by Alicia Rae
“I’d kick it again because I don’t want to hear that”—I caught sight of Pearl and controlled my language—“stuff about my own brother, either.”
Jason nodded and then lowered his head to nuzzle Abbey. “Damn, baby. I guess we’ll have to finish this conversation later.”
The seven of us all sat around the bonfire for another hour, talking among one another and listening to the fire crackle. Pearl stayed by her parents, laughing and having a good time with them. After a while, Abbey took Pearl inside the house to watch a Disney movie with her.
As the rest of us all hung out for a little longer before calling it a night, I could not help but feel this was exactly where I was meant to be. There was no better company than being surrounded by family and friends and laughter.
After Gail and I walked into her apartment later, we each strolled toward our own bedroom door.
She stopped at her doorframe and turned to face me. “Good night, Damon,” she softly murmured.
“Night.”
I smiled as I watched her amble into her room before she gently closed the door. I stared after her briefly as I pondered over how I’d ended up right here, right now in my life, sleeping only a wall away from a stunningly beautiful woman.
With every passing second, roommate felt like the wrong term to use with her because every fiber of my being wanted more.
~Gail~
By the third weekday, Damon and I had a morning system. He would wake up and stomp around the apartment, which would wake me up, too.
I peeled my eyes open at the sound of him moving about in his room. I climbed out of bed, and still in my pajamas, I strolled toward the kitchen to start the coffee pot. All the while, I suppressed the excitement I felt for having these few minutes with him before we went off our separate ways to work.
“Morning,” Damon said in a gruff morning voice, coming up behind me.
“Good morning.” I reached for two bagels and put them in the toaster.
He walked over to the fridge and pulled out the cream cheese, orange juice, and a bowl of grapes. I stretched to reach into a cabinet, and I grabbed two plates and two cups.
“So, what’s on your agenda today?” I asked him casually.
He poured us each a glass of juice. “I’m finishing up the drywall today with Jason. Then, we are moving on to taping and mudding.”
“That sounds”—I wrinkled my nose over at him—“fun.”
“I don’t know if fun is the right word.” He chuckled. “But Jason and I try to make the best of it. What about you?”
The bagels popped up, and I carefully reached for them. “I’m jam-packed with patients today, so I won’t be home until about six.”
I spread the cream cheese on each of our bagels and carried them over to the table as Damon brought our glasses and napkins. We sat down in the wooden chairs across from one another.
“That’s a long day.” He took a chunk out of his food.
“Yeah, but yesterday was short, so I guess it’s a give-and-take kinda thing.”
Damon nodded thoughtfully. “Do you like your job?”
I took a bite and swallowed. “I love it. Helping people recover from physical injuries is very rewarding. I’ve always known what I wanted to do from a young age.” I reached for my napkin and looked back at him. “What about you?”
“As a kid, I enjoyed drawing everything from people to buildings all the time. Then, in college, I gravitated toward designing buildings from the ground up. It was like a puzzle. I wanted to make a building eye-catching yet highly functional, so pursuing architecture seemed like the right path for me.”
“What will you do now as a partner with Jason and Kyle?” I asked, intrigued.
“The same thing,” he answered. “Instead of the company contracting that part out to someone else, I’ll be an in-house architect.”
I could not help but tease him. “Except, right now, you’re just the laborer.”
“Yep.” He grinned handsomely. “I gotta earn my keep somehow.”
“We all do,” I agreed.
“So, tell me about your family,” he said, finishing up his breakfast.
I pushed my plate aside, feeling full. “Well, my parents are still happily married after nearly thirty years, and they live about twenty minutes outside of town,” I said in a loving voice. “And my sister, Caroline, just recently turned fifteen.”
“Uh-oh. The rough teenage years…”
“Yep.” I laughed. “Although, Caroline is a sweet, good girl. She loves fashion, swimming, and being outside at every given opportunity.” I resisted frowning at the thought of some of the things she would miss out on due to many circumstances. I continued with the positive, “And she was just accepted into a new program that my parents have been trying to enroll her in.”
Damon genuinely smiled. “That’s great.”
“It is. We are so happy for her,” I replied. “So, what about your family?”
“My dad recently retired, so my parents are excited to start traveling. Jason—well, you met him, so enough said.” He grinned devilishly.
I bent forward, picked up a grape from my plate, and gently tossed it at him. “Oh, stop.” I snickered. “Jason is a nice guy.”
Damon caught it against his chest and popped it into his mouth. “Yeah, he is. I have another brother, too—Blake. He’s in the Marines.”
“Does he come home often?”
Damon’s eyes transformed, appearing sad. “Not as much as we would have liked over the years, but Blake tries to every chance he can. His second four-year term will be complete in a few weeks though.”
My brows rose, and I asked, “Do you think he’ll make a long-term career out of it?”
“I’m not sure, but my family and I will support his decision either way,” Damon answered, shaking his head before glancing down at his watch. “Well, I’d better get going. Jason will have my ass if I’m late.”
“Okay.”
Damon rose and meticulously balanced his glass on his plate. He came to my side of the table and set his hand on my shoulder, and I peered up at him.
