Here I am, taking in the summer night sounds of southern California on vacation. This is rare. We were granted two glorious weeks off from working. I need the break. I really need the break.

I spent a week with my mother in Las Vegas. Getting a chance to catch up with her, just spending quality time was a joy. Even now, as I sit here writing this in my journal, I can't help but smile.

But even after a week, she had to get rid of me. LOL (did I use that right?) So that led me here, California, land of sun and fun. Although I'm not having much fun.

Reid put down his pen and closed the composition book. He took a drink from his glass and sat back in his chair. He read on Yelp that Joe's Cabana and Tiki Bar was the place to be on a Friday night.

There was a Caribbean band playing island music and a few couples were on the floor dancing. As his pina colada was almost gone, Reid felt the need to pack up and leave.

"Coming to the stage", the announcer said, "is our very Layla! It's Sade night, ladies and gentlemen! Sit back and relax and enjoy the sounds of the island right at your own back door!"

Reid stopped in his tracks. He debated as to whether he should stay or not. He never told anyone on the team, but he was a big Sade fan. He had even seen her in concert once in Vegas when he was young.

Layla took to the stage and Reid's jaw dropped. She was about 5'6 and pretty didn't even begin to describe it. She had light caramel sun-kissed skin, and wavy dark brown hair, pulled in a ponytail. She wore a simple white tank top and a navy and white striped maxi skirt that flowed around her ankles. Her skirt was so long she had to gather it in her left hand and when she smiled, the night sky under the outside restaurant seemed so much brighter.

Layla locked eyes with Reid for a moment and winked sweetly as the band tuned up and she belted out the first notes of Sweetest Taboo.

Reid sat back down, mesmerized. She seemed to be singing right to him, and he noticed that every eye of every man in the room was on her. Her frame was accentuated by full hips and an ample bosom area. Her simple silver sandals shined in the spotlight on the small stage and when she swayed to the music, Reid found himself swaying with her.

There's a quiet storm

And it never felt like this before

There's a quiet storm

That is you

There's a quiet storm

And it never felt this hot before

Giving me something that's taboo

Reid couldn't help staring at her. The lyrics of the song touched the very depth of his spirit and he felt caught up in the magic of the evening. Layla sang a few more songs before the band took a short intermission. Reid tried to will himself to get out of his chair, but couldn't seem to move. It really made no matter anyway.

"Hi there!" Layla said, as she moved closer to Reid's table. "Mind if I join you?"

"Uh", Reid said.

"A man of few words, I see", Layla said and then smiled. Reid smiled back and seemed to melt in his chair.

"I'm Layla. Layla Snow. And you are?"

"Spencer. Dr. Spencer Reid."

"A doctor, huh?" she said. "Medical or…"

"Non-medical. I work for…"

"Lemme guess", Layla said, tapping her finger to her lips. Reid so wanted to be that finger.

"I'm getting a government vibe", she said. "That's amazingly cool."

"Good guess", Reid said.

"Are you enjoying the show?" Layla asked as she motioned to the bartender.

"Immensely", he said. "You have a beautiful voice."

"Thank you", Layla said blushing. "I usually don't just come…" The bartender brought her over two drinks, both a fizzy peach color.

"I hope you don't mind, but I took the liberty", she said, sliding a drink to him.

"I'm not really big on alcohol", Reid said. "This", he said pointing to his now watered down pina colada, "is about as daring as I get."

Layla giggled softly and Reid couldn't help but squirm a bit. His mind started to wonder about the things he could do to make her laugh…

"I don't drink", she said.

Reid raised his eyebrows. "Really?"

"Can you keep a secret?" she said, whispering and leaning really close to him. He could smell the floral fragrance of her perfume and inhaled slightly.

"Absolutely", he said.

"I'm diabetic. This is seltzer with water enhancer." She took a sip. "Mmm. Peach Bellini."

Reid took a sip and laughed. "Now this, I could drink."

"Just motion for Tony when you need a refill; he'll take care of you." The lights on the stage blinked. "I gotta get back. Are you going to stay for the second half?"

"Wouldn't miss it for the world", Reid said.

"Great! Then I'll see you", she said, standing and kissing him lightly on his cheek, "after the show." Layla sauntered back to the stage. "How y'all feeling tonight?" she called out.

Reid sat back and watched the second half of the show totally enthralled. He motioned to Tony once and another Peach Bellini was brought to him by the server.

"Amazing, isn't she?" she said, sitting the drink down in front of Reid. "You're lucky. She never talks to guys. Well, at least not one-on-one." The server left and Reid sat back and watched the beautiful woman in front of him sing of being by his side.

After Layla's last song, the house lights went up and the manager called for last call for alcohol. Layla went to her dressing room.

"You outta here?" the manager Joe said, peeking his head around the corner.

"I am", Layla said.

"I saw you talking to the skinny guy out there", Joe said teasing her, watching her blush. "Good for you. Maybe he'll whisk you away from all of this."

"Now why would I ever leave you guys", Layla said, giving Joe a hug. "You're like a dad to me."

"Aww, Sweetie", he said. "Don't ever refer to me as 'dad'", he said laughing. "And you can't stay here forever, you know that. I get calls all the time from the east coast, even here in Cali, saying, "Tell me she needs an agent."

"I don't need an agent, I have you", Layla said grabbing her purse. "But I know what you mean. I'm just happy here."

Joe watched Reid walk up. "Maybe it's time for a new kinda happy." He said, as Reid reached for her hand.

Layla and Reid walked along the shore on the beach. Layla had let her wavy brown hair down and changed into a pure white sundress with spaghetti straps and a long flowing skirt. Reid couldn't keep his eyes off of her.

"Where are you from?" Reid asked, intertwining his hand with hers.

"Originally? Indiana. But I like to think of myself as a nomad."

Reid laughed. "A nomad? Like a gypsy?"

"Sort of", she said, with a far away look in her eye. "What about you?"

"Las Vegas", he said with a smile. "My mom is still there."

"How is she?" Layla said, looking up at him in earnest. "I'm getting a feeling that you take great care of her."

"She's a facility. She has a form of Schizophrenia that…" Reid's voice broke a bit.

"It's OK", Layla said, hugging him.

"She's wonderful now. The medicines work amazingly well and we talk regularly. I even went to see her last week."

A little ways down the beach a calypso band was playing around a makeshift bonfire. A small group of people had stopped to listen and when Reid and Layla approached, one of the band members reached for her hand to dance.

The singer was singing a rendition of "Turn Your Lights Down Low" by Bob Marley and Reid watched in awe as Layla twirled and laughed with the singer. The small group swayed along with them and as the song finished, the singer led her hand back to Reid and bowed to the couple.

"You just exude happiness wherever you go, don't you?" Reid said, laughing as she twirled in his hand to the new song playing.

"Life is too short to be unhappy", Layla said, giggling. "I've had all the heartache I can take for one life time." Layla smiled sadly. "I was a care giver for my mother for a long time when she got real sick. When she passed a few months ago, I helped put her affairs in order. I really had no idea what I was going to do." She paused when her voice broke a bit. "She left me some money and I quit my job and took off. I wanted and needed to be there for her, and I'm glad I could be."

Reid stopped and picked up a picked a Morning Glory from a bush growing nearby. He put the flower in her hair and pushed her hair behind her ears.

"You have a beautiful heart", Reid said, pulling her close to him.

For a moment, they looked in each other's eyes and before he could stop himself, he leaned in and tenderly kissed her lips. A small moan escaped her throat as she returned the kiss and he took his moment to deepen it. For a few small moments, the worlds melted away, and there was nothing but the soft ocean breeze and two people falling head over heels for each other.