Mmmhmm," Sarah said, grinning from ear to ear. "Then, there were sparks."
"Well, yes," Anabelle said, then cleared her throat. "But, I wasn't about to be paraded into his high-end office, with all his high-class staff wearing coffee on my very inexpensive blouse from Target, with everyone knowing I'd spilled it on him too. I'd already made enough of a fool of myself." She took another sip of wine. "I have some self-respect, you know."
"If a man is checking you out, he's not going to care about the rest of that. He'll be thinking of one thing. What you look like under that coffee-stained top." Sarah raised her eyebrows.
Anabelle sighed. "I would've probably ruined his image of me by more idiocy."
"Men have a one-track mind. Once anything remotely sexual is on their radar they can't think of anything else."
Anabelle took a longer sip of her wine, thinking of what her friend was saying.
Sarah tapped the table with her finger. "What you need is a sense of
adventure. And risks be damned! You don't want to go through life racking up regrets and what ifs?"
"You're right. But it's not like I was prepared for that first thing on a Monday morning." Anabelle's voice was tinged with regret. "It happened so fast and I was just really flustered and Raquel has been on my case a lot lately. As it was, I barely made it to work on time. She made me work most of the weekend, too, so I was rushing around. I'm bagged. Probably one of the reasons I was so clumsy this morning."
"You know, I don't think making it to work on time is a life-goal that needs to pre-empt a chance encounter with a gorgeous man. We need to work on your priorities. Sexy men are #1." Anabelle giggled at that.
"Did you at least give him your number?"
Anabelle shook her head and ducked another flick to the forehead. "He did ask for my name though. I only gave him my first name. He said to call him at work if I wanted a coffee to replace the one I spilled." Another duck.
Barry came over carrying their appetizers. He smiled. "Here we go, ladies. For my two favorite customers." He set the plates down along with cutlery and napkins.
"I bet you say that to all your customers," Sarah ribbed him.
"No, only you…two," he said looking at her, quickly catching himself. "I'll be back to check on you." He turned and walked away, placing a hand on his forehead.
"I told you," Anabelle whispered, grinning. "He's sweet on you. You should consider him."
"He is cute, and kind of sexy," Sarah said as she watched him walk back to the bar. "I'll make you a deal, I'll speak up if you do."
"What do you mean?" Anabelle asked, starting in on the salted edamame beans.
"Well, Mr. Rich and Handsome may not have your number, but you know his name and where he works and he said to call him. So call him." Anabelle sat back in her chair and considered it.
"Is he married?" Sarah asked, grabbing a slice of the fresh pita bread and spreading some of the roasted red pepper hummus on it.
Anabelle thought for a moment, frowning. "To be honest, I didn't think to look. I was so embarrassed by fumbling and spilling my coffee everywhere.
Plus he was so crazy gorgeous, I think my mind went blank." Sarah made to flick her forehead again.
"Uncle!" Anabelle cried out. "Look, the whole thing was…he was a lot to take in. You wouldn't believe how good-looking he is. Straight out of GQ magazine, movie-star worthy looks. Seriously. I've never seen a man that gorgeous in real life. It freaked me out."
"You need help," Sarah chided her. "We need to work on your game,
girl."