Nightmares from Within (8 page)

His lightheartedness was quickly rubbing off on me, because before I knew it, I was playing right into his trap and flirting back. “A pep talk, huh? How’d that work for you?”

“Pretty good actually. Myself told me that I’m a reasonably attractive, thirty-something with a 401K and dental insurance. We’re fairly positive that I’m a total catch, and we both think you’d have a great time if you let me take you out.”

I cocked my hip and crossed my arms over my chest. “You know you sound a little certifiable right now, don’t you?” I asked through a grin.

“Myself says it’s all part of my charm.”

I caught movement out of the corner of my eye and glanced over to see Benny and Cassie huddled together at the hostess stand. Their undivided attention was on mine and Jordan’s interaction and there was no masking huge grins on each of their faces.

I shook my head at my friends and turned my attention back to Jordan. “Yourself might be lying to you,” I teased, surprised that I was actually flirting
again
.

“What if I told you I also had medical insurance and own my own home that my mother
does not
live in?”

For the second time in as many days, I laughed a real, genuine laugh deep from within. “When you put it that way, how could a girl resist?”

He clapped his hands together in triumph. “I knew I’d wear you down. Now give me your number before you have time to change your mind.”

I quickly scrawled my number on a blank order slip and passed it his way. He pulled out his wallet and slid it in carefully like he was taking extra care not to wrinkle it.

I’d just taken a major leap into the unknown, and while it was scary, it was a completely different, exciting kind of fear.

Jordan

“You’ve seen the girl two times for all of five minutes. How is it that you’re already pussy whipped?” Stevens asked.

I swear to Christ…if Barry Stevens wasn’t my partner, I’d murder him. I was seriously contemplating it as it was. He’d been on my ass all day long about what went down at the diner that morning.

“I’m not pussy whipped, you moron. It’s called courting. You should try it some time. Maybe if you’d do more than grunt and leer at women like a pervert you’d actually get someone else to play with your dick for once.”

“My dick gets played with plenty, fuck you very much.”

I let out a derisive laugh as I got in the driver side of the car while Stevens squeezed his gut into the passenger seat. He was wrong. I wasn’t pussy whipped, but there was definitely something about Taylor that enthralled me…and it wasn’t just that she was beautiful. But Christ, that girl was beautiful. Long, dark, wavy hair that went almost all the way to that perfect ass of hers made me want to wrap it around my fist as I took her. The woman had curves that would tempt a priest. But it was her eyes that drew me in the most. They were the most unique brown I’d ever seen, almost like burnished copper. Despite how gorgeous they were, there was a sadness behind them that shouldn’t have been there. Her eyes held so much sorrow and I felt compelled to make it better.

There was no doubt in my mind that she was several years younger than I was and had obviously experienced something bad in her life that made her hesitant. The nervousness that radiated off of her was almost palpable and I usually ran in the other direction when it came to women with that much drama, but I couldn’t stay away from her. I hardly knew her, yet I was already certain that if she gave me the chance, I’d do everything in my power to take that pain away. It didn’t make sense. I wanted to know her. I
needed
to know her. And in just a few more hours I was going to get my chance.

I’d been on countless dates in my life, but for the first time ever, I was actually anxious at the thought of taking the beautiful Taylor out.

Huh…maybe I
was
pussy whipped.

If I was anxious I could only imagine how Taylor was fairing considering nervous seemed to be the norm for her. She was probably freaking the hell out. I started to wonder if she was considering bailing on the date and decided I should cut her off at the pass, just in case. I pulled out my cell and scrolled down to her number.

Tonight was happening no matter what.

Taylor

Oh God, what the hell was I thinking saying yes to Jordan? I’d never been on a date before, yet I picked Jordan as my foray into the dating world; a good looking man who was probably an expert at all things relating to women. Instead of dipping my toe in the kiddy pool I’d just cannon balled right into the deep end.

Shit.

Even yoga wasn’t helping. I was currently in my living room, spread out on the floor in child’s pose. I should have been relaxed…centered, but instead I was hyperventilating and about two seconds away from a full blown panic attack.

That’s it, I’m cancelling.

I didn’t care if Cassie threatened to kick my ass before I left work earlier. I couldn’t go through with it. Agreeing to a date with Jordan was a mistake. After all, it wasn’t as if I didn’t have more important, essentially life ending decisions I needed to concentrate on. I should have been worrying about that rather than freaking out over a stupid date that wouldn’t even matter in the long run. Nothing was going to be able to come from the date anyway. I was destined to end up either crazy or dead. Nowhere in either of those scenarios was room for a relationship.

I was right in the middle of thinking up a good excuse when my cell phone chimed.

J: If I was a betting man I’d lay down money that you’re having second thoughts.

How could he have possibly known that? Was he another Daniel or something? God, I really hoped that wasn’t the case.

