Chapter 7

Isaac

            “Taylor, if you don’t let me in, I’m going to cause a scene in front of all your neighbors,” I called out after ringing the doorbell and knocking at least three times.

            “Go away, Isaac. Why are you even here?” she yelled back.

            “We planned a date, remember?”

            “You planned a date, I never said yes. I never agreed to anything,” she countered.

            “You didn’t have to. It was understood when you didn’t say no.” She didn’t respond. “If you don’t open the door, I’m just going to stay out here and harass you,” I said.

            “Are you freaking serious right now? Who does this crap?” she asked as she snatched the door open.

            I was stunned into silence. I knew she was beautiful from the moment I saw her in the ally. Even covered in blood and bruises, there’s was no denying it. I never saw her face inside the restaurant. Her back was to me and whenever she angled her body to where I could possibly get a peek, her face was covered by a curtain of her hair as she checked her phone. I know now she was checking it for Aaron. I’d never paid much attention to her when dealing with him. There was a good chance he had a picture of her in his office or something like that. I never let my mind wander to any thoughts to her then. Right now though…right now I wanted to snatch her up and make her my personal sex slave. Sharing her would be an abomination. Her long hair was pulled back into a ponytail with long bangs swept to one side. She was still tall without her heels on, maybe 5’9”. I tried to think of something to compare her skin tone to, but drew a blank. She was light, but I was positive she was black, mixed with something. Her lips were plump, naturally pouty. I would say she’s skinny, but those jeans and that shirt she’s wearing begged to differ. I tried to look away and think of something else before she noticed parts of my anatomy that refused to do what I told it and snatching her up became a reality.

            “Well, this isn’t weird at all,” I heard her say.

            How long was I staring at her? “Can I come in?” I asked.

            “No.”

            “Why not?”

            “Why are you here?” she asked.

            “Can you please think of some other questions for me?” That seemed to be the only thing she asked, other than how I knew her husband. How is he still her husband?

            “Can you leave?” she asked.

            “We have a date.”

            “A date is a mutual agreement between two or more parties. I’m pretty sure my husband wouldn’t be too thrilled about that.”

            “Why in the hell are you still married to him?!” She was a divorce lawyer. I didn’t understand the situation.

            “What do you want, Isaac?” she asked.

            I could see it then. Barely noticeable, but still there. She still loved him. Probably wanted to forgive him and pretend he never hurt her. I wondered if I was what was stopping her? “If you want me to leave, just say it,” I told her. If she really wanted me to, I would. Her eyes slid to my car then came back to me.

            “I want you to leave,” she said shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

            “Aren’t lawyers supposed to be better liars?” I asked.

            “Jesus Christ…are you always this annoying?”

            “Trust me. I’m on my best behavior. I can be so much worse.”

            She took a deep breath and disappeared from the door. Did that mean I could come in? Before I could decide on an answer she was back with her purse and a pair of boots on.

            “So where are we going?” she asked as she put a coat on.

            “Where do you want to go?” I asked. I hadn’t actually thought that one through yet. I didn’t think she would actually go with me. I expected to bug her for a while and then leave her alone.

            “To bed,” she said.

            “On the first date? What type of guy do you think I am?” This was only the second time I’d seen her smile and I loved it. I stepped back and reached for her hand. Hesitantly she took it

                                                               ~~~

            “Seriously, Isaac?” she asked when we reached our destination.

            “Come on, it’ll be fun. I promise,” I said as I led her inside. I drew a blank on where we could go since I didn’t really plan anything. Then I remembered Mimi saying she was taking the kids out to play laser tag. I told her I would meet them here. Her husband Ricco waved us over when he saw us.

            “Uncle Izza, you came!” my niece shouted when she saw me.

            My niece and nephew were my life. I loved them to death, would do anything for them.

            “Twenty minutes late though,” Micah complained.

            He always complained. He’d just turned twelve, so he said he was too old for hugs, but I pulled him to me anyway. “It’s her fault,” I said as I pointed to Taylor. He quickly pulled away from me and even poked his chest out.

            “All is forgiven,” he said with a huge grin as he stood next to her.

            She smiled back at him as my niece pushed him aside. “I’m Gianna, but you can call me Gigi. This is my brother Micah,” she said as she shook Taylor’s hand.

            “It’s very nice to meet you, Gigi,” she said with a smile.

            “Are you going to be on me and my mommy’s team? We always win!”

            The mind of a five-year-old. She’d be heartbroken if she knew we always let them win.

            “Of course, she’s going to be on our team. Hey, Taylor, I’m glad you could make it,” Mimi said as she passed Taylor a vest and a weapon.

            “And we’re so going to kick their butts,” Taylor told Gigi causing her to break into a fit of giggles.

            Two hours later, I was still trying to figure out how they captured our team’s flag seven times and how Taylor managed to kill me enough times to eliminate me twice. She sat across from me in the booth we shared and gloated. She’d taken her shoes off inside the laser tag area and now sat with her feet tucked beneath her, her shoes beside her on the bench. Mimi and her family left when I told them we were going to grab something to eat. I asked Taylor for the third time how she was so good at it. She held my gaze for a few moments before exhaling a deep breath. Damn those eyes.

            “One of the families I lived with when I was younger was a bunch of survivalists, doomsday preppers. When they realized I wasn’t the best fighter they focused on teaching me evasion and weapons,” she said.

            Well that explained a lot. Every time I thought I had her cornered I ended up dead. She even turned my niece against me. It also explained nothing at all. Everything about her is mystery. Her juvenile records are sealed, but the little info I was able to recover told me she didn’t have a great childhood and had been in the system for her entire life. A waitress came back to the table with my food and Taylor’s dessert. “That’s really all you’re going to eat?” I asked.

            “No, I’m going to get at least two more slices,” she said before stuffing a piece of her pecan pie into her mouth.

            I looked at my burger then back at her pie. The pie looked much more appealing now and I could kick myself for not order some of my own. She slid my plate to the side and put the pie in the middle of the table. When I looked up she smiled.

            “We can share. It’s really good,” she said as she scooped a piece along with the vanilla ice cream onto the spoon and held it up for me.

            Why was it suddenly so hot in here and why was I nervous? What the fuck was happening? I needed to get away from her. Why did I even bring her here?

            “Or not,” she said as she pulled the pie back.

            She looked confused. Before I could say anything my phone rang. I’d never been so happy for an interruption in my life. “We have to leave,” I said after I hung up. Her face showed more confusion, but she made no protests.

            “Is everything okay?” she asked, her voice filled with concern.

            “Everything’s fine,” I lied. The ride back to her house was quiet. I had no idea what to say or how to break the silence. Everything was cool before she actually showed a genuine interest. I was fine when she was refusing to deal with me. I didn’t know what yet, but something had changed. I knew it wasn’t just the thrill of the chase. I wanted her. I wanted her bad. I glanced over at her. She was absently nibbling on her thumb nail as she stared out the window. It was a good thing I couldn’t see her eyes.

            “Isaac?”

            I was trying to remember if anyone else called me Isaac when she finally looked at me. The happiness that was in her eyes half an hour ago was long gone. Why did that bother me so much? I needed her to be smiling again, happy.

            “Your turn,” she said.

            “Say what?”

            “You missed your turn. You passed my street,” she said before looking back out the window.

            I looked around and realized she was right. Damn, get a grip, Izza.