“Then let me check the studio calendar, and I’ll book a flight for one of the upcoming weekends. Finn better not look too thin. Are you giving him those organic multivitamins I sent? They’re good for him, Guy. You should give them to Maxie also. What about kale, put it in their smoothies in the morning. I sent you the email with the eight superfoods. I hope you’re incorporating them into their diet.”
“Reina, did you forget the letters MD follow my name?” My mother loved when I called her by her first name. Not.
“Make fun all you want, but you know I’m right.” She joined the healthy eating bandwagon when I was in high school. These days her obsession bordered more on psychoses. “You know how much I love my little people. I only want them to be happy and healthy.”
“I know, Mom.” And I did.
“Well, I won’t keep you. FaceTime tonight?”
“Sounds good. I’ll have Maya have the kids call you before bed.”
“Why? Where will you be? You’re not on call again, are you? Guy Hunter, you take on too much. What’s going to happen if you get run-down? You need to focus on your energy center and find more balance.”
“Mom—”
“I’m serious, Guy. Between Maya, all of Finn’s private therapists, and Maxine’s preschool, New York is ridiculous. Stop being proud and let me help you. I can take out a mortgage on the house or the yoga studio …”
“Mom, how many times do I have to tell you? I’m good.” Because I was—at least financially. It took a few years and a shitload of moonlighting to climb out of the debt pile my wife left me with, but my practice was thriving, and the kids and I were living pretty comfortably now.
“Then why are you working tonight? You were just on call last night. Sleep is so important for your foundation.” She was relentless. My poor father, he must have been a saint.
“I’m not on call. I have a date.” I hoped that would shut her up, in the most loving son-shutting-up-mother way, but no dice.
“Oh honey, that’s wonderful!” She squealed like a baby pig, a sound she had never made and one I prayed she would never make again. “Finny is three now. It’s time you got back out there. You’re so handsome—a successful surgeon, an absolutely terrific dad, with two of the best children.”
“Mom. Relax. As much as I love the ego stroke, it’s dinner, not a proposal.” And maybe a little after dinner exercise.
“It’s just that you haven’t mentioned dating anyone since … well, you know.”
The reminder was unnecessary, I knew all too well. As did Jules, thanks to my little man. Luckily she wasn’t weirded out. In fact, it didn’t faze her at all.
“I’m excited that’s all. I want more for you.”
I wasn’t going to lie—I was pretty stoked about tonight as well. But as for more, I had no expectations. Life stopped asking me what I wanted the day my wife left me alone to raise two kids.
I ended the call, entered Nana Reina’s tentative upcoming visit into my calendar, and scrolled my texts.
FYI, I skipped lunch.
You might need to order your own pie tonight:)
JuJu. Everything down to the name she programmed into my phone was unexpected.
And I was pretty sure that was her point.
So screwed.
“JuJu, JuJu’s here. Maxie, JuJu’s here,” Finn bellowed when the doorbell rang.
For a while I debated even having her come up, not wanting to confuse the kids or give them the wrong idea. But when Maya casually asked about my plans for the night, I slipped and that’s all it took.
“Go ahead, Max, open the door.” As if she was waiting for my permission. Max flung the door open overly excited and then hid behind my leg. “You remember Jules from pizza, right?”
“JuJu. JuJu. JuJu,” Finn kept chanting from the couch.
Hell, I didn’t even get that reception when I walked in the door. Then again I never walked in holding a gallon tub of what I could only guess to be the water ice she’d mentioned a few times.
“Well, you all know how to make a girl feel super special. What a welcome.” Jules ducked down to find my hiding shadow. “Hey, pretty girl, did you braid those pigtails yourself? Can you teach me?”
Max giggled and whispered in her shy voice, “Finny’s so happy you’re here.”
“Me too!” Jules was either shooting for an Oscar, or she was genuinely excited to be standing in my apartment with my two kids going ape shit over her.
Whichever, Max bought it and stepped out from behind my legs, rambling her four-year-old stream of consciousness. That didn’t take long.
