Kyle was reluctant, but he ended up acting as a chauffeur for Mrs. Jones. Thankfully, their earlier conversation would make things less awkward.
Mrs. Jones got his number from her husband, which meant she could now contact him directly without going through her spouse. This made it easier for her to inform Kyle when to pick her up, even though he had a date to prepare for that night. Kyle figured he could spare a few hours for this favor and hoped it wouldn't become a habit.
The call came in well into the evening, but since he planned to spend the night with Calista, the later their date, the better—it left her less opportunity to head back home. Kyle figured he could play the "it's too late" card and convince her to stay the night. For now, though, he had to focus on picking up Mrs. Jones.
When Kyle's car parked outside, it drew a few stares, as expected. Luckily, he didn't have to wait long; she appeared just seconds after his arrival. At least she wasn't taking his time for granted. She rushed to the car, her freshly showered scent lingering faintly in the air. Gone were her gym clothes; instead, she wore something more casual.
Kyle noted the black skirt hanging just above her knees and the sleeveless white top that revealed just a hint of cleavage—practical, given she'd just finished a thorough workout. As she slid into the passenger seat, her thighs seemed to double in size, and Kyle caught himself stealing a quick glance.
"I'm so thankful for this. In one day, you've done me two big favors! I won't forget this anytime soon," Mrs. Jones said warmly.
At least she had manners, Kyle thought. He couldn't stay mad for long when she was so polite about it.
"You make it sound like I performed open-heart surgery," Kyle replied, brushing off his actions as no big deal. Still, with gas prices through the roof, the drive would cost him.
Kyle tried to keep an emotional distance from the family, knowing things could change in an instant. What if the mysterious system vanished? Would he lose everything in his bank account? These thoughts gnawed at him, but for now, he focused on the task at hand.
He drove with one hand on the wheel, expertly navigating the streets as though he'd been driving since birth.
"You definitely know how to handle her," Mrs. Jones remarked, her eyes lingering a little too long on the veins popping from his forearms.
"What can I say? I have my way," Kyle responded casually, unaware of any subtext—after all, she was a married woman, and he had a professional relationship with her husband.
Mrs. Jones smirked, but Kyle didn't notice as his attention stayed on the road. The ride was peaceful, with Mrs. Jones in charge of the radio. Kyle noted her preference for hip-hop as she sang along to nearly every song, even ones he'd never heard before. Her voice was incredible, but he kept his thoughts to himself, staying professional.
"Come on, Kyle! Sing with me," Mrs. Jones exclaimed, her enthusiasm infectious as she effortlessly hit notes Kyle didn't even know existed.
"Damn… I wouldn't want to steal the spotlight from you," Kyle teased, prompting her to giggle.
"I'd like to see you try," she challenged, and Kyle took a deep breath, as if preparing for a Grammy-worthy performance.
The moment he opened his mouth, Mrs. Jones wished she'd gone temporarily deaf. His voice was atrocious—an assault on music itself. It sounded like a night terror scream, something that could wake the dead.
Kyle laughed at himself, realizing he would never have done something this absurd before. But with money solving his problems, he'd become much more carefree. Mrs. Jones, however, was in hysterics, laughing so hard her eyes teared up.
"See? I told you I'd steal your thunder, Mrs. Jones," Kyle joked.
"You sure did… and please, call me Aiysha," she said, formally introducing herself and signaling a shift from formality. While there was nothing inherently wrong with this, Kyle worried how easily boundaries could blur.
"We're here!" Aiysha announced, and Kyle heaved a sigh of relief. The place was farther than he expected, eating up a good chunk of his day.
"I'll wait here," Kyle said, but Aiysha just stared at him.
"Get out of the car and escort me. Be a gentleman," she said, her eyes fixed on him, a smirk tugging at her lips. Kyle couldn't say no.
"Fine…"