by Nia Arthurs
“You talk big, Luc.”
“Got bigger tips too.”
“That was because of your pretty face and nothing else.” He grins, his dull blue eyes glittering.
Hal and I worked together back in the day. He gives the best deep tissue massages and now serves some of the biggest athletes in the world. One hour in his resort costs a pretty penny but, when I called him, he offered me the room for free.
“I appreciate the favor though.”
“She must mean a lot to you.”
“She does.”
“Girlfriend?”
I rub the back of my neck. The oil slathers against my skin. “It’s complicated.”
“Oh.” He rocks on his heels. “One of those.”
I slap his shoulder instead of following up on his questioning gaze. “Thanks for making it happen. She needed this.”
“Ya’ll were pretty loud in there.” He wiggles his eyebrows. “Either she’s never had a massage before or you weren’t being all that professional.”
“It’s the former.”
“Hmph.”
“I’m never inappropriate with a client.”
“She a client now?”
“She was when she was in there.”
“Ah, that’s too bad.” He bobs his head. “She seems like a nice girl.”
“She is.”
“So?”
“So what?”
“What’s the problem?”
The problem is she’s got me so firmly buried in the friend-zone I’m suffocating. “I’m working on it.”
“Work harder,” Hal calls after me. “She’s pretty. Can’t imagine she’ll stay single for long.”
“You have no idea,” I mumble under my breath.
Ina’s got her last date tomorrow.
And then she’ll have to take one of those punks as her boyfriend.
Just the thought of it…
Damn.
It’s harder and harder to pretend I’m not falling for her. But she’s so freaking stubborn. The moment I confess how I feel, she’ll push me away with that lame excuse about not wanting to give me her baggage.
As if there’s anything about her that I wouldn’t gladly accept.
What I can’t accept is losing her.
Not seeing her smile.
Not hearing her laugh.
Not talking to her throughout the day.
I can’t live with that.
After I’ve washed my hands, I return to the room.
Ina is still sleeping.
The orange light hits her small chin. The slope of her cheek. The slightly parted mouth.
My pulse quickens.
She’s so beautiful.
The dark skin. The twists in her hair.
The dip of her back.
She’s there. Naked. On the table.
Damn. It drives me wild.
And those moans earlier.
It was hard keeping focused. Trying to stay professional. It’s true what I told Hal. I’m a boss at drawing the line between work and pleasure.
But this woman beneath my hands—
Those purring sounds she made—
It’s Ina.
She’s painfully innocent.
But if I didn’t know any better, I’d say she was driving me wild on purpose.
I lean over her. Gently scrape my fingers over her black twists. Push them back behind her ear.
Her eyes flutter.
Then open.
I wince. “Did I wake you?”
“I’m a light sleeper. Have to be.” She yawns. “How long was I out?”
“Fifteen minutes.”
She starts to get up and then realizes she’s naked.
Her eyes widen and she flops back down.
I laugh.
“Don’t.” She groans. “This is humiliating.”
“You survived though.”
“Barely.” She blinks languidly. “It was only because of you that I made it through.”
“I’m good at what I do.”
“You are.” She touches her shoulder. “This doesn’t even feel like my body.” Her eyes meet mine, calm and completely trusting. She’s naked in front of me and she’s completely okay. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Are all our lessons going to be that enjoyable?”
I clear my throat. A picture of her in my bed, purring under my hands flashes through my mind. “I sure hope so.”
“What’s lesson two?”
“What do you want it to be?”
She thinks about it for a second. “Kissing.”
“Just kissing?”
“Do you want to do something else?”
Yeah. You.
My pants get awfully tight.
She has no idea what she’s doing to me, does she?
“You should get dressed.”
“Why?” She pushes out her bottom lip.
Because I’ll give you another type of massage if you don’t.
I turn away to give her privacy. “Because I’m hungry.”
I hear her shuffling around, putting on her clothes. “Can we eat at your place?” she asks. “I want to see Frank.”
“Okay.” I slip my watch on. “I just have to stop by the hospital first.”
“The hospital?”
“Nellie got into an accident.”
Ina gasps. “Is she okay?”
“Jonas said she was fine, but I still want to check on her.”
“Of course. Of course.”
I hear her footsteps and turn around. Ina’s dressed, but there’s something different about her. Her skin is glowing. She seems more relaxed. Confident.
Was it the massage that did it? Or the fact that we made one more step toward overcoming her fear of physical intimacy?
“Is something wrong?” She checks her outfit.
“Nothing.” I fix my tie. “You’re just… really beautiful.”
She sucks her lips in and sends me a get real look.
“You don’t believe me?”
“Come on.” She grabs my arm and tugs me to the door. “I’m worried about Nellie.”
I don’t budge. “You own a mirror?”
“Of course I do.”
“And you don’t see what I do when you look at yourself?”
She shrugs. “I’m never going to be a model.”
The woman has curves for days and a smile that could rival the sun. How could she say that? “You’re wrong.”