“You know his legs get really tired, Daddy says it’s because he’s been walking a lot, Daddy lets him make videos on his iPad when he’s sleepy. Finny made one with me dancing and singing with my dolly. What’s in your bucket? Is that for us?”
“Wow, how fun, you’ll have to show me his movies sometime. Let’s get over to that couch so I can give Finny a squeeze, and then you can take a peek at your surprise.”
“Finny, we’re getting a surprise,” Max sang and skipped at the same time.
Jules straightened to full height, which was a good head shorter than my own, and her eyes found mine. She blinked a few times and her cheeks pinked. My own pulse spiked, perusing her tight frame that was always hidden under her kid friendly scrubs. Even with a winter coat, her fitted jeans and tall boots were painfully sexy. So much so, I casually shifted to readjust my zipper.
“Thanks for coming here. Think they’re excited.”
“What happened to not telling them and avoiding disappointment?” she asked, leaning into my ear. “You’re a sucker.” Her sweet scent and warm breath sparked another signal straight to my dick. It had been a while.
Passing me, she sat on the floor next to the couch where Finn was lounging with his leg braces dangling off the arm. She held up her surprise and crisscross applesauced (yes, I thought that). Didn’t mean I wasn’t admiring her thighs and ass in those jeans too.
“Yemonnnnn yiiiiiccceeesssss!” Finn shouted, excitedly knocking a brace to the floor. Jules leaned over to pick it up, her coat opening to reveal a sliver of skin.
Ices, cold, winter.
We needed to leave. Sooner, rather than later.
“Did I hear someone say lemon? That’s my favorite too.” Maya walked out of the bathroom where she was cleaning up after bath time, aka splash hour.
“Hey, Maya.” Jules smiled and greeted my sitter, handing her the infamous water ice container. “There’s plenty to go around. Should we get some bowls?”
“I’ll take care of it. You two go, have fun. We’re good here. No need to rush back.”
I thanked Maya and Jules stood up. Finn grabbed onto her leg from the edge of the couch. “I’ll see you soon, handsome. Promise me that next time, you’ll give me a full report on the yumminess of my dad’s lemon ice. He’s gonna call and ask if you liked it. I told him you were the king.”
“Finny is the prince and I’m the princess.” I didn’t have to worry about my daughter not finding her calling. She was destined to be a teacher with her incessant correcting.
“Well, that sounds even better, Maxie girl.” Jules tickled under her chin, distracting my peanut enough she missed the Maxie. I couldn’t believe it.
“Be good for Maya. See you in the morning. Who loves ya to the moon and back?” I kissed them both on the forehead and closed the door behind us.
“Tough, huh?” She must have noticed my unconscious release of air. Tough leaving my children—always. Tough stepping out of my comfort zone—that was to be determined.
We stepped into the brisk night. Jules fiddled with her scarf then pulled her hair out from under her coat and let it go. The brown silky strands fell right below her shoulders and framed her face. I’d never seen her hair down. She always tied it back in a band or clip. That was familiar and what I had become accustomed to, and in my warped testosterone brain it indicated a fling or a casual fuck.
Hai
r down made it real. What if it wasn’t going back up?
“How about that drink?” I needed a drink. And since there were plenty of places to pick from in my Upper East Side neighborhood, we’d be good in no time.
“Margarita?” she asked.
“I would’ve pegged you for the Italian bubbly.”
She ridiculously tsked, her pointer finger waving back and forth and said, “Assumptions.”
“Maybe.”
I grabbed her slender hand, half-expecting her to stiffen, and when she leaned into my side, I tsked myself. Assumptions.
All right then, screw the Upper East Side, I knew just the place. If she was expecting a five-star tourist trap, she was going to be sorely disappointed, but it was worth the risk. The food was that good or as close to authentic as you could find in this city. I hailed a cab, told the driver our destination, and warned her. “Complete hole-in-the-wall, but sick Mexican food.”
“No way? Tehuitzingo in Hell’s Kitchen, right? I’ve been dying to go there.”
