My Favorite Distraction (Distraction #1)

by Stephanie Jean

  I shoved the handpiece into his mouth and started to polish. I didn’t stop until I was finished. Then I pushed the button for his chair to come up, filled a cup of water, and held it up.

  “Rinse as much as you want. I will leave floss out for you to floss.” I took off my gloves and mask and threw them in the garbage. I was still shaking. “I really don’t want to talk to you. I don’t care to see you again. You are my best friend’s boyfriend, that is all. You make her happy, and I like to see my friend happy. I don’t feel any need to bond with you. I don’t even have to like you. When you see me in passing, most definitely don’t ask me about my family.”

  He looked furious. I could feel his fierce, cold stare roaming my body. I left before he could respond. I saw him grab the water and swish, but I ran and grabbed my purse. Shannon was ready, and I motioned for her to leave fast. I got in her car still shaking.

  “Drive. Please drive,” I said to her questioning look. She did, and I began to calm myself, breathing slowly.

  “Are we going to talk about that?”

  Shannon was one of my most favorite people, but I didn’t want to talk to anyone about it, not even a little. The thought that my past was haunting me was too real.

  “No,” I said and gave her a “sorry, please don’t hate me look,” and she dropped it. I pulled my phone out and relayed the address that Jason had given me. His text was so cute—he told me to have a good day and added a smiley face. My mood changed quickly as the immediate grin took over my face.

  “You want to talk about that?” Shannon was pointing to my goofy grin.

  I told her about the very handsome hot coffee guy who had sat across from me for months. We pulled into the sandwich place, and I texted Jason.

  Katarina: Do you like everything on your sandwich?

  Jason: Yes—everything

  Katarina: Would anyone else you work with enjoy a sandwich?

  Jason: One more sandwich would be really nice, like mine, everything

  Katarina: Got it, two sandwiches with EVERYTHING. You sound hungry

  Jason: YES very

  Shannon and I got the sandwiches and were on our way. We talked about baby names. She was pregnant and liked to talk about amusing names for her baby. I found her humor very funny.

  “Mike Hunt, get it?” she finished as we pulled in front of an office building.

  I gave her a very concerned look. “I get it, and that’s not funny. It’s disgusting.”

  “It would be funny. In school, first day, the teacher says, ‘Mike Hunt are you here?’”

  We both began laughing loudly as we walked into the building. We made our way to the counter. I looked around and noticed a lady carrying a cat in a cage. Another man had a dog on a leash. I looked at the lady across from the counter.

  “Is Jason here?”

  “Junior or Senior?”

  It occurred to me that I didn’t know what Jason did for a living. I was caught off guard by her question. She was insinuating that Jason worked with his father. I thought about my father and felt a shiver run up and down my spine. My father was strict and extremely passionate about being the best. The combination of stringent rules and demanding perfection was expositive at times. I hoped Jason’s father was different. The lady across the counter waited patiently while I processed what she was asking. “Uh, Junior, I think.”

  She picked up the phone and said something into it. She had short black hair and dark eyes and looked happy and relaxed. I could tell she liked her job. She put the phone down and looked at me again. “He is on his way out.”

  Shannon waited with me, as she was still carrying my drinks. “I am sure you can set those down, Jason will get them when he comes out.” Her eyes shot open wide, and I looked over to see Jason heading straight for us.

  “Hi.” He smiled at her, sticking his hands out. “I’m Jason, and I’ll take the drinks.”

  She handed them over and started to giggle. “Thanks, Jason,” she said, looking at him with dreamy eyes.

  I hit her arm with my elbow. “Don’t be so weird.”

  “Right, I am pleased to meet you.” She broke her eyes away from him.

  “I am pleased to meet you…What is that?” I looked at her, and she was gushing. “This is my very pregnant friend Shannon. She is in a committed relationship. Even though I think she might drop her panties for you, she loves her husband.”

  She hit my arm at the same time Jason started laughing.

  “Ouch, you hit me hard. That hurt. You should feel lucky my hands are full.”

