A Knight With Wine

Leaving work later than usual, Cayla hopped off the last step with more perk than she actually felt. She was terribly relieved she’d thought ahead and packed some toiletries and a clean pair of jeans in her backpack before rushing out the door this morning.

First date jitters are always the best. That tingling in her stomach, the thoughts of “is this HIM?” marched back and forth across her mind and distracted her more today than any other first date she had planned.

They’d met online, one of the newer dating apps that promised compatibility with random strangers for the low, low monthly fee of $49.99. ‘Cheaper than a gym membership to find The One’ is how she rationalized the purchase. Besides, if it didn't work out, joining a gym might be her second go to.

Quickening her step to the restaurant, Cayla reached into her pocket and checked her text messages. Nothing new since the lunch hour. She’d checked in with Lucas to confirm the dinner date around noon and he’d said he was just as excited as she was. ‘Best not to bother him, looks too desperate, now is not the time to draw too much attention to yourself’ she repeated in her head.

Wanting to arrive earlier than Lucas, Cayla popped in to the lobby of the swanky place that opened up down the street last month and grinned at the hostess.

“Yes ma’am, hello. Do you have a reservation?” the petite young girl asked.

“I do, for two at 8 pm, but I’m early and I’d really like to spruce myself up a bit. Mind if I pop into your restroom and freshen up?” Cayla asked sweetly.

“Of course! Down to the back, don’t turn to the right, that’s the kitchen, take a left. I’ll wait to check you in when you get back.”

“Awesome, you’re the best!” Cayla exclaimed as she power walked towards the restroom. That was too perky, she thought to herself, calm it down a bit.

Pushing through the heavy door of the restroom, she noticed two larger stalls in the back and selected one. She hurriedly swapped out her bottoms for the jeans, sprayed a tiny amount of perfume on her wrists and just below her ears, brushed her hair back into a high ponytail, powdered her face, and lightly lined her pink lips with a stimulating shade of red lipstick. She stuffed everything back into her bag and flung it over her shoulder as she stepped out of the stall to check her appearance.

Satisfied that she didn’t look like a sour old librarian, Cayla washed her hands and steeled herself to walk back out and meet Lucas face to face.

She hurried back up to the foyer, her eyes scanning for her date, and she saw him. She stopped in her tracks, he had not seen her yet. Her heart leapt up into her throat, how stunning he was. Not only was he exactly like his photos, but he was more pronounced in person. It’s possible he could sense her staring at him because his gaze swung around and landed on her face.

His lips parted in a tremendous smile. Such bright, white teeth. A perfect dimple on only one cheek. His deep brown eyes were glowing with what, she could only hope, was admiration that he made a good choice.

“Cayla?” he asked.

She nodded because she couldn’t trust her voice not to quiver or squeak. He held out his hand to shake it and she couldn’t help but step forward and fold her hand into his. His grip was strong, solid and she lingered in the handshake longer than she should have.

“Ready for dinner?” the hostess asked.

“Yes.”

They said it in unison and then both chuckled with nervous laughter. The hostess motioned them to follow and sat them at a corner high-top table under a soft glowing lamp. Cayla had to remind herself to take long, deep, and slow breaths to get through this.

They sat there for what seemed like hours, eating and enjoying learning about each other. Lucas was a coach, Cayla worked as a secretary; they both liked baseball and had a strong passion for long walks on the beach. Way too cliché, but first date appropriate.

When the check came, Cayla insisted on splitting the bill, but Lucas refused her. The date was slowly rolling to a close and she was ready to make her move.

“So, Lucas, I don’t usually do this but…” she started nervously as he leaned forward in his chair. “…but I was wondering if you’d like to come back to my place for a drink. I picked up a new bottle of Merlot I was looking forward to trying, but I was saving it for a special occasion.”

He leaned back with a ruggedly handsome grin pulling back the dimpled side of his face and replied, “I don’t usually accept a drink in a woman’s apartment on the first date. But I feel compelled to make an exception for you Cayla.”

She felt as though her heart might burst out of her chest when he said that. She slid from her seat and grabbed her bag, blushing slightly as she extended her hand to him.

“Shall we?”

