Chapter 39
**Sara**
"Sara?" he asked, approaching my table.
I nodded, suddenly feeling like my tongue had swollen to twice its size. "That's me," I managed to squeak out.
James slid into the seat across from me, his grin widening. "I gotta say, your pictures don't do you justice."
I felt my cheeks heat up. "I was just thinking the same thing about you," I blurted out, then immediately wanted to crawl under the table. "I mean, uh, nice to meet you."
He laughed, a warm, rich sound that made my insides jig. "Nice to meet you, too. I hope you haven't been waiting long?"
"No, not at all," I said, trying to regain some semblance of composure. "I just got here myself."
James leaned back in his chair, his striking blue eyes twinkling with mischief. "Well then, Miss Sara, what would you like to order? Coffee, tea, maybe something a little...stronger?" He raised one eyebrow suggestively.
I felt my face flush at his not-so-subtle innuendo. "Coffee would be great, actually. I could use the caffeine boost."
"Excellent choice." He flagged down a barista. "Two house blends, please. And make mine a large."
The barista nodded and scurried off, leaving us alone again. I drummed my fingers on the tabletop, trying to think of something witty.
James leaned forward, his elbows on the table. "So, Sara, tell me about yourself. What keeps you busy these days?"
I took a deep breath, trying to ignore how his eyes sparkled in the cafe's soft lighting. "Well, I'm actually finishing up my MBA. Just a few more months and I'll be unleashed upon the unsuspecting business world."
"Oh, a future corporate mogul, huh? Should I be intimidated?"
"Absolutely," I grinned, feeling a bit more at ease. "I plan to rule the world with an iron fist and sensible heels."
"I'll make sure to stay on your good side then," James winked. "As for me, I'm a software engineer. Just landed a job at a startup downtown."
"Ooh, fancy. So you're the one responsible for all those apps I can't figure out how to use?"
"Guilty as charged. But I promise, I only make the really confusing ones."
Our banter continued, light and easy. But as we chatted, a nagging question popped into my mind. Finally, I couldn't resist asking.
"So, James," I began, trying to sound casual. "Do you, uh, often go for... casual encounters?"
"You mean, do I regularly engage in no-strings-attached fun?" When I nodded, he shrugged. "Yeah, I do. Life's short, you know? You gotta enjoy it while you can." He leaned back, studying me. "What about you?"
"I'm more of a long-term relationship kind of girl," I admitted. "Not that there's anything wrong with casual stuff, it's just... not really my thing."
James nodded, looking thoughtful. "Fair enough. Different strokes for different folks, right?"
Before I could respond, our coffee arrived. I wrapped my hands around the warm mug, inhaling the rich aroma. It was a welcome distraction from the sudden awkwardness between us.
As I sipped my coffee, my mind started racing. What was I doing here? This guy was clearly looking for something casual while I was still hung up on... No. I wasn't going to think about Tom right now. I was here to have a good time and to forget about my complicated life for a while.
But was this really the right way to do it? I glanced at James over the rim of my mug. He was undeniably attractive and charming to boot. Maybe a night of fun was exactly what I needed to clear my head.
"So," James said, breaking into my thoughts. "What do you say we get out of here?"
I nearly choked on my coffee. "Get out of here?" I echoed, my voice a pitch higher than usual. "Um, where exactly did you have in mind?"
"Well, we've got options. There's a nice bar down the street if you want to keep things... public. Or," he paused, his eyes locked on mine, "we could go somewhere more private. My place isn't far, or there's a hotel around the corner if you prefer neutral territory."
My heart was doing the cha-cha in my chest. This was moving fast—like the speed of light. I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. "Wow, you don't waste time, do you?"
"Life's too short for wasting time, Sara. Besides," he winked, "I find you incredibly attractive, and I'd like to explore that attraction. If you're interested, of course."
I bit my lip, weighing my options. On one hand, this was exactly the kind of impulsive decision I'd been trying to avoid. On the other hand, holy smokes, this man was hot. And it had been a while since I'd had any... fun.
"I... I think I'd like that," I heard myself say, surprising even myself. "But maybe we could start with that bar you mentioned? I'm not quite ready to jump straight to a hotel room."
James's smile widened. "Bar it is, then. Shall we?" He stood up, offering me his hand.
I took it, feeling a little thrill run through me at the contact. As we left the cafe, I thought, "What the hell am I doing?" But for once, I decided to silence that nagging voice. I deserved a night of fun, didn't I?
The bar James led me to was a cozy spot, all exposed brick and soft lighting. We found a secluded booth in the corner, and James insisted on ordering for us both.
"Trust me," he said with a wink. "I know just what you need."
When the drinks arrived, I eyed mine suspiciously. It was a vibrant blue concoction in a tall glass with a tiny umbrella. "What exactly is this?"
"It's called a Blue Hawaiian," James explained. "It's sweet, tropical, and packs quite a punch—kind of like you, I imagine."
"Smooth talker, aren't you?"
"I try," he shrugged, taking a sip of his own drink, some amber-colored liquor on the rocks.
I took a tentative sip of my Blue Hawaiian. It was delicious, tasting more like a tropical vacation than alcohol.
"Good?" he asked.
"Dangerously so," I admitted. "I could drink these all night and forget they're alcoholic."
"That's the idea," he winked. "Though I hope you don't forget everything about tonight."
I felt my cheeks flush, and it wasn't just from the alcohol. "Smooth talker," I muttered, taking another sip to hide my smile.
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