Third Date (7 page)

I always expected a little resistance on the first date scenario, but by the end of the night, my ladies usually settled their nerves enough to have normal conversation.

If they didn't, the date ended in less than two hours, and Taylor went home empty handed. Now, I'm not saying all of my clients typically went home with Taylor, but there were a few.

Which in some cases was a good thing, but not always.

I hated being left to clean up the regretful sorrow of a one night stand they didn't expect, and didn't know how to react to. Taylor was good at doing the dip and slip, leaving without a sound and no number to reach him at.

But that was the perils of dating sometimes. Not all guys are good guys, and not all guys are looking for love. My clients needed to realize that so they could be more on their toes, and by the time I brought them the next potential match; the true match, and not my friend; things went a lot smoother.

“Hi.” The soft delicate voice floated up from behind me.

Turning around, my mouth dropped to my chest. Kinsley was standing with her legs crossed, tucking a small clutch in her hands. Her bangs were pulled back and bumped up with bobby pins, the loose strands draped her bare shoulders.

Wow, just wow.
My chest tightened as I tried to breathe, lungs straining to inhale.

She looked amazing, incredible, completely enjoyable in every way.

Looking her up and down, I took in her form. A tight pink dress fitted her curves, dipping in at her ribs, and flowing out over her thighs. Her legs were bare, and shined with a hint of glossy lotion.

A part of my brain that was all man, pure feral man, wanted to run a hand up her thigh, inhale the scent coating her legs and let it engulf my senses.

Cool down, Layne. She's not here for you.

What the hell is coming over me?

“Hello, Beautiful, glad you could make it.” Softly, I pushed my fingers out and took the chance to brush her skin. She felt cool in the night breeze, a shimmer of goosebumps cascaded up her flesh with my touch.

“Thanks to you I made it,” she said with a smile. “Gina practically shoved me out the door when she got there, telling me to hurry up so I wouldn't be late. I heard that before from her, the same night I met you.” Veering her stare, she brought herself closer. “So what is it that I could have been late for?”

The scent of her hair wafted up as the wind blew gently around us. A sweet mix of cocoa butter and lavender hijacked my senses. My fingers tingled by my side, itching to reach up around her nape and coil into her hair.

Fuck! What the hell am I thinking?

You're being paid, you can't think this way.

“Okay, well this is probably going to shock you, but don't be pissed. This is how I do things, and trust me, it works.”

“What is it? What am I doing here?” Kinsley's leg kicked out to the side, drawing my eyes back down briefly.

There goes her hand and hip again.
God I love that tick.
It wasn't so much that it was a loud statement, or a sexual innuendo by any means... It was just watching her move. Her movements were sensual, her body drug-like and alluring in a way that I hadn't experienced before.

Kinsley had curves, and she used them. Even if she didn't realize she was using them.

“Welcome to date number one, Kinsley.”

“What? A date?”
Her hands dropped to her sides, head kicking back. “Are you kidding me? I'm not ready to go on a date yet.”

“I knew you'd say that, so I have something to help. Hold out your hand.” Lifting my arm, my fingers were curled tightly into my palm.

She didn't know what to think, I could tell. Her head tilted to the side, eyes expanding with wonder. “What is it? It's not like one of those date rape drugs is it?”

Letting out a loud laugh, I shook my head.
“What!
No, I wouldn't give you something like that. Geez, Kinsley, I'm not a freak. Hold out your hand.” Nudging my palm at her, I kept my fist closed tight.

Kinsley eyed my hand, lifting her small palm up. Dropping a small object into her hand, her face scrunched up tight. “What is it?” She asked, turning the tiny plastic device in her fingers.

“It's a small speaker, put it in your ear. I'll be able to hear you and you can hear me the entire time. This way, you're not alone, but I'm not hovering over you like a weirdo.”

“Seriously, I'll be able to hear you on this?”

“Yup, so I'll be with you through the whole date, you don't have to worry about a thing.”

I watched her muscles loosen, shoulders rolling forward with relief. “This is cool, thanks.”

“I told you to trust me, so trust me. I won't put you danger, but I will help you along.” Winking, I gripped her hand and folded it into my arm. “Shall we?”