“Look at me.” She raises her arms. “I have love handles and thick thighs and—“ She holds up a hand before I can protest. “I’m okay with that. I like that no one notices when I enter the room.”
“I notice.”
Her throat bobs daintily. “Yeah, but…”
“But what?”
“You’re Lucas.”
I shake my head.
“Let’s just go.”
“Fine.” I stalk through the door.
Hal waves from his office. He’s on the phone so we don’t stop and talk.
Outside, I unlock the car and we both climb in.
Ina turns to me. “Are you mad?”
“I’m not mad.”
She gives me a really look. “It’s all over your face.”
“No, it’s not.”
“But—”
“Drop it, Ina.”
“You’re being ridiculous, you know.” Her voice climbs. “There’s nothing wrong with being average. Why does it matter to you if I’m telling the truth?”
“Because it’s not the damn truth, Ina. And if I thought you were just fishing for compliments, I wouldn’t be this pissed. It’s the fact that you actually believe—” I laugh hollowly. “Whatever. Nothing I say will convince you anyway.”
She huffs.
I tighten my fingers on the steering wheel. “If you think you’re so average, why are you going on all those dates then?”
“Because I have more to offer than my looks.” She raise
s her chin. “I survived something horrible, but I’m still here. I’m strong even when I’m scared. I’m determined even when it doesn’t make sense. I’m loyal and kind. I can be somebody’s partner if they’re willing to be patient with me. I’m a little more work, but I’m still somebody worthy of love.”
Frustration spreads all throughout my body.
She’s not work.
She’s perfect.
I slap my chest to get the ache out.
Slender fingers curl over my hand and yank it down.
I glance at Ina. She’s glaring straight ahead, her mouth pulled into a severe frown.
“What are you doing?”
“Just because I’m annoyed with you doesn’t mean I can’t hold your hand.” She lifts our joined fingers. “This is practice.”
My irritation dissolves in a snap.
“Ina…”
“Keep driving. I don’t want to talk to you.”
I do as she says.
A few minutes later, we slow down in front of the hospital.
I park and hop out.
She meets me on the sidewalk, her arms folded over her chest.
She’s still upset.
I stop her before we go inside. “Look, about before.”
She taps her foot on the pavement.
“I only meant—”
“Ina?” someone calls.
Ina’s eyes slide away from me.
I turn too.
A man strides toward us, his eyes locked on Ina and a stupid grin on his face. Beefy arms strain from a T-shirt two-sizes too small.
Ina gasps in recognition. “Greg?”
Twenty-One
Ina
While Lucas heads up to meet Nellie, I follow Greg to the hospital cafeteria. He shuffles beside me, his hands in his pockets.
“You look great,” he says.
“So do you.” But he’s always looked handsome to me. “I didn’t think I’d run into you here. Is everything okay?”
He drags a hand down his face. “It’s my grandmother. She’s been here for a few days. She had a stroke.”
“Greg, that’s horrible.” My mind goes to Mrs. G. She barely let me check her pressure and, as far as I know, she hasn’t gone to a doctor yet. I have to remember to get on her back about that.
Dark brown eyes find mine. “I’m sorry I haven’t been in touch. I’ve been spending all my time with Gran and completely forgot to—”
“It’s fine. I understand.”
“Do you?”
“Yeah.”
He sighs again.
“What?”
“Nothing.”
We enter the cafeteria and he gestures to a table.
I sit across from him.
Greg folds his big body into the plastic chair and studies me. “It didn’t bother you that I didn’t call?”
“Not really.”
“Not at all?”
“You wanted me to cry?”
“Ina, I…” He reaches for my hand. At the touch of his fingers, I drag my palm back and set it in my lap. His gaze flickers to where my hand was. “Right. You had that thing with touch.”
“What’s your point, Greg?” I ask, a little shaken.
Twenty minutes ago, I was naked on a massage table with Lucas.
Why am I still having trouble with handholding?
“Why didn’t you contact me first? As far as I know, the love runs both ways.”
“You promised you’d call.”
“So?”
“So.” I lean my elbows on the table. “If you really wanted me, you would have done what you said. I don’t have time to chase a guy who’s not interested in me.”
“But you have time to date around?”
I arch an eyebrow. “You knew about that arrangement when you met me.”
He scrubs his face with the heel of his hand. “I know. I’m sorry. That didn’t come out right. I’m just confused.”
“About?”
“Are you really interested in me? Or is this dating thing just one big conspiracy to make that guy jealous.”
“What guy?”
“The one you walked in with today.” He folds his arms over his. “He’s the same guy who was watching you during our date at the comic book store.”
“He’s just a friend.”
“Really?”
“Yes.” My voice shakes. I clear my throat and try again. “Yes.”
“Look, Ina…” Greg runs a hand over his neck. “I haven’t been playing around with you. I want to get to know you better because I feel like there’s something between us.” He flattens his hands on the table. “Tell me you don’t feel it too.”