Go figure.
“Well, let’s get you fed. I wouldn’t want them to run out of taquitos before we get there.”
She flashed her bright smile, and we sat in a comfortable silence watching the NYC skyline pass us by. I couldn’t discern if it was her perfume or the scent of her hair filling the cab with the aroma of those sweet apples again, but it took some serious effort not to get aroused. Instead, I focused on the non-stop bustle that I’d never get used to and wondered how many ways this town could screw up my kids. But then again, Jules grew up here and she seemed semi-normal (so far).
It was obvious Jules’ mind was reeling as well when she blurted, “Can I ask you something?”
“I have a feeling my answer wouldn’t really matter. You’re going to ask anyway, right?”
She grinned, but the cab driver interrupted before she said anything else. “Sir, is here okay?”
Jules reached for her purse.
“I’ve got it.” Like I was going to let her pay. But I had to admit there was something refreshing about her attempt.
“Thank you.” Her wide saucers wanted to say more as she slid from the cab. Once on the curb, she did. “Why are you such a dick at the hospital?”
Holy shit, did she. If this was her icebreaker, it needed some work. She crossed her arms, anticipating a response. Right, she was serious.
“Um … ouch. Okay, no one has ever asked me that, but then again, the old me never acted like a dick. You’re full of surprises already, Jules. Blunt, stubborn, and impatient. How about we table this discussion until after the first round?” That was my attempt to charm my way out, mostly because I had no clue how to respond. It wasn’t the time or place to get into the old me versus the new me (since I was just noticing the difference). And probably a mood killer to tell her that she initially reminded me of my wife. More accurately, what I disliked most about my wife.
“Fair enough.”
I held the door to the Mexican bodega and ushered her in, where we weaved between the stacked packages of tortillas and refrigerated cases filled with beer and cheese. We managed to snag the last two open stools along the counter. This place was happening.
A short silver-haired woman poked her head from the little kitchen window and I held up two fingers. “Dos Modelos, por favor.” She slid a small bowl of fresh pico de gallo and a warm basket of chips in front of us. My mouth was already watering.
“What if I didn’t want a beer?”
“Too bad.” I cracked a smile, unable to hold a straight face.
“Just so you know, I prefer margaritas.”
“Noted. But this is a beer place.”
She cocked a brow. “Says who?”
“Did you not pass the same refrigerators I did? Did you miss the cases of every Mexican beer you can think of?”
“Hmm. Maybe we should go back to the you being a dick question. What do you think?” She dipped a chip and popped it into her mouth.
I smiled and gave her back her own words from the other day. “Answering a question with a question. Interesting, Nurse Jules.”
“You think just because you’re the funny guy all of a sudden, it gives you a pass from acting like a complete jerk to me.”
“Funny, huh? I’m funny, how? I mean funny, like I’m a clown? I amuse you. I make you laugh?” She walked right into that one.
She squinted and the lips I had yet to take my eyes off of puckered.
“Seriously, you have no clue what I’m talking about. Don’t tell me you’ve never seen that movie?” Blank stare. “It’s one of the best movie lines of all time. GoodFellas? De Niro, Joe Pesci. Come on.”
“What, because I’m Italian you assume I must’ve seen it?”
“No, I assume everyone’s seen it. It’s a classic.”
“Says who?”
“That your favorite question?” Luckily, there was no silverware at the bar because she looked ready to stab me in the eye with a knife. And she thought I was funny. “Six Oscar nominations, doll. I think it’s a given.”
“What are you, a movie buff? I wouldn’t have pegged you—”
“Ah, now look who’s making assumptions. You know what they say?”
She bit her lip and half-squinted her right eye. Damn, she was hot when she got flustered.
We stared at each other in silence.
Not your typical start to a first date. All right, I’d admit it—I was rusty.
She broke first. “So no, I haven’t seen it. I’m more of a reader.” Reader, as in ... “And before you ask, no, I’m not a cheesy romance reader.”
“I didn’t think you were.” I totally thought she was. “So what do you read?”