The touch of her hand for that brief moment sent a surge of electricity up my arm, the spark ricocheted around my lungs, freezing my ability to breathe. My cock pulsed and I had to shake the sensation out of my body.

“Let's do this, Layne. I'm already here, and armed with this spy device, I'm unstoppable.” Kinsley giggled, pressing the speaker into her ear. “I feel like Charlie's Angel.”

“You could be Charlie's Angel, you're already beautiful.” Our eyes connected as her face blushed a pretty shade of pink.

“Thank you, it's been a long time since anyone's complimented me.” The deep amber of her eyes sparkled against the lights above, her thick lashes fanned the lids like tiny canopies.

My God she's so beautiful.

“Really? That's surprising, I'd think you'd hear it all the time.”

Letting out a loud laugh, she shook her head. “Nope. Well... My dad tells me, but he doesn't count. And usually that's just to start a compliment he's giving my mother.” Stepping into the restaurant, Kinsley kept fiddling with the little speaker in her ear. “This thing feels weird, can you see it?”

“No, it blends right in. Your dad seems like a romantic fella, maybe he could come work for me?”

“If you think a man nearing the age of seventy, covered in blotchy tattoos he got while in prison, would help your cause, then I'll give you his number. But I don't think my mother would go for that,” she said while chuckling, then pointing her finger in my direction. “She's the one you'd have to look out for, she's a hot shit.”

I loved seeing her open up a little about her family. That was good, she was getting more comfortable, and letting herself get comfortable with me. That was exactly what I needed if I was going to be able to do my job.

Making a few mental notes about her family, I glanced around the room, spotting Taylor tucked in a booth. Guiding Kinsley to the bar, I pulled out her stool and took the one beside her. “Alright, so your date for tonight is a man named Taylor. I'll point him out to in a minute, but I wanted to let you know that if at any point you want to end the date you can.”

Anytime, literally. Maybe now's a good time to end it?

I couldn't stop thinking about what might happen if she had any interest in Taylor at all. The idea of her leaving on his arm made me sick, my stomach rolled with discomfort, a giant ball lodged itself in the back of my throat.

Focus, she's not yours.

“Okay, good to know. What can you tell me about him?”

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?”

“Nope, that's your job. But remember, I'll be in your ear, so if I think you need the help, you'll hear it.”

Deep down a part of me was screaming to tell her nevermind, let's not do this. The small talk about her parents only kept me wondering more about this woman. I felt myself wanting to learn about her, but not for what I was hired to do.

I wanted to learn about her because she intrigued me, because she was a smart, beautiful woman who deserved a better date than Taylor. I knew how he worked, and I suddenly didn't want her to meet him.

I didn't want her to regret anything, ever. And if she fell into his web of seduction, I didn't want her to feel the hurt after.

But none of it made sense, I couldn't understand why I cared so much about a woman I knew so little about.

“That should be comforting, but I'll be honest...” Her slender fingers twined around each other, braiding together nervously. “I'm really nervous, it's been a long time, Layne. A really long time since I've done this.”

“That's what your friends said, so for you, I did do things a little different tonight. I gave you a lifeline.” Wrapping my fingers around her hand, I squeezed. The same spark flew through my veins, hitting me deep in the gut.

Kinsley's eyes fluttered over our fingers gently coiled together, her mouth parted, tongue gliding over the bottom lip. The idea that she felt the same buzz lingered in my mind for a moment.

The feeling was raw, her skin hot under my touch. But it didn't last, her eyes flashed, hardening around the edges.

Tugging away, her hands fell into her lap. “My friends want the best for me, so I'm willing to try this. But that doesn't mean I feel ready.”

“Sometimes being ready isn't something you realize till you're pushed. Maybe all you needed was that push, Kinsley.”

“I guess we'll just have to find out. Where's my date?” A sultry smile spread across her jaw, head tilting to expose the soft curve of her throat.

I've never had to hold back more in my life then I did in that moment. The urge to caress her collarbone shook the muscles of my arm. The seeded need to grab her and hold her settled in my chest with a resonating thump.

