Learning to Live

Chapter 8

It was time for our date. I pull up in front of her house and quickly look at my wristwatch, its 7:58 pm. I took a deep breath, put on a smile, and got out my Audi Quattro--my favorite car and jogged up the steps.

I was about to knock on the door when a tan muscular man, with curly ear-length hair, opens the door. "Can I help you?" He said in a serious tone.

Who is this guy?

"I'm Ian. I'm here to pick up Shana." He folds his huge arms and stares me down.

"She's getting ready." He looks at my hands, "What, no flowers?"

Shit, flowers. How can I forget the flowers?

"I brought her a dress."

His stern demeanor disappears and he laughs, "Oh, well I guess a dress is better than flowers then. Come in Ian."

If Dwayne Johnson and Mario Lopez were to have a love child, it would be him. He looks like he belongs on one of those daytime soaps or on a runway somewhere in France.

He stretches his hand out, "I'm Israel Guerrero."

Israel. Why does that name sound so familiar?

I shake his hand, "nice to meet you Israel. Are you one of Shana's friends?"

He runs his fingers through his hair, "She's more than just a friend, Ian. She's" His eyes drift to the stairs and so did mine.

Shana was coming down the stairs like an angel descending from heaven. She was wearing the red dress I bought her, and I was right she looks magnificent in it.

I hold her hand to help her down the stairs. "You look ravishing, Ms. Dante." Then I kiss her hand and glance at Israel, who was standing by the door with a brooding look on his face.

"Well thank you Mr. Somers...but," she smiles and looks down at her dress, "the dress, you really shouldn't have."

The dress was perfect. It hugs her body perfectly. "Well, I'm glad I did because you look very beautiful in it."

She looks down and blushes, "thanks, and you look very handsome in that suit."

"Thank you."

"I bet it's rented?" Israel said, now folding his huge arms.

"Israel." Shana said and then mouths to him 'behave.'

"Actually Israel, it's tailored. Not that you'd know." I said with a smug smile on my face.

Shana looks at me with furrowed eyebrows. Israel walks closer to me. His huge frame towers over me. Then he takes Shana's hand away from mine and holds it in his. "Shana that color suits you very well." He then kisses her on her cheek and whispers something in her ear.

He gives me a nod. "Ian, be safe on the road, you're carrying precious cargo." He said with a serious face as he walks out the door.

Shana let out a little giggle. I raise my eyebrows. "What's his problem?"

She shrugs, "I don't know, he usually isn't like that." She picks up her purse from the couch and opens it. "Seriously?"

"What's wrong?"

"Israel. He put a can of mace in my purse. I thought he was kidding."

This guy really hates me.

Shana shakes her head as she places it on the coffee table. "So where are we going?"

"It's a surprise," I said in a Smoky voice.