Third Date (8 page)

“Layne, we don't need to talk about Layne. Let's talk about you. How do you like your coffee?”

“My coffee, why?” Knitting my brows, I tilted my head unsure of what he was asking.

“So I know how to make it for you tomorrow morning.” His tongue dragged over his teeth, chest puffing up as he tried to flex what little muscle he had.

Is this guy serious?

The gentle crackle breaking in my ear halted the stabbing words I was about to let loose on this jackass. “He's really trying that on you, what a putz. How are you going to react to this one? Think it over and answer colorfully.”

He was right, I didn't want to be a complete bitch. But Taylor needed to know that his drab pickup lines weren't going to work on me. “It's nice that you want to make me coffee, but I'll be making my own, alone at home.”

“Ouch,” he said, holding a hand to his heart.

Switching up his game, I asked, “Now you tell me something, does that line ever really work?”

'Perfect,' Layne said, his quiet voice only for me to hear. A playful smile teased my lip, spine firming that I had handled the situation to Layne's liking.

Taylor's demeanor changed instantly. He went from flexing his muscles, to a sincere smile on his face. “You know, sadly it does. I mean I won't complain when it helps to get me laid, but I can tell you're not that type of girl. Good for you.” A genuine laugh expelled from his lips, hand coming down to slap the table top.

A waitress approached our table, carrying two drinks and an order of nachos. “Here you go, Sir. I'll give you guys a few minutes to look over the menu.”

“Thank you, but this will be good for now. If we need anything, I'll let you know.” Taylor grabbed the small plate from the edge and started to fill it up. “I hope you don't mind I ordered you a tequila sunrise, and some nachos for us to snack on.”

“No,” I said surprised. “Tequila sunrises and nachos are my favorite.”

“I know.”

“How did you know?” I asked, brow arching high.

“Let's just say a little birdie told me.”

Glancing at Layne, he sent me another big smile, and said, “I learned a lot from Gina. She knows quite a bit about you.”

I should've known.

Why am I surprised?

But I couldn't help but wonder why she told him so much and left out the biggest part of why I was single. Not that I minded, that was something I would much rather explain when the time was right.

I guess Gina did know me well enough to know that too. Some things aren't for everyone to share. And that one was for me to say when I felt it was called for.

Stretching across the table, I took my plate and started to fill it. “I hope you don't mind only getting about four nachos, because I could eat the damn plate.” Scooping some up, I laughed, and unwittingly dropped a large mess of cheese, chips, and sour cream onto my lap.

“Shit,” I said under my breath.

Chuckling, Taylor swiped up some napkins. “You could eat the whole plate, if you can find your mouth. Here, let me help.”

As he started to raise up from the seat, I held my hand up. “No, thank you, I got this. And to think I wanted to return the dress after tonight, guess I can cut the tags off now.” Wiping my crotch, where the food so kindly fell, my elbow shot out, bumping my drink.

As if it all happened in slow motion, Taylor was mid-stance, leaning over the table, and of course the drink didn't just spill.

No, because that's not my luck.

Instead the drink practically jumped a foot high, coming back down to soak my entire chest and Taylor's neck and face.

I don't even know how I actually managed that one, but I did. “Oh, no! I'm so sorry.” Flailing my hand out in apology, my fist crashed into his face, and I felt the crunch of his nose under my knuckles.

“Ah! Fuck!” He yelled, his hands flying up to cup his face. A small trickle of blood slithered over his lip, tilting his head forward, he balled up some napkins and pressed them to his nose.

The crowd around us grew quiet, eyes falling over the two alcohol drenched people in the rear. “Nothing to see here folks, it's just a little spill.” Taylor snatched some more napkins, wiping his face. “I'm not going to lie, I didn't see that one coming.” His voice was more nasally than deep, muffled by the napkins covering his face, and his fingers pinching the bridge of his nose.

“I'm so sorry, I don't even know how that happened.” Looking myself over, my waist was covered in greasy splotches, chest drenched in cold liquid, and my date was basically bleeding out through his nose. “I'll be right back, I'm going to go clean this up the best I can.”

