“Hiya,” the woman shouted over the blaring music. “I’m Aideen, and this is Branna. We thought ye’ might like some company. Ye’ look a little lost sittin’ over ‘ere on your own.”
I raised my brow and looked at Branna over Aideen’s shoulder, and it became obvious to me and to Aideen that Branna didn’t want me to see her. Aideen scowled as she turned to face her friend and roughly pulled her out from her hiding spot. Branna stumbled to her friend’s side and knocked her knee against Aideen’s, causing her to wince. She was about to reach down and rub her bare knee, but once she saw I was watching her, she froze. Her eyes locked on mine, and I saw her swallow.
“Hello,” I said just as the music lowered for the moment before a new track began to play.
She waved at me, and said, “Hey.”
My lips twitched at the action. From what I could see, Branna was a ten, beyond hot, but pairing that with a cute little wave and hiding behind her friend made her just about the sexiest woman I had ever seen. She was nervous and clearly approached me because her friend made her, and I wasn’t used to that. The women who hit on me usually oozed confidence and sex appeal, and while Branna had sex appeal, I got the feeling she did know she had it.
“Would you like to join me?”
Branna said nothing; she just stared at me. For a moment, I wondered if I didn’t speak loud enough for her to hear me, but Aideen suddenly jabbed her elbow into Branna’s side and answered for her. “She’d love to,” she gushed.
Aideen put her hand on the base of Branna’s spine and pushed her to the side of the booth where I was sitting, and I wasn’t sure why, but she resisted. Her eyes were doe like, her lips were parted, and she turned her head towards Aideen and said something to her in a rushed breath that I couldn’t hear. Aideen didn’t reply to her. In fact, she completely ignored Branna. Again, Aideen nudged Branna into the booth and to avoid falling, she had to turn to the side and drop into a sitting position next to me. She didn’t look at me, she only looked at her friend, and I saw her entire body tense when Aideen took a step backwards.
“I’m goin’ to go and get us some drinks,” she stated. “You two get to know each other. I won’t be long.”
Branna gasped and sat up straight as she searched for her friend in the crowd, and when she couldn’t find her, she said, “Oh, my God.”
I smiled. This was amusing me greatly, but it interested me more than anything. It was obvious that Branna didn’t want to hit on me, so I was confused as to why she didn’t just get up at leave. When she plucked up the courage to look at me, she relaxed when she found me smiling. She didn’t looked scared, just nervous as hell.
“Are you okay?”
She shook her head, and said, “I didn’t know she was goin’ to abandon me like that. I’m so sorry. It was her idea to come over ‘ere, not mine.”
I figured as much. “I’m glad she thought of it.”
Branna blinked. “You are?”
“Of course,” I replied. “I probably would have never seen you otherwise. I’ve found over the past few weeks that this club is always wall-to-wall full. You’re such a tiny thing; it’d be easy to miss you in the sea of bodies. And that would be a true tragedy.”
The booth was dimly lit, but I could see Branna blush scarlet.
“Darling, you look like I’m going to eat you up.” I chuckled. “I won’t bite you, I promise. Not yet anyway.”
Her lips parted. She cleared her throat, twice, and said, “I’m sorry.”
“Why’re you sorry?”
She scratched my neck. “For bein’ so awkward.”
“It’s not awkward,” I said. “It’s nervousness, which is the part I don’t get.”
She shifted in her seat “What don’t ye’ get?”
I lifted my arm and stretched it out on the back of the seat behind her head before I leaned in closer. She smelled delicious. I wasn’t sure what perfume she had on, but it made me want to eat her up.
“I don’t get why a woman who looks as edible as you do is so shy.”
She leaned towards me ever so slightly, and I was sure she was unaware she had done so.
“I don’t usually do this.” She swallowed. “I’m not one to walk up to men and talk to them, which is why me friend physically pulled me over to ye’.”
I regarded her for a moment. “Usually, I’d call bullshit, but I think I believe you.”
She remained silent.
“What is your name?” I asked. “I didn’t hear your friend very well when she introduced you both.”