Chance Encounter

by Tabitha Marks

  They had a hard road ahead of them, he knew. He appreciated his brother’s desire to accept responsibility for Carter but there were bound to be unexpected challenges dealing with a pre-mature infant. Luckily Carter was doing well so far and now they just had to wait and see.

  The only bright spot in the whole debacle was running into Angie. He’d figured out she was actually the nurse who assisted with Carter’s delivery, and Keith couldn’t say enough good things about her. How calm and in control she was when dealing with Molly’s belligerent attitude. How reassuring she was to Keith, letting him know what was going on in a way he could understand with no doctor speak. His brother painted quite a different picture of Angie than what Kevin knew, but he didn’t doubt it for a second. The fact there was a sweet, smart, competent woman beneath the party girl exterior she showed other people didn’t surprise him in the least. He’d always felt there was more to her than she let on, but was never in a position to investigate. Now he had no girlfriend in the way. Now he could get to know the real Angie, if only he could find her.

  She’d been off the day after Carter was born, then on the day shift the next according to Keith, but gone before Kevin arrived at eight that night. Then off again. Kevin was hoping she was on days once more, and was aiming to get to the hospital by six. That would be enough time for him to see Keith and the baby, and take Angie out for something to eat after her shift ended at seven. At least that was his plan.

  Kevin arrived five minutes late after stopping for a much needed coffee and Danish. The elevator ride to the neonatal floor felt like it took another ten minutes, and by the time he exited, it took everything in him not to burst into a run down the hall. Time was ticking away and he wanted to actually visit before leaving with Angie. Luckily he managed to control the urge to bolt, because he would have run smack into a curvy brunette in scrubs. A very familiar curvy brunette in scrubs, with a smoking ass. And that smoking ass was sashaying right into Carter’s room. Score!

  Angie was here, on duty and right where he wanted her.

  Kevin strode into the room, set down the bag with the extra pastry and soda for Keith and took a quiet seat in the corner. He watched Angie check over Carter and speak to Keith in a hushed voice, letting him know the baby’s status. Their proximity almost made Kevin jealous, before he reminded himself that he had absolutely no right to feel that way, and there was no way in hell Keith was ready to date anyone…although, the sensitive caring nurse who took care of his son during his roughest hours would be the perfect girlfriend for Keith right now…

  “Kevin,” Angie said from right next to him. He’d been so lost in thought he hadn’t heard her move. “What are you doing here?”

  She looked adorably confused, and he couldn’t help but smile.

  “Keith is my brother.”

  It took a minute for her to figure it out, but then the light dawned. “Ohhh, that’s why he looked so familiar!”

  Carter took that moment to let out squeal and Angie immediately headed over to the crib, almost bumping heads with Keith. “And this little man is your nephew.” She picked the baby up, careful of all the monitors and cords that covered his tiny body. Angie held him like it was her job, which it was, but the joy she felt shone through. She loved her career, loved the mothers and babies she looked after, and was damn good at it if the fact Carter immediately stopped yelling was any indication.

  “You’re good with him,” he noted, ignoring the feelings coming to life in his gut. The ones that made him think Angie would look even better with a child of her own in her arms.

  “He’s such a cutie and such a sweet baby,” she said, smiling down at Carter. “It’s lucky that I’m filling in for one of the regular neo-natal nurses who broke her leg the other day. Normally I wouldn’t be his nurse anymore, but I’m glad I am.”

  She looked at him when she spoke and he swore that she was as happy as he was that they were both here. That maybe part of the reason she was glad she was Carter’s nurse was the unexpected opportunity to see Kevin again. He was definitely ready to thank the fates for giving him another chance encounter with her.

  “Keith, sit down in the chair and take your shirt off. You know the drill.” Her words made Kevin jump in surprise. What the hell was she talking about? His brother started pulling his long sleeved Henley up and over his head, like it was no big deal to be stripping in his son’s hospital room. Angie moved toward him and Kevin saw red.

