Page 3 of New Resolutions

“Nobody I’m going to introduce you to, Eric, so find some other girls to bother tonight.”

She keeps walking while the guy whispers under his breath what sounds like the word witch only, I think it had a ‘b’ at the beginning of it instead of a ‘w’. I roll my eyes at myself reminding myself it’s okay to say bad words when you aren’t in front ofchildren. Sarah orders for us both and as soon as I take a sip I nearly choke.

She’s already leading us away from the bar before I can ask her what I’m drinking.

“Sarah, what is this?”

“Something with more Christmas spirit in it than Santa’s workshop.”

“Sarah, I can’t drink yet. I’m not twenty-one.”

“It’s an open bar, babe. They aren’t going to ask for your age.” She reaches for my arm - the one not holding the drink.

“Oh my God! There he is! Isn’t he the dreamiest thing you have ever seen?”

I turn but I can’t see, not over the heads of so many tall people. Not even in my heels.

“I like a man that’s big all over. Big hands to hold you, big arms to carry you, big mouth to cover your pu…”

“Sarah!” I hiss out her name and look around us but nobody is paying any attention. Thank God.

“I bet he could completely cover a girl’s…”

“I…Sarah, I’m going to get something else to drink where do I put this one.” And make you stop talking about things I shouldn’t be listening to.

“I’ll take it for you, babe.”

I thank her before trying to squeeze my way through the people to reach the bar again. More people have arrived and the place is more than a little crowded now.

“Oh, hey pretty lady, what can I get for you?”

I give him a smile since he maintains eye contact and doesn’t do anything creepy like look at my tits. “Can I have something non-alcoholic, please?”

“How about a virgin pina colada?”

“Um, okay. That sounds good. Thank you.”

He makes it and hands it to me. I turn just as someone comes up beside me and I nearly drop the drink.

“Careful.” A strong hand comes up to steady mine.

“Um, thank you.” I glance over to give the man who helped me a smile but all I see is chest. I have to look all the way up to meet his eyes which are an intense blue like something out of a fairy tale.

His eyelashes are so long and dark and make his eyes stand out even more. He could be a Disney princess with lashes like those. Only this man is no princess. There’s nothing soft or feminine about him…other than his lashes. His mouth tilts up into a grin and I realize he’s still holding my hand. Sort of. He’s still holding the back of my hand wrapped around the glass I am holding.

“I won’t drop it now.” I groan inwardly at the words that fall out of my mouth.

“That’s good to know.” He doesn’t let go though. In fact, he uses his hold on my hand to steer me away from the bar andwhere he wants me. “Let’s get out of the way of some of the…less stable dancers.”

I am about to protest and pull my hand away when he moves it to my lower back. “I don’t think…”

I pause from saying I don’t think it’s wise to go with someone I don’t know without knowing where I am being led. He surprises me by leading us no further than the nearest wall.

“I don’t recall seeing you here before. Are you here with someone?”

Curse my inability to make small talk. I can’t tell if he’s just being nice or if he’s asking because he’s trying to figure out if anyone will miss me if he takes me.

“Are you going to abduct me?”

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