“Thanks for breakfast, Gail.”
“You’re welcome,” I replied.
As I watched Damon slip on his work boots and head out the door to work, I could not help the reoccurring anticipation rising in me, knowing I would see him again tonight. I needed to get my emotions in check because I was not about to start dating anytime soon.
From the first meeting with my counselor back in my college days, I’d known every stepping stone I would take to becoming a physical therapist, specializing specifically in sports. It had always been my dream, and by some miracle, I had been blessed enough to be living and breathing it.
There was only one heartbreaking curse to my job—working all day, every day, with hot, sweaty bulging muscles belonging to the most gorgeous football players. Surely, encountering these men was not the torturous part of my career. The depressing part was enduring a delectably attractive man as he wooed me with romantic dates before getting serious in a relationship, only to dump me later. And by dumping, I meant, he would run for the hills without a backward glance before I could even process all the empty and meaningless promises he’d once made to me.
It had been a vicious cycle or wooing, dating, and dumping me, but no more. I was no longer that weak person.
I am stronger now, I told myself as I turned down Devin Walker.
He was an utterly good-looking linebacker, who walked out of my office without a dinner date. He stormed off angrily, but I seriously doubted it actually wounded his over-the-top ego.
I let out a relieved breath when I saw that my last patient of the day was also my favorite. Marvin Jarvis was the first patient Greg had placed in my care nearly two years ago. Marvin was one of the very few people I could relax around due to the fact that he was a genuinely great guy. He was happily married with kids, and he was a hard worker, who was dedicated to his teammates on and off the field.
“Mr. Jarvis,” I greeted Marvin with a sincere smile, gesturing him into the room.
“Hello, Dr. Bennett,” he replied kindly as he walked inside. “How are you?”
I shut the door behind him. “I’m doing very well. And you, sir?”
Mr. Jarvis carefully hopped onto the exam table, and I approached him.
He stretched his right shoulder in a small circle. “I’m still kicking.” He laughed. “The shoulder is doing better this week.”
“That’s great.” I nodded as I reached for my patient’s injured arm to perform my exam. I checked his range of motion in the shoulder he’d dislocated several weeks ago. “You’re healing up very nicely. Do you have any tightness or pain anywhere?”
“No more than usual,” he answered. “The increased arm-extension routine you gave me last week has really helped loosen the muscles.”
I stepped back once I finished my assessment. “Good to hear. That’s exactly what we want. Remember, baby steps.” I gave him a friendly grin. “For this next week, I’d like to see you increase each exercise with five more reps and keep stretching after every set.” I documented a few progress notes on his chart, noting the exact increase in range of motion.
“I think I can handle that, Doc,” he replied.
I strode back over toward the door. “You’re making excellent progress, Mr. Jarvis. I’ll see you again next week.”
“Thank you.”
His eyes suddenly sparked to life, and I knew what he was going to ask me next. It would be the same question all the athletes always asked.
“Do you think I’ll be back in the game by the end of the month?” he asked with hope apparent in his tone.
“Sorry, champ. I don’t think you’ll make that one,” I replied regretfully.
I disliked the fact that I could not give him the answer he wanted, but it was too soon for him to be back in the game. Releasing a patient from my care too early was a risk I was not willing to take. I wanted him to recover completely, not further hurt himself by taking shortcuts.
I could see the disappointment briefly flash through Marvin’s expression as he neared the door.
“Marvin, you’re almost there. Just be patient, and give your body the time it needs to mend itself.” I stepped closer to him, feeling terrible for the guy, and I set my hand on his shoulder in a reassuring gesture. “Please just give me four more weeks, and you’ll be as good as new.”
“All right, Dr. Bennett.” He nodded. “See you next week.”
“Take care, Mr. Jarvis.”
It was nearly seven by the time I walked up the stairs to my apartment. Updating patient charts had taken forever to finish, and I was dead on my feet. I unlocked my front door and walked inside.
“Hey there,” Damon said from the kitchen as I entered the room. He was stirring something on the stove as he turned around to smile back at me.
“Hi,” I said in utter amazement. “Whatcha cooking?”
“Dinner.” He grinned and turned off the burner.
“Oh.” I set my briefcase on the counter and inched my way closer to see what he was making.
He dumped the pan over two bowls, pouring macaroni and cheese into each of them. Then, he carried the dishes over to the table. He pulled out a chair and said, “I thought you might be hungry after a long day of work.”
My heart sputtered in my chest at his gesture. I ambled over to where he was standing. “Macaroni and cheese,” I said in awe.
“It’s not much.” He shrugged. “But it’s food.”
I took a seat and smiled. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
Damon went to his place setting and sat down. He reached for the ketchup. “Want some?”
I scrunched up my nose. “For what?”
“To put on the mac and cheese.”
I had to laugh. “That’s gross,” I teased, watching him squeeze the bottle over his bowl.
“No, it’s not,” he retorted, chuckling. “It’s good. Have you tried it?”
“Nope.” I took a bite of my food. “And I don’t plan on it.”
“Wimp,” he scoffed playfully. Then, he put a spoonful in his mouth.
“I am not!”