He took it and followed her from the restaurant. The walk to her apartment was short, thank goodness, because Cayla’s feet couldn’t reach it fast enough. Unlocking the door and flipping on the living room light, she invited him in as she unceremoniously dropped her bag on the couch.

“Welcome to my humble abode. It’s not much, but I suppose I don’t need much. I prefer the minimalist lifestyle.”

He nodded and stepped in, shutting the door behind him and shoving his hands deep into the pockets of his jacket. Cayla bounced over to the small kitchenette in the middle of the room, two glasses and a bottle of Merlot already waiting.

“Did you plan on me saying yes?” he asked with a snicker.

Cayla shrugged as she pulled out the corkscrew and set to opening the wine, the corners of her mouth turned up in a slight smile.

She poured the wine into the glasses, small portions just in case it wasn’t as good as she’d hoped, popped the cork back in the bottle, and handed him a glass. He took it without hesitation, sniffed the deep red liquid and sipped.

Lucas nodded. “Excellent pick, very robust.”

“Thank you,” she replied and picked up her own glass.

“But I’m afraid I’ll have to ask for more than just a sip. I feel inclined to ask for quite a bit more than just wine.”

His voice changed, became deeper, almost tinged with a sense of menace.

“Wine is all I have at the moment, unless you’d like water.”

He shook his head. “I’ve stared at those pretty red lips all evening. I’d like to kiss them.”

Cayla’s smile never faltered. “I don’t kiss on the first date Lucas, but thank you for the compliment.”

“Not asking, Cayla,” the way he said her name dripped with malice, “I’m telling you.”

“And YOU are being told no, so either finish your wine and be polite or you can leave,” she replied kindly.

Lucas pulled a pair of gloves out of his pocket and slowly put them on. “I was hoping this would be easier, but I do so love the hard way better.”

“Final time, answer is no. You need to leave,” Cayla stated.

Lucas shook his head and took a long stride towards her. She squared her shoulders and stared him down.

“Look at the petite little thing getting bold. Just be calm,” another step towards her, “and this won’t take long.”

She waited until he was within six feet of her, his gloved hands reaching towards the buttons of her shirt and then she struck. She flung the entire contents of the glass directly into his face causing him to shriek in shock and scratch at his eyes.

As he stumbled back, she shuffled along the counter towards the door. He rubbed at his eyes to clear the wine, his brown contacts trickling down his face and landing on his shirt. He angrily looked around for her, blinking quickly as he realized his protective lenses were gone.

Cayla grabbed the tiny flashlight sitting by the front door and clicked the high powered beam on Lucas’ face. His hand came up as he cursed. “Dammit Cayla, what’re you doing?! Shut that light off, it’s burning my eyes!”

“Put your arm down and let me see your face!” she demanded.

Lucas looked at her with fire in his eyes, the wine had stained his face and made it even redder with his anger.

“Would you look at that...two different colored eyes, one bright blue and one violet,” she remarked.

“So what?!” he hollered back at her.

“I’ve been searching for you for a long time Lucas. Or Michael, or Timothy, or whatever name you go by these days.”

Her words stopped him cold and she could see the blood draining from his face. His eyes widened in fear and his hands, once balled into fists, now shook.

“Fine bottle of Merlot we’ve got here, mighty fine,” Cayla said as she pounded on her front door three times.

The door burst open and heavily armed men swarmed in shouting for Lucas to get down on the ground. Terrified, he hurled himself to the floor and started to whimper as they handcuffed him.

“That was cutting it close, Sergeant Knight. You okay?” the burly man in charge stated gruffly.

“Yes Chief, I’m fine. Had to get him close, had to be sure he was ‘The One’, you know?” Cayla replied as they carted Lucas/Michael/Timothy through her door and out of her life. “Had to make sure he wasn’t going to hurt another woman ever again.”

“You did good, Knight. Now, clean up this mess and get down to the station. You have a report to file.”

“Yes sir, I’ll be along shortly,” she replied as the last of the police officers left.

Cayla walked over to the wasted wine pooling on her floor and tossed a towel down to soak it up. She uncorked the Merlot, sniffed it, and took a long swig to steady herself.

“Well, I’ll be damned. That is a mighty fine Merlot,” she said as she put the bottle back on the counter. “I’ll be back for you soon.”