  She leaned in to give me a hug and whispered, “He is stunning. Don’t blow this.”

  I looked at her. “I think you’re kind of a bitch right now, you know that?”

  She laughed, then turned to leave.

  “Thanks for the ride!” I yelled after her.

  I followed Jason to his office in the back. He opened the door, and Bo came out to greet me.

  “Hi, Bo, how are you?”

  “He has been sleeping all day. You wore him out this morning.”

  I set the lunch on his desk and started to pull the sandwiches out. “I want to say something about my earlier text. I want to clarify some things.” I gave him a pointed stare. “I like your parts meaning your eyes, arms, hair, your legs, and your chest.” My eyes lingered on all the parts as I talked about them. “But I do not mean anything sexual. I am far from sexual with my thoughts when it comes to you.” I felt myself starting to blush. “Not just you, everyone. I am not interested in anything sexual.”

  “Really?” he said, adjusting himself in his seat. “Can you please stop saying ‘sexual’?”

  From behind me, I heard a man clear his throat and walk in.

  “Hey, Dad, this is Katarina.”

  “I am pleased to meet you, Katarina.” He offered his hand.

  I was so embarrassed I felt light-headed. My face was hot, no longer warm, and my hands sweaty, so reluctantly I put my hand in his and smiled.

  “You know that kind of talk will only get him to chase you?” he said as he reached over and grabbed a sandwich.

  “Well, I am new to this…game. How do I get him to not want to chase me?”

  “You don’t. My son only does what he wants when he wants.” I watched as the man took the seat next to the one I was sitting in.

  “Is this a family trait, like a defect?”

  He laughed and smiled. He was an older version of Jason. He seemed very likable, and I liked him immediately. He looked at Jason and I saw a light in his eyes. He loved his son. He beamed from it.

  “His mother has that trait. He got that from her.”

  “All right, Dad, stop trying to schmooze my girlfriend.” Jason was shaking his head.

  “I am not sure if you heard, but she is not interested in a ‘sexual’ relationship with you.” He used his fingers as quotes around the word “sexual.”

  “I am sure she will change her mind. I can be patient. I do have all her favorite parts.”

  Bo got up, walked over to me, and lay down so I could scratch his belly, so I did.

  “I feel a little competition with my dog over her. I think he just stuck his tongue out at me.”

  “There is no competition. I would rub your belly, too, if you lay down in front of me like he does.”

  Jason’s eyes shot up. “See, Dad? This is the kind of torture I put up with. She has no idea how her words get to me.”

  I looked over at Jason’s dad, confused, then at Jason. “How can that do anything for you? I mean, rubbing your belly might make you less grumpy. It is not sexual at all.”

  “No more with that word.” Jason’s dad laughed. He stood up and winked at me. “Good luck to you, Katarina.”

  I stood too.

  “I find it brave of you to be so friendly with Bo. He scares a lot of people.” Jason’s father was watching the way Bo stood up by my side as he talked.

  “Bo has only been friendly to me.” I looked at him and smiled. “He doesn’
t look scary at all. In fact, he is so big and lovable, I kind of want to hug him.” Bo looked at me, and I think he smiled. “If he’s so scary, why do you bring him here?”

  Jason spoke up from behind us. “He was a gift to someone, and he was…rejected. I couldn’t have him home alone all day.”

  My heart warmed for him at the love he had for his dog.

  I turned back to Jason’s dad as he was leaving. “Please, call me Katie. I don’t mean to torture him.” I motioned to Jason. “I know he’s been through a lot.”

  He smiled at me and turned to his son before leaving. “A little torture is just what Jason needs.”

  “Thanks, Dad, I knew you had my back.” His words screamed of sarcasm.

  When his dad left, I began to look around his office. “So let me guess what you do. I see animals in your waiting room, some in cages and some on leashes. You have a very nice secretary. She could be brainwashed. I am not sure people are that happy normally.”

  He raised his eyebrow.

