Third Date (6 page)

Cupping my elbow, his fingers teased the fabric. “That's exactly what this was.” Lifting two fingers to his lips, he kissed them and flicked his fingers in the air. “See you soon.”

My body went up in flames, turning to hot sparks with his touch. He had been the first man to touch me in years, and no matter how much I wanted to shut down the feelings streaming my muscles; I couldn't.

This is ridiculous.

I'm ridiculous.

What the hell did I get into?

Kinsley

“H
e what?”
Gina asked, her voice tempered with confusion.

“He showed up at the school, Gina.”

“What do you mean he showed up at the school? Why the hell would he do that?”

“I don't know, you tell me, you hired the guy.” Pouring the box of mac and cheese into the bubbling water, I tilted my head into my shoulder to hold the phone against my ear. “Did you guys even do any checks on him? I mean he literally lied through his teeth to my boss to get in, then watched me like a predator stalks their prey. You know he could've gotten my ass fired—he could
still
get my ass fired.”

Her breathing hit the receiver as she let out an annoyed grunt. “Of course we checked on the guy, Kin. And the man has an incredible portfolio. He was featured in Entrepreneur magazine on two different occasions, has a running list of highly respected women who rave about their success through him and finding love. Shit, Kin, even Farah Lynberg was a client of his.”
Farah was a local news anchor, who's running list of men included four actors, and a bigwig lawyer from downtown.

Gina went on, “I'm sure he knows what he's doing, he wouldn't have credentials like that if he didn't.” Her voice broke off, yelling into the distance. “I swear if you touch him one more time... Don't roll your eyes at me! That's it go to your room! I said go!”

“Everything alright?” I asked, stirring the pasta, as Fay danced around my ankles singing the Kraft jingle. But no matter how many times I heard the same, “I got the blues,” line, it never got old.

I guessed that might change as she got older. From the screech in Gina's voice, a child nearing the age of seven, had completely different views on what was annoying.

Glancing over my shoulder, Fay looked up and smiled, continuing her tune.
Maybe it's just boys that are different.

“Yeah, we're good. Look, Kin, just give Layne a chance, I'm sure there's some rhyme to his reason. Don't knock him out yet.”

“Yeah, maybe,” I said, skirting around my tiny ballerina, and grabbing the milk from the fridge.

“So when are you supposed to see him again?”

“Hell if I know, he said he'd be in touch.”

“A man who leaves you trickled on the edge of your seat, I like that.”

“Well, I don't. I hate not knowing what to expect. What's he going to do next? Show up while I'm grocery shopping?”

Fay paused her solo, snapping her head up at me. “Mommy, are we going to the store?”

“No Honey, not today. Go get washed up for dinner.” Plating our easy meal, I leaned against the sink. “Gina, can I ask you something?” My eyes scanned the hall, making sure Fay was out of hearing distance.

“Anything.”

“Why does this feel wrong? I mean, I know my husband has been gone for years, but the thought of looking for someone else makes me sick. I can't shake it, and I've tried.”

“Kinsley, it's not wrong. You're just not ready to let go, but when it happens, and if you do meet someone, that feeling will go away. Trust me, you'll know.”

Fay's tiny feet patted their way back down the hall, her hands held out in front of her face, twisting them to show me she washed up. Smiling at my daughter, I nodded for her to sit at the table. “Thanks, Gina.”

“Love you girl, now if you'll excuse me, I have some troubled youth to knock down a peg.” A soft giggle played into my ear, the sounds of fighting kids in the background crashed through speaker.

“Well, good luck with that.”

“Don't wish me luck, they're the ones who need it. Call me after you talk to Layne again, I'm so fucking curious what this guy has up his sleeve.”

“You and I both.” Flicking the phone off, I grabbed dinner and rested it at the table.

It was weird, I had started my family with two, Max and myself. Dreaming of the day I'd serve the entire family, and the moment when we would all be huddled at the table, sharing the day's stories.

And for some reason, this still held that same familiarity.

