�Sex on the Beach, please.� Michelle heard as she looked up. Less than a foot in front of her stood a man. Just at a second�s glance, she was in an instant awe. She surveyed him inconspicuously. From the top to the bottom, she took everything in. He stood over six feet, brown hair, and muscular. Then she stopped. He had the most beautiful blue eyes that she had ever remembered seeing. Just at the sight of them, the hair on the back of her neck stood up. Chills rose on her arms, rising to the top of her head.
She managed a smile and to cover her uncomfortable state she had created for herself, and decided that a joke would be fitting. �Sex on the Beach? Do you see a beach here? Cause if you do, will you show me? All I see are tables and half drunk people everywhere.� She smiled again.
The guy blinked, and gave her an �okay funny� look. � My, my, aren�t you the witty one?� He told her. As he spoke, a broad smile broke out on his face. That was more than she could take. She had been taken by his eyes, but now his smile made her knees buckle. She pressed them together tightly to keep her from falling to the floor. That would have been the last thing she wanted to happen.
As she stood she smiled and began to speak, �I�m sorry. I�m having a rough night with all the drunks, and I thought I�d make a feeble attempt at humor. I didn�t mean to come across as a smart-ass. I�ll get your drink right away.� Michelle turned now trembling from the fear that she had insulted him.
�No!� He exclaimed.
�No?� She answered, now feeling a numbness creeping to the top of her head. Here, right in front of her, was a man she felt something for, and she had pissed him off. Pissed him off so bad that he was refusing the drink that just moments ago, he had ordered. �Sir�I apologize. I didn�t mean to make you angry. Please, let me get your drink. As a peace offering how about this? I�m buying. Just don�t leave. It�s not you, it�s the others that are here tonight.�
�No, I said and I�m sticking to it.� He looked at her seriously. He could see that he had her stirred up. �Honey, when I said no, I didn�t mean no I didn�t want the drink.� He licked his lips as he smiled. �I meant, no I don�t need you to apologize. I understand completely. It�s fine. I do have to say no one more time though. You are not buying my drink, not for this, anyway.� He reached out and placed his hand on her right shoulder. �Calm down. You�ll be fine in a few hours.�
�I hope so. I�m not so sure. What�s up with people tonight? Did all the freaks suddenly decide to wander into my bar? Not that you�re a freak. I�m sorry. I think I�m just going to shut my mouth now and get your drink.� She said with an embarrassed look. As Michelle mixed his drink, she took special care to make sure that it would be a good one. After what she felt was a bad start, it was the least she could do. She placed it on the bar, and he handed her some money. �Nope. I said I�m buying and I�m buying.�
He rolled his eyes and reluctantly took back the money he had handed her. �If you say so. Okay. Who am I to argue with a beautiful woman? Thank you.� He said smiling. As Michelle went to wait on another customer, he coyly slipped the money into her tip jar. Seeing that she was being inundated with people, demanding fast service, he walked away from the bar and across the room closer to the dance floor.
The night continued and so did the flirtation that had begun between the two. He would glance toward the bar and when Michelle would catch his eye, he would look away as if he wasn�t looking for her. Even though Michelle was extremely busy, she still had time to follow this man around the bar with her eyes. She was definitely interested in him. It had been about three months since her painful break up with Todd. Up until tonight she wanted nothing to do with another relationship. However, with him she was fast changing her mind. As the clock was approaching 4 a.m., he walked back once again to the bar where Michelle was busy at work. �Another Sex on the Beach?� she asked him.
