Jaded (The Butterfly Memoirs) by M. J. Kane

was the first man I’d spent time with in months, and he didn’t have any attachments. He also wasn’t looking for a relationship.
    He was handsome enough, and I imagined outside of his work attire, in a nice suit, he’d fit the bill.
    I could imagine spending a few hours with him. After talking during lunch and the evening spent with him and his mother, there was no doubt he was intelligent. I enjoyed conversing with him. We could spend the evening together in a room full of people and keep each other entertained.
    At the end of the night, we would shake hands, say good night, and expect nothing in return.
    “I know the perfect person to ask.”
     

Chapter 8
     
    Yasmine’s car sat in the driveway of my mother’s house. I glanced at my watch. She should have been gone an hour ago. Was everything okay? Instinctively, I checked my cell phone to make sure the ringer was on; there were no missed calls or messages.
    I forced myself to breathe steady before shutting off the car. There was no reason not to trust Yasmine. For the past three weeks, she’d faithfully checked on my mother. As a result, my mother blossomed from the additional attention.
    I climbed out of the car, determined not to dash to the front porch.
    When I reached the bottom step, Yasmine’s laugh floated in the air as she backed out of the door. My heart stopped as if seeing her for the first time.
    Her skirt adhered to every curve of her body, stopping past her knee. What should have been simple was much more. A slit went up one side to reveal her thigh; high-heeled shoes accentuated slender calf muscles adding a sexy tilt to her glorious backside. The shirt hid behind a jacket, which fit her narrow waist, and flared over perfect hips. Her short hair was pulled away from her face; its curls hooked behind her ears.
    Despite her exuded beauty, the happiness in her eyes and playful smile in response to something my mother said were what captured me.
    She stopped, startled by my presence. “Zack!” A hand went to her chest.
    I stood on the steps. The sound of my name on her lips sent desire to my groin, a now familiar reaction anytime she laughed, said my name, or damn, even looked at me.
    “Hi,” I pushed my glasses up the bridge of my nose. Whenever Yasmine was in my vicinity, my nose began to sweat, making it impossible for the frames to stay put.
    Yasmine smiled and cocked her head. “How was your day?”
    I ignored my mother’s knowing glance as she walked onto the porch. “Good, thanks for asking. What about yours?”
    “Better, since spending time with your mom. She is one of the smartest women I know. Meeting her was a blessing.”
    “Glad I could help.” I stuck my hands in my pockets and looked away, ignoring the twinge of jealousy.
    “Zack, are you okay?” she asked.
    I cleared my thoughts. “Yeah, I’m good. Hi, Mom, how are you feeling?”
    My mother stood next to Yasmine. “Younger now that Yasmine comes by.”
    I chuckled. “What do I do? Make you age faster?”
    My mom’s laughter rang outside. “No, silly. There’s something about having a young woman come to me with a load of questions. You’re a man, you wouldn’t understand.”
    I guess not.
    “Zack, do you have plans for dinner?”
    My eyebrows rose at Yasmine’s question. “Um…,” I glanced at my mother. We had a standing dinner appointment nearly every night. Either I brought something over or we ordered in.
    “Not tonight he doesn’t,” my mom volunteered.
    Yasmine glanced at my mother, and then turned her grey-gaze to me. “Are you sure? I don’t want to interfere with anything.”
    Laughter appeared in my mother’s eyes. “No, you’re not disrupting a thing.”
    I chuckled on the inside. “Guess I am available.”
    “Good. Are you still interested in taking me to dinner? I’m free now if you are.”
    My mom stepped behind Yasmine and made a shooing motion over her head. I coughed to keep from laughing. “Where would you like to