You nabbed me at Merlot

The lights are low and I allow myself the pleasure of listening to the soft hum of whispered voices that drown out the music. The tables are spaced nicely, far enough apart that you would have to elevate your voice a notch to be heard clearly, giving each table the illusion of privacy, while remaining close enough together to be profitable for the restaurant. God, this guy is going to be an ass. I didn't and likely would never have picked this place, but here we are. First dates are always...tedious, but throw in a set up where the only information you've got is a first name, Max, and you've got yourself a party. My incredibly well-meaning mother is always meddling, especially since my brother got hitched--now I get all the heat to "settle down".

I debate ordering a bottle of wine to help pass the time and prepare for said date to be less than titillating. My mother has sent a few objectively decent guys my way but I just haven't clicked with anyone. I just wish she could grasp the fact that I am looking for a partner in this life, not a caretaker and I desperately wish she would either send a guy who isn't looking for a woman to stroke his ego, or maybe even be open to anyone who even has a chance compliment my personality and inspire me to be better, not just...the men she's been trying to set me up with. I let out a sigh as I check my watch and a pair of red pumps catch my attention in my periphery.

"Excuse me," the voice is extremely pleasant. I look up quickly, and cannot stop my jaw from going slack. Her bone structure is impeccable, and her eyes are striking. "Are you Paige?" I blink twice in rapid succession before reminding myself to shut my mouth and breathe.

"Yes--sorry. I am." My brow furrows as I try to process what is going on.

"I'm Max, and I am so sorry that I'm late. I hit traffic on 94--an accident." She moves and sits in the chair across from me. "Anyways, I'm rambling, and you're staring at me like I'm crazy." Her smile grows, crinkling her eyes and wrinkling her nose, efficiently causing my heart to stutter. Breathe!

"You're Max? Max as in...Max?"

"Max, short for--oh no." The smile on her face is gone, replaced by a wince. "You were expecting Max as in Maxwell."

"Yes." Well that came out too quickly. Shit, she's frying my circuits. "No! Not like that. Like-" I groan. This is not going well. Look down and get a grip you bumbling idiot! "Yes. I was expecting a man but..." I let out a puff of air, trying to scrounge up the courage to glance up. I note the single arched eyebrow when I finally lift my eyes. I inhale again and blow out a long, slow breath. "I'm sorry. I just. I wasn't expecting Max, you, to be-"

"Female?" A grin joins the brow. I nod.

"My mother, sets me up a lot-" another wave of embarrassment hits me at the implication. My speech speeds up "-not a lot a lot! But like enough for it to be easier to just go to dinner with a guy every few months than to fight it and she has never-"

"Paige?" My mouth audibly smacks shut. Fuck, real smooth.

"Hmm?" I avert my gaze and feel my cheeks redden further.

"Breathe?" I comply. "Are you straight?"

"No." My voice is so much quieter than usual. Snap out of it! So what if she's gorgeous.She is not the first knockout you’ve ever seen! No, but she is the first gorgeous woman to be here with me.

"Would you like to have dinner with me?" Yes! "Or, we could end the evening here and-"

"No!" My head snaps up. "I'd-" Breathe. "I would like to have dinner with you, if you can excuse my behavior." There we go. Now you're starting to sound like an adult again. Max stands up, and she moves gracefully reaching for her purse before moving to stand next to me again. Oh! A reset?

"Excuse me," her tone is lighter than before. "Are you Paige?" Her smile is full again, and just like the first time, it trips up my heart.

"Yes." I can roll with this. Okay Paige, let’s go. "You must be Max, pleasure to meet you." I force myself to breathe again. "Would you like to share a bottle of wine?"

"I'd love to. " She makes her way back to her seat.

"Would you like red or white?"

"Hmmm...." the sound quirks my eyebrow. "How about red?"

"Merlot?"

"Sounds perfect," her smile is light and I find my own lips are turning up at her in response as I flag down the waiter. Maybe this wasn't such a bad place to be.