running along his left jaw line, about six inches long. It gave him a mysterious, yet dangerous aura.
“ Drink up, girls,” he said raising his cocktail glass to them. “This is my hangout on Friday nights; lots of enjoyable, professional people come here. I noticed you two as you came in. I watched you dance with the young man and it looked like he was trying hard to convince you to go with him. My name is James, James Welborn. You can ask anyone behind the bar if they know me.” He nodded confidently in that direction.
“ I have a place not far from here, and also a yacht for which I’m known to have some pretty good parties on the water. I’m not trying to get you two alone and have my way with you like that other young man.” He flashed them a smile that did not quite reach his eyes.
Something about him intrigued Pam. Not the money, not his good looks or demeanor. Just something was drawing her in…something she could not explain. “When is your next party?” she found herself asking.
Barbie had been sitting quietly at her side, also intently watching this man. She, too, was feeling somewhat drawn to him. He had a nice body, which she could see by the fit of his polo shirt. Handsome, but it was something else. Something else was drawing her as she watched him sensuously stroke the side of his cocktail glass with one long, manicured finger.
“ As a matter of fact, I am having a party tonight. My parties start late, real late. Why did you ask?” He looked directly into Pam’s face without blinking, as though his eyes were smoldering precisely into her inquisitive mind, mesmerizing her.
“ Um…well, I thought maybe we might want to come…if they are as popular as you say they are, and the bartenders know you and all,” Pam said slightly squirming in her seat. She definitely wanted to party with him. He was incredibly captivating and something emanated from him — not cologne, but rather intoxicating, something reminiscent of sex ! That was it…he oozed sexual magnetism. She looked over at Barbie and saw the odd look in her eyes. She obviously sensed it as well.
“ You’re welcome to join us. The party starts at the stroke of midnight.” He glanced casually at his rose gold Patek Philippe watch. “That’s in another hour and a half or so. I don’t live that far from here. Would you like to come to my home first? My yacht is docked right out back. People usually begin arriving a little before midnight. That’s when the party gets rolling.” Pam looked at Barbie. Should they? Shouldn’t they? Their mutual eye contact screamed yes!
“ We took a cab over here from the hotel, so I guess we need to ride with you?” asked Pam. She gathered her small purse, as did Barbie. They rose to leave, never giving a thought to going off with a stranger.
* * *
CHAPTER THREE
On the ride to his home in James’s Bentley Mulsanne, the girls were excited. Something was going to happen tonight; they didn’t know exactly what, probably get laid, but not sure. James was an enigma for certain. Riding up front, Pam could still get a whiff of the aroma James was exuding, and it was almost making her giddy.
Barbie, in the back seat of the luxurious auto, was staring out the window at the variety of dazzling lights of the nightclubs, people laughing and talking as they strolled from bar to bar. Finally, the lights were behind them, and the gaiety slipped away as they cruised further out of town on N. Roosevelt Blvd.
James turned down Hilton Haven Road and drove for another few minutes before pulling up to the large iron gate that was opening slowly for the car. Pam could barely see the expansive estate at the end of the long curving brick-paved drive, due to the heavy foliage and trees looming in the darkness.
James finally parked directly in front of a wide stone stairway and helped each of them out of the vehicle. He led them up the stone steps to the tall, wooden