You Are My Air: Breathless Book 1

by Samantha Wolfe

  He pulled his phone out of his pocket, grabbed my hand, and placed it in my palm. Sizzling crackling energy seemed to flow between us from the contact. "Text yourself so you have my number, and I'll have yours." I did as he said. I watched him take his phone back and slip it into his pants pocket, my eyes sliding sideways until I was looking at his groin. He was smirking when my gaze came up to meet his. He pulled his eyes away to look at his watch. "Damn, I've got to get back up to the unit," he said regretfully. He stood to leave, and I rose from my chair. "Text me your address, and I'll see you at seven."

  "Okay." I nodded happily. He paused just before leaving, and leaned in close to press a gentle kiss to my cheek. His lips were just as soft as they looked, and I was looking forward to them kissing me in other places. He straightened and gave me a wide grin.

  "I'll see you tonight, Natalie." My name fell from his lips like a caress and practically gave me the shivers.

  "Bye, David." I watched him walk away so I could admire his perfect ass. He turned back and gave me one more smile before he disappeared out of the room. Hot damn, I couldn't wait for seven o'clock. I stood there smiling like an idiot for a long moment that was interrupted by an incoming text notification. I pulled my phone out of my pocket. "Shit," I mumbled. It was from my mother.

  Where are you? I'm up here waiting all alone, wondering if Ford is okay? I sighed. I hoped to God the surgery was almost over. I couldn't wait to get home. Especially now that I had something to look forward to.

  I'm coming back right now. I replied as I hurried upstairs. Even if it was just an accident, I decided that Ford owed me big time for this. I was only angry until I got on the elevator again. My mind turned to thoughts of David, and his lips and eyes. I couldn't wait to see him again. I couldn't wait to find out if the fantasy matched the actual man. I had a feeling that he might even surpass it. Either way, I was in for a good time tonight.

  **********

  "Absolutely not," Ford said vehemently from the hospital bed, with his foot in a gray plastic support boot and elevated on a pillow. "I am not going home with you, Mom. I can take care of my damn self."

  "But what if you need help getting into the shower or going to the bathroom," Mom continued as she stood next to his bed.

  "Oh, hell no!" He shook his head adamantly, his voice rising. "You are not helping me with that. I'm going home to my own place."

  "Ford," she said in placating tone. "How are you going to get around by yourself?"

  "With my damn crutches," he grumbled. "I'll fucking crawl if I have to."

  "Ford," she scolded him with a glare. "Don't you use the F-word in front of me. I'm just trying to help you."

  "You could stay with me," I suggested from where I stood on the other side of Ford's bed, thinking it was a good compromise.

  "No," he said in a calmer voice as he looked at me. "You don't want my grumpy ass at your apartment. I'm going home, and that's all there is to it." Mom opened her mouth to speak again. "No, Mom. I'm done arguing with you." He turned to look at me. "Will you drive me home, Natie?"

  "I can do that." I nodded, noticing the hurt look on our mother's face.

  "Ford," she pleaded, her voice sounding pained.

  "I want Natie to take me home," he told her in an uncompromising tone. "Then I'm going to take my pain pills and go to sleep, so you might as well wait until tomorrow to visit. Okay?"

  "Alright," Mom finally agreed reluctantly. "But I'm coming to see you first thing in the morning."

  "That's fine." I could see the tightening around Ford's eyes. I could tell he didn't want her there at all, but he was trying to be a good son by compromising. It was a tactic we both had learned when managing our mother's drama. Sometimes we had to give a little to get our way without risking her having an emotional breakdown. Neither of us wanted to be the bad son nor daughter who made our mother cry.

  The door to Ford's small room in outpatient surgery opened and a young dark haired, olive skinned nurse walked in pushing a wheelchair. "I'm going to get you out of here, Mr. Spencer."

  "You are officially my favorite person today." Ford gave her a huge flirtatious grin. She looked away with a shy smile on her face as she pulled the wheelchair up close to the bed. Ford put his legs over the side and let the nurse help him into the chair. He had already changed into the sweats and T-shirt I had brought for him. He grabbed the hoodie lying on the foot of the bed and pulled it over his head. I noticed the nurse staring appreciatively at my brother's muscular tattooed arms and rolled my eyes. He winked at her as he pulled the hem down over his chiseled torso, and she actually blushed. He looked over at me with an amused smile, and I rolled my eyes, so he could see it this time. My brother, being the flirt that he was, merely shrugged and smiled wider at me. He was incorrigible.

