Page 88 of Escaping the Past
âBet I can guess who sheâll be going home with tonight,â Lou replied. âHow did you do it?â
âBest way to get a manâs attention is to give yours to someone else. That little green-eyed monster will get âem every time.â Brody laughed.
âHave you seen John?â Lou asked.
; âLast time I saw him, he was, indeed, getting sympathy credits from a lady at the bar. He was sitting that stool pretty well.â
The song ended and he led her back to the table. âIâll be right back,â he said to her as she sat down and he handed her another beer. âGot to find the little cowboyâs room.â She nodded, raising her beer to her lips.
As soon as Brody was out of her sight, she felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up. She jumped as she realized it was Wes.
He said quietly, âDonât say a word.â He held up a hand to stop her. âI just need to talk to you. Things are not what they appear to be. Call me when you can talk.â He pressed a folded note into her hand, his eyebrows raised in question.
He blended back into the crowd. She unfolded the note and the only thing written on it was a phone number. She slid it into her back pocket and took another sip of her beer. She pasted on a big smile for when Brody came out of the bathroom, although her heart was still pounding.
He placed another beer in front of her and sat down on the high stool, his knee touching hers intimately before his hand reached out and lazily grazed across the sensitive skin of her thigh. She lifted the beer to her lips and regarded him from below lowered lashes.
âJust what do you think youâre doing?â she breathed, her hand covering his under the small table.
âItâs a lot better that you asked me what Iâm doing and not what Iâm thinking,â he chuckled. Heat crept up her cheeks.
Liz and Dave made a huge commotion as they slid into the seats across from them, laughing. Liz immediately stood back up and grabbed Louâs arm, giggling like a schoolgirl as she said dramatically, âCome on. I need to go to the ladyâs room.â
Lou shrugged at Brody and set her beer on the table. âBe right back,â she mumbled as Liz led her away. Lou saw two doors, one labeled âPointersâ and the other âSetters.â They walked into the ladiesâ room and Liz turned to her with a huge smile on her face.
âHe wants to come home with me tonight,â she announced, her arms waving in excitement.
âWhat are you going to do?â Lou asked, just as breathlessly.
âLord, girl! Weâve been dancing cheek to cheek. He smells so good.â She inhaled deeply. âI want to take him on home with me.â
Lou thought for a moment. âAre you sure you want to make it that easy?â
âWhat do you mean by easy?â Liz stopped breathing and listened intently.
âI mean the man doesnât value you for more than one night at a time. Do you want more than that?â Lou asked thoughtfully.
âOf course, I do!â Liz shrieked.
âThen make him work for it, Liz. Make him want you and then make him go on home alone. I bet heâll be knocking on your door tomorrow wanting to spend some time with you.â
âYou think so?â Liz asked cautiously.
âI do think so,â Lou replied.
Lizâs eyes drew together. âWhat about you and Brody? Is that what youâre going to do?â
âMy situation with Brody is different. Iâve known all along itâs only temporary.â Lou turned to the mirror and applied fresh lipstick, casually. âThatâs okay with me.â She pasted a fake grin on her face. âBut you have a daughter with Dave and want him in your life forever. He obviously is drawn to you. Now you just need to get him to the point where he canât do without you. Let him be into you for a while instead of you being into him.â
Liz groaned. âBut it will be so hard telling him goodnight at my door.â
âOh, no!â Lou laughed. âDonât even let him take you home. You say goodnight here and then weâll take you home. Weâll take away the temptation that way.â Lou held out her hand for a handshake. âDeal?â
Liz gripped Louâs hand firmly in her own. âDeal.â
âGood. Now letâs go out there and drive him crazy just a little longer. Then you leave him panting as you drive away.â It was a nice having Liz for a friend.