Chapter 7
Mystery Woman – Jack
W hen I first heard about the delay, I wanted to retreat to my old ways and throw something. However, I’ve been in therapy since the breakup, and my therapist has helped me come up with better coping mechanisms.
So, instead of raging out, I take it as a sign that maybe something bad would’ve happened if we were able to leave today, and I go to dinner by myself at Steak 954, one of my favorite places to enjoy a filet mignon and a martini while peering at the sun, which looks like it’s setting into the water. The sound of the waves and the seagulls chirping are calming to me.
When I finish my meal, I grab the napkin out of my lap and put it across my plate.
“All done, sir?” the server asks.
Hmm. Normally, I’d skip dessert in favor of my figure. But since I’m already kind of splurging, I ask for the chocolate souffle.
“Absolutely. I’ll be right out with that.”
“Thank you.” I then place my hands on the back of my neck, and I relax back in my chair. I’m aware that other people have issues with eating alone, but I enjoy it. While at work or on the boat, I feel like people are always talking to me or trying to get my attention.
But when I’m alone, it’s quiet. Well, there are other tables around me, but they’re distracted with their own business, and I can be left with mine.
“Here you go,” the same woman with a black apron says while presenting the delectable treat to me.
I clap, lean forward again, and lick my lips. It’s in a white carafe, and by the high, brown fluff, I can tell that it’s been expertly cooked.
“Enjoy.”
Looking up at her, I assure, “Oh, I will.”
She smiles and then tends to another table.
Oh, god! I cut through it like butter. Then, as I let a piece of it linger in my mouth, I swear I’m having an out-of-body experience. It’s either because I don’t often allow myself such food, it’s just that good, or a combination of both.
“Excuse me.” I later stop the woman who served it to me.
“Yes?”
“Is there any way I could get another portion of that?” But before she can judge me, I explain, “It’s not for me. It’s for a friend.”
She grins sweetly. “Of course. I’ll get that to go for you.”
I can’t tell if she’s being sarcastic about it not being for me… but regardless, I’m happy to share the experience with Bryant. You also wouldn’t know it from his fit figure, but he’s also a chocolate lover. Perhaps even more than me.
After paying for my meal, I take his dessert, which is in a Styrofoam box, and I walk around the streets of Fort Lauderdale. I won’t be back for well over a month, and I’m going to miss it.
I’m not from here. In fact, I was born and raised in a suburb of Columbus, Ohio. But I love the consistent warm weather, and the waterfront views. Powell, Ohio is much less colorful and entertaining, I assure you.
It’s almost completely dark as I continue walking and there’s a crisp breeze coming off the ocean. I pause to fully enjoy the brisk feeling on my skin. Then, I walk down a narrow alleyway.
As soon as I turn the corner, the front of my body feels the pressure of someone or something else.
The chocolate souffle goes flying.
“Oh, my god!” A woman, I judge by the soft squeal that escapes her lips, exclaims.
It takes me a second to orient myself again. But when I do, I see a pretty woman with long, blonde hair and the most striking green eyes I’d ever seen. The streetlights above us reflecting beautifully in them.
“I’m so sorry,” she says in a muffled voice, her hands covering her mouth.
“It’s—it’s fine.” Somehow, in the collision, some of the chocolate got onto my light blue button-up, so I’m wiping at that.
She takes a tissue out of her purse. “Here. Please let me. I also have a Tide pen.”
I’m about to object, but when she gets closer, her proximity—as well as her sweet perfume—is inviting.
So, I allow her to carry on. I don’t know what a Tide pen is, but it does look like a writing utensil after she pulls it out. Then, she takes it and blots it on my shirt, leaving a wet circle.
“Again, I am so sorry.” She tucks hair behind her ear and looks up at me while blotting at the spot. “I’m not from here. I wasn’t watching where I was going—”
I smile down at her. “It’s fine. I have plenty of shirts.”
She frowns. “But you don’t have unlimited chocolate cake.” Her eyes dart to the casualty next to us. “If you do, then you’re just about my favorite person in the whole wide world.”
I can’t help but daydream about drizzling chocolate sauce all over her body before licking it off… I know that makes me creepy, especially since I don’t even know her name. But she’s so gorgeous, and it’s been a while since I’ve seen any action.
“There.” She steps away, and I’m brought back to reality. I look down and just see moisture where the stain was.
“Wow. Thanks.”
Putting everything back into her tote bag, she says, “It’s the least I could do. Where’d you get the cake? I can buy you another.”
I glance back in the direction of the restaurant. Then, I decide to make a bold move.
With an eyebrow raised, I ask, “So, you like chocolate?”
“Guilty.”
“Would you want to join me for some? I just got it from down the road.”
She seems to hesitate.
I offer my hand out to her. “I’m Jack, by the way.”
She shakes it. “I’m Kayla.”
“Kayla, it would be my honor if you’d join me for a quick bite.”
She crosses her arms and bites down on her lip. “Fine. What the hell?”
Yes.
As we walk over there together, I note that she’s only wearing a broad-strapped, white tank top. Which bodes well for me because, and not just because I can see little imprints of where her nipples are hard underneath it. With the slight chill, I’m sure she won’t want to sit outside, and I won’t have to face the same server I had before. I am not sure she believed the second helping wasn’t for me, and I couldn’t as easily explain a third to her.
