The Men of CLE-FD updated Read Online Free Page A

evening.
    Making his way to the bar area he did not see Anthony or Lincoln, but was concerned with the number of people occupying the space.  He was off duty but never off the clock when safety was a factor.
    He decided to ignore it for now since the party was for friends of his.  Rapping his knuckles on the surface of the bar to get the bartender’s attention, he noticed a woman standing less than ten feet from him talking with another woman.  The red mini dress she wore clung to her curvy body.  He watched her posture.  She didn’t slouch but stood straight with her shoulders erect.
    Besides the red dress being chic but basic, her accessories were modest and not gaudy.  He loved the way a woman’s legs looked in heels and the dark- red shoes she wore had very high heels.  Her smooth brown legs were sexy slender and sleek.  Her head slightly turned and in the dim light of the club, her eyes sparkled as she laughed at whatever she and the woman were talking about.
    He could not take his eyes off her.  The bartender broke his gaze. “What can I get you?”
    Orlando cleared his throat. “Yeah, I’ll have a Heineken, and a shot of tequila.”
    “ Coming right up,” the bartender said disappearing.  
    Orlando returned his attention to the woman who was now with a group of people talking.  It seemed years had passed since he had last been intimate with a woman.  His divorce was not amicable and to deal with it, he threw himself into work.  He volunteered to take extra shifts and used the money towards the expense of updating his house.  The judge awarded him the two-story brick colonial he shared with his ex-wife and he decided to remodel it and put it on the market.
    The bartender returned with his drink order.  Swallowing the shot, he took a swig of beer never removing his attention from the woman with a body causing his heart to skip beats.  A sudden urge of wanting to have a conversation with this woman came out of nowhere.  This was not the first time he had been in a place surrounded by beautiful women.  Some had even approached him with offers to buy him drinks or prepare dinner for him. This woman, however, he had zeroed in on as soon as he walked in the door, and that had to be a sign. 
    Hell, he was at a party and due for a night of fun, and if her status was single, he wanted to spend it with her.  He eased closer to shorten the distance between them.  He felt sweat tent on his forehead.  He had been out of the game of making the first move too long.  He was not sure if he had any game left that women had not already seen or heard.
    He’d always been able to attract women by flashing his boyish smile or flexing his muscles; that wasn’t the problem.  At thirty-six-years of age, his confidence was strong, but not as it was when he played the field.  Women today expected men to show their worthiness upon introduction or face the hand turning them away.
    He took in a deep breath and decided to go for it.  He inched his way in her direction until he was standing less than a foot away from her.  He could smell the citrus aroma of her perfume.  Wanting to avoid tired pickup lines, he settled on, “Hello.”
    She turned her head to him, smiled, and said, “Hello.”
    Ouch, so much for my big approach he thought as her attention went back to the people dancing.  He rocked back and forth on the heels of his shoes not ready to throw in the towel and walk away.  “I wouldn’t be a gentleman if I didn’t say how stunning you look in that dress.”  
    She gave him a smile sliding her hands down the sides of her dress, and answered, “Thank you.  Are you here for the birthday party?”
    Bingo!  I got her attention.   “ Yes, I was invited by some friends but I don’t see them,” he said shifting his body to look around the room.  “By the way, my name is Orlando.”  He offered his hand hoping she would accept it.  
    “ I’m Regan and it’s nice to meet you, Orlando.”  She