Chapter 3: Red is for Stop…Right?

Sammy wrinkled her nose at her friend. "Really? An open drink... in a club... from a stranger. No thank you! I ain't about to get roofied!"

"Ouch!" a deep voice from behind Sammy almost made her jump. She hadn't noticed the stranger making his way toward them.

"I..." For some reason, Sammy couldn't find her words. Up close she could see the man was dazzling. For a guy in a bar, he smelled good too. Not like sweat and stale alcohol.

The guy made his way around and slid into the booth with them.

"I have never believed in drugging a girl to just talk to them...That came out wrong. I have never believed in drugging a girl, period. I thought sending over a drink was a gentlemanly thing to do. I had no idea it was rude. My apologies, it seems my dating game is off then. Pardon my forwardness, I haven't been out in a while."

Sammy felt herself blush again. His statement echoed her exactly. She hadn't been out in a while, let alone dating. He spoke like those gentlemen from the television. He definitely was not one of the college boys. Such poise and etiquette. She had noticed that he had an accent she couldn't quite place.

His voice was a sweet as honey drippings and was making her resolve melt.

Nelly winked at her and stood up to go join Ricardo and Mindy on the dance floor leaving her alone with the stranger.

"I am sorry. I am not here looking for a date, and also, I didn't mean to offend you with my statement."

A pair of sparkling steel grey eyes studied her in silence. Sammy couldn't get over how every part of him seemed to glow in the dimly lit room.

"I appreciate a cautious girl. I meant no harm, trust me," the stranger said in that raspy accented tone.

Sammy felt herself blush under his scrutiny. She felt a hot shiver pass through her body as she listened to him. It must be the alcohol making her react in this way.

"I don't think I have seen you around," Sammy said and kicked herself. What the heck was that? Seen him around?

The stranger chuckled. "I am from out of town. I am here on business. I don't believe I have seen YOU around. My name is Leo."

"Sammy," she offered. Oh wow! Why had she just given a stranger her real name? She really wanted to bang her head on the table.

"Nice to meet you, Sammy."

"So do you come here often, Sammy?" Leo asked as he gave her a side grin that took her breath away. 'Stranger-danger...more like stranger-handsome-danger.' Warning bells were going off in her head.

Sammy took a large gulp of the drink in front of her, before realizing she had drunk the Datura. What was wrong with her? This man was making her feel every kind of feeling yet all he had done was ask a simple question. She licked her lips. The Datura surely tasted really good. If it was drugged, then that drug was going down smoothly.

"Ummm, yeah.... sometimes but not much, often- no...," Sammy tripped on her words. She could barely make sense of what she was trying to say.

Leo let out a laugh. "I like coming here sometimes as well, whenever I am in town. I usually just get a drink or two and leave. I was planning to do that, but then I saw you and was drawn towards you," Leo said as his eyes roamed her body.

His gaze made Sammy feel like she had turned tomato red from head to toe. If another guy was to look at her in the way Leo was looking at her, he would probably be the recipient of some choice words accompanied by a glass of wine in his lap. But somehow even as he looked at her like she was some meat in a butchery display case, he made it seem sexy and not pervy at all.

"Do you usually pick girls up in a club by buying them drinks named after moonflowers?"

"Ummm, usually, no. You, yes," Leo answered. Sammy chuckled realizing he was making fun of how she had answered him earlier.

"I see," Sammy answered as her finger traced the rim of the Datura.

"It is quite noisy in here. Would you like to go somewhere a bit private, to talk? I would really like to know you a bit better," Leo announced.

Sammy shook her head. Somewhere private? She didn't want to leave, but something about this guy made her feel like those rare encounters she really was tempted to take advantage of. One handsome fella for her memory book. Must be the accent or the Datura working its magic.

"Well, okay!" she said.

Leo smiled at her. Sammy was grateful she was sitting. That smile could have easily knocked her off her feet, literally. She watched as he took out a huge wad of cash from his wallet and placed it on the table.

"I am sure this will cover the bill for your friends as well. Shall we?" he extended his hand.

Sammy took his hand and looked around. There was no sign of her any of her friends insight and decided she will send Nelly a message with her location soon as they reached it. She felt like she was really being irresponsible and taking precarious chances. Leo was still a stranger who could easily kidnap her but something about him made her want to comply with his every demand. Heck, she would have fun if only for tonight. Sami with an 'i', right?