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She grinned. "I'll be right back."
He pulled a ten-dollar bill from his pocket and waited for her to return. When she did, he gave her the money. "Keep the change."
"Thanks, Hun." She touched his shoulder softly before walking away.
Trenton took a long drink of his beer as he started to relax. It was amazing how just a few minutes away from the computer screen would ease the tension in his muscles. He wasn't sure if it was the screen or what he saw on it that caused so much stress in his body, but he always felt better after he got away from it all for a few hours.
It was hard not to think about work when it consumed most of his life, but he forced himself to focus on watching the people playing pool instead of thinking about all the things he could be doing if he'd kept working.
"Mind if I sit down?"
He glanced up to find a woman smiling at him. Her long red hair fell over her shoulders as she touched the back of the chair across from him.
"Sorry to intrude. I was waiting for my girlfriend to get here and really didn't want to wait alone." She eyed chair across from him as if hoping to sit.
He saw the interest in her eyes and was flattered by it. He wasn't in the mood to hook up, but he wasn't against conversation. "Sure, take a seat. Can I get you a drink?"
"Thanks, but I ordered as I walked in." She took a seat then offered her hand. "I'm Janice."
"Trenton." He gripped her hand gently, then released it.
"You live in the area?" She asked.
"I work not far from here. How about you?"
She shook her head. "My friend Tammy lives close so I meet her here. She's got a thing for the bartender." Janice nodded to the bar where a thirty-something guy was making drinks. "He's an asshole if you ask me, but what can you do? Tammy's convinced he's her everything."
Trenton laughed as he lifted his beer to his mouth. He was so thankful he wasn't doing the typical dating scene shit everyone else seemed to be into. While he wanted someone special in his life, work came first, and he doubted there were many people out there who would tolerate dating him with the hours he dedicated to his job. "What about you?"
Janice gave a small shrug. "I just got out of a relationship. I'm taking some time off from anything serious, but I'm always open to something casual." Her eyes brightened with intent as she stared at him.
Trenton wasn't in the mood for even casual. It had been nearly six months since he'd had sex, and he wanted it, but his mind wasn't in the right place tonight. Hell, his mind was seldom in the right place. It was hard to get aroused when you spent the day seeing children abused. "I'm just here for a couple of beers, then headed home. Sorry." He gave her a sympathetic look as if he really regretted that he couldn't warm her bed for the night.
She was attractive, and he liked a sexy woman just as much as a sexy man, but over the last few years, he'd found he was hooking up with women less and men more. He found he liked he didn't have to be as gentle with another man. Sex was rawer with another man. It was rough and hard, something he didn't dare be with a woman.
"My loss, but that doesn't mean we can't be friends while I wait for Tammy." She smiled up at the waitress as a drink was set in front of her.
"You're right, it doesn't." Trenton smiled. "So what do you do?"
She brushed her hair back from her shoulder. "I'm in acquisitions for a large company. Nothing too exciting. What about you?"
"Computers. Even more boring." Trenton told her as he finished off his beer and lifted the empty mug to the waitress for another. "Nothing exciting about sitting behind a computer all day."
"You ever wish you'd found a different career path? Dreamed you were something more exciting like a pilot traveling the world, or an actor walking the red carpet?"
Trenton laughed. "Not really, though I'd love to travel. I'm good with computers though. I'm doing what I should be." He meant every word too. He loved his job as painful as it was to see the worst humanity had to offer. He helped a lot of kids doing what he did. He'd never regret his choice to join up with Bryon and Carter when they'd started the team. He was lucky to be included as part of the STK team. Each rescue they made only made him more determined to keep working and seeking to bring down the men and women who hurt children.
They talked as he drank his second beer, and he found he liked Janice. She had a good head on her shoulders. If he'd been in the mood, he might have asked her out, but his heart just wasn't into dealing with dating right now.
"Another beer?" She asked as he finished his second.
"I think I'm good. I have to drive home, so I better not." He was already feeling the effects of the second one he had more than he'd expected. He was lightheaded and almost sluggish in his movements.
"Then how about a dance before you go?" Janice stood and offered her hand to him.
Trenton glanced at the small dance floor toward the back of the room. A few couples danced, but it wasn't very crowded. "Sure, why not?" Hopefully, the movement would help him clear his head so he could head home. He really should have grabbed something to eat before drinking, but two beers had never bothered him before. He usually held his alcohol really well.
He took her hand and let her lead him to the dance floor. His head swam at the movement, and he was happy to turn into her arms and hold her for a moment as he tried to focus.
