The years hadn’t been kind to April. She found herself sitting at a bar like old times, scanning the crowd for potential clients. No longer did she own a portion of her old business, in fact, a court order prevented her from being on the grounds. Only Dee came around, and that was rarely. Feeling sorry for herself, she pushed everyone away, determined to succeed and show them up.
She wore a dark-red, low-cut dress that hugged her body, a dress worthy of the Red Carpet on Oscar night. Black high heels accentuated a curvaceous figure. A thin black choker set off an elegant neck, mirroring an identical pattern on her small purse. April put extra effort in her makeup and hair. She no longer had a job as a beautician, but her skill shone through kissable red lips and thick eyelashes. Both painted onto a magnificent landscape. The years may not have been kind financially, but once born with drop-dead looks, they may fade, but will never disappear.
April glanced around the nearly empty high-end bar. It showed sporting events, a hockey game on one screen and a basketball game on the other. She struck out earlier in the night and would have to settle for this crowd to supplement her small income.
“Whiskey sour, Pete,” she said after walking up to the bar.
Pete nodded and brought her a drink. He pointed at a man in an expensive suit. The man sat with others. April smiled and passed a bill across the countertop to him. She hated giving up money, but you need a connection in places like this and Pete could spot a mark a mile away. She looked at his expression as he checked the bill she slid to him. He smiled and nodded. April winked, then turned her full attention to the victims before her.
After five minutes, she made a choice.
Her face soured as she looked at the game of Hockey, it meant rough-housing men, something to avoid. Not tonight, not on a dare.
A group of men yelled at a wall-sized screen from an overhead projector. She smiled, basketball it is. Pete had good instincts, but she needed to conduct her own tests from years gained in the trenches. April scanned her available choices. A group of four men sat guzzling beer and screaming. The first was bald and chubby, living through the players. No, not on a dare. The next, a redhead with a crew cut. His neatly trimmed beard suggested good hygiene, a rarity, even among the suits. The third had something of a distasteful Mohawk, the girl that did it should be fired immediately. The last, another suit. Her gaze went back to the redhead.
April took her drink and crossed in front of the screen with it. The men yelled and she made her apologies. When she neared the redhead, her drink mysteriously spilled. “Oh my,” she sighed.
“Let me help you with that,” said the redhead.
“I don’t want to be any trouble.” A big smile and rapidly moving eyelashes work wonders.
“No trouble, little lady.”
He wiped the small spill and picked up her plastic cup. He gave it back to her with a smile.
“Does my hero have a name?” more smiles and eyelashes, this was a banner day.
“Matty.”
“Hello, Matty. I’m April.”
“Nice to meet you, April.”
He nodded. April, not content with the nod, decided to extend her delicate hand. The man’s strong grip proved her right, he was the one. She smiled and walked past him to sit to his right at an empty table. She would hold his attention, play coy, but remain within earshot, pretending she wasn’t.
Matty rejoined his companions. Occasionally, his eyes wandered to the enchanting April, who fed them with bashful smiles. She watched the others to see if they would interfere, she knew two of them, very well.
The man nursing a combination Mohawk crew-cut leaned across the table to whisper to Matty. He spoke low with his head down. He meant to hide his words from April.
Matty shook his head furiously. April tried to see his face, but couldn’t. The man shot a look at her then gave a broad grin. The grin sent small shivers down April’s back. She tried once more to read Matty with no luck.
As if reading her mind, Matty turned back to her and she gave him another smile, wondering what he was thinking. Her face showed no indication, but car blocking was at work. She made plans to counter and claim victory.
“Whatever, man. Gary, what do you know?” asked Matty louder then he should have.
April heard the question. The men looked directly at each other for the briefest of moments. She had always treated him fairly and made no bones about their relationship. Gary, on the other hand, fell in love with her and proposed marriage. He told her she was meant for better things and he could take care of her. April thought he wanted the remains of a beauty queen, not as shiny, but still adequate eye candy. She turned him down and passed him on to a lovely Russian she works with.
April knew Gary would not give her a bad report. He hoped to one day win her heart. She relaxed and stopped concentrating on strategy. The basketball game began its final quarter. She would not leave the bar empty-handed tonight. Her eyes left Matty’s tan suit to appraise his shoes. The Long Wing Tassel Slip-ons were burgundy calfskin and reaffirmed his status. They were expensive, the $500 variety. He was hers.
After the game, Matty walked over to April, surprising her. For the first time in god knows when, she was unsure of her next move. When in doubt, fall back on old plans and wait for an opening. She did just that by giving a seductive smile and a simple, “Hi.”
“I wasn’t too sure I should come over here,” said Matty.
“Why is that?”
“Those two guys I sat with are baggage handlers for Lambert. One claims to know you and it wasn’t flattering.”
“I’m a big girl, tell me the bad news.”
“Well, um, well,” Matty stuttered.
“How about this, start with the crew cut guy, what did he say?”
“He said he didn’t know you personally, but you were in here a lot.”
She eyed him carefully: strong chin, white teeth, penetrating yet gentle gray eyes. She decided to play straight with him.
“Tell me what else he said, the truth.”
“He said you were kind of a working girl. Sorry.”
“Don’t be. I am. Either invite me to join you or walk away.”
Matty hesitated. He focused on her hair and then her lips. April felt his eyes and made herself more attractive. He was a hard one and would not look into her eyes and fall under her spell. She coughed. He made the mistake of meeting her eyes and she held him by sheer will, like a predator hypnotizing its prey. Slowly she rose from her chair and moved next to him. She put her arm in his and together they walked out of the bar.