  “Keith, what the fuck are you doing?” he barked.

  Keith and Angie both halted immediately and looked at him like he’d sprouted horns or spoke in a different language. She was bending over the rocking chair where Keith sat, leaning forward, probably giving him a perfect view down her scrubs, like she was going to give him a kiss, or…

  Hand him a baby.

  The baby. She still held little Carter in her arms.

  The reality of the situation hit him, and he realized just what an asshole he’d made of himself. And how much he’d most likely revealed. Angie was passing Carter to Keith so he could hold him next to his bare skin. Kangaroo care or some shit like that. Keith had told him the doctors said he should spend as much time as possible holding Carter like that. That it would help Carter breathe better and sleep better, and basically had absolutely no sexual overtones whatsoever. But that’s exactly where Kevin’s brain had immediately jumped. He hadn’t even been on a date with Angie and his protective streak flared up at even the suggestion of any kind of shenanigans with someone else.

  He realized they were still frozen in place, staring at him. Angie looked confused and a little annoyed, but Keith looked smug, like he knew exactly what was going on in Kevin’s head.

  “I’m sorry,” Kevin said, offering no explanation for his outburst. What was he going to say? “I thought you were going screw right here, right now, and it made me crazy mad because I want you to be my girl, even though we barely know each other”? That probably wouldn’t go over well.

  “Can I hold my son now?” Keith’s voice held more than a hint of sarcasm, but Kevin deserved the snide remark so he didn’t comment.

  “Yeah, sure. Aren’t you going to be cold though?” Even though they were inside there was still a chill in the air. It was March after all.

  “Nope. Angie’s gonna wrap me and Carter up in a blanket so we’re nice and snuggly together.”

  Kevin watch as she did just that, pulling an afghan off the shelf next to the rocking chair and draping it around Keith’s shoulders and then across his chest, over Carter. Creating a toasty cocoon that both father and son seemed to enjoy.

  “Where’d that blanket come from?” He’d never seen it before in Keith’s apartment, and if it had been in that pigsty it would have been trashed in ten minutes. Not looking like someone had just handmade it yesterday. Dark gray with interwoven dark blue strips, it wasn’t your typical grandma looking blanket. It looked like it was made for a man, and really comfortable.

  “Angie made it,” Keith replied, a devious twinkle in his eye. The little shit was trying to get under his skin, insinuating that Angie had made it special for him.

  “I’d started it last fall as a Christmas present for Derek, but then Gina picked out new bedding when she moved in with him and the colors didn’t match anymore. So it was mostly done, and when Keith said he’d buy a blanket to use when he held Carter I just finished it up on my day off and brought it in.” Angie looked embarrassed that Kevin knew she liked to knit, but he thought it was just one more facet to her personality that made her special.

  “That was really nice of you Angie, to spend your day off knitting my brother and nephew a blanket to keep them warm.” It was more than nice. It was amazing. They didn’t have homemade blankets growing up. Hell, they barely had home cooked meals. His father usually picked up takeout or they ordered pizza if he was working.

  “Crocheting.”

  “What?”

  “It’s crocheting, not knitting,” she repeated. “They’re differen
t.”

  She looked so uncertain and almost shy, such a contrast to what he’d seen of her in the past. Almost a completely different woman. The question was, why? Why did she feel the need to go out trolling for men, acting slutty- though Derek had said she had stopped that a few months ago- but what made her act that way when she was clearly a smart, caring, thoughtful woman? She was a puzzle, and one he’d definitely enjoy solving.

  “It was very nice of you to crochet my brother a blanket Angie,” he amended. “Thank you.”

  Her cheeks flushed pink in embarrassment and she turned to fidget with the monitors and cords, making sure to adjust them all. Even though she’d done it once already.

  “I’d already had it mostly done so it was no big deal. Only took me a few hours.” Her eyes darted to him when she realized what she’d said. “No, I mean, it didn’t take that long at all.”