“Sure thing, I'll be right here. And I guess we'll need the waitress now for a little help.” Taylor's lips hung awkwardly, sucking in air through his mouth. “Hopefully I don't get black eyes from this.”

Heading to the bathroom, I said to myself so Layne could hear, “Smooth move, real smooth.”

His voice bellowed back, loud and filled with amusement. “You're telling me. That was good.”

“Laugh it up, go ahead.”

“I'm trying not to, but Taylor sometimes deserves a drink in the face, the punch was a bit much, but I'm sure he's earned a few of those over the years too.”

“Yeah, well, I didn't do it on purpose, otherwise I wouldn't feel so bad.”

Standing in the bathroom, I did my best to clean up the mess I created. Staring at myself in the mirror, I was embarrassed that I had to walk back out in public that way.

This is awful! How can I sit at the table like this?

I look fucking ridiculous.

And I drew blood from my date. Not a good start, Kin.

The trim of my dress was wet and dark, creating a ring across my breasts that looked like sweat. But the worst part was my lap, it literally looked like I had just pissed myself.

A giant wet spot was decorating the center, and small tiny specks of grease dotted the outer areas. This was not how I expected my night to go. A flash date, ending with me looking like I had a bladder condition and overactive sweat glands, and Taylor looking like he got into a bar fight.

“Hey, you coming out at any point, or do I have to come get you?” Layne barked in my ear.

“I'm coming, I'm almost done.” Pushing the button for the heat dryer, I bent awkwardly beneath the hot air, trying a last ditch effort to dry the areas.

The bathroom door flew open, causing me to freeze in place. But it wasn't a woman, it was Layne. “What are you doing in here?”

“Me? What the hell are you doing?” he asked with a smile, nodding to my body ducking beneath the vent.

Forgetting that I was bent unnaturally under the heat, I snapped my spine straight. “I was... I was just trying to take care of this.” Holding my arms out, the spots were still boldly visible.

“Alright, let's go, date's over,” Layne said, holding his arm out.

“What, really?”

“Yeah, I sent Taylor on his way. And he was glad I ended it, said his hair was starting to stiffen from the drink—Which I so kindly pointed out to him was actually his excessive use of gel, not the drink. But whatever. And his face might be a tad swollen.”

“I really messed this one up, didn't I?”

“No, you did great.” Cupping my shoulder, he hugged me tightly. “You didn't let his suave words reel you in, and you didn't let the little mishap send you running out the door. You held your ground and poise, and that was amazing.”

“Huh, well, who knew I had poise.” Giggling, I joggled my head side to side, flicking the strap of my dress.

I was trying to make light of my clutzy ways. I knew the date ended because I had completely embarrassed Taylor. Everyone in the damn restaurant was staring at us, and the look on his face was of disbelief, not compassion for my butter fingers.

But at that moment, I wasn't too concerned with what Taylor thought of me. I was snuggled under the arm of a man who made my heart skip. A man who had charm, and knew how to make a woman feel good about herself, despite her flaws.

When his hand curled over my shoulder, and he pulled me in, I felt perfect.

Everything in that moment felt perfect.

The weight of his arm, the firmness of his muscles.

All of it felt right.

But it's wrong. He's your... Teacher.

You can't fall for your teacher.

Kinsley

W
hat the fuck am I doing?

I can't stop thinking about him!

This could be really bad.

Not only did Layne make my heart skip a million beats with his eyes, not only did he make my skin flush with desire, the man paid attention to my every move. I wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad thing.

If he could read me as well as he seemed to already, how the hell would I hide the attraction I felt towards him?

He was being paid to help me, not paid to make me feel a freaking thump of emotion for him. But it was there, and I didn't know what to do with it. I kept trying to tell myself that I only felt the way I did because he was the first man to touch me since I lost my husband.

It had been two days since the embarrassing and horrible date with Taylor. But it wasn't the date that stood out, it was Layne brushing my elbow, touching my fingers, scooping me under his arm.

His muscles were steel, arms strong and possessive as we left the restaurant. And I wanted more, more of what I could only imagine he could give.

Stop being crazy, Kin. You're just emotional.

What I felt was normal, right?

