still disliked using him like this and yet wanted to find out more about this one for some reason. She looked back to the table where Val and Jill were sitting and saw that each were laughing themselves red faced at her fall right into his crotch.
"So let's begin again then, shall we," I asked looking at this woman and thought she was very pretty but hated her tightly pulled back hairstyle and her excessively use of makeup. I thought she looked like a doll with that much face paint on and wondered what her face really looked like underneath it now. I knew the reason why she was painted up like this.
"I'm Kara," she said looking into those hazel eyes and offering her hand for him to shake without thinking. She knew she had blown this now since this wasn't business she was trying to do. Instead, she felt his hand take hers very gently, then watched his head lower to kiss the top of her hand. She was glad she had washed her hands now, never expected anyone in this era to kiss her hand like this. She felt his warm, soft lips touch the top of her hand for only a second and then saw him raise his head back to look at her. She felt him continue to hold her hand and saw him looking at it intensely now.
"You do a lot of computer work at the keyboard for those close cut nails," I said, releasing her hand and watching her draw it back slowly. I smiled at her and said, "It is a lovely name."
Kara made a few minutes of small talk with him. She wondered how to get him to her place now. She noticed that Val and Jill were now gone and wondered if she would still go through with this. She looked at the table again and saw that he only had a cup of hot tea with a small steel teapot before him at the table, something very unusual for a bar. She had found her way possibly and then asked, "Would you mind driving me home? My friends left me without a ride and so many others here look like they shouldn't drive or might take advantage of the situation."
"I would be happy to escort you home," I replied, getting up. swinging his bag's strap over my head and then coming around beside her chair. I offered her my hand and saw her pause then take it.
Kara thought she had made a big mistake now. She had only read about this time in the news as killers or other fiends. She had never seen such a polite and well-mannered man, especially not here at this bar. She took his hand and felt the same gentleness as before as he took her hand to help her up. She felt her weight shift suddenly hearing the snap of her left heel of her new shoes break off. She felt strength in this slender arms now as he suddenly grabbed her by the waist and supported her.
"We can't have you falling again," I said, smiling at her and nearly laughing this time. I looked at her blush again but not quite as deeply this time as before.
"I knew these shoes were crap when I bought them," Kara exclaimed as she felt him release her as she regained her balance, quickly taking off her high heels and watched him lead the way for her. She noticed that it almost appeared as if the crowded bar parted for him but thought it was probably only her having a little too much to drink. She had consumed four vodka tonics with lime, making her total seven, and saw him drink only tea the entire time they were talking at his table.
I led her to his car without so much as a word and pressed the button on the fob, watching the car lights come on, doors unlock and the vehicle start.