Free Cougars by Earl Sewell

I have to do in order to get some service around here?” Jasmine griped.
    â€œWhat? No one is helping you?” asked the man standing next to her.
    â€œNo. It’s like I’m invisible or something.”
    â€œHang on.” The man stepped away and then returned with a waitress.
    â€œWould you be so kind as to take her order?” said the handsome man.
    Pleasantly surprised, Jasmine gave the waitress her order and said she’d wait there for it.
    â€œThank you,” Jasmine said to the kind stranger.
    â€œNo problem. My name is Travis, by the way,” he said.
    â€œI’m Jasmine.”
    â€œThat’s a pretty name. My friend was telling me that he’d recently met someone named Jasmine.”
    â€œIt’s a pretty common name so I’m not surprised by that.”
    â€œDo you like this place?” Travis asked, looking directly into her amazingly hypnotic green eyes.
    â€œIt’s nice. It’s my first time ever coming here. What about you? Is this a popular spot?”
    â€œThis is my first time here as well.” Travis leaned in closer, and spoke purposefully in her ear so she could hear him. “I flew in from California to meet up with a buddy of mine. Every few months we pick a city to hang out in.”
    â€œNew York is a great city to visit. I don’t know if I’d like living here though,” Jasmine admitted.
    â€œOh, you’re not from the Big Apple?”
    â€œNo. My girlfriends and I flew in to celebrate a birthday.”
    â€œIs it your birthday? Because if it is I’m going to have to sing ‘Happy Birthday’ to you,” Travis asked, fully prepared to sing.
    â€œNo, it’s not my birthday.” Jasmine laughed. She studied Travis more thoroughly. He had smooth brown skin, a prominent jaw line and a boyish face. He was without a doubt a charmer, but there was something extra about Travis. It was his eyes; they seemed to speak before any words passed through his lips.
    â€œYou have lovely eyes,” Travis complimented her.
    â€œFunny, I was just thinking the same thing about you.” Jasmine raised her right eyebrow.
    â€œWhat’s that supposed to mean?” Travis asked.
    â€œNothing. Other than the fact we’re both sizing each other up at the same time.” Jasmine rested her elbow on the countertop.
    â€œSo what part of California are you from?” Jasmine decided to give Travis more of her attention.
    â€œBerkeley.”
    â€œI’ve never been there,” Jasmine said.
    â€œYou should come sometime. It’s a great town and has the best seafood in the world,” Travis proudly stated. “What about you? Where are you from?”
    â€œChicago,” Jasmine said dryly. “I’m not looking forward to the upcoming winter months.”
    â€œI don’t see how people in Chicago survive such cold winters. Sometimes I’ll catch a glimpse of a report saying that it’s like one-hundred degrees below zero.”
    Jasmine laughed. “Honey, it doesn’t get that cold. Exposed human skin wouldn’t survive in such extreme temperatures.”
    â€œI know, I’m just giving you a hard time.”
    â€œNow why do you want to give me a hard time? You hardly even know me.” Jasmine wanted their conversation to continue. There was something about his spirit that she was drawn to.
    â€œIt’s just a figure of speech,” Travis explained.
    â€œYou mean to tell me you don’t want to give me anything that’s hard?”
    â€œOh. See now you want to play with me.” Travis gave her a sly glance. “But if I were to give you any part of me, it would be more than just the hard parts.” Travis winked.
    â€œIf that’s the case, I’d also better make sure I give you something you can feel.”
    â€œWell, a skilled lover knows how to move around in tight places,” Travis said as he got the attention of the