�Yeah.� He said. She brought the drink to him and as he handed her the money he asked, �What�s your name? I didn�t catch it earlier.�
Michelle smiled her best flirtatious smiled and answered, �Michelle, just like it says.� She pointed above her head. There in big neon lights were the words Michelle�s Getaway
�Oh� he grinned, �Sorry, I didn�t realize.�
�It�s no problem. I mean what? You�re not a mind reader, are you? Yeah, this is my place, at least for now. I�m really considering selling it. The crowd has steadily been changing and just isn�t as fun as it used to be.�
�Nope.� He laughed. �Last time I checked, I couldn�t read minds. I don�t think I would even want to. You�re going to sell the place? Seems a shame. I have to admit I haven�t been here in quite a while, but it used to be a lot of fun.� He looked around and did notice that the people that were in there didn�t give off the best vibe. �My name is Josh. I�m pleased to formally meet you Michelle.� He extended his right hand. As he did, he took in her beauty. She had shiny blonde hair, and wide brown eyes that looked deep in to his own. She stood about 5� 6� and had a body that made him tremble inside. He knew he had to keep this conversation going, somehow. He wanted to get to know her better. He searched his mind for an idea. Then it hit him. �Michelle? I don�t want to seem forward like some drunk or something, but would you like to go out on the town after you close? I�d really like to take you to breakfast, at least. As he saw a look of hesitation on her face, he added, �C�mon. You did say you�ve had a rough night. Let me see if I can improve it a little bit. I promise I�m not a creep.� He winked.
Michelle cocked her head to the side, gave him a look and asked, �Not a creep? Do you have your I�m officially not a creep card?�
�Damn! Wouldn�t you know it? I left it at home. And of all the nights to forget it too.� He laughed as he raised his eyebrows.
�Well, if you promise to bring it with you next time, okay. I�ll go.� The customers had been lined up three to four deep waiting to be served but Michelle didn�t care; this was more important to her. They could wait �til hell froze over. She was sick of them anyway. She was talking to the one person that hadn�t pissed her off in a long time and now he was asking her out.
�I promise. It�s a deal.� He told her. As he removed his hand from hers, he had noticed the perspiration they had exchanged and felt like he was again in junior high. He had met many women in his life and it had been a long time since anything like that happened. He enjoyed the thought, though. It was nice to meet someone that could make him feel like a love-struck kid again.
As Michelle balanced out the totals for the night and rechecked the bar, Josh reached into his front pants pocket for his keys. He helped her shut off the lights and she locked up as they went outside. They walked around to the back of the bar to the parking lot. Michelle noticed the only remaining car, other than hers, was parked near the top of the lot. �Hey, nice car� she said as she looked at the black Porsche in front of them.
�Thanks. I like it. It gets me from point A to point B. I guess that�s all that matters. It gets me from point A to point B rather fast too, I might add.� He chuckled as he opened the passenger door for her. Michelle sat down and noticed how comfortable the leather seats were. She thought about how the plastic ones she had made her butt stick to them on really hot days. They were soon on they�re way. Josh drove from one street to another, down one highway and onto another. As he drove, they talked. Michelle told him how she had inherited the bar from her uncle three years earlier. She had been only eighteen but was a business minded person so had decided to give it a go. It had been fun and prosperous until the last six months. �So Michelle, where do you want to go for breakfast? He asked.
�Doesn�t matter to me. Wherever you want, is fine. I�m not picky as long as the food is edible.�
�Hmmm�decisions, decisions. Okay, how about Eat-N-Park? I know that sounds lame but I love their Midnight Buffet,� he offered hoping that would be adequate for her. He wanted to be a gentleman and at the same time, impress her.
�Eat -N-Park it is.� She agreed. �The buffet is great. I totally approve.� She grinned.
The car made a few more turns and the two could see the sign less than a block away. Josh pulled the car in and jumped out of his seat and rushed to Michelle�s to open her door. He reached out and took her hand and helped her out of the car. As they made their way through the restaurant, Michelle noticed a few heads turn in their direction. She looked down to see if her skirt had maybe risen. It was in place. She took her hand and put her hair in place. Finally, she shrugged it off. They made their way around the buffet and sat enjoying both the food and each other�s company. Michelle wondered why when she hinted around to what Josh did for a living, he was so evasive. That worried her a little bit but figured it was just one date. If he didn�t tell her it would have to be their only date. She hoped it wouldn�t be though. He had captured her. When they finished their breakfast, he pulled out her chair and led her to the door. Just at the feeling of his hand on the small of her back, she thought she would melt. She kept her cool, though. He never knew by any of her reactions what effect he was having on her. He just knew that he was completely head over heels.
