by Calista King
"What would you like to know?"
"What are you doing in New York?" she asked. She had been curious about it ever since she saw him that first day and now seemed like the perfect opportunity to ask him about it.
"I'm going to be working for my family's company here," he said.
"Really? You mean permanently?" she asked.
"Yes, why do you look so surprised?"
"No, I'm not surprised," Laila said. "But didn't you say you were only staying in the city for two weeks?"
"Now when did I say that?" Andreas asked innocently.
Laila narrowed her eyes at him. "Your reservation at the hotel is only for two weeks," she replied.
"You caught me," Andreas said, shrugging his shoulders. "I'm only going to be staying at the hotel for two weeks until I can find a suitable apartment."
"Oh..." Laila was left to ponder that. So Andreas wasn't going away. He'd be in New York permanently. Suddenly her heart felt lighter and she couldn't help the smile that threatened to break free.
"Does that make you happy?" Andreas asked looking at her intently.
Now it was Laila's turn to play coy.
"Whatever." She shrugged her shoulders at him and arched her brow.
"Whatever?" he asked.
"How come you came to New York in such a rush?" she asked changing the subject.
Andreas was caught off guard by the question, Laila could tell. His teasing smile was wiped off his face and he had a pained look in his eyes. Laila knew there was a story behind all this, and she was curious to find out, but it seemed like that was the last thing Andreas wanted to talk about.
"You don't have to tell me if you don't want to," she began.
"It's not that. Well maybe a little. But I'm not proud of the person I was and I think if I told you then you'd think less of me," he confessed.
"It's that bad? Did you kill someone?" she asked.
"What? No!"
"Did you commit a crime? Hurt someone?"
"No and no."
"OK so it's not that bad. You had me scared for a second there," Laila joked.
"Well, you may change your mind once you hear it," he said.
Andreas' voice sounded pained, like it was really tearing him up having to talk about it. Laila knew what it felt like to have a past you were ashamed of. Hell, she didn't know if she would ever have the guts to admit to anyone else about her disastrous audition with the porn director. And if she wasn't ready to talk about that, then she wouldn't force Andreas to confess about his past either. Besides, it was only the first date.
"How about we leave the past in the past then," she reasoned.
Andreas looked at her, surprise lighting his face. "What do you mean?"
"I mean we've all got things that we did in the past that we regret. We're human right? So let's just leave it at that and move on. You obviously seem like you learned from it and became a better person."
"I have tried," he said. "Thank you for seeing the good in me."
"Hey, it's not about where you been, it's about where you're going, right?" she said.
"Exactly," Andreas said smiling as he grabbed her hand and kissed her wrist. "You are absolutely right."
The feel of his lips sent a shiver up and down Laila's spine. It was just an innocent little gesture, but the look in his eyes was anything but innocent. His pupils were darkened as he looked up at her. She'd seen that look before and knew exactly what it meant.
Suddenly, the courtyard felt very warm and the heat was creeping up her cheeks. Laila knew she had to pull her arm away and keep some distance between them if she wanted to think straight, but her body wasn't listening to her mind. She couldn't seem to move her arm out of his grasp, and deep in her mind, she felt like she really didn't want to.
Her reprieve came in the form of the waiter who stopped by with the check. Andreas dropped her arm and without even looking at the bill, he reached into his wallet and dropped a couple of bills in the fold and snapped it shut.
Laila wondered what it must be like to live a life where money was such an insignificant little thing. She didn't have much time to ponder it because he helped her get up from the table and lead her out of the restaurant.
CHAPTER 8
Andreas led Laila out of the restaurant and quickly hailed a taxi for them. He held the door open for her again before he got in.
"So where to?" the cab driver asked.
Andreas looked to Laila in question as if asking for her opinion. She didn't really want the date to end, but didn't know where else to go either. It seemed like Andreas had the same thought in mind.
"Uh, why don't you just drive around the city for a little bit for now," he told the cab driver.
"Just drive? Anywhere?" the cab driver seemed surprised.
"Yes, that's not a problem is it?" Andreas asked, his voice showing a bit of impatience.
"Not at all boss. The meter's running either way."
"Good," Andreas said.
He sat back against the cushions and looked at Laila and gave her a grin.
"I don't really have any idea where to go next, but it still seems too early to call it a night. Perhaps I should have planned this date better," he said.
"Don't worry about it," Laila said.
"Did you have anywhere you wanted to go?" Andreas asked.
"Nah, not really."
Andreas seemed disappointed by her answer. There was only so long they could just sit in the cab and he didn't want the date to end just yet. Laila figured she could recommend getting drinks at a bar or heading to a club to go dancing, but she wasn't really in the mood for it. After their intimate little dinner, she didn't want to go to a loud club and have to shout over the music to have a conversation.
"We could go to my place," she suggested. "I mean you said you'd never seen a Peter Travis movie and I've got some on DVD."
Andreas perked up at her suggestion and ran with it like he had been given a life line.
"That sounds perfect," he said.
He gave the cab driver directions to Laila's apartment and when they finally arrived, handed her out of the cab. He waited for her to dig her keys out of her purse and open the main door to the building. Laila kept looking back up at him, almost as if she couldn't believe he was here.
