You Look Very, Very Pretty Tonight

Dani Cambrella walked into Charlie’s Tavern. Her nose crinkled as she sniffed, a cloud of smoke hung low. She sniffed again; it was a mix of stale beer, cigarettes, and if Dani’s sense of smell was on, a cigar.

“How fucking obnoxious.” She shook her head, “Bad enough there’s no smoking allowed, but a cigar… what a douchebag.”

She walked over to the bar and pulled out the barstool the furthest from any of the other patrons and swept her hand across the surface, hoping to only find crumbs. Satisfied, she sat down and pulled out a twenty, placing it on the bar. The sticky surface told Dani she was exactly where she wanted to be.

A dive bar.

A place where anonymity was a cloak.

The bartender, a tall gangly man, with gray hair and thick glasses stood in front of her.

“What are you drinking?”

“Gin and tonic, two limes.” She held up two fingers.

“Two limes,” he mumbled under his breath.

He shook his head as he walked away.

Yeah, two fucking limes.

He walked back to her with a highball glass filled with clear bubbly liquid and two slices of lime clinging to the side.

“Any gin?”

“I’d like Tanqueray Ten if you have it.”

If the limes got him, then the Tanqueray floored him.

He smirked snidely and said, “Lady, look around you, does this place look like we have Tanqueray Ten,” he stared at her like she was speaking Dutch, “how about Gordon’s?”

She wrinkled her nose. “Beefeater?”

“That we have.” He poured a decent shot before placing the glass in front of her.

“Thank you.”

“Welcome. Do you want to start a tab?”

“No,” she pushed the twenty towards him, “I’ll pay as I go.”

He returned with her change and placed it next to the glass.

Dani drank deeply, nearly draining her glass. Then reached into her purse and retrieved her cell phone, placing it on the bar. With the tip of her finger she scrolled through her emails, the words flying quickly, until she found what she was looking for.

The sender, unknown, the message, disturbing, and her reason to be anonymous.

You will soon pay for what you did to me and my family. 

You have ruined my life. 

You will pay.

She repeated in her head. A threat for certain, but Dani has had her share of threats from her share of lowlifes.

Danielle Cambrella, Private Investigator… Discreet, Effective, Affordable.

She was proud of the tagline on her business card. Had come up with it on her own; classy ivory stock with elegant gold script.

She scanned the room. An elderly couple at the far end of the bar had their hands all over each other; his cupping her breasts, hers his crotch. She watched, entranced for a few moments, before turning her head away.

Wow, that gives new meaning to eldercare.

She looked around the room and landed on the source of her wrinkled nose. A man sat across the U shaped bar drinking what looked to be whiskey, smoking what definitely smelled like a cigar, his face half hidden in the shadows. She took another sip of her drink before holding her glass up for the bartender. He nodded.

She lifted her eyes up, noticing the man sitting across from her was leaning forward. The dull lights above the bar cast a glow over his face, turning his eyes an eerie blue. She did notice he was looking directly at her.

Dani didn’t flinch. Didn’t look away. She kept her gaze even with his, and watched the red glow at the tip of his cigar following the fading red tip disappear as it was snuffed out in the ashtray. 

He lifted his drink and laughed out loud as she mimicked his motions. 

The cool refreshing taste of the gin and tonic slid into her mouth. She closed her eyes and smiled as the taste of fresh lime washed over her tongue.

'Now that’s a good gin and tonic'.

“Another?” The bartender stood in front of her. She hadn’t realized she spoken out.

“Yes. Just like this one.” 

“Sure.” He walked off. When he returned he announced “That one’s on Bill.”

“Bill?”

He stepped back affording her a view of the man across from her and pointed.

Dani lifted her glass up, “Thank you Bill.”

“My pleasure…” he paused.

“Dani.” She gave him her name before she could think it through. Fuck it.

“My pleasure Dani.” He stood up and grabbed his drink, “May I?” he asked, indicating her side of the bar.

“Up to you… be warned… I bite.” 

He walked around the bar with his drink in hand and happily for Dani, his cigar in the ashtray where he’d left it.

“I’ve been bitten before. I’ve had my shots.” He smiled as he placed his drink down and pulled the chair next to Dani out.

She shifted in her seat.

“So what’s…”

“Bill,” Dani cut him off, her hand in the air, “please don’t give me ‘the nice girl in a place like this’ line.”

He tilted his head back and let out a chuckle, “I was going to ask you, what’s the appeal of a gin and tonic that had you rolling your eyes?”

“Oh. I’m sorry…” Dani blushed, relieved for the cover of darkness.

“You looked lost in that drink.” He smiled and for one second, she was lost. “Don’t get me wrong it was sexy as hell… that euphoric look on your face.” He shook his head.

“Mmmm, euphoric? I was thirsty, and it was refreshing. I guess that could be somewhat euphoric.”

“Now this might sound like a line, but it’s not. Trust me.” He looked directly at her, “You look very familiar to me.”

She turned her head and ran her eyes from top to bottom. He was tall, with dark hair and light eyes, strong jaw, handsome as all hell, and looked out of place in a suit… not to mention this place. 

