with my biggest shit-eating grin i say, "ben. ben covington."

as she leads me to the table, we pass a granite-topped bar where a few couples perched on the stools are lost in deep conversations-hands on knees, faces a little too close, hooded eyes. i remember thinking just recently the only girl i ever came close to flirting with besides my long-term girlfriend was s'belle. but maybe that wasn't entirely true. then again, it depends how you define flirting. to me it means you have game in mind. with the hostess i was just pouring on the charm, not trying to bed her. so i stand by the idea that i've never really put myself out there in flirting mode. but something tells me i'm about to before the night ends.

"let me know if i can help you with anything else," the hostess says before leaving me at a table near the window with two menus.

i check the time on my phone; it's seven twenty-seven. i sit here wondering if maybe s'belle isn't going to show and find my nervousness disconcerting. not a minute ticks by before i spot her. her back's to me and she's talking to the hostess. the lights from the street cast shadows on her long red hair. but it's as vibrant as ever against her bare back. she pulls it to one side as she laughs at something the hostess says. oh, f**k, is that girl blowing it for me? she twists in my direction as the hostess points over to me. fuck, i think i'm busted.

i stand up and she smiles at me. my body hums at the sight of her approaching me-she's wearing a halter top that reveals a hint of cle**age and tight jeans that hug her shape perfectly with the highest f**king heels i've ever seen. she sashays toward me and the thin gold chains hanging over her shapely chest swing back and forth. she isn't a girl anyone could pass by without drooling over. i consciously close my jaw that i know is hanging open. at our table her eyes look me over-head to toe. i see it plain as day and i have to pull back the knowing grin from my lips.

"hi there," i say with a grin, and lean in to kiss her.

"hi," she answers, turning her face so my mouth lands on her cheek.

"you look beautiful." i'm trying my best not to be affected by the kiss snub.

"thank you," she says softly, and there it is-that look of innocence that sets my body ablaze. okay, i'll let the snub pass. who knows? maybe she has some crazy role-playing game cooking in her head.

i extend my hand and she places hers softly in my palm so that i can bring her hand to my lips and kiss it. her smile is wide and bright as i let her hand go.

"madam," i say as i pull out her chair. maybe i could be the ma