  I put a finger on my lips looking like I was really thinking about it.“Shh…let me finish. You called me a rabbit and make random animal references, which means you know animals or watch a lot of Animal Planet. I am going to guess that you work in a lab doing experiments on animals. You know, like drug testing on animals. Am I close?”

  “No. You should never get a job as a detective in law enforcement.”

  I wrinkled my nose. “I couldn’t anyway. I don’t like to chase bad people, don’t even like to be around them, and doughnuts are not my favorite breakfast.”

  He laughed and got out of his chair, then nodded at the lady wearing scrubs that appeared at the door. “Come on. I’ll show you.”

  We both followed the lady wearing scrubs. Jason slipped on a white lab jacket. He took the chart she was holding and opened the door. There was a little boy and a dog on the table in the center of the room, and a man in the corner. I stood back. Jason looked at the chart and approached the boy.

  “Luke, how are you? What’s going on with Leroy here?” Jason began to look about the dog as the little boy talked. The dog had apparently eaten an action figure that was dipped in syrup. The syrup was supposed to make the action figure immovable, but only made it tastier to the dog. Jason leaned over and talked to the boy while looking at the man. He then helped the boy and the dog off the table.

  “Thanks, Dr. Riggs!” the little boy yelled, leaving the room.

  “Dr. Riggs? With a name like that, no wonder you never had to work on a personality.” I smiled.

  He smiled back, the kind of smile that gave me butterflies and had me looking to the door for an escape. “You are sassy, you know that?” He walked up to me and put a lock of fallen hair behind my ear. “And sassy is very sexy.”

  My blush was almost instant. I shut up after that.

  I blended in at his work with my scrubs still on. I followed him from room to room while he fixed all the animals and talked to all the pet owners. He was gentle with the animals, and I could tell he enjoyed his job. I was beginning to crush on this man. He was careful not to touch me as he moved from room to room, but always had an eye on me.

  I watched as one female pet owner flirted with him. He was very professional, and as I watched, he made it clear to her that his focus was on the feline that she kept referring to as a pussy—which made me giggle, and Jason gave me a firm “shut up” stare. I pulled it together, though, and was quite proud of myself. That was until she commented on how she was like her pussy; she liked to put things in her mouth. He looked at me, and I wiggled my eyebrows and nodded toward the lady. I licked my lips to draw attention to them and then mouthed “pussy” really slowly. His eyes widened, and his tongue slid out coating his lips with saliva. He was in a trance. His eyes dropped from mine, to my lips, then neck, all the way down my body giving me chills. When he snapped out of it, he left the room.

  A few minutes later, Jason’s dad walked in. He flashed me a huge smile and started to instruct the pet owner on the proper care for the licking cat. I walked out of the room before he finished, straight into Jason’s office, and sat down in the chair I was in earlier. I was embarrassed. I wasn’t sure why I did it. I was the opposite of an instigator. I was proper and avoided uncomfortable situations. Bo came and sat by my side. I reached out to pet him, giving him praise for being a great dog. I found Bo to be very calming. I sat and waited until Jason finally entered the office and took his white jacket off.

  “I’m not a good veterinarian assistant, sorry.” I looked at him, but he didn’t look at me. “Are you upset with me?”

  Jason’s eyes found mine immediately and smiled, and then he walked over and kissed my forehead. I smiled and felt the familiar tickle in my stomach. He guided me out of the office with his hand on my lower back. I waved good-bye to his dad, as we passed his office. He was on the phone, but flashed a huge grin and waved back. I heard a mumble out of Jason, so I looked up and he was shaking his head at his dad’s conversation, but he held the same huge grin.

  We talked on the ride to my apartment about his work, and he mentioned that he liked visiting ranches and farms the most. He liked the big animals and always had been drawn to horses.

  Chapter 6

  Role play

  Jason insisted on checking the safety of my apartment while we were parking. I let Bo out on my side, and Jason raised an eyebrow.

  “I am not leaving your dog in the Jeep. I wouldn’t be his favorite anymore.” I gave him a sweet smile. He took my bags, and we went upstairs, pausing at the security gate to use my keys. When we got inside, I offered Jason a drink of water and got Bo one too. I set it on the floor in the kitchen. I could feel Jason’s unsettled nerves, but I wasn’t sure what was bothering him.