“I…”
“Well?”
“I do.” I felt it when he ‘bumped’ into me at the water fountain. I found him attractive and swoon-worthy. He called me pretty and my heart almost froze from shock.
But now?
Something’s changed.
I still find him hot, but it’s not the same.
“Am I too late?” he whispers.
“I don’t know.” It’s as honest an answer as I can muster.
He nods thoughtfully.
I stand and grab my purse. “I should get going. My friend’s waiting for me.”
“Will you answer if I call?”
“I will.” I meet his eyes that are filling with hope. “But I think you and I should be friends for now.”
“Ina…”
“See you later, Greg.” I walk away from him, my sights set on the elevator. There’s a part of me that expects Greg to run after me, but I’m secretly relieved when he doesn’t.
I board the elevator and hold my head high until I get to Nellie’s floor.
With sure movements, I step into the hospital room.
Nellie is sitting on the bed, her fingers skimming through a magazine. The white and blue hospital gown is a sharp contrast to her gorgeously dark brown skin. Her wig is a little lopsided and the bruise on her cheek is turning purple, but she still looks absolutely stunning.
She glances up and a bright smile crosses her face. “Ina!”
“Hey.” I glance around the room. White walls. Grey sofa. Air conditioning unit. Window. Soft chairs. No Lucas.
“Is Lucas in the bathroom or something?”
“He left to pick up my parents.” Nellie scowls. Under her breath, she mumbles, “I bet Jonas squealed.”
“You didn’t want your parents to find out?”
She flops back in the bed. “They’re way too over-protective. It’s insane.”
“You got into a car crash. I think that’s something they should know.”
She shrugs one shoulder dismissively. “It was just a little accident. I’m not even hurt badly.”
“You’ve got a bruise on your face and a giant gash on your arm.”
“I’m going to tattoo over the scar as soon as it heals.”
I shake my head.
Nellie pats the side of the bed.
I perch on the edge.
She pushes her face close to mine. I cringe when she invades my personal bubble, but I don’t pull back.
“Hm,” she mumbles.
“What?”
“You’re glowing.”
“And?”
“You and Lucas were hanging out before you came here?”
I nod.
“Doing what?”
My gaze falters. “Uh…” Raising my hand, I grapple for an answer that she’ll buy. “You know. Talking and stuff.”
“Just talking?”
“Yes.”
“Then why do you both smell the same?” She closes her eyes. Sniffs. “Lavender oil.”
My heart bucks. “Lavender oil?”
“It’s so strong on both of you. Almost like you two were rubbing all over each other.”
I pull back. “No we weren’t.”
“Hm.” I can practically see the wheels spinning behind her almond-shaped eyes. “Why didn’t you come upstairs with
him?”
“I met…” I pause. Someone I dated once? A friend? An acquaintance. “A guy I used to know.”
“Was he hot?”
“I mean…”
“An ex?”
“Not exactly.”
She rubs her chin. “And the plot thickens.”
“What do you mean?”
“Lucas looked upset when he told me you were still downstairs. I figured he’d either had a fight with Jonas or—”
I latch on to the first explanation. “Why would he fight with Jonas?”
Nellie picks up the magazine and absently flips through it. “Because of the hospital thing.” At my questioning gaze, she adds, “Jonas can’t stand hospitals.”
“Like the smell or…?”
“Everything.” Her voice falters. “You know his parents died in a car accident, right.”
“Right.”
“His dad died on impact, but his mom was in a coma. One of the nurses told Jonas that coma patients could hear what was going on around them. He made a promise that he’d hold his mom’s hand until she woke up.”
I picture a small Jonas with golden eyes and dark hair, sitting patiently at his mother’s side, his tiny fingers curled over hers.
“My parents brought me along when they came to the hospital. I heard them talking about Jonas. They said he wasn’t eating or sleeping well. He was afraid to even use the bathroom because he…” She clears her throat. “Because he didn’t want her to die while he was gone.”
“That poor little boy.”
“I wanted to help, so I convinced him to come with me to the cafeteria for pizza. I begged him to go.” She sniffs, her fingers tightening on the magazine. “We were best friends. Even though he loved his mom, he couldn’t tell me no.”
“Nellie…”
“So we left for pizza.” Her throat bobs. “And when we came back, nurses were rushing into the room. The heart monitor was flat-lining.” Her eyes turn glassy. “I still remember that moment. The look of horror on his face. The way he dropped everything and ran to her bedside. He cried for his mom. He tried to take her hand again, but… but she was gone.”
I reach across the bed. “It’s not your fault.”
“I know.” She crumples her fingers in the blanket. “It’s not Jonas’s fault either. But he blames himself for leaving her side and I blame myself for asking him to go.”
“Is that why you two—?”
“No.” Her eyes harden and she glares up at the wall. “No, that’s not the reason I hate him. Even if I can understand why he hates me, I’ll never forgive him for what he did.”