They entered the elevator and she pressed the button for the third floor. The hallway leading to her apartment was cast in dark shadows and lit by harsh fluorescent lights. Laila walked to her apartment and looked over her shoulder at Andreas as if to make sure he was still there.
"My apartment's pretty small. It's not much," she warned before turning the knob.
"I'm sure it's charming," he said giving her a toothy smile.
Laila pushed open the door and flicked on the light before standing aside for him to enter first. She watched as his eyes scanned over her apartment in interest. It was a small one bedroom with narrow halls and a tiny kitchen that they were currently standing in. She led him to the living room that was literally only a couple steps away and onto the futon couch that was placed up against a wall.
"I told you it's not much," she said.
Even though the apartment was small, there were still some charming architectural details like the exposed brick wall and original crown molding. Laila had also had a hand in turning the small space into a livable, tasteful, and cozy home. Andreas looked around with an appreciative gleam in his eye.
"It's perfect. Really," he said, eyeing the artwork lining the walls. "You have very good taste."
Laila followed his gaze to the oil paintings that hung above her couch that she'd gotten at a flea market.
"Thank you," she said. "Did you want anything to drink? I've got some wine or beer here."
"Just water please," he answered.
Laila gave him a quizzical look, but went and got the water anyways. She'd just realized that was the third time he'd refused anything alcoholic and just drank water. Was this his big secret? she wondered. She came back wit
h the drinks and set it on the coffee table in front of them. Andreas had spent the time looking over her movie collection on the shelf under the television
"You have an eclectic taste," he said as she sat down beside him.
"What can I say? I was a theater major. Some of those movies were for research."
"I see. What kind of records are those?" he asked pointing to a shelf next to the TV that was filled with old records.
"Yeah, those records I inherited from my mom," she said, getting up from the couch and heading towards the shelf. Andreas followed her and watched as she pulled some out.
"This one was her favorite," she said pulling out an old Stevie Wonder album.
"My Cherie Amour," Andreas said reading the title.
The way he said it gave Laila the chills. His tongue seemed to swirl around the words, caressing it. Laila cleared her throat and pulled out another album, trying to get her composure back.
"Now this one here, this is my favorite."
Andreas took the album from her hands and looked down at the cover. Laila could see a slow smile spreading across his face.
"Somehow I didn't take you for an Ella Fitzgerald fan," he said.
"What? Ella's my girl. Of course I love her," Laila said, snatching it from his hands and slipping the record out of the sleeve.
She placed it on the turntable that was on the second shelf, and put the needle on the track she wanted to play. Suddenly her small apartment was filled with the slow melodious sound of a trumpet. Laila swayed to the music, turning to give Andreas a smile. She sang along when the instrumental was over and Andreas was pleasantly surprised by the deep raspy tone of her singing voice.
He stood in front of her and held out his hands. Laila stepped closer to him and placed her hands on his shoulders as he wrapped his arms around her waist. Laila was lost in the music and rhythm and the feel of Andreas' arms around her. She felt so comfortable and so secure as they swayed in place to the sound of the music. She placed her head against his chest and hummed the melody to herself as she closed her eyes. Laila could smell that fresh clean scent, and feel the soft fabric of his suit jacket against her face and hear his heart beat against her ear.
The last strains of the song played and Laila was brought out of her trance. She looked up into Andreas' handsome face and found dark intense eyes staring back at her. Instinctively she swallowed as her throat felt suddenly dry. Laila licked her lips and parted her mouth in anticipation. She knew what he wanted to do, and she wanted it just as badly. She could see his head bending down slowly and inching forward, closing the distance between their lips. Laila closed her eyes, waiting.
His lips were soft and sensual as they lightly touched against hers. He was slow and tentative in his kiss, almost waiting for her response. Laila ran her fingers through his hair and pulled him in closer to deepen the kiss. That was all the hint he needed. He tightened his arms around her waist, and kissed her with an intensity and fire that consumed them both.
Laila was so lost in a haze of desire, her arms and hands were moving all over his body trying to feel every inch of him. Andreas didn't hold back either. He had lifted her legs off the ground so that they were wrapped around his waist, and his hands cupped Laila's firm cheeks. He walked them both over to the futon where he laid her down, and without breaking contact, managed to slip his jacket off his shoulders.
Before Laila realized it, her own jacket had been slipped off along with her blouse, and she was left only in her jeans and bra. Andreas was doing an expert job of teasing and cupping her soft lush curves, and drawing moans and sighs of pleasure from her. Laila knew she had to put a stop to things before they got too far.
She wasn't the kind of girl that gave it up on the first date. Even though her mind was telling her to stop, her body was telling her something else. Every touch and kiss kept pulling Laila in deeper and deeper, and she almost gave in to the sensations that were overpowering her senses.
"Andreas wait," Laila said pulling apart from a searing kiss, as she fought to get control of her breathing.
Andreas eyed her intently as he took short ragged breaths. "What's wrong?" he asked.
