Excerpt from Illusions

A sister’s love knows no end. It’s Blood vs. Love as Layla’s budding romance is threatened by the return of her twin.

Just as I took the 7th Street exit off I-55, only minutes away from Forté Inc. BAM! My driver’s side front tire blows out on me! Although the loud noise immediately startled me, I managed to keep calm and maneuvered my car to keep from crashing into anyone else before I safely pulled over.

“DAMMIT! As if I didn’t have enough going on, now I’ve got a flat tire!!! I just got brand new tires a month ago! Oh, God… HELP ME!!!” I lamented aloud as I stepped out of and stood next to my silver 2000 Chrysler Sebring LXi. The car, a high school graduation gift from my father, had the nerve to have a deflated driver’s side front tire on my first day of work!

“Need some help?”

I nearly jumped at the question because the deep bass voice came out of nowhere. I looked up at my Good Samaritan. Dressed in a crisp charcoal grey business suit with matching shoes, short of calling for a tow service, I wasn’t sure how much he could help me.

“Yes, I could use a little help. I just caught a flat and I have no clue how to change it,” I smiled.

OK, so I did know how to change the tire. Elliott Michaels wasn’t about to let his baby girl go out in the world totally defenseless. But I can’t flirt if I don’t have anything for Mr. Brooks Brothers to do, ya know?

The gentleman took off his jacket and laid it on the roof of my car. “Do you have a spare and a jack?” he asked.

“Yes,” I said as I opened the door and reached into the car to retrieve the keys from the ignition. Normally, I would just lean inside the car window. But, considering the shortness of my skirt added with my long legs, I wouldn’t have left anything to his imagination!

When I walked to the trunk, the young man followed me to get the tools necessary for him to carry out his good deed. I could feel his eyes scanning me. As he rolled up his sleeves to change my tire, I pulled my purse out of the car to get my cell phone and Ms. Wallace’s business card.

“Please excuse me. I have to make an important phone call.”

“Go right ahead,” said the young man as he deftly took off the flat tire and put on the spare.

Shortly after dialing the number to Ms. Wallace’s office, I was immediately connected to her voicemail. After sighing in disappointment, I left a message explaining my situation.

“Hi, Ms. Wallace. This is Layla Michaels. I’m calling to let you know that I caught a flat on the way in to work. It’s getting fixed now, but I don’t know how long it will take. I will be in as soon as possible.” I flipped my phone closed after leaving my cell phone number in case Ms. Wallace needed to reach me before I made it into the office. Turning to see how Mr. Brooks Brothers was doing, I said, “Excuse me?”

“Yes,” replied the gentleman with an inviting smile.

Not exactly in a rush to hurry him on his way, I watched the young man a moment longer as he worked on my tire.

“Do you know how long it’ll be before the tire is changed? Today is my first day at my new job and, thanks to this,” I said gesturing toward the now worthless tire laying inside my trunk, “I’m late.”

As he stood up, he said, “I’m finished.” Although he had just changed a flat tire, his suit was still spotless.

Smiling at his job well done, I opened my purse. “How much do I owe you?”

“Dinner with me would be nice.” His beautiful grey eyes were accented by his warm smile.

“Unfortunately, I don’t have dinner with strangers,” I flirted.

“I’m sorry,” he said as he extended his hand. “I’m Nicolas Hayes.”

As I shook his strong hand, I replied, “Layla Michaels.”

“Well, Ms. Michaels, may I invite you to dinner and a movie?”

I looked Nicolas up and down. At six foot two, a shade darker than my caramel complexion and exceptionally attractive, he was two out of three in the tall, light and gorgeous department. “Where did you want to go?”

“My place,” replied Nicolas. When he saw the shocked look on my face, he added, “I have a three-year-old daughter and no babysitter.”

Relieved, I said, “Well, if your daughter will be there, I suppose it will be alright. But I thought you said dinner and a movie.”

“I’ll cook dinner. You can bring the movie,” Nicolas explained. “Do you like lasagna?” he asked.

My eyes lit up. “Almost as much as Garfield does!” I said enthusiastically. “I suppose I could stop by Blockbuster on the way over. What kind of movie?”

“Pretty much anything is fine with me. A comedy would be good,” Nicolas said smiling. “Judging by your beautiful smile, I bet you have a great laugh.”

A small smile escaped from my lips at the compliment. “What time shall I meet you at your place?”

“Is 7 o’clock OK?” asked Nicolas.

“That’s fine,” I agreed. “Want me to bring anything besides the movie?”

“Just that pretty smile,” Nicolas flirted. This time, I blushed.

“And I know you should be able to make it because your flat has been fixed,” Nicolas added.

“This is true,” I blushed again. “OK, dinner at seven.”

“Well Layla, let me give you my home phone number and address,” said Nicolas as I followed him over to his midnight blue 2003 Ford Explorer. After he reached inside and pulled out a pen and business card, he said, “If you get lost along the way, just give me a call and I can help you out.”

“Just fixing the tire was already a big help, Nicolas,” I said as I reached for the card. When our hands touched briefly, there was a definite spark. “I’ve got to get to work, but I’ll see you tonight.”

“Tonight at seven,” smiled Nicolas. “It’s a date.”

Nicolas walked me back to my car and opened my door for me. “Get to work safely, Miss. Don’t want you to have any more bad luck on your first day at work.”

“I wouldn’t say it was all bad luck,” I smiled. “I did get to meet you, right?”

It was Nicolas’ turn to blush.

“I’ll see you tonight.” Before starting my engine, I looked in my rearview mirror. I watched Nicolas’ slender frame climb into his Explorer. As I began to pull away, I looked back to get another glimpse of Nicolas, but he was already gone.