Second Chance Cowboy

Chapter 15

“Lanie!”

Lanie looked toward the voice and waved.  She began weaving her way through the busy bar.

“Annette!” Lanie said loudly enough to be heard above the crowd.  A tall, slender and very graceful woman stood and embraced Lanie.  Leaning down a little, and talking close to Lanie’s ear, she still had to almost shout to be heard.   “That’s Zack and Marie over there” Annette waved her drink toward the far side of a horseshoe shaped booth.  “That’s  Leonard and Lynn there”.  Annette used her drink to indicate the couple in the middle area of the horseshoe booth.  “And that’s Greg.”  Annette lifted her glass to the last person in the booth.  He lifted his glass back and winked.  Lanie swallowed.  There was only one seat left in the booth, the one Annette had occupied.  There wasn’t room for another, even if they managed to squish more. 

“Sorry I’m late.”  She offered weakly, looking to see if there was an adjoining booth for the spill over friends.

“I’ll forgive you, if you can forgive me.  We didn’t wait for you.  There was just this one booth and…”

Lanie swallowed back the wave of nausea followed by a sudden urge to turn and run; She hated being the third wheel.  She always used to say “I’ll have to take a rain-check” when she was invited by co-workers or people she met on assignment.  After the encounter a little over a month ago in Las Vegas, she was determined not to hide out anymore.  Live a little, she had convinced herself.

“That’s ok.  I…”

“They didn’t wait for me either.”  A new voice over her shoulder startled her.  Annette smiled one of those knowing sort of smiles and waggled her eyebrows at Lanie.

“And that’s Pierce.  I need a refill.”  And with that, Annette turned back toward the horseshoe booth.

Lanie blinked, uncertain what had just happened.  A drink appeared before her, and she realized that an arm was attached.  She blinked again and turned toward the owner of the arm.  She had to look up, and then up again to meet a pair of onyx eyes. 

“I’m Lanie.” She shouted.  She felt awkward but she was determined not to run away this time.  “Nice to meet you Pierce.”

He held out the drink again and she took it this time.  He used his now empty hand to indicate a small table near the wall a few feet from where they stood.  It was just big enough for two.  Lanie had fought the urge to run when she had felt like a third wheel a few moments ago.  As she moved toward the table, and Pierce pulled out the chair for her she forced herself to hold her chin up and stick it out.  Third wheel was bad, but being set up was almost always a disaster.  She didn’t bother to sniff the drink she had been given.  Whatever it was, she hoped it was strong.  She tipped the glass to her lips and slammed it back in three long gulps, setting the glass down with a thunk.  

If Pierce had thought it was odd she would slam what turned out to be a Captain’s and Coke, he gave no indication.  He just held up his hand and then pointed to Lanie and himself.  Lanie turned and saw a waitress dressed in a short black skirt and a white men’s dress shirt unbuttoned dangerously low coming toward them.  Her tray carried two more drinks.

“I don’t blame you.  I’d want liquid courage too if I was set up with me.”

Lanie coughed.  Pierce laughed.  The waitress  set two more Captain’s and Coke on the table.  Lanie held up a hand and the waitress looked at her expectantly.  “I think we’ll need a few shots of So-Co.”

“And bring two Red-Headed Sluts”

Lanie didn’t blink.  She wanted the shots for liquid courage, for her own reserves were beginning to run low.  She guessed he was just trying to impress her, or shock her.