Watching Fireflies (unedited - PG-13)

I wandered inside Dixie’s Tavern with Paul after working on the festival set-up for the End of Summer Fest on Friday night.

“Naked?” asked Paul.

“Completely”

“Hot?”

“You have no idea,” I said while I was shaking my head.  I remained in utter disbelief with what I saw today.  It was the hottest sight ever.  And I’ve seen my fair share.

“Hey, there’s Lance at the other side of the bar,” Paul nudged me as we made our way over to Lance.

“Betty, I swear, you are the most beautiful woman in this place.”  Lance said.

Paul and I just looked at one another rolling our eyes.  Lance was the biggest flirt that charmed anything with two legs and a rack.

“Lance,” Paul said, “Leave Mrs. Betty alone.”

“Lance, I’m old enough to be your grandmother,” Betty chuckled.  Betty was at least old enough to our mothers, but she definitely was no grandmother.  She was pretty slender with short jet black hair.  Didn’t take crap from anybody.

“And a hot one at that!” Lance said.

Still laughing, Betty turned to me and Paul, “What’ll it be, boys?”

“Whatever’s on tap, ma’am,” I said.

“Coming right up,” Betty said turning away. 

Dixie’s Tavern was owned by Betty and Mark Gregory.  Both well into their fifties.  Betty loved running the bar.  They named it after her dog, of course.  She knew everyone in this town and everyone knew her.

The tavern was your normal hole in the wall with hard wood floors, sports paraphernalia adorning one wall, another wall hung license plates from every state, a few dart boards, a pool table, and a stage for bands that played on the weekend.  It was Monday, but kind of crowded for a Monday.  The college starts classes Wednesday, meaning it was everyone’s last hurrah.  Betty and Mark would be expecting a big crowd then.

Betty came back with a round of beers.  “Fellas, first round is on the house.”

“Betty, please leave the old geezer, would ya?” Lance pleaded.

“Okay boys … keep your eye on that one,” Betty said pointing at Lance and then going to the other side of the bar.

“So, Tom, are you going to fill in our friend Lance here on what you saw today?” Paul said with a smirk.

I went through the start of going to my aunt’s to fix the faucet …

“Yeah, I remember you went there,” Lance said.

“I knocked on the door with no answer assuming the guest was gone.  I walked to the bathroom to fix the sink and the guest was there,” I said impassively.

“Oh hell!” Lance said.  “I hope it wasn’t some old guy on the crapper!  That’d be hilarious.”

“Nope.”

“Who was it then?” Lance asked still chuckling to himself.

“I don’t know who she was …”

“What was she doing in the bathroom, Tom?” Lance asked almost expectantly.

Looking down at my beer, I smirked as I reached for the mug, “Taking a bath.”

“You’re kidding!”

“Nope.”

“Hot?”  Lance asked … same as Paul did.

“Unbelievable.”

Paul gripped my shoulder, “Talk about unbelievable, look who’s sitting in the corner booth.” 

I glanced over to the corner and noticed Ellie Caldwell, who was a good friend of mine.  Paul was always hooked on her, but she dated Lance back in high school so Paul never did pursue it.

“Oh, it’s Lance’s ex.” I said.

Lance ducked.  “Crap, which one?”

“Calm down Lance, it’s just Ellie.”  I laughed.

“Tom,” Paul whispered, still staring in Ellie's direction, “for once, I’m not looking at Ellie.”

I leaned around the swarm of people standing in between the bar and the corner booth trying to get a better look.

That’s when I spotted her … and let out a sigh, losing my breath once again.

It was my water goddess in the sexiest black dress.  She was sitting in the corner talking to Ellie inadvertently running her finger along the rim of her wine glass.  Instantly, my blood headed south.  I was in agony.  I have never felt like pouncing on a woman so direly in my life.  I didn’t just want to sleep with her.  I wanted her.  Every bit of her.