Page 4 of Picture Perfect Love

“This is your party,” she nodded. “I recognized you. Joshua Meadows.”

“That’s almost never a good thing. When someone recognizes me.”

“Well, for what it’s worth… I love your app,” she offered. “I met the guy I’m seeing right now on Heartstring, actually.”

“Oh? I wish I could say I was happy to hear that.” I let that line sink in as I took another long slow sip of my drink.

She averted her eyes and blushed a little, but left it alone. Meanwhile I felt a desperate urge to know more about her, and to feel more of this intoxicating energy between us.

“Hey, do you wanna get out of here?” I blurted.

Her brow wrinkled with a confused laugh. “Out of here? What… you mean like out of this room? This party? This building?”

“Yeah, let’s go somewhere else. Get some drinks around the corner.”

She shook her head, laughing it off. “You’re not serious.”

“I am.”

“But I just told you I’m seeing someone. And anyway, I’m working.”

“How much will you make tonight?” I asked. “Tips included?”

“Ugh! Rude much?” she scoffed.

“No, no. I only ask because whatever it is… you name your number… and I’ll double it.”

She wasn’t laughing anymore. “I know you probably think waitresses make chump change, but I take home a pretty impressive amount with tips and all.”

“Do your worst. Like I said, name your price.”

“I’m not some escort you can buy for the night,” she rolled her eyes.

“I never thought you were,” I shook my head. “But you are the most beautiful, captivating woman in the room. In fact, you’re the most intriguing woman I’ve encountered in a while. A long while. And I’m just willing to do whatever it takes to get to know you better.”

She studied my face hesitantly, but seemed to struggle making up her mind.

“Come on,” I persisted. “A few drinks with me… no money lost for you. In fact, you could really take advantage of me right now and name some ridiculously high number, and I’d probably never know. Even if I did know, I’d hand it over without a second of regret.”

“You’re awfully stubborn,” she quipped. “You must be used to getting what you want.”

“In some ways, yes. In plenty of other ways, no. But… what do you say? Life is short, after all.”

She turned to face me again, her eyes sparking with daring mischief. “We all know what kind of trouble you prefer getting into with your short life, Joshua Meadows.”

“Then you know how badly I either need a partner in crime, or someone to keep me in line. Which would you prefer to be?”

She smiled wider, but rushed off back to work. I knew it wasn’t over yet though. By the way she kept looking at me from across the room, she was obviously toying around with my offer in her head. I just had to sit back, be patient, and see if she came back to me.

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