Free Maggie's Five ...the first in a LOVE story by Sandra Fitzgerald

Hey
whatcha doin’?” I ask, standing taller on the barstool to lean over
the counter. He doesn’t reply, just keeps smirking and holding me
captive in his black stare.
    “ Hi
Phone, it’s just me, Red. I’m using a real pretty girl’s mobile to
call so the two of you can talk. I really think she should tell me
her name now that she overheard me telling you mine, and now that
she has my number an’ all, it would be rude not to share, don’t you
think?” His brow quirks as he presses the end button and stores his
number, before passing over my phone.
    “ Red.
Knowing your name make me a friend does it?” I’m struggling to hold
back a smile. It’s been so long since I’ve smiled a real smile and,
with the aid of the alcohol flowing, it’s easier to find a little
happy.
    Red’s eyes
sparkle and his smile broadens. “Yeah sweetheart, you’re my new
best friend.”
    I take in his
features, giving my sluggish brain time to contemplate my next
move. He’s good looking, in a dark, dangerous kind of way. Not
short on sex appeal and he knows it. Somehow his arrogance makes
him even more appealing.
    “ Maggie.”
    “ Hi
Maggie, it’s nice to meet you. Can I buy you a drink?”
    He sets up two
shot glasses in front of us and pours clear liquid into them. He
lifts the one closest to him and holds it to his lips, waiting for
me to do the same. When I do, Red licks his bottom lip and downs
the drink.
    Mesmerised, I
mimic his movements, lick my bottom lip and gulp the contents of
the small glass. I gasp noisily before sealing my mouth shut tight
so I don’t cough spit all over the place.
    “ Wow
that burns,” I eventually choke out.
    Red laughs, his
grin causing a dimple to flash to attention as he pours us seconds.
He takes my hand and places something cool and damp in it, closing
my fingers gently to encase it. He turns it over so my knuckles are
facing up and slowly licks the back of my hand and trickles a
grainy white dust over the moisture.
    If possible, his
almost black eyes darken. He licks the salt off the back of my hand
then downs his drink. He turns my palm up and bites into the lemon
wedge, licking my soft flesh before taking the fruit and
straightening.
    Red takes the
wedge from his teeth and tosses the rind to one side. He holds his
hand to my mouth and I’ve had just about enough alcohol to do what
he wants. I lick the offered surface, take the small glass held up
for me in his other hand and swallow the hot liquid, biting the
lemon between my teeth after he brushes the tangy fruit over my
smarting mouth. I close my mouth around it and enjoy the
bitterness, cooling the burn in my throat.
    “ That’s how you do it, sweetheart,” he whispers to my swollen
mouth. I didn’t notice we’d gotten so close that I can now feel his
warm breath mixing with mine.
    “ That’s how you do what, Maggie?”
    My eyes widen.
Luke’s here. I love that he’s here.
    I spin on my
seat and amazingly manage to end up on the counter. “Luke, you have
to meet my new friend, Red. Red, meet Luke, he lives with me. I
don’t know how that happened but it has and now he does,” I say,
giggling.
    I’m giggling. I
don’t giggle. God my life’s turned me into a freaking
giggler.
    “ Lucas this is the very handsome, but don’t you dare tell
him…” I whisper, leaning into Luke’s chest, “it would be beyond
embarrassing, if you know what I mean.” I exaggerate an open mouth,
wide eyed wink. “Red.”
    “ Red?” Luke questions over my shoulder, hugging me to him.
He’s not smiling.
    “ Conrad. My friends call me Red. Maggie’s a
friend.”
    Yep, that’s me.
His new best friend.
    “ You
two live together?”
    “ Yes,” Luke bites out, at the same time I chirp a
solid,
    “ No,”
nearly choking on the saliva in my mouth. “Well, yes, sort of. We
share a roof. Right, Luke?”
    He doesn’t
respond, nor look at me… or loosen his hold.
    “ Luke?”
    Luke’s posture
softens, his blue eyes returning to my