I was being paid to help this woman and suddenly I wanted her to myself. But that's not how I ran my  life. A girlfriend, a wife, a family... That wasn't what I wanted.

I guess it was bizarre for a dating coach to be finding love for everyone else, and never once tried to find it for themselves.

But there was a piece of my past I needed closure to, and until I found what I was looking for, I wasn't ready to settle down.

I couldn't give myself to someone if I didn't even know who I was.

Kinsley

I
can't believe I'm doing this.

Am I ready?

It was hard for me to believe that I was sitting in a restaurant, getting ready to go on my first date in years. My nerves were through the roof, bouncing and colliding with every muscle, tendon, bone...

I was pretty sure I even felt the nerves skipping through every neuron in my brain. My palms were sweating like I had just done push-ups on a heated floor, and my lungs were taking in short breaths like I had just run five miles.

Just don't make an ass of yourself, and you'll be fine,
I reminded myself as I lowered to the floor from the bar stool. Turning to Layne, I said, “Wish me luck.”

“You don't need luck, he does.” Smirking, he held his glass up in a toast. “But I'll wish you luck anyway.” Winking, he nodded his head towards the mysterious man in the booth.

The guy was sitting so his face was away from me, his shoulders had sharp arcs where they bent down into his bicep. His back looked thin and slender under his shirt, black hair shining under the overhead lights gave it a blue tone.

He didn't exactly look like my type, a bit too skinny, but who was I to be picky at this point?

Give him a chance, it's just a date.

Stepping slowly and cautiously towards my blind date, I tried to make sure I didn't catch my heels on anything that was hiding in the tiles. That's happened to me so many times at this point that cautious walking was second nature.

The clicking of my heels was dulled from the music and voices around me, but I could feel every step as it vibrated up my calves.

Just a few more feet.

A soft crackle hit my ear, causing me to jump. “You're doing fine so far, if you ever get there.” Layne's voice sounded like it was literally inside my head. His laugh penetrated my brain, sending hot fire to my belly.

I was about to say something to him, but then I realized I might look insane. A woman, alone, walking in between people, and talking to herself.

Yeah, that would look totally normal.

Shooting a look over my shoulder, I smiled with tight lips at Layne.

I'm going, I'm going.

Bringing the drink to his mouth, his teeth gleamed behind a huge grin as he sipped the beer. Nodding his head, he said, “Don't worry, Taylor doesn't bite. But don't tell him I said that, then he might just to spite me.”

Laughing out loud, a few people turned their heads my way. “Sorry.” I whispered, as I held my hand up and kept going.

Layne's laugh kept vibrating my eardrum, as he watched me from the bar.

Finally reaching the booth, Taylor looked up with a toothy smile. “Why, hello. You must be Kinsley. I'm Taylor, please sit.” His arm stretched out, slapping the cushion beside him.

With huge eyes, I looked up at Layne. He knew what I was wondering and his answer was comforting. “Sit in the other seat, not right next to him.”

“I'll just sit here for now, thanks.” Slipping over the red leather seat, I rested my clutch beside me. “It's nice to meet you, Taylor.”

Leaning back, his eyes studied my face, licking my body. “The pleasure is all mine. So tell me, how does it feel to be back on the market?”

“Excuse me?”

“Well, you're back out dating again, it must feel good.”

“It's different, but I'm willing to give it a shot.”

Taylor brought his arms up behind his head, his beady eyes hovering under thinned lids. “I'd give you a shot, if you know what I mean.”

“I know what you mean, but tell me something...” Pausing, I glanced over at Layne. “How well do you know Layne?”

There was a curiosity that flowed through me about the man who was leading me into the lions den. He had a great reputation, from what Gina told me, and his confidence was electric. When he spoke, or entered a room, you knew he was there.

Even coming into the restaurant people turned to look at him. Layne had a commanding presence, and I wanted to know who he truly was. If I was going to be putting my personal life in his hands, any information would help.

My searches on the internet turned up everything that Gina said. He had a reputation, one that was layered in gold and penned in diamond. But there was nothing on him and his life beyond his work.