Picking up strangers at a bar could be as easy as flashing smiles and throwing around compliments or as complicated as a choreographed dance. Alex liked to think that she was intuitive when it came to determining just how far she needed to turn up the heat to get what she wanted. When the bartender stepped over to fulfill her drink request, she leaned over the counter to call out “Manhattan” over the music, so he’d know what she’d been drinking the first time. The man nodded wordlessly and swept up the empty glass to set aside to be washed by another bartender before he set to work making her another cocktail.

While she waited for her drink, she turned back to Daniel, who was looking a little smug in response to her comment about his appearance. It seemed like she’d been right about her guess that he took pride in the way he looked. She pocketed that tidbit of information away for later use just in case she needed to think of a reason to flatter him again before the night ended.

Leaning casually against the counter, she nodded along attentively as he explained that he was out celebrating a friend’s engagement—although he didn’t miss the opportunity to hint that he’d had successful presentations before. [i]Wizard of the humble brag,[/i] she thought amusedly, continuing to fit together the puzzle pieces of who he was in her head. The allusion made her wonder what exactly he did for work though. If he was giving any presentations at all in New York City, he had to hold a position of some importance.

“Well, that’s good to know,” she laughed when he clarified that the friend who was currently hitting on Whitney wasn’t the same one who’d just gotten engaged. “If it was, I’d feel bad for his fiancée. Whitney over there doesn’t mess around.” As she spoke, she peered over her shoulder at the two, who were already practically attached at the hip as they teased and flirted with each other over drinks. From just a glance, she could already tell the redhead was ready to jump at the chance to go back to his place if he asked her. She was eyeing him as if he was a sirloin steak from [i]Eleven Madison Park[/i].

Turning back to Daniel, Alex pondered over his assessment of engagement parties. “I’ve never been to one, so I’ll have to take your word for it,” she admitted with a shrug. Weddings weren’t exactly commonplace among the homeless men and women of the streets, so there was no practical need for couples to get engaged either. Telling him that she’d never been to an engagement party wouldn’t give away her dirty little secret by itself though. She was sure there were plenty of other women who hadn’t attended events like that either, especially at the plucky young age of twenty-two. “If it was really that boring, I guess I’ll just have to do my best to keep you entertained over here, huh?” she added with a flirtatious wink.

The bartender returned with her cocktail, and she picked up the glass, pretending not to notice the way his dark eyes subtly wandered down to her chest. Unlike Chad, though, this man’s stare was gratifying rather than unnerving. It was funny how the same action could be perceived so differently just based on the way she felt about the person attached to it. While the first guy she’d talked to had made her want to put on a heavy coat, the suave businessman made her feel like the sexiest woman in the room. She couldn’t help but adjust her posture a little to show off the curves he was discreetly admiring.

“I just came here to get out of my apartment for a while… have some fun,” she answered his question, smoothly lying through her teeth. “What’s the point of living in the city that never sleeps if you don’t take advantage of the hot spots around town? And I have to say, this one is turning out to be [i]quite[/i] hot.” Intentionally, she bit her lower lip as she grinned at him waggishly. “At the risk of sounding like a cliché, do you come here often? I’ve only been to this bar a couple times before, so I’m not exactly a regular.”