“Suspense thrillers and political biographies, usually.” I almost spit my beer out. Totally not what I expected. She shrugged her shoulders and laughed. “Not your cup of tea, I’m guessing?”
“Hey, I don’t judge. I’m open to all things.” Except political biographies. Who the hell self inflicts torture?
“Me too.”
She was a terrible liar. Good to know. I could have called her out on it, but that left the door open for her to return the favor. I had a better idea. “Good. I’ve got an idea that resolves this problem.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Eat fast. We’re watching GoodFellas tonight.”
Without missing a beat, she casually said, “Dibs on the lemon ice.”
It almost didn’t register how absurd she sounded. Damn. That was exactly her point again.
“This will be nice for Maya. I remember nursing school, trying to study all the time and having to work. It was tough.”
I fished my keys out to unlock my front door. I liked that Jules was concerned about my sitter and she was spot on. Taking all night classes to free her days to watch the kids, Maya probably needed more of a break than she’d ever admit. But I couldn’t focus on Maya’s schedule right now. I was too busy savoring the smell that had been driving me crazy all night. Had to be her shampoo, perfume wasn’t that crisp. Damn, it really had been a while.
“Home so soon, everything okay?” Maya asked, startled when we walked in exactly one hour and twenty minutes after we left.
“Gonna watch a movie. Why don’t you take off? The night’s young.”
“Really? I’m totally fine, if you want to go back out—go for it. I don’t mind sleeping over.”
“You go, relax, do whatever twentysomethings do now. We’ll see you Monday morning.”
“Take advantage, Maya,” Jules chimed in, teasing. “Never know when this will happen again.”
“Okay, thanks, I’m going to grab the rest of my stuff then.” Maya threw all her books and papers in her backpack and headed toward the kitchen.
Before I followed to settle up and walk her out, I turned to Jules and said, “Make yourself comfortable.” But Jules was two steps ahead, already doing exactly that. Her coat and scarf were strewn over the armchair. My eyes immediately gravitated to her bare should
er where her grey silk top shifted off. I bit my tongue to kill the urge to drag it across her collarbone. Easy, man. Before I scared the shit out of her and attacked her like a starved animal, I played host. “Beer?”
“Margarita?”
I smirked. She wasn’t going to make this easy for me.
As soon as I made it to the kitchen, Maya said in a hushed voice, “You sure you don’t want me to stay? I feel bad you never go out, you know, socially.”
I laughed. “You’re starting to sound like Reina.” Good for my kids. Me, not so much. But it came from a good place. “Reminds me, did the kids get to FaceTime her tonight?”
“Yep. And just to give you a heads up,” she went back to whispering, “she asked the kids a million questions about Julia.”
“Jules.” Now I sounded like Maxie. “Thanks, no big surprise there.” I shook my head in amusement, imagining how that conversation played out. “Everything quiet tonight?”
“Yeah. Kids were great, as always. I did Finn’s exercises and they went down, no problem. But keep an eye on Finn’s cough—I’m not loving it. Humidifier’s on.”
“Will do. Thanks again.” I handed her a fifty but she pushed it away.
“You don’t have to pay me extra, it’s fine. Really.”
“Maya, you work your hours for a salary. Anything over, you deserve to get paid, not only this job but any job. Hear me?” Sometimes I forgot how young Maya was. She was too generous for her own good.
“Okay, but this is way too much.”
“Lesson number two, don’t argue with your employer.” I winked and forced her to pocket the cash. A fifty was nothing for peace of mind. “See ya Monday.” She nodded and headed out.
The bedrooms were on the other side of the apartment, off the kitchen. I peeked in, covered Finn, checked his bed rails, and turned off Max’s glitter chandelier. How she fell asleep with the damn thing on amazed me.
It was quiet. Kids were set.
Before I thought too hard about what a monumentally stupid idea tonight was, I rummaged through the cabinet over my stove. Tequila. Check. Triple sec. Check. Pulled open the fridge door. Limes. Check.
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