  “Can I have a tour of your place?”

  I pointed to the door on one side of the apartment, then the other. “That’s Heather’s room, and that’s mine. In the center is the living space, and the bathroom is straight ahead.” He stood up with purpose and stalked to my bedroom. I watched as he disappeared for a few minutes and then came out. “You said you had locks, three to be exact, on your door and two on your window.” He was rubbing the back of his neck with his hand.

  “I did say that, but I could have been a little off.” I tried to look indifferent to his rising anger. He walked over to me, but was silent.

  “Would you like to sit with me on the couch?” I was going for sweet to dull his anger.

  I took his hand and lead him to the soft white sofa. We both sat down, and Bo came to lie at my feet. “We could watch something and order food, or I could cook.” I wanted him to stay, but knew he was fighting something inside himself.

  “Why don’t you come over to my house? We can get a bite on the way.” I looked over at him, and we were silent. I started playing with his hand, his palm to mine. It felt good to touch him. I wanted to be closer.

  “I am safe here, you know? Heather’s been really great about not bringing people over, and she usually stays at his house.” I wanted him to be OK with me staying. I didn’t look up, just continued to play with his hand.

  “I think of you as an innocent princess, and I have this overwhelming need to protect you. I can’t describe it. I just feel better when I am with you. You do things and uh…say things that drive me crazy, but I can control it.”

  He had a look in his eyes that gave me shivers everywhere. My body was immediately heated, my face blushing and my mouth overly wet.

  “What do you mean ‘control it’?” I watched as his lips moved into a smile.

  “I mean control the predator in me that wants to devour you.”

  As he said it, I felt his stare grow more intense. My skin began to burn. I was suddenly sensitive all over, and my breathing grew short. He watched me and didn’t move, just stayed very still. He was the first to speak again.

  “So last night at dinner, Heather mentioned you had some men that wanted to date you.” He stopped talking and looked deep in my e
yes. “Have you, or did you date anyone, after what happened with Jared?”

  I immediately looked away. I knew what he was asking. I was a little uncomfortable. I wanted him to know, I didn’t date because I didn’t want to, not because I was scared. I pulled myself together with a deep breath and cleared my thoughts. “I have kissed men, but no, I have not dated anyone. I know you think I am this princess.” I glanced at my hands and then at him. “I’m not. I don’t like attention. I prefer to be alone.”

  He looked at my lips while I talked and then reached over and ran his thumb over my bottom lip. I got goose bumps everywhere. He must have felt it because his eyes became glued to mine again.

  The door of the apartment opened, and Heather walked in. She was surprised to see us on the couch together.

  “What are you guys doing in here?” She turned the lights on. I didn’t even know they were off. She stopped when she saw Bo and stumbled back a little. “What is that doing in here?” Bo stayed still, made no motion to go to her. “Kat, how did that get up here?”

  I was a little mad and growing angrier by the second. Ultimately, this was my fault. My whole life I allowed people to dictate my friends and my life but not now, not with Jason and Bo. “That is Bo, and he came up with me. I was wearing dark sunglasses and carrying a white cane, so no one said anything.” My voice was condescending.

  “Maybe you should leave and take the dog.” She was talking to Jason, but it felt like she was talking to me. I got mad for the second time in two days. I was never mad, always controlled. She was trying to control who I hung out with. Heather knew more than anyone, how much I needed a connection.

  I felt my legs and then heard my voice loudly. “These are my friends, Heather. Can’t you be nice to them? Do you know how many boys you have brought into my house? I have been cordial to all of them. Even if I detested them, I still managed a smile and an ‘It looks like it’s going to be a nice day today’ over breakfast. I can’t believe you can’t do it for me. I have had, counting Jason, one male friend in our home, and you treat him like this. I can’t believe you can be so selfish. I know you have done a lot for me and put up with a lot, but seriously.”