Then it hit her… like ice water in the face. She knew this man. She followed this man. She investigated this man. His wife… what was her name… Julie Sommers hired Dani to get the proof her husband was cheating.

A chill ran up her spine as she remembered how much she was turned on watching this man have sex with a variety of women. He was very resourceful, and creative. He liked his sex spontaneous and in a variety of places. There was even one time outside a New York City hotspot between buildings.

Dani remembered the video camera shaking as she filmed him with a woman against a brick wall. She delivered the photos and the films as paid for. But she didn’t give that tape to Mrs. Sommers. That one she kept for herself. She actually blushed as she remembered watching it over and over while she masturbated. She’d never done that before.

This man was very virile to say the least.

“I’m sure I would have remembered you. I never forget a face.” She lied.

“Well, let’s take care of that right away.” He extended his hand, “William Sommers.” His eyes held her captive, and she was unable to turn away. She’d forgot how handsome he was. She felt her flesh heat up, her face redden while her nether region began throbbing.

Quickly recovering she extended her hand, “Danielle Cambrella.”

He took her hand in his, “Nice to meet you Danielle.”

“Dani.”

“Dani it is.”

“So to quote a cliché, how is a beautiful woman like you, in a dive like this drinking alone? Meeting someone?”

“More like avoiding someone.”

“Sounds mysterious.”

“It’s not really. I just didn’t want to go to my usual ‘dives’, thought this one was as good as any other.”

“Well, lucky for me you chose this ‘dive’.”

“Now William, that was a line.”

“Bill.”

“Bill,” she said smiling. Maybe tonight wasn’t going to be as bad as she first thought.

After two more drinks, the sexual tension was building.

“Hungry?” Bill asked.

“For what?” she replied.

“Food. What were you thinking of?”

“Sex.” Dani was nothing if not direct.

“I think that can be arranged.” He took her hand in his and lowered it to his lap.

She almost gasped when she felt the size of his erection. 

“Well then, arrange it.” Dani was feeling more than a tingle at this point.

“As you wish.” He raised his hand and called out, “Doug.”

Doug was there in a flash. Dani was surprised the man could move so fast.

“Let’s settle this.” He pulled a bill from his pocket, “keep the change.”

“Thank you Bill.”

As they walked out the door and got into a cab Dani asked him, “This a regular place for you?”

“Nope. First time here.”

“Oh.” She was curious.

Bill stepped aside so Dani could enter his apartment. She looked around then turned to him, “Where’s the bedroom?”

“Lady knows what she wants.”

She reached out and grabbed his sizeable erection. He reacted quickly reaching around her, unzipping her dress. She stepped out and stood before him in a bra, thong, thigh-hi stockings and a pair of black stilettos.

“Jesus Christ,” he mumbled.

He pulled her body to his, and she felt his hardness between her legs, she was throbbing at this point. 

“Jesus Christ,” he repeated himself.

“Fuck me.”

“I intend to,” he replied.

He lowered his arms and lifted her up, she wrapped her legs around him as he walked to the sofa. 

***

“That was amazing,” Dani murmured, out of breath.

“That was fucking great.” He smiled raising his hips up and down for emphasis. “Now that we got the monkey off our backs, let’s refuel.”

She smiled wickedly.

“Gin and tonic?”

“Love one.”

“Two limes.”

“I love that you paid attention.”

“I always pay attention.”

He stood up and walked naked to the kitchen.

“Fuck me,” she said low.

“What?”

“Never mind.” She blushed.

“I thought I heard a ‘fuck me’ request.”

“Okay, you got me. You did.” 

“Here you go.” He held out a glass for her.

“Thank you… and thank you.” Her meaning clear.

“I’m ready to roll.” 

“Me too.”

She sipped her drink and placed the glass on the table.

He pushed her back and she grabbed the material of the sofa between her fingers.

Dani felt the heat build inside her. She released the sofa and grabbed his silky hair between her fingers pulling his head down to hers running her tongue along his lips tasting a smooth caramel sweetness. Bourbon. She’d know it anywhere.

His face contorted, and he pushed his hips against hers.

He rolled over and stood over her.

“Now that was fucking good.”

“Hell, that was amazing...you’re amazing.”

He handed her the drink she’d left on the table.

“Restroom?” she asked.

“There. Second door on the left.”

She returned a few minutes later and walked over to where she’d thrown her purse,  reaching in she pulling out her cell.

“Damn it.”

“What’s wrong?”

“I just remembered I need a file emailed to me first thing in the morning and my phone is dead.”

“Use my computer.” He pointed to the corner of the room.

“Thank you. You’re a lifesaver. I’ve got to have this file for a meeting. I’ll be right back.” Dani looked at him standing there, feeling her insides heat up again.

Sitting in front of the opened laptop she opened his email program and was about to hit the ‘compose’ button when she noticed her email address. Confused she clicked on the email.

She turned around to find him standing there. It didn’t register at first.

“I told you you’d pay,” he said as he ran the blade over the soft flesh of her throat.

She lifted her hand to her neck. Her ears throbbing as she let out odd gurgling noises through her fingers.

“Stupid bitch. Lost my family because of you…”

That was the last thing she’d heard.