One of the creative remedies for this was to try to get Jeena “picked up” in several situations. In relating these events, I am employing things she has told me about conversations I was not a party to and things I saw and heard.
One of the things we tried with some success was to get her picked up in bars. The basic plan had her going into the bar (usually during happy hour) a few minutes before me and sitting at the bar. I would follow her in after a bit and take a seat in a different part of the bar where I could see her. If she was not approached in about a half hour, I would join her and we would probably have another drink and leave. If she was approached by a guy she liked, she would be flirty and interested but not disingenuous. She would not claim to be unmarried; in fact she always wore her wedding ring. If a guy asked about it she would say her husband was meeting her later. This is because we did not want the guys who would say “sorry, sorry, sorry” and slink away. We also did not want the ones who would say “so let’s go in the bathroom or back alley before he gets here”. We wanted guys who were eager but who were cool with the husband thing. This first memory tail tells of the kind of guy we were looking for.
We were staying for two nights at the Fremont Hotel in Lincoln Nebraska while I called on some accounts. This was one of the nicer lodgings in town and was frequented mostly by sales reps and people doing business with the university. We checked in about 5:00pm, had a bite to eat from room service and decided to try out the hotel bar at about 8:00. It was early fall so Jeena wore a turquoise sweater that, while long sleeved ended about two inches above the waistline of her black yoga pants. Her outfit was finished off by four inch heels and an ankle length black sweater coat with turquoise flecks through the weave. She was 23, 5’5”, and 103pounds at the time with raven hair half way down her back. Her goal (which she achieved) was to look hot but classy. She had plenty of pure slut cloths but this was not the right setting for that.
She entered about ten minutes before me and went to the bar. As I entered I could see the bar at twelve o’clock, stage at nine o’clock and the rest of the room in tables. The bar was quite busy this Wednesday night with the mix being about perfect for our purposes. Aside from Jeena and the three cocktail waitresses, there were no more than four women in the room accompanied by 30-40 men. I remember thinking to myself, “well, I guess all the traveling salesman jokes have some basis in fact”. Jeena was sitting on a stool about at the center of the bar talking to the bartender. The two stools on either side of her were unoccupied. I moved to a table against the wall at three o’clock so I could see her and 90% of the rest of the room.
There were four guys sitting at a table directly in front of me who, while I could not hear them, seemed to be obviously concentrated on Jeena. Their nonverbal cues told me they were trying to decide which of them would take a crack at her. After a good bit of discussion, my hypothesis was confirmed when one of the guys stood, straightened himself, and walked to where Jeena was sitting. He was white, well over 6’, about 30, with broad shoulders and medium length wavy brown hair.
He asked, “Can I join you?”
She said “Sure” and he sat down to her left.
“Can I buy you a drink” he added.
“You know all the right things to say” she responded.
The drinks were delivered; they touched glasses and drank a sip.
He then asked her “How do you come to be here?”
To which she responded she was waiting for her husband to meet her later.
He allowed that he meant how did she come to be in Lincoln but added” since you mentioned the H word, can we talk until he gets here?”
“Absolutely “she replied, “and probably after that too”.
She said the last part with an evil glint in her eye that she was just then perfecting. This look has served her well for many years since. For the first time he looked at her as if he was not quite sure what to make of her or what she said.
He may not have been sure what to do so he put out his hand as she did and they exchanged names. Then ensued about ten minutes of inane small talk which need not be recounted here. It is significant to note that, after shaking hands, he put his right hand on the back of her stool and then a couple of minutes later on her shoulder. She, of course, gave no discouragement. A second round of drinks was bought and started. Then he said something funny which she has never been able to remember. Jeena laughed and put the palm of her hand on his chest. He responded by moving his right hand from her shoulder to her thigh. She did not move her hand and neither did he. She looked down at his hand and then up to engage him in a long “meaningful” stare. The three guys at his table took note of his progress.
For a long moment I thought they might kiss, but then he said “Look, do I have a chance here?”
“You do” she said.
“But what about the H word?”he asked with confusion in his voice.
“He likes to watch” she said placing her hand over his on her leg.
“I’m not bi” he said resolutely.
“Neither is he” she replied.
“Well I’ll be damned” he said chuckling “I never thought things like this ever really happens”.
“It really has” she responded while giving him a sultry level stare.
The three guys at his table were elbowing each other as it became more and more clear that their friend was “in”.
“Is it too soon to ask your place or mine” Tim said with a boyish grin.
“Not too soon and I don’t care which room” Jeena replied.
“Do you need to stop by your room for anything?”He asked.
“I have everything I need right on this stool” she teased.
“I bet you do” Tim reacted. “What I am trying to say is when will your husband get here “He asked.
Jeena put her hand on his leg and turned to look around saying”Oh he is here somewhere”.
“You’re kidding” Tim said as he followed her stare.
“I told you he likes to watch” as she spotted me and waved.
I got up and moved to the bar when she waved me on over.
I walked to the bar; Jeena made introductions and slipped out of sweater coat, handed it to me and excused herself to go to the bathroom. I was pretty sure the safest subject for Tim and I to discuss was her.