  The nurse gave Ford a set of crutches to carry, and Mom and I followed as she wheeled Ford out into the hall and into the elevator. Within moments, were walking out the main entrance doors into a cool sunny autumn day. Mom waited with Ford on the sidewalk while I went to get my car. I pulled up next to them, and Mom opened the passenger-side door. Ford humored her by letting her help him into the car. She started fussing over him as he put his seat belt on, and I realized I had to get him out of here before she started blubbering all over him. I know he hated it when Mom did that.

  I climbed out of the car and went around to my mom. "I'll call you when he's home and settled, Mom." I grabbed her arm and pulled her gently away from Ford. He gave me a grateful look.

  "Bye, baby. I love you," she told Ford. I almost laughed that this imposing tattooed man was still called "baby" by his mother.

  "Bye, Mom," he answered with a tight voice and an eye roll that only I saw. "Love you too."

  I shut the door before she could embarrass him even more. "I'll call you in a little while." I pulled her into a hug. "I love you, Mom," I told her sincerely. Even at her worst I knew Mom loved us, and I was grateful for it. Some people didn't even have that from their mothers.

  "I love you too, baby girl." She hugged me tight then kissed my cheek. I pulled away with a smile and extricated myself from her arms.

  "Bye." I took the crutches from the nurse, and walked to the driver's side. I threw them into the back seat then climbed in and drove away before Mom tried to get in the car with us. I wouldn't have put it past her.

  Ford and I drove in silence for a while as he leaned his head back against the headrest and closed his eyes. I thought he had fallen asleep until he started speaking.

  "Just imagine what she'll be like when one of us has kids?" he said with a wry smile as he opened his eyes and looked over at me.

  "Oh, God," I breathed out in horror. "I never thought of that."

  "Believe me, I have." His face looked just as horrified as mine now.

  "I didn't think you wanted kids," I said in surprise. The man had been a bachelor his entire adult life. I just assumed he wasn't interested in having a family.

  "If I met the right woman, I'd be open to it."

  "I thought you liked being single."

  "I used to, Natie," he confessed with a wan smile. "But you know; I'm getting older, and I'm starting to rethink my life plan. My life has gotten kind of lonely."

  "I know the feeling," I said, my voice getting a little sad.

  "So you're done with that Lucas guy?" he asked me curiously.

  "Yeah, I didn't ever really love him," I confessed. "I think I was just trying to force myself into a relationship, so I didn't have to be alone. Isn't that stupid?"

  "Not stupid, Natalie." He gave me a warm smile. "Just human."

  "Thanks, Ford."

  "I didn't like him anyway," he added as his smile turned wry again.

  "You've never liked anyone I've dated."

  "True, but Lucas is a tool," he said with disdain. "You deserve a real man, not a pussy like that."

  "Ford!" I blurted out in disbelief, eying him with shock. "Just because a guy is really nice, doesn't make him a pussy."
/>
  "It does if he has no backbone," he disagreed. "That guy is a total doormat. I threatened him once to see what he would do."

  "You what?" I asked in sudden anger.

  "I tried to piss him off to see how he'd react," he continued ignoring my growing anger. "I told him he wasn't good enough for you, and that you could do better. You know what he did?"

  "What?" I asked in disbelief as my curiosity eclipsed my ire.

  "He fucking apologized and said he'd try harder to be good enough for you, when he should have gotten pissed and told me to fuck off," he growled out with a sneer.

  I stared at him incredulously, thinking I should still be angry with Ford for sticking his nose into my love life. However, now that things were over with Lucas; I could see the truth in his words. I did not want a man who couldn't stick up for himself. How could you trust someone like that to fight for you? I didn't know what to say as silence stretched out between us.

  "Are you mad at me, Natie?" Ford asked after several minutes, his voice apologetic. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done it, but I want you to be with someone who'll fight for you, not roll over like a beaten dog."

