Their Perfect Match

7

Layla

My dreams are riddled with memories from my time with the Conrads. Dean was the worst. Whenever we were alone he would torment me in ways I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Locking me in small places when we were kids for hours. One time he shoved me in the dryer and turned it on for a few minutes, Anna the maid found him holding the door shut. I cried for nearly an hour, Anna held me and told me I would be okay. The next day she was fired, I never saw her again. I was so sad, I didn’t come out of my room for days.

I hear an alarm clock go off, pulling me from my nightmares, which I’m thankful for. My senses feel like they are playing tricks on me, I feel too comfortable. The bed I’m in doesn’t feel like my own, it’s too soft and way bigger than I’m used to. I smell hints of coffee and vanilla. It’s not overpowering but very relaxing and subtle. I open my eyes to a dark room, it takes me a moment to adjust to the darkness, something moves in the bed beside me.

I look over seeing a massive form moving beside me in the bed, I scramble away in shock and fear causing myself to fall out of the bed, pulling the blankets down with me, landing in a heap on the floor.

“s**t” I cry out in pain as my ass hits the ground, followed by my leg which hurts about a hundred times more. Searing pain flies through my leg causing tears to spring into my eyes.

Next thing I know, I’m being lifted off the floor and placed back onto the bed, the blankets pulled off me, light floods my senses.

“Are you alright?” A deep husky voice breaks through the blinding light, pulling my focus to a man standing in front of me. His blue eyes stare intently at me, his strong jaw is clenched. His thick eyebrows are pulled in concentration, as he waits for me to answer. His shoulder-length dark brown hair falls into his face.

All I can seem to do is nod in response, his handsome features seem to keep me from speaking. I have no idea what is going on. Who he is or where I am.

He eyes me for a moment before he tosses the pillows back in place and gestures for me to lean back on the bed again. I hesitate for a moment before doing it, he places a pillow under my leg and I gasp when I see it in a cast.

“Do you remember what happened?” He asks as he sits down beside me, I shake my head still staring at my leg.

“Well… long story short, my brother hit you with his truck. By accident of course” He explains

“I need to get home” I can’t think of anything else to say.

“About that.. Leon, my brother.. He went to your apartment. You’ve been evicted...but don’t worry, he got all your stuff”

I groan, “Are you in pain? I got some medication from the doctor for you” He jumps up rushing to the nightstand retrieving a bottle of pills and a glass of water. He hands me two pills and the glass of water.

“What are they?” I ask raising my eyebrows at him

“Acetaminophen 800mg, take two pills every six hours as needed. Do not exceed six pills in twenty-four hours” He reads the bottle out loud before handing the pills to me once more, I take them this time with less hesitancy.

“Who are you?” I ask

“I’m Blake Enderson.. And your Layla?”

I stare at him blankly, that name sounds so familiar. Enderson… Enderson… why does it sound so familiar. I can’t put my finger on it. I know I’ve heard that name before.

“Layla?”

“Sorry what?” I snap my eyes back up at him

“You can stay here as long as you need, we have a guest house we can move you into once you can move around on your own, after the cast can come off” He says, “If there’s anything you need let me know. I’ll get it for you”

“Some breakfast would be great.. If it’s not too much trouble”

“Food.. I can do that. Any requests?”

“I can’t have kiwi, dairy or citrus... I have allergies” I say looking down at my hands, as if I have something to be ashamed of for having allergies.

“You got it. I’ll be back, sit tight” He claps his hands and heads out of the room, leaving me by myself.

“What am I going to do?” I sigh, rubbing my temples. I didn’t think my landlord would actually go through with the eviction, I also didn’t think I would get hit by a truck and get my leg broken.

I look around the room and see it is decorated in deep green and black. The bed is fitted in silk sheets, I run my hand up and down the smoothness of them. It’s so much nicer than anything I could ever afford, my cheap polyester sheets could never compare.

I feel the heat rise in my cheeks before I feel the tears sliding down them, I bury my face in my hands and let the tears fall.

I’ve really f****d up. I don’t know what I’m going to do.

I don’t hear Blake come back into the room, but suddenly his arms are around me, holding me against him.

“What’s wrong?” He asks as he strokes my hair

“I..I-I don’t.. I don’t know what to do” I sob, feeling my emotions consume me.

“Listen, you don’t have to figure anything out right now. For now you have a roof over your head, for as long as you need. You don’t need to worry about anything”

“You don’t even know me!” I cry to him, pushing him away from me.

“That doesn’t matter to me!” His voice is so deep I can feel it vibrate against my fingers on his chest. “I feel this need to be consumed by you.”

“You’re crazy”

“You’re right” He reaches forward, tilting my chin up with his massive hand, his thumb grazing my cheek. His finger brushes over my lower lip, sending a shiver down my spine. A soft smirk spreads across his face.

“Eat your breakfast before it gets cold. I’ll run you a bath” He lets me go and gets up off the bed, disappearing into an adjoining room off to the left of the bedroom. I hear the bathtub turn on and the tub start to fill.

I look over to the bedside table and see he brought a plate of scrambled eggs and toast with sausages. I have a few bites of egg, not really feeling very hungry anymore. Blake comes out of the bathroom, his sleeves pushed up to the elbows. He’s wearing lounge pants hung low on his hips, only the draw string holding them up. He has an extremely sexy saunter that makes me have to look away blushing.

“Ready for a bath? The doctor said you can take your cast off to sleep and bathe” He asks, coming over to the edge of the bed

I pull back the blanket and try to get up, awkwardly shifting my leg. Blake moves quickly to scoop me up causing me to gasp in surprise. I toss my arms around his neck to brace myself as he carries me to the bathroom. The tub is filled with bubbles and it smells heavenly, my apartment only had a crappy shower stall so it’s been a long time since I had a nice relaxing bath.

“Wait!” I shout as he steps into the bathroom with me. I didn’t think this through. I don’t have anything to wear once I get out… “Can you put me down?” I ask awkwardly

He sets me down on the sink counter, taking a step back and looks at me. “Are you shy?” He chuckles

I give an even more awkward laugh now. “Well I don’t even know you”

“Fair point” He winks, “Give me a shout if you need a hand” He leaves to give me some privacy.

It’s no wonder why I feel like I’ve been hit by a truck, my entire body is so sore. I slowly undress, removing the air cast and setting my dirty clothing off to the side.

It takes me several attempts to get into the tub but once I’m in it feels amazing. The water is just right, I lean my head against the cool linoleum and close my eyes.

A knock on the bathroom door startles me and I end up splashing water across the room, “I have some clothes for you, can I come in?” Blake calls out. I cover myself with some of the bubbles, making sure nothing can be seen.

“Alright” The door opens and he comes in, holding a bundle of clothing. My clothing. I recognize my floral top and shorts.

“Where’d you get those?” I ask

“I told you Leon went and got some of your stuff”