I didn't take my eyes off of Cindy Lou. I knew that I was risking Lizzie's displeasure that way, flirting with the girl before I got permission, but it wasn't as if I was pawing at her ass already or anything. And I think Lizzie was fairly broadminded as well as realistic. I wasn't going to steal the girl away if I really picked up the vibe that the two of them were going to get together. Lizzie would realize that. And I didn't think she was the type to hold it against you if you got something that she would like but knew she couldn't have. And Cindy Lou, from where I was looking at the sweet, gorgeous, naive thing, was out of Lizzie's league entirely.

"Would you like to have a drink, dear?" I said to Cindy Lou. "I'm sure that Lizzie won't mind if I buy you a drink. Will you, Lizzie?"

Lizzie sighed and threw up her hands. I think she was starting to get the picture now, and coming back down to earth after wishing a fantasy about this kid.

"No, go ahead, I don't mind. Buy me one too while you're at it," she said.

"Of course. What are you two having? Name your poison, come on."

"I'll have vodka on the rocks, I think," Lizzie said, moving up to the bar. She stepped up on the other side of me, leaving me access to the girl.

"And what about you, Cindy Lou? Let's see, from your part of the country a mint julep, I suppose, huh?"

"I don't think I ever had me one of those, to tell you the truth, though I heard they was popular down there where I come from," she said.

"Well, actually, I'm not so sure they'd know how to make one here, anyway, so why don't we think of something else for now, okay?"

"Oh, yeah, sure, I don't care. How about a… what do you call them? A martini. Can I have one of those? I think I'd like them."

I smiled and glanced at Lizzie who then winked at me.