Girls, get your flirt on

I ran into my co-worker as he was heading back to the office and I was heading out for lunch the other day. We started into our usual suggestive banter thing when Ali called me on my cell and caught a snippet of our conversation.

"Excuse me, there, Ms. Tease. Exactly who were you talking to just then?"

"Oh, that's Scott. He's about 41 or 42, cute as can be and with a bod that just oozes sex."
"Single?"
"Uh-huh."
"And so ...?
"Oh no, forget that. I never would date anyone from work. That's a disaster. And anyway, he's my flirt."

I heard Ali sigh, a really big, long, deep sigh. "I miss my flirts. Ever since I left work, the only flirt I get is from the Starbucks barista. It's not enough!"

It's true. A single gal just can't function properly in the world if she doesn't have "flirts" — men who give her praise, attention and just the hint of something naughty even though everyone knows nothing will ever come of it, nor should it. It's just validation of us being sexy, hot, desirable women who can still turn a head or two and get a pulse racing, no matter how old we are.

And you can't have just one. I mean, what if Scott quits or gets fired? You have to have a slew of them, scattered all over.

I've got one at the Peet's not too far from my downtown SF office. He's about twentysomething with piercings up and down his ears and most likely in places I'm not sure I want to know about, but he sure knows how I like my cappuccino. And my sense of style. "Are those Choos?"

"Silly, you know I can't afford Jimmy Choo. Discount rack at Macy's, last year."

"If I were your boyfriend, you'd be wearing Choos — with nothing else. When are you going to let me take you out?"

Then there's the deli counter guy who serves up my Caesar salad with "sweetie" and a wink. ""I'm going to put a few extra croutons and cheese on it, sweetie, OK, because you're looking so skinny you're going to blow away one day. You're never gonna find a man if you don't give him something to hold on to, OK, sweetie?"

Back in my 'hood, there's the bartender who tops off my pinot and buys me some munchies every once and a while.

And I think I might be acquiring a new one. Just recently, I noticed my garbage man is being especially friendly. Sure, it was extra pick-up week, but he didn't have to take all those rusty paint cans.

Are these guys working me? Oh yeah. Do they flirt with every women? Probably. Do I care? Oh, please! Because you know, I give it right back to them. Who doesn't want to have a little tease throughout the day?

Girls, do you have your flirt on?