Falling Into You (Geek to Chic)

by Brinks, Nikki

  “Well, I better go.” Jemma stood and started to head for the door. She took four steps before she stopped and turned back. “I know that you don’t know me. And I know I didn’t see you and Derek together or know what happened to end the relationship. I am, however a woman who can pick out a man in love a hundred yards away. Derek is a man who is madly in love, and completely lost without you. Think about giving him a chance to at least explain. Sometimes it takes the Derek’s brain a while to catch up with his emotions.”

  “I’ll think about it.” Roni smiled sadly at Jemma. “Um, can you do me a favor? Can you just look after him for me? He needs someone to care.”

  “I do care for him Roni, and I will try to look after him like I always have. But it is you that he needs.”

  With that Jemma left. Roni stood completely bewildered. After a minute or two of staring at a closed door, she turned to go get a cup of tea from the kitchen. The gift on the table immediately captured her attention. She pondered the possibilities of what it was, the man could have sent. Only one way to find out. Roni leaned over the coffee table and gently took out the tissue paper. She pulled out a stuffed animal. Once she turned the animal to face her, she burst out laughing.

  Of course Prince Geek Boy would send her a rare, perfect condition stuffed Ewok. She hugged the stupid doll. Looking further into the bag she saw a hand written card. With a deep breath, she pulled the card out to read it.

  Roni,

  Gaging by the lack of response from my texts and phone calls I assume my stupidity at the Gala cannot be repaired.

  I am sending you this Ewok as a thank you. You were the first person beyond Alex and C, who accepted me, geek and all. For the first time in my life because of the way you looked at me and made me feel, I have accepted me.

  I miss you with everything I have.

  Derek.

  Roni burst into tears. Still clutching the Ewok she fell to the couch crying.

  ***

  Derek sat at his desk, hands flying over the keyboard. Even though his heart was still held up in a dark room, listening to the Dave Matthew’s Band and crying, the rest of him was in work mode. The new contracts that Collin’s partners brought in were keeping his mind busy. He would code as long as his body could physically do the task.

  A soft knock grabbed his attention from his screen. Jemma walked in, iPad in hand, ready to work. “How did the errand go?” Ok, so he should have asked a few other questions first before grilling her about her visit to Roni’s but he couldn’t stop the words from rushing out of his mouth.

  Jemma gave him a big smile before sitting down in one of the chairs in front of his desk. “I can see why you fell for her. She is lovely.” She opened her iPad and started working without another word.

  He wanted to scream at her to tell him everything that had occurred during her time with Roni. He even wanted to demand she tell him exactly what Roni was wearing and what she smelled like so he could live through her. Wow, I am pathetic. He tried to be patient. Instead, he blurted out, “and?”

  Jemma looked up from her iPad, her eyes dancing with mischief. “And nothing. I dropped off the gift, thanked her for filling in and came right back here.” She went back to work.

  “Did she like the gift?” He had thought for days about what to send her. Roses were overdone. Jewelry was not Roni. He had finally come up with the idea while pacing his office. He remembered how much she liked the little Ewok. The note had taken even longer to write.

  “I am not sure. I left before she opened it. She did attempt to give me the iPad back.”

  He raised his eyebrow hoping Jemma had stuck to her guns.

  “You can drop the eyebrow. I told her it was hers to keep. Luckily for me she was too tired to argue. I have a feeling since she has been keeping you in line for almost two months that she knows how to argue.” She smirked.

  He chuckled. “You have become very mouthy since you came back.”

  “Oh, I have always been mouthy, just not in front of you. Now that you have decided not to be a scary bastard, I have decided to be myself.” Again she smirked.

  He full on laughed this time. “And here I thought you had no backbone. Glad to see I was wrong. By the way, I am giving you a significant raise for putting up with my ass for these past few years.”

  She looked shocked. “Thank…… thank you. That is very nice of you.”

  “And you are to let me know if you need any time off to care for your mother. All you have to do is send me a text telling me you are taking the day or days off to care for her. You will be paid for each and every day you take off.” He knew she needed to be with her mom. He also knew she was worried about her job. Derek wanted to alleviate some of her worries.

  “That is so kind of you, thank you.” She paused and looked deep into his eyes. “Roni really does bring out the best of you. I can’t wait to see the two of you back together. Now what is on the agenda for the day?”

  It was his turn to look shocked. “You really think she’ll forgive me? To be honest, I don’t think she will. I was a huge asshole that night. I wouldn’t forgive me if I was her”

  Jemma smiled again. “Trust me, she wants to forgive you. Right now she is just scared. Give her time. Now if you don’t need anything I need to help Phin and Alex. Alex seems a little lost without Roni too.”

  “Thanks Jemma.”

  She nodded and left his office. Derek hoped she was right, that Roni would forgive him. He sighed and started typing again. Before he could get too engrossed in his work, his phone pinged notifying him of a text. He grabbed his phone and almost fell off his chair when he saw who it was from.

  Roni: Thank you for the Ewok. He is the best gift I have ever received.

  His brain shut down not knowing how to respond. He was starting to panic, knowing he had to send something back to her. His brain kicked his heart to get it out of its depression and help out. His heart lurched at not knowing what to say. Finally, he settled for simple just to send something.