As they were again driving, Josh decided to pull into what he felt was a romantic spot. They walked down the pier and sat at the end. Michelle looked around and saw they were alone. The moon beamed down upon the water. The waves quietly washed back and forth. Josh slid closer to Michelle and put his arm around her. For a few minutes they sat in silence. Then, he whispered into her ear, �Michelle� he put his hand on her chin and pulled her into an embrace. She pulled back and lowered her head. �Michelle? What�s wrong? I�m sorry. I thought��
�Josh,� she said with a deep sigh, �I can�t.�
�Why? Did I do something wrong? I thought we were feeling the same things.�
Michelle looked at him sadly and said, �Josh, you�re right, something is wrong. I�ve dropped quite a few hints to you about what you do. You refuse to answer. That scares me. I just got out of a difficult break up and there were a lot of lies. I can�t get involved with you if you�re not going to be honest with me. The way you�re acting I feel like you�re in the Mob or something. I can�t deal with that. Not now, not ever.�
�Oh Michelle, I�m so sorry. I�m not in the Mob, and I�m not purposely trying to lie to you. This is the thing. I don�t like to tell people who I am, exactly. When you find out, you might understand why. I told you my name is Josh. Well, it�s Joshua Chasez and I�m a performer, with *NSYNC.� He explained.
Michelle blushed and put her hand to her mouth. �Oh my God!� she said quietly, �I can�t believe I didn�t recognize you. By the way, I love your music. Uh�have your CD�s at home and listen to them a lot. I can�t believe I didn�t recognize you. I�m so sorry. I feel like an idiot now.� She looked away.
He turned her face back toward his again and told her, �Michelle, don�t apologize. It was so nice that you didn�t. It was really cool getting to know you without you thinking I�m just some Casanova pop star. It happens so often to me, and I never know if the girl likes my career or me. I�m so sorry to hear about your break up. Those are tough. I�ve had my share, too. Now that I have cleared that up, is this alright?� and he again pulled her to him. This time she did not back away but kissed him. As the kiss lingered on their lips, he smiled and gazed into her eyes. �Can I make another confession? He asked.
�Yeah, sure. I guess.� She answered, wondering what was next.
�I don�t want to sound like I�m bragging, but I�ve met a lot of girls. You�re different; you make me feel different. Like a kid in love for the first time. I like this and if it�s all right with you, I�d like to see where this goes. I don�t think I�m wrong but by that kiss I think you�re feeling something too.�
�Josh, from the moment I first laid my eyes on you, the hair on the back of my neck stood up. That has never happened to me before. Yes, I�m feeling something for you. And yes, I to, would like to see you again.�
They sat together on the pier as the sun rose. It was a sunrise like no other. Especially in their minds.
SIX MONTHS LATER
Michelle and Josh walked along the cobblestone road. They looked upward toward the top of the Eiffel Tower. It was so much more breathtaking in person than in the pictures Michelle had seen. They sat along the street at a little caf� and Josh took Michelle�s hand into his. As he held her hand, he moved around so that he was in front of her. There he kneeled. �Michelle Elizabeth Horton, would you do this awkward, totally in love guy the honor of becoming my wife?� He asked as he pulled a box exposing a diamond ring, from his pocket.
�Awkward? I don�t know about all that, but my answer would have to be, YES!� she answered, her heart jumping for joy inside. �I cherish the thought of being your wife.� He placed the ring on her left finger and kissed her.
�I promise you Michelle, I will make you the happiest woman on earth. Every day that we have together.�
A tear trickled down her cheek. �I know you will, and I will do the same. I�m so glad you chose to walk into my bar that night.�
�Me too. I love you.�
