"You were charging at her. I just did what any man would do," the stranger said as he looked at Glenn.
"Not for a fat bitch like this one who thinks that she is too good for me!" Glenn was once again moving closer to Maya.
"Listen man, I don't want to hurt you," the stranger said, but Glenn wouldn't listen.
The man suddenly punched Glenn squarely in the face before he lifted him up and pinned him down on the floor with his hand on his chest. It was the kind of stuff people saw on TV with experienced MMA fighters. Maya's jaw dropped as she looked at the scene that had just unfolded in front of her. By this time, the security guy was already at the table.
"I'm sorry, but I kind of had to do this," the stranger said to the muscular security guard.
"I would have done the same. I saw how he was treating the lady at the counter." The security guy picked up a now out cold Glenn and carried him out.
"Wow," Riley said in what was supposed to be a whisper but loud enough for everyone to hear. "That was amazing."
"Thanks, but in all fairness I was a marine so, you know. Tools of the trade," the man said and Riley looked at Maya.
"You served our country … that makes you even more interesting," she said. "My name is Riley Daniels. This is my best friend Maya Wells."
"Kyle McCauley," he said as he shook Riley's hand and then Maya's. "Nice to meet you both."
"Would you do me a favor?" Riley asked and Kyle nodded. "Would you introduce yourself?" she asked and Maya shrugged.
"I thought that was what he just did," Maya pointed out.
"I mean formally," Riley said. "Rank and all."
Maya sighed and shook her head.
"You don't have to," she said. Kyle smiled and shook his head.
"It's fine. First Sergeant Kyle McCauley of the Fifty Forth Brigade," Kyle said. "Reporting for duty, ma'am."
Riley grinned widely and looked at Maya.
"If you don't get him, I will. I don't care what this ring on my finger says," she walked to the end of the bar to serve another customer as Kyle looked at Maya.
"I'm sorry about that," Maya said rubbing the back of her neck. "Can I maybe appease you with some chicken wings?"
He sat down and shrugged.
"Sounds great," he said smiling. "But are you okay? I mean that guy … "
Maya shook her head and sighed.
"It was just the icing on the cake that was my very bad day," she said in a low voice.
"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked and she shook her head.
"You just met me so I want to maintain this thing between us where you still think I am a normal person." She reached for a chicken wing.
"I don't think you could ever say anything that could change my mind about you," he said. "So dish."
Maya bit into her wing and shook her head.
"Let's just celebrate you taking down that douche and maybe if I see you again, we can have a different talk." Kyle nodded.
"You're on."
Chapter 2
Maya had not expected to have such a good time with Kyle but she did. As it turned out, meeting Kyle was the best way her crazy Thursday would have ended. She had gone from being tired and blue to being all smiles by the time they were leaving the Boomerang.
"You should probably not drive," Kyle said when they got to the parking lot.
"You are probably right," Maya said in a soft voice.
"Don't worry … I can take you home," Kyle said as he took the keys from her.
"You don't really have to," she said, even though her head was buzzing.
"Come on, I can see how you out of it you are," he said as he opened the door for her.
"Are you always this nice or are you just trying to get into bed with me?" she asked and he smiled.
"Honestly, I just want to make sure you get home safely." He opened the car door for her. "That's all I want."
"What if I want something more?" she wondered as she climbed into the car. "What are you even thinking about? This is crazy. You literally just met him Wells,"
Kyle climbed into the driver's seat and looked at her.
"Buckle up," he said as he looked at her.
Maya pulled the seatbelt and sighed when it slipped out of her hand. A smile played on Kyle's lips.
"Here. I got it," he said as he reached for her seatbelt. He secured it into the buckle before he started the engine. "Your address?"
"141 Woodley Lane," she said as she felt herself getting drowsy.
"141 Woodley Lane," he echoed. "Got it."
