Page 9 of Cookies and Cream

SIMON

“I’m glad you didn’t leave without saying goodbye,” I whisper in Layla’s ear, and she shivers.

There are so many things I want to do to this woman. But first things first. I need to get to know her better. Hell, I’m thirty-eight years old. One-night stands and random hook-ups with strangers should’ve been well in my past.And now that I’ve met Layla, hopefully, they will be.

There is something about the beautiful curvaceous petite woman that has held my attention from the very moment I laid eyes on her. Our initial connection was sexual, but I can feel it in my bones that it’s more than just lust between us.

“I told you I wouldn’t leave. Besides, you sorta demanded that I stay,” she says as she turns and looks at me.

Layla’s gaze sweeps over me from head to toe, and she smiles seductively. Her lustful thoughts are written all over her gorgeous face, and the look alone is almost enough to deter me from my original plan ofnottaking her to my office and fucking her silly. But I shake my head and get back on track.

“You gotta stop lookin’ at me like that, sugar. Or you’re gonna find yourself in a world of hurt.”

“Hmmm. My bad. The last thing I wanna do is be… hurt.” Layla’s eyes flicker, and I can see the sincerity in them.

I know she’s trying to be light and flirtatious, but the worry shows on her face, and it gives me the feeling that she’s been hurt before. And the last thing I want to do is hurt such a beautiful woman. I don’t know much about Layla especially who might have mistreated her, but I want to get to know her.

“I want to take you out on a date. Are you busy on Saturday afternoon? That is if you don’t have to work or anything,” I say, stepping into Layla’s personal space.

I can’t help myself. I have an urge to be close to her when we’re in the same room. It was an exercise in my willpower to stay busy, so I wouldn’t look like a fucking stalker staring at her from across the bar.

“No, I’m not working or anything. But, you wanna go on a date?” Layla’s eyes search mine for a second before the confusion that was covering her face turns into delight. “Really?”

“Of course. I would ask about Saturday night, but I have to run the bar. I don’t want to leave my staff short-handed,” I explain.

“No, I totally understand. I wouldn’t want you to leave them short-handed either.”

“Great, so it’s settled. I’ll pick you up on Saturday around eleven. I don’t have to be here until around eight.”

“Then, I guess it’s a date!” Layla brightly beams.

“Let me walk you to your car, and we can exchange info.”

“Okay.”

“Freddie! I’ll be right back!” I holler over the lingering crowd and the semi-loud music.

“Alrighty, boss!” Freddie throws up his hand and continues to flirt with a woman.

I chuckle and grab Layla’s hand leading her out of Taters and into the parking lot. I have a day to plan an afternoon date for a woman I know nothing about. I’m excited, but for the first time in forever, I’m nervous as hell.I hope I don’t fuck this up!

***

I had no earthly idea what to do for my afternoon date, but Google is everyone’s friend. The only problem was there were a million and one “afternoon date ideas.” My brain was about to explode from all of the shit that I had to scroll through. There were balloon rides, carnivals, rock climbing, hell, there were even skydiving excursions.

I didn’t want to do too much in the few hours I had, so I kept it simple, and I hope like heck that Layla enjoys herself.

I pull up to Layla’s townhome, kill the engine to my Ford F-150, and hop out. The neighborhood is nice, and she doesn’t live far from me. It only took me fifteen minutes to get here, and in Dallas traffic, that’s a win.

I ring the doorbell, and after a few beats, the door swings open. Layla is standing there looking like a fresh-faced teeny-bopper, and I smile.

“I didn’t know what to wear, but it looks like I was right on the money,” Layla chuckles.

I notice how she’s dressed and look down at myself, and I start to laugh. We are both wearing light blue jeans, white t-shirts, and chucks.

However, Layla’s chucks are pink, and mine are the classic black, but it goes to show how much we have in common without even realizing it.

“Wow, I didn’t know we were going to coo-ordinate,” I say the classic line from the movieBoomerang, and Layla bursts out laughing.