T: What makes you say that?

J: You seem nervous by nature so I was just guessing.

He wasn’t another Daniel…just an intuitive know it all. My phone chimed again a few seconds later.

J: So am I right??

I wasn’t willing to admit to him that he was. He already seemed cocky enough so I did the one thing that always came naturally…I lied.

T: Well, I wasn’t but I am now. Not cuz I’m nervous, but cuz you seem like a jackass.

He texted back almost instantly.

J: LOL. Not a jackass, just anxious to see you. Don’t cancel…Please.

I felt ridiculous. I was sitting on my living room floor by myself blushing like an idiot because of a single text message.

I’m in trouble.

I dug in my closet for the better part of an hour trying to find something that qualified as “nice”. My wardrobe mainly consisted of work uniforms, jeans, yoga pants, t-shirts and Chuck Taylors. After what seemed like forever, I finally managed to locate my one and only dress; a navy wrap dress that Benny bought me for my last birthday.

It had a neckline that dipped a little low but not enough to make me look slutty. It fell a few inches above my knees and hugged my curves in a very flattering way. When I’d unwrapped the box it had come in, the first thing I’d thought was that I was never going to have the opportunity to wear it.

At that very moment I could have kissed her for buying it for me. I blew my hair dry and added just enough product to keep my waves under control. Makeup was never my thing so I kept it simple with a small amount of blush, a touch of eye shadow, mascara and nude gloss.

I paired the dress with the only pair of shoes I had that weren’t Chucks or flip flops; a pair of tan sling back, peep-toe heels that also—not surprisingly—came from Benny. I’d been pacing the length of my apartment for the past ten minutes and nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard a knock on the door. Other than the pizza or Chinese takeout delivery guys no one really ever knocked on my door.

I opened the door and my breath caught in my lungs. The man standing in front of me was utter perfection. His black dress slacks hugged his muscular thighs in a way that should have been illegal. He wore a dove gray button down with the top two buttons undone under a black suit jacket. Visions of me licking the small amount of skin peeking out from his collar swam through my head, causing a full body shiver.

I was pulled out of my daze when he finally spoke. “Wow. Taylor, you look amazing.”

I ducked my head and fiddled with the locket around my neck. “Uh…thanks,” I said in a quiet voice. “You look really nice too.”

He placed a finger under my chin and lifted my face so that I met those hazel eyes head on. “Do you have any clue how sexy you are when you blush?”

My eyes grew wide and my lips parted to respond, but I couldn’t form words. I’d never had a man call me sexy before, especially a man that was the walking, breathing definition of the word itself. “Please don’t hide it from me.”

I swallowed hard, gave a small nod and whispered, “Okay.”

A smirk spread across his lips before he said, “I kind of like that I have that affect on you because the feeling’s mutual.”

I’d never done it before, but I was pretty sure I just swooned. “I affect you?” I asked, surprised.

“Crimson, you have no idea.”

He reached up and tucked a lock of hair behind my ear before trailing his fingers across my shoulder. His fingers whispered down my arm to my hand where he laced them together and gave it a little tug. “You ready to go?”

“Yeah, just give me a second.” I pulled the door open a little further for him to step in as I went to grab my clutch.

“This apartment’s amazing,” he pointed out, as he took in the surroundings.

It really was.

If my parents were going to insist on paying for me to stay out of their lives then I figured I might as well live nicely. Granite countertops and dark, hardwood spread throughout the space. It wasn’t a huge apartment so I had it furnished with the most comfortable, plush furniture I could find. But I didn’t want to get into all the reasons why a waitress at a diner would live in such an expensive place so I just said, “family money,” and left it at that, hoping he’d catch on as I guided him out the door and locked it behind me.

He took my hand again as he led me to the elevator and I was surprised to find that the contact didn’t bother me in the slightest. It didn’t feel like I’d just met Jordan the day before. I felt a sense of comfort when I was around him. He was the only person I’d ever met that could make me feel safe. As we waited for the elevator, I decided to try and dig for information again. “So are you finally going to let me in on where we’re going?”

I saw him smile and shake his head out of the corner of my eye. “You really don’t like surprises, do you?” he asked with a laugh.

I smiled and shook my head, “Not really.”

“You like steak?”

The safety I always felt in his presence was beginning to have a calming effect and I was actually able to relax. “If it’s cooked right.”

“Well then you’re in luck,” he responded as he led me into the waiting elevator. “Canlis makes the best filet mignon you’ll ever have.”

“That’s where we’re going?” I’d never been there, but I knew it wasn’t cheap and it was pretty difficult to get a table at the last minute.

We exited the elevator and he placed his hand at the small of my back to direct me through the lobby. “Luckily, I was able to get a reservation. It took some fancy talk on my part so feel free to be impressed.”