That Night.....Part 5

"Happy Birthday, Mina," Zara squeals. "So what's this? Your 25th b-day?"

Mina throws her head back with laughter. "Absolutely baby girl. I am twenty-five for the 25th time!"

"Wow! Mina, are you really 50 years old?!" exclaims Eve in disbelief. "You looking good girl! I thought you were my age!"

"That man right there keeps me young," Mina points to her beau. Zara knows he is no older than 30 years old and it dawns on her that Mina's husband is around 20 years her junior.

"I'm not even mad at you, girl." The three women giggle in unison.

"Speaking of men...." Mina turns her focus to Zara, "come meet my coworker." Before Zara can protest, Mina calls out to get the attention of a gentleman about 20 feet away. He turns around and his eyes go straight to Zara as if she'd been the one who called his name. As he makes his way over to where the ladies are standing, his eyes stay locked on Zara, undoubtedly checking her out from head to toe. She doesn't avert her gaze either. He's attractive: toffee brown skin, nice build, a bit shorter than Zara's preference but still slightly taller than her, and the most luscious lips she'd ever seen on a man. Had this been any other night, when Zara wasn't already aggravated by the entire male species, she might have felt something in that first moment. Alas, given the past few hours of her night, this guy was just another good-looking guy and Zara was unmoved.

"Zara, this is Sean. He just moved to LA from Indiana..."

"Detroit, actually," Sean corrects her with a smile.

"Same thing," Mina retorts dismissively as she saunters away to tend to her other friends, leaving Sean and Zara alone.

Sean lets out a light-hearted sigh, "I won't argue with that." Zara laughs. She likes his energy. He's cool, light, unassuming and, Zara had to admit, his smile is endearing. Zara instantly likes him but it isn't an explosion of chemistry. She figures he would just be one of those cool guys she could hang out with from time to time. For Zara, he is the perfect candidate for the friend zone.

"Anyway, Zara, its a pleasure to meet you."

"You, as well." The two stand there in an awkward silence for a few minutes. Neither knows what to say, and each senses that the other is equally dumbfounded.

Sean breaks the ice, "My glass is empty. It looks like yours is empty, too. Can I get you another drink?"

"Actually, I think I've had enough to drink tonight. I'm gonna get outta here in a few minutes." Zara extends her hand for a handshake, "It was nice to meet you and I hope you really like it in LA."

Sean looks down at Zara's hand, takes it, but he doesn't shake it for a farewell. Instead, he holds it in his and looks her straight in the eye with a sort of assertiveness. "Just one more drink won't hurt. Or, I can just get you a water if you insist." Zara was struck by something in how he says this. He wasn't begging. It wasn't pathetic. He wasn't trying to convince Zara or sell her on the idea of having a drink with him. It was direct. She didn't feel trapped or forced. There was an inexplicable power behind his statement. It was a challenge. He somehow sensed that she wasn't uninterested and was calling her bluff. This confident, assertive move intrigued Zara. Without a word or further protest, Zara started walking with him towards the bar.

"Soooooo, water?" he asks Zara when they arrive at the bar.

"I think I'm gonna have whatever you're having."

Sean arches his eyebrow with amusement, "You sure about that?" When Zara stares back at him defiantly, he laughs. "Okay. Just don't forget that you asked for it.

"I can handle my alcohol, sir. Don't you worry about me."

Sean orders two double shots of Macallan neat. Zara has no clue what it is but she certainly can't back out now. When the drinks are poured, Sean lifts his glass to Zara in a toast. He doesn't actually say anything. He just taps his glass to hers and watches as she takes the first sip.

"How do you like it?"

"Strong but incredibly smooth."

"Thank you," Sean says with a knowing smile. Zara rolls her eyes when she realizes that he is thanking her for the unintentional compliment.

"So why LA? I can tell by your accent that you are not from here. It sounds a bit east coast. Am I right?" Sean asks, leaning against the bar. As Zara is about to respond, Sean puts his arm around her waist to move her closer to him. She is startled for a minute until she realizes there are a few people behind her trying to get by and Sean's mere intentions were to move her out of the way. Once the crowd passes, Zara starts to move back to where she was but she stops herself. Something about being close to Shawn feels good. The closeness makes her body tense with excitement. Zara notices his cologne, and its intoxicating. She's a sucker for a man that smells good.

"I'm from DC originally. I moved here for my job. What about you? Did you grow up in Detroit?"

"No," Sean responds with a giggle. "I'm a New Yorker. I moved to Detroit with my girlfriend."

Zara's eyes immediately darken. She is ready to check out and head straight for the door. Sean notices this shift.

"Ex-girlfriend!" Sean corrects himself. "My EX-girlfriend. I moved to LA alone." Zara appreciates the clarification, easing her sudden urge to flee.

An awkward silence lingers. Neither is particularly adept at small talk.

Zara tunes in to the music and starts snapping her fingers to the Luther Vandross jamming through the speakers. The music starts feeling good to her, so she closes her eyes and begins to sway her hips with the rhythm. "I just don't wanna stop," Zara sings along. Sean takes her hand, welcoming her closer for their hips to sway together. Zara takes his lead. Sean places her hand on his shoulder and takes her by the waist. She loves the feel of his strong hands on her body. With her eyes still closed, Zara surrenders to the music. She surrenders to the moment.

She moves in closer to him, so close she can identify the notes of mahogany in his cologne. She can feel the sculpt of his chest against hers. She glides her hand from his shoulder up the back of his neck. Sean reacts to her touch and pulls her in even closer. Zara lets out a soft moan as his grasp around her waist gets firmer. Sean's face is so close to hers that they are a mere inch from kissing. Though her eyes are closed, her body senses the proximity of his lips from hers and every hair on her body stands at attention. Her excitement heightens but she doesn't rush into the kiss. She is aware that its coming but she wants him to initiate it. In the meantime, Zara melts in his embrace and his rhythm. The song blended seamlessly into the next song and the next song and the next. Sean keeps his hold on Zara and her eyes remain closed. Her spirit levitates and she escapes to another place. They are suspended into another dimension.

"Damn, you feel good," Zara unintentionally says aloud in a whisper. Sean understood the invitation and smiles. He wets his lips with his tongue. He kisses her, but not on the lips. Sean is far more strategic. Rather, he leans forward and kisses Zara's neck in the sensitive spot just below and between her earlobe and her jawline. Chills flow through Zara's body. She is putty in his hands at this point. Sean doesn't rush to another kiss. He presses his cheek to hers and breathes softly on her neck and ear while they dance. He senses every nerve in Zara's body tense and instantaneously relax.

"Open your eyes," he whispers in her ear and pulls back to look at her face-to-face.

Zara does as commanded. Her head is swimming as if she'd just been awakened from a dream. Sean doesn't immediately lean in for the kiss. He just looks at her. He looks into her. She is completely unnerved yet too hypnotized to turn away. They are still swaying to the music. Neither is thinking any thoughts or contemplating the next move. Time stands still as they continue dancing and gazing into one another. Unexpectedly, and perhaps at the most inopportune time, the lights in the bar brighten and the music stops. It's closing time. As if a magician had snapped his fingers, the two snapped out of their trance and back to the bar on Sunset Avenue.