Two

I usually have wine with dinner.

I don't consider myself a wine snob or a connoisseur or anything, I just like to drink.

However, that is not to say that I don't know my way around a wine list.

When I am in the Bay area (usually for work) I like to let my server pick the wine for me. I do this for several reasons. First, their job requires that they be at least semi knowledgeable about wine, especially the good local vintages that may not make it to my town but are abundant in that part of the world. And second, if the server is female and cute it is a lame way to start a comfortable conversation and keep it going throughout the meal.

Sam (Samantha) fit the bill. In fact she was way to cute for me. I generally do OK with women thanks to my ability to hold an intelligent conversation, but I am no Adonis.  Also, it probably doesn't hurt that I wear a suit and am not fat.

Sam on the other hand was stunning. She had one of those ageless faces that always looks like it is on the verge of breaking into a smile. For the life of me I couldn't discern whether she was 22 or 42.

No matter. She brought me a really great Cabernet from a vineyard I knew for their Merlot but nothing more. It was spectacular and I told her as much.

The rest of the meal passed much the way all meals do. Eating. Drinking. Flirting with the wait staff.

When my check came though, my night took a detour.

On my copy of the receipt Sam had scrawled her phone number and a brief note suggesting that I call her sometime.  I was a bit disappointed as I was there for work. So as I got up to leave I sought her out, thanked her, and told her I was only in town for a few days.

To my surprise she said she figured as much and asked if I wanted to get a drink the following evening. How could I say no? I left her my card and told her to call me the following day.