  Derek: You’re welcome! I always thought of you when I walked by it.

  Roni: I’m sorry I haven’t returned any of your text. I didn’t know what to say.

  Derek: Well, I did go a little overboard with the texting J

  Roni: LOL maybe a little.

  Ok, this was good they were having a conversation. He just needed to not blow it.

  Derek: I really am sorry Roni. You have no idea how sorry.

  He waited for a response. Simply staring at his phone, willing it to ping again. When he was about to give up and his heart was heading back into the dark room a fresh playlist of sad songs ready to go, the phone pinged.

  Roni: My problem with the situation is that you didn’t believe me. You thought I was like all the other girls you have been with. I wanted to be special, to be different from those girls in your head.

  What was left of his heart broke. She didn’t even know what she met with him. He should have told her sooner. He should have done more so she would have no doubt how he felt.

  Derek: Oh Roni, honey. You are special to me. You have been since the moment I saw you in Starbucks. Please meet me so we can talk this out. Please, sweetheart!

  Derek was not above begging. He would do whatever it took to get her back.

  He once again found himself waiting for a response.

  Roni: Ok

  Derek: Really? When?

  Roni: In 30 minutes at 5280. You only get one shot at explaining your behavior to me.

  Derek: I only need one shot. I can’t wait to see you.

  Derek quickly closed and locked his computer and grabbed his keys. “I’m going out.” He called to Jemma as he practically ran to the elevator.

  ***

  Roni walked into the brewery with a heavy heart. She had decided she at least owed Derek the opportunity to explain what exactly had triggered his temper the night of the Gala. She had taken her time to herself after their public blow up. Now she was ready to figure out if they had a f
uture or not.

  She scanned the brewery and saw him sitting at the booth, they normally sat in when they came to 5280. His back was turned to her and she could see he was tapping his foot nervously. A feat that was not glad in Prada or John Lobb designer dress shoes, but instead Nike running shoes. Her eyes moved up to see him in jeans and a T-shirt. She adored this casual side of him far more than the uptight suits. This was the true Derek in her mind.

  Taking a fortifying breath, Roni headed to join Derek at the booth. She slid into the bench across from him. Usually she would have sat next to him. His eyes met hers, his face tight with emotion. “Roni.” He whispered. His shoulders relaxing. Almost as though her simple presence calmed him.

  Tears stung the back of her eyes from the sure need in his eyes. Realizing she was holding her breath she took a deep breath before speaking. “Derek.” Her voice came out with more need than she had hoped.

  “Would you like a drink, or something to eat?” He asked nervously.

  “A coke would be nice.”

  He nodded and waved the waitress over. He ordered two cokes and a basket of fries. Once the waitress left to get their order he turned his full attention back to her. “Thank you for agreeing to talk to me. I know I don’t deserve a chance to explain, but am grateful for the opportunity.”

  She sighed. “Derek, relax. This isn’t a business meeting. You are being so formal.”

  “Sorry, I’m nervous. I want this to go perfect. I want you to understand.”

  “So help me understand. Let’s start with, you lying about leaving your phone at home.” She felt no need to hold back. She had a list of questions in her head and she was damn well going to get an answer to every last one of them.

  He laughed a little. “That’s your first question?” He gave his most brilliant smile.

  “I figured we needed to start at the beginning. Unless I misread the entire evening, everything was wonderful before you went to the bathroom. Or should I say before you went to take your call in secret.” Now that they were talking the sadness was starting to take a backseat to her anger.

  “You’re right. I had my phone with me to check in on my team. I was waiting on one text confirming everything with a release had gone according to plan. I figured one quick text or call wouldn’t hurt. All night I felt a little guilty for having the stupid phone on me.” Derek explained.

  “You promised, one night, no business.”

  “That was my first mistake of the night. Breaking that promise.” He laughed a little. “Hell, if I hadn’t gone out into the hall to check in with my team, the cluster fuck that happened when I returned would never have happened.” He shook his head, looking down at the table.

  The waitress delivered their order and quickly left. She must have felt the tension at the table. Roni took several drinks of her coke. Trying to tamp down her anger a little. “Why did you say all those terrible things to me? I thought you knew me better than that.” Her voice became weak at the end of her statement.

  “Roni, that’s the fucked up part of this entire thing. I do know you better than that. I know you have no ulterior motive for being with me. You know me better than anyone besides Alex and C and yet you still stayed with me. All you wanted from me was me.” He looked on the verge of tears. Which tore her up inside.

  Placing his hand over her, his eyes locked on the connection, playing with the bracelet she wore. Derek continued. “While I was in the hallway I ran into Jennifer.”

  “As in the Jennifer you dated?”

  He nodded.

  “What did she say to you?” Now the pieces of the picture were coming into place.

  The corners of his mouth turned up. His gaze still locked on his hand playing with her bracelet. “How did you know she spoke to me?”

  She allowed herself to smile a little. “It would explain so much if she had.” The tension and anger were beginning to leave her body.

