Free Third Date by Leah Holt

sucking in air through his mouth. “Hopefully I don't get black eyes from this.”
    Heading to the bathroom, I said to myself so Layne could hear, “Smooth move, real smooth.”
    His voice bellowed back, loud and filled with amusement. “You're telling me. That was good.”
    “Laugh it up, go ahead.”
    “I'm trying not to, but Taylor sometimes deserves a drink in the face, the punch was a bit much, but I'm sure he's earned a few of those over the years too.”
    “Yeah, well, I didn't do it on purpose, otherwise I wouldn't feel so bad.”
    Standing in the bathroom, I did my best to clean up the mess I created. Staring at myself in the mirror, I was embarrassed that I had to walk back out in public that way.
    This is awful! How can I sit at the table like this?
    I look fucking ridiculous.
    And I drew blood from my date. Not a good start, Kin.
    The trim of my dress was wet and dark, creating a ring across my breasts that looked like sweat. But the worst part was my lap, it literally looked like I had just pissed myself.
    A giant wet spot was decorating the center, and small tiny specks of grease dotted the outer areas. This was not how I expected my night to go. A flash date, ending with me looking like I had a bladder condition and overactive sweat glands, and Taylor looking like he got into a bar fight.
    “Hey, you coming out at any point, or do I have to come get you?” Layne barked in my ear.
    “I'm coming, I'm almost done.” Pushing the button for the heat dryer, I bent awkwardly beneath the hot air, trying a last ditch effort to dry the areas.
    The bathroom door flew open, causing me to freeze in place. But it wasn't a woman, it was Layne. “What are you doing in here?”
    “Me? What the hell are you doing?” he asked with a smile, nodding to my body ducking beneath the vent.
    Forgetting that I was bent unnaturally under the heat, I snapped my spine straight. “I was... I was just trying to take care of this.” Holding my arms out, the spots were still boldly visible.
    “Alright, let's go, date's over,” Layne said, holding his arm out.
    “What, really?”
    “Yeah, I sent Taylor on his way. And he was glad I ended it, said his hair was starting to stiffen from the drink—Which I so kindly pointed out to him was actually his excessive use of gel, not the drink. But whatever. And his face might be a tad swollen.”
    “I really messed this one up, didn't I?”
    “No, you did great.” Cupping my shoulder, he hugged me tightly. “You didn't let his suave words reel you in, and you didn't let the little mishap send you running out the door. You held your ground and poise, and that was amazing.”
    “Huh, well, who knew I had poise.” Giggling, I joggled my head side to side, flicking the strap of my dress.
    I was trying to make light of my clutzy ways. I knew the date ended because I had completely embarrassed Taylor. Everyone in the damn restaurant was staring at us, and the look on his face was of disbelief, not compassion for my butter fingers.
    But at that moment, I wasn't too concerned with what Taylor thought of me. I was snuggled under the arm of a man who made my heart skip. A man who had charm, and knew how to make a woman feel good about herself, despite her flaws.
    When his hand curled over my shoulder, and he pulled me in, I felt perfect.
    Everything in that moment felt perfect.
    The weight of his arm, the firmness of his muscles.
    All of it felt right.
    But it's wrong. He's your... Teacher.
    You can't fall for your teacher.

Chapter Eight
    Kinsley
    W hat the fuck am I doing?
    I can't stop thinking about him!
    This could be really bad.
    Not only did Layne make my heart skip a million beats with his eyes, not only did he make my skin flush with desire, the man paid attention to my every move. I wasn't sure if that was a good or a bad thing.
    If he could read me as well as he seemed to already, how the hell would I hide the attraction I felt towards him?
    He was being paid to help me, not paid