Laila had sat up on the couch and pulled her shirt over her head. "Nothing, it's just...I'm not ready for all of this yet," she said waving her arm out in front of her.
Andreas looked at her in confusion.
"You know," she explained. "You and me and all of it," she said waving her hand in front of her again as if that explained things.
"I see," Andreas said. He sat back on the couch next to Laila and ran a hand roughly through his hair.
"It's not you or anything, but I'm just not that type of girl that...you know...has sex on the first date," she explained.
Laila hoped she hadn't hurt his feelings with her rejection, but she was going to go with her principles. She didn't know what kind of reaction she was expecting from Andreas. A part of her thought he'd be upset and petulant like a spoiled boy who had his toy taken away from him. Maybe he thought he was entitled to something more from her since he'd taken her out and bought her a nice dinner. Hell, it wouldn't be the first time some guy had that thought in his head, Laila mused. But she didn't expect laughter. Andreas sat beside her and began to chuckle to himself.
"What's so funny?" she asked, frowning at him.
"Oh I'm sorry," he replied. "It's just this situation."
"What about this situation is so funny to you?" Laila snapped.
Andreas sobered up immediately and wore a conciliatory look on his face.
"I didn't mean to offend you. I guess I kind of lost my senses there for a moment and lost control. I haven't been so carried away since I was maybe fifteen," he confessed. "I was just laughing at myself, not at you or anything."
Laila's ruffled feathers were smoothed over by his explanation. In fact, her ego was boosted by his confession. That she could make this handsome worldly man lose control of himself gave her a feeling of confidence. It wasn't like she was a slouch by any stretch of the imagination, but she had an idea of the types of women that Andreas was used to being with, and none of them had been able to bring him to his knees like she had.
She knew it was petty to feel good about something so silly, but her ego didn't care. Laila gave him a coy smile and patted down her hair to make sure everything was still in place and looking good.
"So uh...how about we just watch the movie?" Laila suggested.
"That sounds good," Andreas answered.
Laila got up off the couch and kneeled down in front of her DVD collection and read through the titles.
"I've got Sisi's Last Stand, Wild Magnolias, The Queen Bee, and Sisi and the Judge," she called out. "Did you have a preference?"
"Hmm I have no idea. Why don't you pick one?" Andreas said.
"All right, I'm in the mood for something funny, so we'll go with Sisi's Last Stand," Laila said.
"What's it about?"
Laila popped the disc into the DVD player and sat back down on the couch next to Andreas. She picked up the remote for the TV and pressed the on button before turning to face him. Her face was alight with excitement.
"It's about this matriarch of a large family, named Sisi. The family restaurant is being run out by a large chain and all the family and neighbors get together to help save the business," Laila explained. "It sounds stupid, but it's actually pretty funny. "
"Really? That sounds interesting," Andreas said, though his voice sounded doubtful.
"It is! I think you're gonna like it," Laila said. "Shh it's starting."
Andreas turned his attention to the television screen before him as the opening credits rolled. He stretched his arm back over the couch and lightly rested his hand on Laila's shoulder. The movement was so easy and casual, Laila almost didn't notice it. It felt so natural for her to slide up next to him and rest her head against his shoulder.
They sat like that throughout the whole movie. Laila had watched it with new appreciation, as if seeing
it for the first time again through Andreas' eyes. She wondered if he would find it as funny as she did and if he would get the humor in it, but when he laughed at the same moments she laughed, and his eyes had twinkled in amusement at some silly scene or another, she knew he was enjoying the film. And that made her happy.
When the final credits rolled on the screen and the ending theme song played, Laila sat back up and stretched her arms above her head.
"Well you were right. I did enjoy that move. More than I thought I would," Andreas said, turning to her.
"See I told you," Laila gloated.
"I never said I wouldn't like it, just that I'd never seen one."
"But admit it, you thought it was going to be some stupid movie full of dumb stereotypes and dumber characters."
"I admit nothing of the sort," Andreas said in a serious tone, but the smile tugging on his lips belied his words.
Laila wanted to lean in for another kiss, but thought that might be playing with fire, so she sat there with her hands in her lap. She checked the time on the digital clock on the wall and was surprised by how late it was.
"Oh wow, I didn't realize it was already almost 2am," she said.
Andreas flicked a glance at his watch to confirm the time before looking back at her and shrugging his shoulders. "Yeah, I didn't realize it was so late either. Maybe I better get going then," he said hesitantly rising from the futon and grabbing his jacket.
Laila suddenly felt an emptiness at the thought of him leaving. She was surprised by her strong feelings; it wasn't like her to get attached to anyone so quickly. What is it about Andreas that make me feel this way? she wondered. Andreas shrugged on his jacket and ran his hands through his hair again, mussing it up even further. Laila thought he'd never looked cuter.
"You probably won't be able to get a cab out there at this hour," she said.
"You think so?" he replied.
"Yeah, they don't usually come by this neighborhood so late at night," she said walking closer towards him as if drawn like a moth to a flame.
"Maybe I'll take the subway then," he murmured, reaching his hands out for hers.
"You ever taken the subway before?" Laila asked, placing her hands in his large warm grasp.