  He nodded again. “She did. She told me that no one would want a man who still owned Star Wars toys and had no social skills. She emphasized the fact that someone who looked like you would have to have an underhanded reason for dating me. My self-esteem when it comes to the world outside of computers has always been in the toilet, you know that. She knew exactly what to say to tear me down.”

  “Did you ever think that she was uttering all of those nasty comments to you because she was jealous? Jealous that you became a man that every woman in the world would give up chocolate for the rest of their lives to me with. Sounds to me like she wants you to be miserable, so she feels better about the mistake she made.”

  “Mistake?” Derek asked to finally meet her eyes.

  Roni turned her hand over his. Giving him a light squeeze. “The mistake she made when she let you go.”

  He looked positively stunned. “How can you think so much of me after what I said to you? After I embarrassed you?”

  “Simple, it’s true. She knows she messed up and wants to make you as miserable as she is.”

  He studied her for a moment. “You’re amazing.”

  “Thank you. Moving on past the sorority bitch. Let’s say you didn’t run into her when you were in the hall. How would you have reacted walking into the gala seeing Michael kissing me?” Roni could see how his mind had been a mess. Now she wanted to know what his true reaction would have been.

  He pulled her hand to his lips. A familiar shiver of lust shot through her system at the simple contact. “The evening would have ended with you bailing me out of jail for knocking that cocksucker unconscious for laying a hand on the woman I love.”

  She gasped at his words. The tears she had been holding back flowed freely down her cheek.

  ***

  He hadn’t meant to tell her he loved her in that way, but was glad the words were finally free. He reached out wiping the tears from her cheek. Derek cupped her face and repeated the words he knew she needed to hear and he needed to say. “I love you, Roni. I had this big grand plan to whisk you away to an island retreat after the gala and tell you how I felt. That plan went sideways really fast when I allowed my insecurities to take over and ruin us. I know I have said this so many times, but I am so sorry. I wanted that night to be so special. Because to me you are so incredibly special. You made me better.”

  He rubbed his knuckles down her cheek. Rubbed his thumb over her lips. Derek had missed this simple touch.

  Once again he waited for her to respond. He hoped he was pulling off the calm, cool and collected look on the exterior, because inside his heart was hammering against his chest.

  “I like the new look.” She smiled at him.

  Derek’s mouth dropped open. “I declare my love for you. Pour my heart out… and you like my new look?” He was confused.

  She giggled. Ok giggling had to be a good sign right?

  Roni stood. Panic swept through Derek so fast he almost had a heart attack right there. Before he could protest her leaving, she sat next to him. The panic running through his system turned to lust when he saw the look in her eyes. She grabbed his face with both hands and crushed her lips onto his. Poking her tongue into his mouth. He grabbed her and pulled her close. This time he was never letting her go.

  Her hands moved to tangle into his hair, pulling him closer. Their tongues danced, teeth bit and hands started to roam. She pulled back breathless. “You see, I can remark on your new look after your wonderful declaration, because I already said the words to you.” She smiled.

  “That broke me, sweetheart. When you whispered the words I so wanted to say.” He kissed her chastely. “Say them again.”

  “I love you, Derek.”

  Without a word back to her, he puts a few bills on the table to cover the bill and carried her out of the restaurant. She was laughing. “Where are we going?”

  “Well, I believe I said I was taking you on an island retreat.”

  Epilogue

  “Geez Derek, I said I was sorry. You know I didn’t mean to. Stop scowling at me!” Roni laug
hed as she watched Derek roll around on the sand. Once again, she had wracked him when she tripped over him.

  “Seriously Roni, can’t you aim for another body part?” He said pulling her to him. “You know you will have to make this up to me, right?” He wiggled his eyebrows at her.

  She giggled. They had been at their private beach house for two weeks now and nothing could have been more perfect. He had left all of his electronic gadgets at home. The first few days he had withdrawals. He even kept reaching in his pocket for a phone that wasn’t there. They slept late, ate breakfast on the deck, and swam in the ocean… sometimes they even did these things with clothes on.

  “And how am I to make it up to you?” Her hand was sliding down his chest. Dipping into his bathing suit. He grabbed her hand before she could make it to the prize she sought. She pouted and he laughed.

  Suddenly he looked nervous and mischievous all at the same time. “Well, you will definitely be playing the part of the naughty nurse later so that you can check to make sure my poor friend down there isn’t injured too badly.” He nuzzled her neck.

  She leaned her head back, giving him better access to her neck. “I believe I was attempting to play dirty nurse before someone stopped me.”

  “Well before you decided to punish my favorite body part…”

  Roni huffed. “It was an accident.”

  Derek just laughed. “As I was saying before you tripped, I actually brought you out here to talk to you about something.” His hands were wandering over her body, lighting her up. She really didn’t want to talk right now. She had other things she wanted to be doing.

  “Mmmm, let’s talk later.”

  “It will only take a minute, then you can have your wicked way with me.” He looked at her his face bright with a smile.

  “Ok, but hurry up. This nurse has a patient, she needs to check on, over and over again.” It was her turn to wiggle her eyebrows at him.

  He laughed again. It was so good to see him so relaxed. “I promise this will be fast as long as you answer my question correctly.”