  "I'm not mad, Ford." I sighed. "I'm glad someone is looking out for me. You should have told me sooner."

  "Oh, no," he said with a vehement shake of his head. "If I had told you while you were still with him, you would have been livid and kicked my ass. I knew you'd figure it out for yourself. You're no dummy."

  "I feel like a dummy for staying with him for six months."

  "I said you weren't a dummy, I never said you were a genius," he said with a laugh.

  "Ha, ha." I glared at him, which only earned me a bigger smile from him. Ford was always there for me and always would be. We fell into comfortable silent again.

  I stopped at the pharmacy the hospital had called his pain medication into, and picked up his pills in the drive-thru. Then I drove him home. Ford lived in an apartment above his tattoo shop, Apex Ink. It was convenient for him to get to work, but today I had to get my brother up the stairs to his apartment without him falling down them.

  "How the hell am I supposed to get you up the stairs?" I asked him with trepidation as I parked behind the two-story red building next to the door that led up to his apartment upstairs.

  "You aren't doing anything of the sort," he told me with a stern expression. "I'll get myself up the stairs. All you have to do is open the doors for me."

  "Alright," I said unconvincingly.

  "Don't worry, Natie," he reassured me. "I'm tougher than I look."

  "Nobody is that tough." I laughed as I gave his rough exterior a once over.

  He snorted out a laugh. "I'll be fine."

  He was fine, just like he said. It took a few minutes, but he managed the stairs without too much trouble. He was exhausted and breathing heavily afterwords though, and I could tell his pain was back by the hard set of his mouth and eyes. I got him settled on the couch, and got him a glass of water for his pills. I watched him swallow them down gratefully then I went to his room and grabbed a few pillows off his bed. I helped him elevate his foot with the pillows then handed him his TV remote.

  "Are you good now?" I asked. "Are you sure you don't want me to stay?"

  "No, I'm good." He smiled. "I wouldn't want to keep you from a hot date or anything," he added sarcastically. I ended up blushing though, since I really did have a date tonight, and I was pretty sure it was going to be red hot.

  He gasped as his eyes lit up in realization. "Oh my God. You really do have a date tonight."

  I nodded wordlessly in admission.

  "Please tell me this guy isn't a complete douche."

  "I hope not," I said with a grin.

  "Ah, withholding judgment until you know him better," he said with an easy smile. "Good plan. I told you that you weren't a dummy. Let me know if you need me to find out for you." His smile widened, his dark-blue eyes glittering with amusement.

  "You are not going anywhere near this guy until I figure him out for myself," I said with a glare.

  "Alright," he agreed with reluctance. "But I've got your back if you need me."

  "I know, Ford," I said with affection. "And I appreciate that." I leaned down and gave him a fierce hug. "I love you," I told him as he hugged me back.

  "I love you too, Natie."

  I stood and headed toward the door. "Call me if you need anything."

  "I will," he said as he settled down into the couch and flipped on the television.

  I nodded and walked out, happy that I still had Ford in my life. If he hadn't made it yesterday, my whole life would have never been the same. It put everything in perspective and made me want to enjoy every precious moment that life would bring me, especially a particular gorgeous guy whom I was going to see tonight. I grinned all the way home, thinking about David and that spectacular smile of his. Seven o'clock wouldn't come fast enough.

  **********

  I was standing in my closet trying to figure out what to wear around five when I realized I hadn't texted David my address yet. Maybe if I knew where we were going, I could decide what to put on. I left my bedroom and crossed the room to get my phone out of my purse from where it was sitting the dining table. I added David's number to my contact list and texted him my address. He replied immediately.

  I'm glad you texted me. I was starting to think you changed your mind.

  I can't decide what to wear. Where are you taking me? I sent back.

  Dress casual or wear nothing at all, either way it's a surprise. I rolled my eyes with a smile. Men.

  I can't think of any restaurant that would let me in like that.

  If you wear nothing, we're not going to a restaurant.

  Then what would we eat?

  Each other. I rolled my eyes again. Next thing we'd be sexting, and I wasn't ready for that just yet.

  Ha, ha. I guess you'll have to wait and see for yourself.

  Can't wait. See you at seven.