Just the two of us.

Only now, Max's spirit was embedded in the young face of our daughter.

He had never fully left, there would always be a piece of him here forever. And that was beginning to be enough for me.

I'll always have my husband and the memories, but I don't have my life.

I have to change.

It's time for change.

Layne

G
oing to the school had been interesting for me. Kinsley didn't seem to get too frazzled by my being there. That was good, very good.

Aside from the giant cock she was holding tightly when the principal opened the door, her nerves had remained unseen. Either she was a woman who was great at hiding her  feelings, or the classroom was where she thrived.

From the short time I watched her in class, it told me a lot more than I expected. Kinsley owned that room, the way she held herself showed the strength that coursed through her veins.

She spoke with assertiveness, never wavering in her demeanor. Gliding around the room on an invisible platform that all the children looked up to. She had control, she had passion for her work. And she didn't let my presence get in the way of what she was doing.

I liked that. And I also like that she wasn't an eyesore to stare at for a couple hours.

I had to be careful not to get a damn hard-on while sitting there. But there were children around, my control should have earned me a medal.

Her breasts bounced with each step as she walked, her long hair fluttered across her back and framed her face as she leaned over to help the kids. The woman was breathtaking, stealing my thoughts and eyes instantly.

No, Layne. She's a client.

That was a road I couldn't go down. Rule one of many: Never get involved with a client. That one I put on top, right next to; Don't give away your own personal information.

I wasn't there to shed my past, who I was as a person, where I came from, none of that shit was for the ears of my clients.

My job was to learn, search, and make a match. Help the person find themselves, help them gain confidence, and then place love right at their feet.

Except, I had this aching feeling that none of the women I'd worked worth ever  compared to Kinsley. The ladies I was used to being around were lost in every area. They had failed relationship after failed relationship. They spent too much time with outward appearances, from the brand of shoes they wore, to the fucking tag on their underwear.

Useless shit that doesn't matter.

They were all demanding Mr. Right, while refuting to change one ounce of themselves. If there's anything I've learned, you can't sweat the small stuff. But I always succeeded, finding those women a guy that would mesh with their personalities.

And let me say... It wasn't easy.

I've had my challenges, and conquered them all. Kinsley had just become the next notch on my challenge belt, and I would conquer her too.

But there was something different about her. She didn't appear to be a woman who would have a hard time finding someone on her own, I just couldn't pinpoint what the underlying issue was.

There had to be something, and I was determined to figure that out.

But the real test would come tonight, date number one. I needed to see her outside of her comfort zone, and the guy I lined up would hopefully do that.

He was a buddy of mine, Taylor, my go to guy for all the first dates. I knew he was someone I could trust, and wouldn't immediately storm off if the date went sour. I guess you could call it cheating in a way, but I always felt safe with him there.

Safe is one thing that the female clients I worked with needed. Taylor provided that, with well detailed notes on what he thought.

He was an accountant by day, and my wingman at night. I'd been in this business for over three years now, and he'd been with me from the start.

It also might have helped that he was single, and lived by the motto:'I'm a no strings attached man.' Taylor didn't want marriage, he didn't want the family life or the weight of having to be in one place.

That was one thing we had in common, maybe that was why he became my best friend? Love was something I stayed clear of, I never let anyone get that close. I couldn't, not yet.

But Taylor was all about freedom in every way possible. And his freedom had to be a list that held over a hundred names.

I knew Kinsley would think that a date was way too much so soon, but I looked at it as breaking the ice. Gina had told me that she hadn't been on an actual date in over seven years,
seven years.

Which I found bizarre because she was so damn gorgeous. How could not one man even take the time to ask her out?

There has to be something off with her that her friends never mentioned.

The idea just didn't make sense. Kinsley was drop dead beautiful, had a body I would kill another man to get a chance with, and she certainly wasn't lacking in the brain department.

So why the dry spell?

Flipping through my phone, I pulled up her number and dialed. “Kinsley, it's Layne.”