*****
When Maya woke up the next morning, she didn't remember much about the previous night. She was having flashbacks of knocking back tequila shots at the Boomerang with Riley and meeting an attractive green-eyed man who saved her from the wrath of one of the Boomerang's drunks. She pulled her covers off and shook her head when she saw what she was wearing, a pajama shirt worn front to back. She pulled herself out of bed and noticed a note on her nightstand.
Hi Maya.
Sorry about the makeshift strait jacket but the situation last night forced me to do so. I like to consider myself a gentleman and I wouldn't allow myself to take advantage of you at your weakest moment … I think that explains it. Anyway, I wanted to get you some breakfast but I got called away to the office. I couldn't even get you a Starbucks coffee if I wanted to, but I will check up on you later. I promise. (I already got your number from your friend Riley).
Kyle.
Maya frowned and shook her head.
"He had to make a makeshift strait jacket?" she wondered out loud as she sat on the edge of her bed. She was still looking at the note in her hand when she heard the front door open.
"Hello?" she heard Riley's voice calling from the door.
"In here," Maya called out.
"So, since you stood me up for breakfast, I thought I would bring breakfast to you," Riley said and Maya sighed.
"Did I have breakfast plans with everyone this morning?" she wondered as Riley walked up to the entrance of her bedroom and stood leaning against the door frame.
"I brought breakfast burritos, bagels and coffee … and why are you wearing your pajama shirt like that?" Riley asked as she looked at her best friend.
"Apparently I tried to rape my knight in shining armor last night so he had to do this to make sure I didn't have my way with him," Maya said trying hard to hide her embarrassment. "All because of the tequila you forced on me last night by the way."
"Oh sweetie," Riley said frowning. "It's not my fault that you are a light weight and you did need some liquid courage to … you know."
"Actually, Riley. I don't. Just get me out of this damn shirt," Maya said.
Riley walked up to where Maya was and began undoing the buttons of her pajama shirt.
"So, it is obvious that Kyle likes you," Riley started as Maya walked to her closet and grabbed a t-shirt. "I mean, he brought you home and obviously he cares about you. I mean, he stayed the night and never did a thing to you."
"I brought a stranger into my house. That was silly," Maya pointed out a she put on a bathrobe over her t-shirt.
"Actually, he was … is no stranger. I told you that he has been at the bar a number of times and he is always checking you out," Riley said smiling.
"And the reason you never mentioned him was … what, exactly?" Maya asked.
"Well, I did but you have always been very adamant that you were not ready for any kind of relationship. Casual or otherwise."
"Wait, so all those times you were trying to hook me up with someone it was Kyle?" Maya asked as she looked at Riley and she nodded. "Wow. Have I been that shallow?"
"I wouldn't blame you for not wanting to move on. I mean, that last one was a disaster," Riley said. "In not so many words … but remember, I went through the same thing before I met Drew?"
Maya nodded. If ever there were two people who made her believe that she still had a shot at a good, happy relationship, it was Riley and her new husband Andrew. The two had been dating for years before they finally decided to make it official and even through all the issues they'd had, everything had still worked out for the better. They might have had their weird fights but they always worked everything out.
"Just how much did I have to drink last night anyway?" Maya asked as they walked into the kitchen where Riley had placed the breakfast on the counter.
"Well, maybe an entire bottle of wine and half a bottle of tequila," Riley said in a guilty voice.
"Half a bottle of tequila?" Maya asked as she put her phone on the counter. She picked up a burrito and then looked up at Riley, frowning. "You told me we were only going to do a few shots … .half a bottle?" She shook her head. "No wonder I don't remember anything about last night." She took a bite of her burrito and Riley reached for a bagel. She was saying something but Maya was not really paying attention. All she could think about was the previous night. Why would Kyle, a man who barely knew her decide to just stay as long as he did just to make sure she was okay? Could it have been maybe that this was the universe's way of telling her that she'd found her match or something of the sort? Her heart was racing as she took another bite of her burrito.