“Are to,” he countered with a grin. He lifted the bottle again and waved it in front of me. “Come on, just give it a try. You might actually like it.”
I could have said no if it was not for his muscular arm flexing so close to me and the devastatingly handsome look on his face.
“Okay,” I sighed in defeat.
He squirted the ketchup over my food. “You’re gonna love it.”
“That’s enough!” I screeched out in amusement, shoving the bottle back. “You’re going to drown it, and I won’t be able to taste the cheese!”
He pulled back, waiting for me to take a bite. I filled my spoon, mindful to include only a tiny bit of ketchup. Then, I glanced between him and my utensil.
His chest vibrated with mirth. “It’s not going to jump out at you.”
“I know that,” I replied, glaring at him before putting it into my mouth.
At first, the mixture tasted weird, but when I was almost done chewing, it tasted good in a peculiar kind of way.
Damon grinned impishly. “Good, huh?”
I gave him a sideways glance and took another bite, just to be sure. The second spoonful went down a tad smoother.
“See?” Damon smirked. “I knew you’d like it.”
I reached into my bowl for a third time, going for a thick part of the red sauce, and I swiped my finger in the ketchup. Feeling bold and playful, I pretended to bring it to my mouth, but I connected it with Damon’s nose instead. I held my breath as I waited for his response.
“Oh, girl,” Damon purred, wiping his nose off with his napkin. His eyes sparkled with challenge as he dipped his finger in his bowl. “You asked for it now.”
Oh shit.
I leaped from the table, ran for the living room, and rotated to face him. Damon was already coming my way, and then his broad body trapped me near the end of the treadmill and the corner of the couch.
I placed my hands in the air. “How about a peace offering?”
Damon’s lip curved, creating a sexy dimple in his cheek. “I’m more of a get-even kind of guy.”
“Damn,” I muttered. Another idea clicked. “What about all the meals I make?” I pointed my finger at him, backing up until my torso bumped into the arm of the treadmill. “If you put that ketchup on my face, I won’t cook for you anymore.”
“I’ll survive.” He shrugged, and his mouth twitched as if he was stifling a smile.
I faked a step to the left, but then I moved to the right, hoping to slip through the small space in front of the couch. He was too fast, and he caught me with one hand around my waist, pulling me against his firm chest.
Damon’s expression was full of thrill and excitement as he peered down at me. His other hand held the ketchup a mere inch from my nose. “Any last words?” he asked.
Impulsively, I launched myself forward and closed my mouth over his finger, quickly sucking it clean. A husky groan left Damon’s throat as I drew back.
Mortification sank in, fast and hard, as I looked around the room at anything besides him.
I can’t believe I just did that!
I somehow mustered enough courage to finally glance up at him. A feral, lustful look filled every part of his eyes. A brief silence lapsed over us as we got lost in one another.
My body battled against my mind. I yearned to feel his lips against mine, wondering if they would be as smooth and warm as I imagined, but I also knew this couldn’t happen because it would ruin everything. Furthermore, I had no room for error. Caroline and my family were counting on me.
The doorbell rang, saving me from myself.
“Are you expecting someone?” Damon asked in a tone that was still gruff.
“No,” I answered honestly, pulling back. “I’d better get it though.”
When he let
me go, I made my way over to the door and opened it. My neighbor, Matt, was standing on the other side.
“Hi, Gail.” He smiled at me.
“Hi, Matt.” I returned his expression. “What’s up?”
“I wanted to let you know that you left the dome light on in your car.”
“Oh, thank you. I’ll be right down.”
“Are you alone?” Matt asked, attempting to peep into the apartment. “I keep seeing this new truck in the parking lot, and I was wondering if you knew who it belonged to.”
“That would be mine,” Damon broke in, bumping his chest into my back as he towered over me.
Well, this is awkward…and kind of funny.
I pointed my finger over my shoulder, lightly poking Damon in the chest. “This is my new roommate, Damon, and that’s his Ford outside.” I was hoping Matt would finally get the hint that I was not interested in spending more time with him.
Matt stared at Damon, sizing him up, before he shifted his eyes back to me. “So, Gail, want to have another dinner with me?”
I resisted the urge to glare at my neighbor. “My schedule is pretty crazy right now, Matt,” I said, forcing myself to speak as kindly as possible. “But maybe I’ll see you around sometime.”
“I can bring dinner to you instead?” Matt offered.
I sighed, exasperated.
The big, boxy hulk behind me cut in, “I think she said she’s busy,” he stated with a trace of humor rising in his voice. He snuck his finger in the waist of my elastic scrubs and gently tugged me back as he started to close the door with his free hand. “Thanks for stopping by, man. See you later.”
I bit my lip to keep from laughing at the look on Matt’s face before the door closed. Damon swiftly pivoted me until I was facing him.
“Who’s that pigheaded asshole?” he asked with an irrational, speculative glance.
“My neighbor.”
“I figured that,” he replied. “I meant, what is he to you? He asked you to have another dinner with him.”
“That is none of your business,” I countered.
I was pissed off because Damon was overstepping his boundaries and acting jealous even though Matt had exaggerated dinner when he’d only given me a slice of pizza one night on the porch.