Chapter Three

LAYKEN

A knock sounded on my office door, making me cringe. “What is it, Jillian?”

She opened the door and peered inside. “I’m sorry, sir, but your mom just called and wanted me to remind you of the gala tomorrow night. I mentioned it two days ago, but I thought I would bring it up again since you have been so busy this week.”

The pounding headache returned with a vengeance. There was no way I could secure such a last-minute date. My parents would chastise me for showing up without a companion. I needed to see a barber stat, and my tuxedo was at the cleaners. I glanced at my Rolex to see I was now due in court in twenty minutes. Fuck me!

“My apologies in advance, Jillian. But I need your help. If it’s not too much trouble, would you be able to swing by the cleaners and pick up my tuxedo? There’s no way I’ll have the time to make it by there in time before they close.”

I removed my wallet from the desk and displayed the cards I had from the cleaners and barbershop. Then headed towards Jillian. “When you get back to the office, could you contact the barber and set up a time for me to get a haircut tomorrow afternoon? There’s no way I can get all this done on my own. I understand you have a lot going on, but this is urgent.”

Glanced to make sure no one was around and kissed her on the forehead. “Would you be so kind as to do this for me, Jillian?”

“You don’t have to beg, Layken. I’ll take care of these tasks for you.”

“Could you cancel our other appointments for the rest of the day before you go? I’m suffering from a migraine. After court, I’ll come back to get my tux before heading home.”

“I can bring it to the courthouse for you, so you don’t have to make the journey back here.”

“Thank you, Jillian, but no. You’ve done too much for me already. I will compensate you for the time you missed out on for leaving the office early.”

I want to care for Jillian the way she deserves, but something is hindering me from developing a deep bond with her. We are both mutually understand of one another’s feelings. The sex is great, but we have nothing in common. There have been a few occasions when we’ve discussed dating. It would be a pointless effort, though. It’s clear to us both it would be a dead end. Jillian is an amazing woman and deserves more than I could give her, anyway.

***

“I suggested countless times in the beginning that settling this case out of court would be best. This was such a waste of taxpayers’ money,” I grumbled to myself as I pushed the button to the elevator.

I was relieved when I went to the office to pick up my tuxedo and saw that Jillian had pinned my appointment for the barber to the outside covering. Jillian is a saint for setting my appointment up for three tomorrow. This meant that I’d be able to relax for most of the day.

Drove the thirty-minute route back home to Georgetown, and found myself parked in front of the cafe where Tenley works. My place is about a fifteen minute drive from here. Thoughts of popping in to see Tenley and glimpse Harper were on my mind the whole way here. My migraine recedes when I glance over and see Harper’s vehicle parked next to Tenley’s.

Imagine my surprise when I saw Harper on the hostess’s bench. My heart skipped a few beats before fluttering back to life. It threatened to beat out of my chest as Harper’s mouth dropped open. She made a full recovery, flashing a smile with her gleaming white teeth.

“You’re Layken, correct? Should I get Tenley for you? She has a thirty-minute break and is in the employee’s lounge.”

My name coming from her lips sounds sublime. I can’t help but imagine her shouting my name out in the heat of passion. Damnit, I need to get my shit together. She’s barely even legal.

Coming back to the here and now, I reply, “Yes, Harper, that would be perfect. Thank you.”

“Follow me, and I will get you seated. We aren’t busy right now, so I’m playing hostess and waitress. Would you like the special and a beer, like last night?”

“Yes, but instead of beer, I’ll have a coke. I need to drive myself home afterward.”

Harper offered a smile and said, “Take a seat, and I’ll be back shortly.”

Tenley strutted up with a smirk, her plate of food and her drink in her grasp. “Aw! Two hours wasn’t long enough for your little sister, so you had to come back and hang out with me again. It’s not even four yet. What’s going on?”

“I had a pounding headache. So I told Jillian to cancel the rest of my appointments for the day, and we cut out early.”

“That doesn’t sit well with me, Layken. You need to see a doctor.”

“Hell no. They will put me on medications that would make me feel worse. All I have to do is alter a few aspects of my life.”

“Yeah, like your workload.”

“Tenley,” I warned.

“I know, I know,” she said and went back to eating. “I’m just trying to look out for you. Let’s change the subject. Harper has such a sweet personality. I’m crossing my fingers that she will stay. Judging by the way she spoke this morning, it appears she might. I questioned if she was looking for a temporary place to stay until she got on her feet? She said little, only that she would handle the situation like she usually does, so…”

Harper came over to me with my plate in her hands and placed it in front of me with a smile. “Would you like anything else, Layken?”

“No thank you, Harper. I’m good.” With a cocky grin, I wink and state, “This is just what I needed.” Not the food, but to see her. Being near her has healed my pounding head. She doesn’t need to know this, though.

Her face reddened, and she pivoted around, walking back to the greeter’s seat.

“We have all gone to a first-name basis, it appears. How lovely! You should give it a go. If Harper can make you smile like that more often, I’m on board with whatever.” 

