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What other reason was there for this woman to keep glancing her way? She didn’t look in any way confused by Vanessa’s lingering gaze or creeped out. Vanessa would nearly say the opposite with the way her lips had curved ever so slightly just a moment ago.
When she looked back up, the woman was sliding gracefully off her barstool, wine glass in hand. Vanessa froze, pulse pounding, as the woman approached her table, her mind struggling to catch up with this new development.
Vanessa was not mid-fantasy. This woman was standing in front of her table, her hand resting on the back of the chair opposite Vanessa.
“Excuse me, do you mind if I join you?” the woman asked, her voice smooth and confident.
Vanessa gestured wordlessly to the empty chair. The woman sat, crossing one leg over the other. Up close, Vanessa could see she was even more striking, with piercing blue eyes and full lips painted crimson.
“I’m Heather,” she said, her eyes unwavering.
“Vanessa.” She swallowed down her nerves, reminding herself that she had every reason to be confident in this situation. She was just so unaccustomed to meeting women outside of gay bars.
“Nice to meet you, Vanessa.” Heather smiled, leaning back casually in her chair. “I couldn’t help but notice you from across the bar. I hope I’m not intruding.”
Vanessa’s cheeks flushed. “No, not at all. I’m happy for the company.” She bit her lip for a second, wondering if she should assume she knew why Heather had joined her, or was she jumping ahead of herself?
“Are you?” Heather asked, her voice light and curious. “I feel like you might be wary of strange women coming over to your table.”
“Wary? No.” Vanessa shook her head as she absently slid her fingers up and down the stem of her wine glass. “Just surprised. Impressed, really.” She wet her lips. Now or never. “I would never have the courage to approach a woman at a straight bar like this.”
“Straight bar… Gay bar…” Heather held her gaze. “If I see someone looking at me the way you were, I’d be a fool not to at least introduce myself.”
“And if you’re wrong?”
“Then I’m wrong. It’s better than never knowing what might have been.” Heather took a sip of wine, and Vanessa had to admire her confidence.
The only question was, what was she going to do with this bold yet intriguing woman who had materialized at her table?
Heather held her gaze, a subtle challenge in her eyes, as if she was daring Vanessa to make the next move.
Vanessa took a long drink. Isn’t this exactly what she came into the city for? To spend the night flirting with a woman she never would have met otherwise? Maybe she wouldn’t be heading on to a gay bar tonight. Maybe she’d stay right here and see what her conversation with Heather would bring.
“Am I wrong?” Heather asked, taking Vanessa away from her thoughts.
Vanessa held her gaze. “No,” she said, a smile coming to her lips. “No. Not at all.”
3
Heather bit the inside of her cheek as Vanessa’s smile slowly reached her eyes. There was a glint there, a flirtatious challenge in them, and Heather still couldn’t believe this was actually happening. That she’d had the courage to come over. That she’d got right to the point, quickly discovering that she had a chance with this stunning woman, or at the very least, that she was potentially interested.
“So, Vanessa,” Heather said, “What brings you here tonight?”
“I’m staying just a few blocks away, and I was planning on having a drink or two before finding a gay bar to check out.” She bit her lip for a second. “I don’t think I’d get that far entirely sober.”
Heather’s eyebrow quirked. “That surprises me.”
“Really?” Vanessa said with a soft, throaty laugh that Heather wanted to hear more of. “Why? I’m sure that’s not unusual.”
“When I noticed you, sitting here, that was my first thought. That you looked so confident.”
Vanessa smiled, a bubbly laugh escaping her lips. “Well, that’s good to hear. I had no idea that I possessed those kind of acting skills.”
“If I hadn’t come over here…” Heather waited for Vanessa to meet her eyes again. “How long would it have taken you to introduce yourself?”
Vanessa’s eyebrows lifted. “I’m pretty certain that I wouldn’t have.”
Heather shook her head. “That would have been a shame.”
