Free KILLER DATE (SCANDALS) by Kathy Clark

wore short skirts and no shirts, so the V-necks of their jackets plunged dangerously low.  Amber tilted her head and gave me a flirtatious wink.  Instantly, a wave of guilt hit me and I looked at Jenny to see if she had noticed. 
    Of course she had. 
    She’d been leaning toward me, but now she pulled away as far back as her chair allowed.
    “ Good evening, Reno, and welcome back.”
    “Thanks, Amber,” I said, struggling to save the day.  “This is my date, Jenny.”
    Politely, she turned to Jenny.  “Hello and welcome.”
    Jenny’s smile was stiff.  “Hi…and this is n’t a date.  It’s a…uh…business meeting.”
    Amber seemed to like that answer.  “I understand Paul shared tonight’s specials and gave you today’s wine list.  Did you see something that you’d like to try?”
    The double entendre was not lost on either of us at the table.  “I’ll just have a Corona,” I told her, then focused on Jenny.
    “I’ll take a lemonade.”  Jenny barely glanced at Amber as she ordered.
    “Virgin or with alcohol? ” Amber asked.  “We have a special drink called a Summer Splash that has lemonade, sweet and sour mix and Bacardi Limon.”
    Jenny paused, then shrugged.  “Sure…why not?”
    “ I’ll leave the menus with you so you can see all of our selections.  Jonathon will bring your water.  Still or tap?”
    Jenny didn’t indicate a preference, so I said, “Tap is fine, with ice.”
    “Very good,” Amber turned and walked away.
    An awkward silence stretched as we opened our menus and tried to focus on the variety of items.  I knew the next thing I said would be pivotal in our relationship…not that we had a relationship…but if there was any chance we ever would have one, this could be a deal breaker.  I must have read through the menu a half dozen times without registering anything.  I glanced over at Jenny and saw that she was completely buried behind the huge, leather-covered menu.
    “ I think I’ll try the filet Paul suggested.  How about you?”  I gave up and closed the menu.
    “Maybe just a salad.”
    “Oh, come on.  You can get a salad at Denny’s.  Do you like salmon?”
    “If I want a salad, I’ll get a salad,” she stated defensively.
    Shit, I just kept digging the hole deeper.  “Of course you can get whatever you want.  I was just trying to make this…”
    “Maybe if I eat quickly, Amber will get off work, and you can take her home.”  As soon as the words spilled out, I could tell she regretted them.  After her quick denial that this was a date, it sounded to me like she cared a little more than she wanted to admit.
    Suddenly, I felt better.  Jealousy meant emotion.  And I could deal with that.
    “Forget Amber.  She gets better tips if she flirts,” I explained.  “I’d rather be here with you.”  To my surprise, I realized it was actually true. 
    Jenny lowered her menu enough so I could see her eyes that had darkened to a deep jade.  They reflected the confusion and vulnerability she was trying so hard to hide.  For almost a minute, she studied me with a soul-searching intensity.
    She must have seen something that convinced her I was telling the truth.  “Not that it matters who you date.”  She tried to dismiss it with a little wave.   “But I’d rather it didn’t happen while I’m around.”
    “I totally get that.  And I have never even thought about dating Amber.  I’ve known a lot of servers and bartenders in Vegas, and they can be a little…unfaithful.”
    “Oh, come on.  I’m sure you’re not celibate.”
    I was just regaining her trust.  How could I tell her that I had had an active sex life until the last two weeks.  But then, how could I not be honest?
    “Uh…I’m a dude,” I told her, hoping she’d accept that. 
    She didn’t.
    “I’ve hear d prostitution is legal in Nevada,” she commented.
    I straightened.  “I have never paid for sex.”
    “So, you’ve had a lot of