Page 24 of Twist of Date

She mummers into the phone and I can’t help but think my attention on my own phone better not be something she brings up now.

She hangs up and picks up her pad of paper and pen and leans over to put it in her purse.

“I’m sorry, but I have a family emergency I need to attend to. I’ll send my notes to Ruth or Layla and they will be in contact with you. It was nice meeting you, but I’ve got to run.” She’s quick and I barely have enough time to stand as she excuses herself from the table. And in a blink, she’s gone.

Well, what the fuck was that whole thing about?

I don’t bother sitting back down. I find our server and let him know the table can be turned over. I decide that there’s no way I could get more work done after this shit show of a date, so I head home.

Yeah, I’m not doing that again. I’ll take all the shitty feedback she might have with a grain of salt. No more wingman dates for me.

* * *

I rush out of a meeting with my marketing team with five minutes to spare before a bi-monthly call with my father and brother. While I run my division smoothly and efficiently, there are days, sometimes weeks, where it feels like all I do is live and breathe RGG.

Today is one of them. I’m not even in my seat for a split second when my desk phone rings.

I pick it up, silently cursing the fact that it’s not the number I’m expecting.

“Cole Reed,” I say into the phone.

“Is that how you answer your phone?” A sweet yet sassy voice answers back.

Grinning immediately, I lean back into my chair. “Only when I don’t know who’s calling me. But then, if you’ve called my personal number, the one I saved in your phone a few weeks ago, you would have gotten a much different greeting.”

She sighs. “Well, this isn’t a personal call.” And I can hear her tone switch into professional mode. Damn, it’s like I can’t win with this woman.

“Well, I was hoping you would have used my number by now, Lays,” I tell her.

“Been busy, Cole. Anyway, I wanted to apologize to you for your date last night. Polly felt terrible but needed to be with her family.”

“I hope all is well,” I tell her honestly, even though I’m happy the date was cut short.

Her tone softens. “I think it will be. She will be sending me her notes and I would like to meet with you to go over those.”

Yatzhee! Time with Layla James is just what I need.

“Yeah, sure,” I say, playing it cool.

“I know you’re a busy man, but do you have availability tomorrow?”

I glance at my calendar at the same time that I see the light on my phone alerting me that I have another call. I know I’ve got time available tomorrow, but I don’t have the time to compare schedules.

“I’m booked up tomorrow. I’ve got a late phone call and would be able to meet tonight if you were willing to come to me.”

She makes a thoughtful noise and a smile tugs at my mouth. She didn’t say no as quickly as I expected to. “Will you be on your best behavior?”

“Scout’s honor,” I tell her. Too bad I was never a Boy Scout.

“All right. What time is your call?” she asks, her tone determined.

“It’s at seven unfortunately. How much time do we need?” I’d cancel this meeting in a heartbeat if that meant I could spend the evening with her.

“I can keep us under thirty. I’ll be there at six-thirty. See ya, Cole.” And as if she was worried about changing her mind, she hangs up. I chuckle just as my cell buzzes with an incoming text from my brother asking me where I’m at.

I dial into the conference call and push my meeting with Layla tonight out of my mind for the time being.

Hours later, I can’t stop watching the clock, waiting for six-thirty to roll around. I sent her a text, letting her know she would need to let me know when she was here because I would need to get her since our small lobby closes at five.

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