“Hello, how's things?” She asked with a nervous flutter in her tone.

“Informative.”

“Why's that, did you follow me around? Trail me around town, watching from a creepy distance?”

She didn't have to say anything else to give away her annoyance over my dropping in at her school. I could picture her with her hand on her hip, eyes hooded, head cocked to the side.

I didn't have to follow her around to see the signals of what she'd looked like right then. I had already spotted those subtle ticks at the school, observation was key.

And I watched everything.

“You can take your hand off your hip, I didn't follow you.”

There was a drawn out pause before she finally spoke. “How did you know I had my hand on my hip? Are you watching me now?”

Chuckling, I said, “No, I told you I'm not a stalker. This is what I do for work, and you've already given me the hand on hip look. Remember?”

“Oh, I guess I did.” A tense giggle hit my ear, my cock jerking to the melodic tone of her laugh.

What the hell?

That's not supposed to happen.

My eyes shot to my waist, glaring at the semi forming in my jeans. Adjusting myself, I took in a large breath of air, forcing the blood back to my head. Immediately, I started flipping through extremely unsexy images in my mind.

Teller at the DMV, lady that delivers my mail, Loretta in her bikini.

Loretta was my neighbor downstairs... She was a very nice woman, but she was well into her sixties, and did not have the form that was flattered by a bikini anymore. Also, the hair on her upper lip, and hair that puffed from places I never wanted my eyes look at, didn't help her cause.

Shaking my head, I said, “I watch to learn who you are, Kinsley, everything plays a part in what I do.”

“I guess I'm not used to anyone paying that much attention.” Clanking noises broke through the speaker, the sound of water running echoed in the background.

She must be doing dishes. Good she's not too busy at all.

“Get used to it, because I do a lot of that. Alright, let's get down to business. Tonight I need you to meet me at Duffy's. Come dressed casual, but no jeans.”

“Tonight?
Layne, did you forget that I have a child, I can't just run out anytime I want to. I don't even know if I can get a babysitter right now.”

“Don't worry, I have that covered. Gina will be there by seven.”

“Seriously? You called Gina?”

“She told me she'd be there for anything I needed, and honestly, I've never seen someone so anxious to babysit before.” Flipping through my closet, I grabbed a deep blue blazer, tossing it onto my bed.

“Yeah well, you don't know Gina's kids. They're a bit more rambunctious than most kids. But she's got three, I only have one, I might be itching to get out too.”

Her voice seemed to level out, the anxiety giving way to relief that I took a responsibility off her shoulders. I wasn't used to my clients having children, but Gina assured me that if I needed any help at all with Kinsley, just to give her a call.

Thank you Gina.

“Alright, I'm going to let you go so you can get ready, and I'll see you in a bit.”

“Wait, you haven't told me what were doing?”

“No, I didn't, and I'm not going to. See you soon, Kinsley.” Hanging up the phone, an excitement was brewing deep inside my gut.

That same dangerous feeling started to well up in my core, taking hold of my muscles and making my stomach scrunch with an odd warmth. Kinsley was a beautiful woman, and in a little while I would start phase one.

The first date.

***

“T
aylor, what's going on man?” Stuffing my phone into my pocket, I leaned in and gave him a stiff slap on the back.

“Not much, same old. So, you got another one for me tonight?” Taylor asked, slicking his hair back. The collared button-down shirt hugged his thin frame, khaki pants hanging loosely over his brown dress shoes.

“You know I do. Now look, this one is a little different than the ones I usually bring you. So pay close attention.”

“Layne,” he said, holding his arms out. “You know I always do.”

“Yeah, but not that way. There's something about this one I haven't figured out. She'll be here in a few minutes, her name is Kinsley. I'll bring her in like usual, and send her your way.” Taylor nodded his head, and walked into Duffy's.

The two of us had a system. Taylor would find a nice booth tucked in the back if he could. I would take my client, give her some helpful hints, and lead her to the table.