"You're a real life-saver," the customer said as Cleo placed the martini down in front of her. Cleo had made it with the nice gin, since this customer was cute. Her name was Madeline. Not that the bar in the back of a Custer's Games had a particularly nice gin, but she had to work with what she had. There was a limit to the quality of gin a part restaurant and bar part arcade part "entertainment center" would stock.
"Oh yeah? How's that?" Cleo asked, leaning in against the bar.
"Cause I needed a damn drink," Madeline chuckled, taking a sip. Her eyes flashed up as she tasted it. It was marginally higher quality than the bottle she'd expected. She smiled at the bartender. "I'm with my sister and her family, I love 'em but, sometimes you need a moment to yourself, y'know?"
"Yes, ma'am," Cleo heartily agreed. Her shifts here were either completely dead, the ideal, or backed with every sports dad and divorcee in the city. She'd kill for a moment to herself on those nights.
"Ugh, don't call me ma'am! You're making me feel old," Madeline replied, although the little hint of a smile never left her lips.
Cleo gazed at her. Madeline was a few inches taller, even accounting for the heels. She had wavy brown hair and sharp hazel eyes. Even tired and a little tipsy, she was gorgeous. Cleo smirked and raised an eyebrow. Madeline groaned.
"Fair enough, I guess I am old enough to be your mother," Madeline said. Cleo swallowed. For many reasons, she was glad she didn't drink on the job. If she had, Cleo wasn't sure she could've resisted telling Madeline just how hot she was.
"Well, I like it," she said, pulling back behind the bar. "I've always thought the most important thing a person can have is experience." Madeline chuckled.
"That's a nice way of putting it," she said.
"I mean it," Cleo declared, with mock offense.
"I'll just have to take your word for it," Madeline replied, eyeing Cleo over the rim of her glass as she drank the last of it.
"Maybe I'll prove it to you," Cleo retorted. Madeline couldn't control her lips as the curled up into a smile. Cleo gazed approvingly at it.
"Can you get me another one?" Madeline asked, sliding her empty glass across the bar. "It was delicious."
"I can get you anything you want," Cleo said. "I'll be right back," she added, with a wink. Madeline tried to say something, but she already gone. She didn't take her eyes off the bartender as she crossed the length of her bar and began mixing. Cleo didn't give her the satisfaction of meeting her gaze.
When she returned with a fresh drink, Madeline didn't even try to make it look like she wasn't staring. Cleo reached out and placed the glass right next to Madeline's hand.
"I gave you a little extra," she said, in a conspiratorial whisper. "Don't tell my manager, alright?"
"It'll be our little secret," Madeline nodded. Cleo cracked a smile.
"I bet we could make a lot of little secrets," she said. Madeline gulped, and picked up her drink. In the middle of her deep sip, a ringing blared out from her purse and Madeline jumped. Her drink almost spilled, and she hastily put it down. Cleo let her eyes linger for a moment, and let Madeline see it, before she turned and gave her some space.
Madeline's call only lasted a moment. She let the phone fall and clatter down onto the bar.
"Damn it, that was my husband, looks like they've noticed I'm missing," Madeline said, disappointment all over her pretty face.
"Aww, and here I hoped you'd waste the whole night over her with me," Cleo replied. "Even though I don't have any of those games and flashing lights over here."
"Believe me, I wish. But, duty calls," Madeline replied, tapping her phone.
"Good luck out there."
"Thanks, I'll need it," Madeline answered, swallowing the rest of her martini in a single gulp. Then, with a little smile, "you've really taken the edge off."
"That's what I'm here for," Cleo said. Madeline stood up and half turned to go, but she hesitated. A grin tugged at the edge of Cleo's mouth. Madeline turned back.
"Hey, before I go," she started. Cleo raised her eyebrows. Madeline paused. Cleo waited. "Do you, uh, do you... do you ever bartend private events?" Cleo was taken aback.
"Oh, um, yeah, sure. I do," she answered. She'd never been asked to do a private event before. The surprise left a few steps behind Madeline.
"Great, good. Yeah. You're really good, you know," Madeline stumbled. Cleo accepted the compliment with a little smile and shrug. "Could I... could I get your number then?" Madeline asked. Realization finally dawned on Cleo. She grinned and nodded.
"Of course," she reached out and Madeline put her phone into Cleo's hand. She jolted as their fingers touched and she pulled her hand back. Cleo met her gaze, and the panic in Madeline's eyes melted away.
Cleo put her number in, and then held the phone back out. This time, Madeline took it back slowly, letting their hands rub against each other for a little longer than they needed to.
"Give me a call," Cleo said, winking. Madeline flashed a smile back.
"Count on it," she said, returning the wink. Cleo chuckled.
It was a couple of days before Cleo got a call. The memory of that late afternoon was still fresh in her mind, no other cute customer had come by to fill her work hours daydreams.
Cleo lay on her unkempt bed, in a loose tank top and tiny shorts, on her third beer of the evening when her phone lit up.
Madeline was brief, and quite. She wanted Cleo to come over that Friday evening. She couched everything in terms of bartending an event, which made Cleo giggle. This woman was so nervous. She couldn't wait. Madeline assured her that all the alcohol and tools would be provided, all she needed was "you, here."
As the line clicked dead, Cleo dropped her phone on the mattress and grinned wide as she gazed up at the ceiling. Her hand slid down her body as she imaged that night. Was there really an event? She knew it was an excuse, but maybe there was something small and Madeline would ask her stay after.