“I’m too old for her, like you said last night.”

“Only twelve years. That’s not bad.”

“I turn thirty-one in two weeks.”

“So thirteen years then. It’s a number. Age does not define who we fall in love with.”

“You are getting way ahead of yourself, Tenley.”

“Yeah, whatever you say. When my break ends, Harper will be done with her shift. You ought to have a chat with her.”

Tenley had gone back to her perch at the front of the cafe. Someone had arrived to relieve Harper, so I knew she would be relieved of her duties soon. Taking Tenley’s advice, I sat and waited for Harper to return.

She entered the room with a plate and a drink and went to the same table she occupied the night before. She scanned her phone and started devouring her meal. As I watcher her from afar, an epiphany washed over me. I observed her for a bit and let her get almost done with her meal before I picked up my drink and headed over to her.

“Would you be alright if I came and spent a little time with you?” She yelps in surprise and almost chokes on her food.

She clears her throat and takes a sip of her water. “That would be wonderful. Take a seat,” she says, gesturing towards the space in front of her, smiling.

I smiled as I faced her and took a gulp of my coke. “What have you got planned for your stay here in Georgetown?”

“Not a lot. If I opt to stay, I have to save all the money I make. I’ll need funds for the first and last month’s rent and money to put down for a deposit.”

“Where are you staying for the time being?”

Her grin faded, and she toyed with her food as if she was searching for the right words to say, yet they wouldn’t come out. “I’m staying at the most affordable hotel I could locate. It’s just a short walk away, so I don’t have to spend money on gas.”

I suspected she wasn’t telling the whole truth because I spotted her SUV outside. It was probable that she was living in her car, yet she didn’t want me to know.

“I have a proposition for you. A way we could help each other out. Tenley and I have a gathering to attend tomorrow. It’s a black-tie affair. I need a date for the night, so my parents won’t be on my ass for showing up alone. Tenley could assist you with finding a dress, along with hair and makeup. Though you don’t need the extra touches, you are beautiful just as you are. I would pay you professional escorts’ wages. Is five hundred dollars a fair payment for two hours of your time? Provided you are available, of course.”

Harper’s eyes narrowed, and she advanced towards me. “I’m not a hooker. In fact, I’m a virgin, so I’m not sure what you are getting at, but no, thank you.” She returned to her seat. Then resumed picking at her food, looking uncomfortable.

Upon realizing how creepy my words must have sounded to her, I belted out, “That’s not at all what I meant. I just need a date, that’s all. I would never, uh… There would be no sex, no kisses, or anything. Tenley is going alone, most likely. We can go together. I can introduce you to my parents, and after that you can join Tenley.”

“Five hundred dollars, to just show up as your date, and nothing else.”

“That’s right.”

“What are the steps I need to take? As far as getting with Tenley to prepare for this special occasion and so on?”

“Hang here for a second, and I’ll explain to Tenley what is happening. I’ll be right back.”

“Ok.”

HARPER

I heard the words date, escort, and five hundred dollars come out of Layken’s mouth, and my first thought was that he wanted to pay me to have sex with him. It had that ‘Pretty Woman’ movie vibe going, and yes, I had to defend myself. I was relieved when he had said there would be no sex, and I could hang out with Tenley for the rest of the night.

Although I had made an abundance of tips and Tenley had given me a hundred dollars. I had stayed in my vehicle last night. Needed every penny I earned for a deposit on an apartment. There was no way I would tell Layken I was living in my car. His sympathy is not something I wish to get. I’m bound and determined to do everything on my own.

Five hundred dollars would help me immensely, so now that sex wasn’t a factor, I was all in. Although if I hadn’t made my dad a promise to wait until I was married, I would gladly give myself to Layken. The man does things to my emotions and body I have never had or felt before in my life. Casey was right about what she said about what he would do to my nether regions. My brain goes all fuzzy, and it feels like butterflies are flapping around in my chest. Every cell and nerve within me seems to fizzle and burn with electricity.

I’m off tomorrow and wouldn’t need to be back here for work until ten Sunday, so it would work out perfectly, giving Tenley and me time to get to know each other.

I’m sitting there with a goofy grin on my face when Layken returns. He smiles as he intertwines his fingers together, like he’s holding back from touching me or something. “Tenley will give you her address, and you will meet her there in the morning. She will get you set up with everything that you need, and I will pick you up around six-thirty tomorrow from her place. If that is alright with you?”

“That would be perfect, thank you, Layken.”

His teeth clench beyond the smile showing off his perfect porcelain teeth. “I look forward to spending some time with you tomorrow,” he says, then he grasps my hand and brings it to his mouth, kissing the back of it gently, winking, and walking off.

Layken is the type of man I would marry someday. Tall, dark, handsome, and older. Guys my age are idiots, and from what I’ve learned in my travels, older college guys aren’t any different from high school guys. In fact, they are even more obnoxious. No, thank you. I don’t need a boy; I need a man, and Layken seems to be the perfect fit for me. As long as he doesn’t play daddy and thinks he can run my life, we’ll get along.