After she left her house, she stopped for a pack of Marlboro Lights. Going out with her lawyer probably wasn’t the smartest thing in the world to do, but he was a cute, decent guy who liked her as a person. That was more important.
The Pickled Parrot was filled with an attractive, well-dressed crowd. Tracie instantly felt out of place as she waited for Adam to arrive. She was out of her element and didn’t like it. Finally, she saw Adam picking his way over to her.
“God, you look great!” Adam said. He leaned to kiss her on the lips, but she headed for his cheek, creating an awkward situation.
“You didn’t tell me there were going to be so many sophisticated people here. I don’t fit in.”
“Tracie, you need a drink…maybe two.”
After a few drinks, Tracie was visibly less uptight. “Thanks for taking me out. This is a date, right? I mean, if it’s not, let me know, because that’s cool with me, too. No big deal…either way.”
Adam grabbed Tracie with both hands and looked directly at her. “It’s a date, and I’m thrilled to be out with you.”
Tracie leapt off the bar stool and gave Adam a quick yet suggestive kiss on the lips. “I’m sorry. I hope that was okay,” she said, as though she regretted her spontaneity.
Adam kissed her back. “I hope that was okay.”
The night progressed well. During the short ride back to Adam’s condo, the windows of his car were completely steamed up from the intense heat being generated inside the car as well as the below-freezing temperature outside.
Once inside Adam’s condo, Tracie headed right for his CD collection. “Do you have any Billie Holiday? I love her. My dad used to play that for my mom a lot.”
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