Forever Layla: A Time Travel Romance by Melissa Turner Lee Page A

That’s what I would do if I ever had a son.”
    His face turned pouty. It was going to take some getting used to that this David wasn’t the more mature, more adult David I knew about in the future. I looked at him and reminded myself that he would get there. That I would help get him there. I started for the door beside me. “Now, show me around this huge house. This is three times the size of any place I’ve ever lived, except the girl’s home.”
    He took my hand and pulled me toward the adjacent room. “This is the den…”
     

Chapter 9
    David
    I PULLED THE TRUCK UP to the old dental office and put it in park before cutting the engine. We sat in silence until Layla spoke. “Your dad was friendly.”
    I smiled and let a small laugh escape. “My dad was impressed.”
    “Your little sister is sweet too. I always wanted a sister.”
    “You are welcome to have mine.”
    “Very funny.”
    I finally opened the door and stepped out of the truck, slammed the door shut , and jogged around to Layla’s side. She finally waited for me to open the door.
    “I remembered to wait.”
    “You did.”
    She stepped out of the truck and moved closer to me. The air between us grew still , and I swallowed before I grabbed hold of her wrists and pulled her closer. The energy between us was fully charged. She lowered her head, and then glanced up at me under her long dark lashes, and bit her frosty pink lips. I moved my hands from her wrists to her face, as my thumbs caressed her cheeks. My fingers brushed her blonde hair away from her face. I leaned in and our lips touched.
    She made every sense become a thousand times more aware. Her hair was pure silk to my fingertips. She smelled like a garden after the morning dew, all clean and floral and like sweet fruit all at once. She tasted like salt and sugar. I felt so much in that moment –I had no known words to express the feelings. Maybe the words didn’t even exist for mortal tongues. It was like the flashes but magnified and made into real flesh. I had to wonder if falling in love felt like this for everyone, but at the same time thought that impossible. This had to be rare. It was too perfect.
    She pulled back and caught her breath. “We need to stop now.”
    I nodded, took her hand, and walked her to the door. “Can I come in?”
    She hesitated. “I’m not sure that’s a good idea. We seem to be moving so fast, no matter how we try to slow the pace. We’ve known each other a week.”
    “But you’ve known me longer.”
    “Not this you. I mostly knew you from a distance before.”
    “I won’t stay long. I just want to make sure the place is empty, you know, go through and check the closets and all before I leave you here.”
    Her expression looked like she wanted to say, ‘awww.’ “O kay, you can come in and make sure I’m safe.” She stopped and pointed at my chest with her index finger. “Just make sure I’m safe from you, too.”
    I put up two fingers. “Scout 's honor.”
    Layla let us in , and I stepped in front of her to stop her from entering first. Then I stepped in and looked around for any signs of changes or disturbances, and I listened. I walked to the kitchen and pulled open the pantry and the cabinets large enough for a person to hide. I stalked down the hall and checked behind doors, and each room and closet before I walked back to the front door. “All’s clear.”
    She stepped in and made her way to the bathroom and closed the door. “Thank you f or checking the house out. I’ve never had a guy act so protective of me before.”
    “What kind of guys do you date in the future?”
    She called out from behind the door. “I don’t date often. Most guys want a girl who will earn her dinners by the third date. I usually Dutch date for that reason. But then they think that means a hookup immediately because it’s not a date, just connecting to meet needs. I don’t want to feel obligated to anyone. I guess you’ve noticed that about