There’s even another person standing behind the host stand when we arrive.
“Inside or outside?”
I look to Kayla. “You pick.”
She rubs at her arms. “Inside. If that’s okay?”
“Totally.” I hold my arm out and wait for both of them to walk before me.
“Oh, my god!” I hear her say for the second time as we pass the giant jellyfish tank. “Are those real?”
“They are,” the host says.
“Wow.” She stops and stares, with her fingers on her mouth. “I’ve never seen so many of them altogether like that.”
She has an innocence that I find adorable.
I let her continue to linger, but I note where the menus were put down for us, and I mouth “Thank you.”
“Well, anyway.” Her head shakes. “Sorry, that was just tantalizing.”
“No worries.”
We then go over to our table, and I pull out her green chair for her.
“Oh, thank you.”
“You’re very welcome.” I then slide into the chair on the other side of the table.
When the new server comes over, I order another martini while she gets the souffle.
Then, when my drink arrives, she giggles.
“What’s the matter?” I ask after taking a sip from the side.
“No, nothing. I just—I was expecting an appetizer or something. You went right in with gin.”
There’s that innocence again. It’s charming.
“Do you want to try it?” I move my glass towards her.
She bites down on her lip again. “I’ve never had gin.”
“Really? Oh, it’s delicious. Well, at least I think so.”
I slide it over to her, and she slurps up a little before coughing.
Wincing, she says, “That’s awful! It tastes like Christmas trees!”
I just laugh before bringing it back over to me. “It grows on you, I guess.”
She pats her tongue with a napkin while squealing.
“Okay, now you’re just being dramatic,” I joke.
Her eyes are squinted into crescent moons. “No, I’m not.”
I drink some more and swallow it with ease. “So, you’re not a big liquor fan, I take it.”
“What gave that away?” she quips.
I chuckle. “I guess I can just read your mind.”
After taking her hundredth drink of water, she seems to calm down a bit.
“Are you just not a big drinker at all then?” I’m not judging at all. I’m just curious.
One of the corners of her mouth turns down. “I mean, I like wine. That’s what I was drinking tonight.”
“Ooh. I didn’t realize you were out before running into me. No pun intended.”
“Ha ha,” she says out loud. Then, she pushes back her long hair and holds it back in her hand before releasing it again. “But yes, I was.”
“Where’d you go?”
“McS… McSorley’s? Is that right?”
“Oh, yeah.” I’ve had some very fun nights there. “So, what made you leave?”
She squirms a little. “My friend,” she leans closer to me, “is hooking up.”
I pinch my cheeks into my teeth to keep from laughing. “Really? Meaning?”
“Sex,” she whispers.
A full grin breaks out on my face after that. She’s just so darn cute. “I see.”
“So, I told him I would just wander a bit before retiring to my room.”
“Got it.” Lucky for him… and me. “What brings you to town, anyway?”
Before she can answer, her dessert is delivered.
“Ooh. This looks so good.”
She grabs her spoon and digs in. “Oh, my god.” Her eyes widen.
“Good, right?”
“Soooo good.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
After a few more bites, she seems to have an epiphany, and she starts looking around.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, I’m just looking for our server. We have to get more for you to go.”
My elbows are up on the table, and I rub my hands together. “It wasn’t for me.”
“Oh.” She faces me again.
“It was for a friend… a male friend.” It sounded stupid coming out of my mouth, but I don’t want her to think that it was for another woman.
“I see. Well, we’ll have to get another one for him then.”
Jesus. What started as one turned into me paying for four portions. But that’s fine.
She asks the waiter for it.
However, when the check comes, she also surprises me by reaching for it and then putting her credit card in the tray.
“I could’ve gotten that.”
She flicks her wrist. “It was my fault that you dropped it in the first place.”
That’s still up for debate, but I thank her.
“No problem.”
If I knew she was paying, I would’ve gone for a less expensive gin. Although it wasn’t the costliest one to choose from… at least.
After leaving the restaurant, we just stand outside in the light of a streetlamp.
“Thanks again for dessert.”
“Of course.”
I wish I had a coat to offer her. I can see her goosebumps.
“Well, I should probably get back.” She says after turning away for a second.
“Right. Of course.” I nod.
“Goodbye, Jack.”
“Goodbye, Kayla.”
She turns again, but when she starts to walk, she stumbles.
Instinctively, I reach out and bring her to me—my arms around her waist, and her chest flush against mine.
Her breath is uneven, and she stares up at me.
A surge of desire courses through me, making my heart race as I lean in closer, our lips mere inches apart. I can feel the warmth of her breath against my skin, and suddenly, all rational thought evaporates. All that matters is this moment, this connection, this undeniable attraction.
But just as our lips are about to meet, my phone rings, shattering the spell. The harsh sound jolts me back to reality, and I quickly release Kayla, stepping back as if burned by the intensity of our almost-kiss.
“Sorry, I have to take this,” I mutter, before helping her back to her feet, pulling away from her, and then fumbling with my phone as I shoot her an apologetic glance.
She blinks rapidly and puts her hand on top of her head. “Of course.”