  The more she spoke the more flustered she became, and the more flustered she became the cuter she was. He couldn’t help grinning at her, which made her snap from flustered to mad in the blink of an eye.

  “Don’t laugh at me!”

  “I’m not laughing at you at all. I was smiling at you because you looked cute. I’m seriously thanking you for doing something nice for my family, Angie. The normal response would just be to say ‘You’re welcome.’” He gentled his voice so she wouldn’t get even more upset that he was sort of telling her what to do, but she was really being silly. She couldn’t know how much it meant to him, and even more to Keith he was sure, that she’d take time out of her life to give him something special. She needed to accept their appreciation.

  “It’s just a blanket.”

  Keith picked that moment to chime in. “Not to me, Angie. I’ve never had a blanket someone made for me. I really like it.” He looked at Kevin. “She did the same thing when I thanked her yesterday. Totally downplayed everything.”

  The room fell into silence, with both brothers looking at Angie while she continued to make notes in a chart. Finally she looked up and found them watching her.

  “What?”

  “We’re waiting, Angie,” Kevin said.

  She looked confused again for a second before she opened her mouth to say something…something she thought better of when she took in the identical looks he knew he and his brother were wearing. He didn’t have a lot in common with Keith, but one thing was for sure; they were both alpha males that liked to be in charge.

  “You’re welcome,” she whispered.

  “Good. Now that that’s over, when are you done working?” Kevin asked.

  His question caught her by surprise, erasing the hesitancy that appeared when she realized that they expected a response from her, and they weren’t going to give in.

  She checked her watch. “In about a half hour.”

  “Let’s get something to eat when you’re done.” Kevin made it a suggestion but he wasn’t really asking. He needed to spend time with her. He had to find out more about her, and see if what he was feeling was just because he’d been alone for the last two months or if it was something real.

  “Umm…” She didn’t turn him down outright, but she wasn’t ready to accept yet either.

  “We’ll go to that diner down the street. Nothing fancy. I worked the overnight shift and jumped out of bed an hour ago. I could really use something more than the Danish I grabbed on the way to the hospital.” There, she couldn’t turn down his need for fuel being a nurse and all…he hoped.

  She didn’t answer, but he wasn’t going to push any harder. She had to make the decision on her own, without him being overbearing, even though it about killed him to remain silent.

  It took her a full minute to finally respond, but eventually she said, “Sure, I could eat.”

  Chapter 3

  Angie slid the black fishnet stockings up her calves and over her silky smooth thighs wondering if Kevin would like them, not that he was going to see them. It was a girls' night out for one of the nurses she worked with who was getting married in a few weeks. Not exactly a bachelorette party since it was the woman’s second marriage, but the night definitely promised to be crazy with the group they’d assembled. Angie really wanted to put on her jammies and stay home.

  Wild drunken adventures did not appeal to her the same way they used to. Ever since the blow out at her sister’s friend’s house, Angie hadn’t felt the urge to get crazy. Maybe she was getting older, or maybe it was being humiliated in front of a dozen people, either way her days of partying hard and going home with a different man every week appeared to be over. Though she really could stand to have some hot sweaty monkey sex…

  Her mind turned back to Kevin and all the perfectly polite dinners they’d had after work lately. A few times a week for each of the past four weeks he’d been at the hospital at the end of her shift, waiting for her to finish while he visited his brother. They’d had a nice meal each time and some good conversation, but nothing more. He hadn’t asked her to go out anywhere besides the diner by the hospital. He hadn’t tried to get her to go home with him. At first that was a refreshing, and unexpected, change. Angie assumed he was only asking her to dinner in an effort to get in her pants, since she knew she had a not-undeserved reputation for being a little easy among his friends. But Kevin didn’t make any sneaky sexual comments, or try to touch her inappropriately. Instead he opened doors for her and paid the bill after they ate, all without asking for anything in return. Now she really wanted him to ask her out and try to get in her pants, but he didn’t seem at all inclined to be with her in that way. Apparently she’d read his intentions completely wrong and Kevin just wanted to be friends.