  I took my phone back to my bedroom and tossed it on the bed next to a half-asleep George, who blinked in annoyance as it landed. I went into my walk-in closet to stare at my wardrobe with irritation again. I finally decided on an outfit and was walking out toward the bathroom to take a quick shower when my phone rang. I grabbed it off the bed and saw Maggie was calling. Great, now I had to tell her about my date, and I wanted to wait until afterwords to talk to her about it. I was thinking about not telling her about it at all as I answered with a sigh.

  "Hi, Maggie."

  "Hey, girl," she said in a cheery voice. "How is Ford doing?"

  "Stubborn, as usual," I told her. "He refused to stay anywhere but his apartment. I'm trying not to imagine him lying on the floor unconscious somewhere because he fell."

  "I'm sure he's fine, Nat," she reassured me. "I take it the surgery went okay."

  "Oh, yeah," I said. "But Mom was in rare form. You should have seen Ford's face when she suggested he needed her help showering and going to the bathroom."

  "Oh my God." She laughed. "I miss all the good stuff."

  "I managed to get him out of there before she started bawling. You know how she is."

  "Do you ever feel like your family's public relations person?" she asked jokingly, but she had a point.

  "That's exactly how it feels," I admitted wearily.

  "Do you want to hang out tonight?" Maggie asked. I was glad she hadn't continued discussing my crazy family dynamics.

  "I'm going to have to take a rain check on that," I said vaguely. "How about tomorrow night?"

  "Rain check?" she asked in disbelief. "Why? Do you have a hot date or something?"

  I lapsed into silence when I didn't really want to admit to her that I did. She'd have a million questions, and I wouldn't have the answers.

  "Nat?" she finally asked. "Are you still there?"

  "Yeah, I'm still here?"

  "Then why did you stop talking?" There was a moment of silence on her end, and I could almost hear the gears turnin
g in her head. "O.M.G. You have a date tonight, don't you?"

  "Yes," I replied succinctly, wondering why everyone was so shocked that I had a date.

  "Who is it?" she demanded. "And why didn't you tell me about it yesterday?"

  "I didn't have a date until today," I answered in annoyance.

  "Did you pick up a hot doctor at the hospital?" That was close enough to the truth that I didn't answer right away.

  "Sort of," I said reluctantly.

  "What does that mean?" Now she sounded annoyed. I figured I had better tell her everything before she got pissed.

  "You know that guy from the race on Saturday?"

  "Yeah."

  "Well, he works at the hospital, and I ran into him in the cafeteria," I confessed. "He asked me out tonight, and I accepted."

  "I am so jealous right now," she blurted out in excitement. "That guy was smoking hot. Is he a doctor? Where is he taking you?"

  "He's not a doctor. He's a psych nurse," I replied. "As for where, he said it was a surprise."

  "A psych nurse?" she asked. "Hey, maybe he can tell you what's wrong with your crazy family."

  "It's only one date, Maggie," I said with irritation. "Let's not scare him away just yet."

  "Right," she agreed. "Are you going to sleep with him tonight?"

  "Maybe," I answered slowly.

  "Natalie, are you turning into a ho?" she asked in amusement.

  "Maybe."

  "That's my girl." Her amusement grew. "Make sure he wraps that shit."

  "Maggie," I pleaded. "Please stop."

  "Hey, if you're going to be a ho, at least be a responsible ho."

  "For God's sake, Maggie, stop already."

  She just laughed at me. "I'll let you go. Don't forget to shave your junk and wear your good underwear."

  "Bye, Maggie," I said in exasperation.

  "I will expect a full play by play at work tomorrow."

  "Fine. I have to go." I ended the call before she could suggest anything else I didn't want to hear. I dropped my phone back on the bed and stripped out of my clothes. I took a quick shower, remembering to "shave my junk" as Maggie so bluntly put it and shaved my legs too. I spent a good chunk of time fixing my hair and makeup, then dressed in a plum sweater and skinny jeans paired with my gray Uggs. I wrapped a gray frilly scarf around my neck and was pleased with my choices as I checked myself in the mirror. I looked casual yet stylish and nothing like a ho. I nodded at my reflection with approval then went out to my living room to wait.