It was normal to feel a little heat when you played with fire, it was normal to suffocate when you held your breath, but it wasn't normal to let it consume you.

And Layne, he had infiltrated and consumed my thoughts.

Tucking Fay into bed, she smiled up at me with closed lips. “Mommy, tell me another story about Daddy.”

“Another story about Daddy... Alright, let me think.” I loved this part of our day. Sending Fay off to sleep with dreams of her father in her head. Thinking really hard, I searched my memory for a good story. “Okay, did I ever tell you the story about the raccoon?”

Fay shook her head no, smiling big. “No, what raccoon?”

Slipping my fingers over her head, I said, “Well, one time, long before you were even in my belly, your Daddy and I were going out. So, we had left the house and were walking to our car, and your Daddy...” Pointing a finger and brushing her nose, she giggled. I loved her giggle, it was the sweetest tiny laugh in the world. “Your Daddy yelled really loud, like really
really
loud.”

“He did? Why did he yell?” Her eyes grew large, wonder filling her gaze.

“Well your Daddy yelled really loud because he had gotten scared, but I didn't know why he was so scared. And then he pushed me into a bush as he ran by me really fast.”

“He pushed you, why did he push you?” Fay's brows turned in, her little face twisting with a hint of anger. “You said pushing wasn't nice, Mommy.”

“Yes, Honey, pushing isn't nice. But Daddy was frightened, and he didn't really do it to be mean. But, do you know why he shoved me into the bush?” Shaking her head no, the curiosity flooded back into her eyes. “He pushed me into the bush because there was a giant raccoon standing on the garbage can, and it scared him so much he just wanted to get away.”

Fay started to chuckle, her small hands flying to her mouth to cover her lips. “He was scared of a raccoon?”

“Yup, he was. So you know what I did? I chased the raccoon away, and saved Daddy from the big furry animal.”

“That's funny, Mommy. I can't believe Daddy was afraid of that, that's so silly.”

Swooping my hand down her cheek, I kissed her forehead. “It was silly, but that was only one of the times I got to save your Daddy. There are a few more, but now it's bed time.” Folding her blanket over her shoulders, I tucked her in tight. “I love you, Honey, sweet dreams.”

“I can't wait to hear another story. Daddy was funny, huh?”

I could feel my eyes start to fill with tears, as I said, “He was, he was very brave, but he was very funny when it came to animals and bugs. Now get some sleep.”

“I love you, Mommy, good night.”

Flipping the switch off, I left her door open a crack, and headed out to the living room. Wiping away the hovering tears on my lids, I sucked in a deep breath and couldn't help but smile.

I loved telling my daughter stories about her father. It made me feel like she knew him, even if she didn't remember him. Those stories meant everything to me now, and sharing them with her was a blessing.

Walking around the room, I cleaned up some toys, tidied up the coffee table, and flipped on the television. Fay usually fell asleep without any issues, and it gave me time to just sit and relax.

Having a child took up so much of my day, and now that she was older, I had to be creative to keep her busy. So down time... well that barely existed.

I found myself making games with her to clean the house, using paper towels and cleaning spray to hunt down dust as if it was a giant alien we needed to save the world from. Other days we would have folding races with the laundry, and at her tender age the questions seemed endless.

I had to admit, my reaction time to come up with an answer had become record winning, even if the answer wasn't exactly one hundred percent correct.

But to Fay, it never mattered. She had an answer and that kept her content.

Searching the guide station, my phone pinged. Grabbing it off the table, I noticed Layne had sent me a text.

Swiping to read the message, it said,
“Hope the little person is asleep, put on your dancing shoes, I'll be there in ten.”

What?

Is he serious?

Jumping off the couch, I ran to the blind and peeked at the driveway. But no one was there,
at least not yet.

Shit! Is he really coming now?

My heart began to trapeze around my rib cage, slamming around like a trapped bird. All the nerves in my body ignited, electrified and charged with a nervous excitement. I stood like a stunned animal in my living room, starting to walk one way, then turning to go another.

I had no idea what to do with myself, or if he was just bluffing; but I knew deep down, he wasn't joking, he was on his way to my house.