  It was disappointing, but a girl had to face facts. Four weeks and not one single move? He hadn’t even asked for her phone number. The man just didn’t want her. So here she was, donning fishnets and a tight black dress to go out and try to have fun. She didn’t know if it would work, but maybe she could find a warm male body to spend some time with. It had been months, and now that she knew Kevin wasn’t interested she’d have to brave the bar scene to get what she needed.

  Angie gave herself a final once over in the mirror after sliding on the patent leather peep-toe pumps she absolutely loved, and headed out the door to see what the night would bring.

  * * * * *

  Kevin forced himself to slow down as he whipped his bike through the darkened streets. It was a Friday night and the cops would be out in full force hunting for drunk drivers, and he would be the perfect target, roaring around on his Harley in black leather. At the same time he tried to dampen his frustration and annoyance at Angie, though he was coming to realize that it wasn’t her fault. Mostly he was pissed at himself.

  He thought he was being a good guy, taking things slow, easing into the kind of relationship he wanted with her. The long term kind, where he was in charge and she knew it, and loved it. Apparently he was taking far too long to let her know how he felt.

  When Derek called fifteen minutes ago to find out if Kevin knew Angie was out on the town in a skintight black dress and fuck me heels, pounding cosmos with her friends, Kevin was forced to admit he didn’t know any of that. He also had to admit that even if Angie had wanted to let him know she had plans for a night out, she had no way of telling him since he’d never given her his fucking phone number! And he’d never asked for hers. In fact, they hadn’t done anything other than have dinner several times a week after she finished work. They were spending time getting to know each other, often lingering over dessert talking about life, but Kevin had made no effort to let her know he wanted more. That he wanted to be her man.

  So here he was, speeding through the city towards the club where Derek and Chris spotted the group of women. Things were going to change between him and Angie. Tonight. And after he was through there was no way in hell she’d have any question to whom she belonged. But first he had to get her out of the club without making a scene. The key would be to not be demanding, not storm in like an enraged Neanderthal, s
ince he really had no right to in her mind. He had to make her want to come home with him and, more importantly, want to be with him.

  He parked the bike in front, bypassing the long line of people waiting and heading straight to the door instead. The weather was unseasonably warm for this time of year, and now the spring showers that had soaked the area earlier were over, people were out in droves. Luckily his friend Dex was working since Kevin didn’t have the time or the patience to stand in line when Angie could be getting hit on right now by some lover boy in a button down and loafers. That was not going to happen, ever.

  “Hey man, you look like you’re spoiling for a fight tonight,” Dex noted without saying hello, making Kevin stop. He needed to calm down before he ended up in trouble. Who knows what he’d find when he walked in. He had to prepare himself for the worst.

  “No man, I’ll be all right,” he said, taking a deep breath. “There’s a girl I’m interested in here and I really want to see her.”

  “That didn’t look like an ‘I can’t wait to see my woman’ face. That looked more like an ‘I’m going to kick any man’s ass that’s within ten feet of her’ face,” Dex said, but moved to let Kevin in anyway. “Don’t make me have to come in there and save your sorry ass.”

  Kevin laughed, but took the words seriously. “I won’t. Don’t worry.”

  “Okay, whatever.” Dex didn’t appear convinced but turned to deal with the next person in line, leaving Kevin to make his way into the club.

  This place was as loud as the last one where he’d had his run in with Angie, but yet completely different. Less industrial and more glam. He scanned the packed club and found Derek standing against the bar keeping an eye on the door. Waiting for him. Derek caught Kevin’s eye immediately and gestured for him to come over, but Kevin wasn’t interested in talking to his friend. He needed to see Angie now that he realized what a colossal mistake he’d made. He shook his head and jerked it toward the dance floor letting Derek know he was heading that way to look for her. Derek responded with a slight negative shake and pointed behind Kevin, to a second bar on the opposite side of the club.