It was true. He’d been there when no one else had. Not even Tracy. “Yeah.”
“So I’ll watch her for you while you two go and have dinner. Alone. Get to know him.”
“You actually want me to go out with him? What’s wrong?”
Marco shook his head. “Nothing. I don’t like him any more than I liked Boone. But you also need a break. Go. She and I might go out for ice cream.”
I smiled at him. “Thanks Marco. I won’t be out long.”
“Take your time. Olivia and I have things to do.”
An hour later, Jason and I were sitting in a comfortable Italian restaurant. He’d mentioned going to my parent’s restaurant, but I refused. I wouldn’t get into the details with him about it. We were just going for a meal. We weren’t dating or anything, and that meant that he wasn’t privy to personal family stuff.
“This is kind of nice, huh?” he asked as the waitress went to fill our drinks. “I’ve never eaten here before. I’ve heard the food is pretty good though.”
I nodded, looking around. “It’s nice,” I agreed. It wasn’t a homey feeling as my parents’ restaurant, but it would suffice. Especially since I couldn’t really roll into my family’s business with another man without them lighting into me. If they spoke to me at all.
“Are you okay?” he asked, concern lacing his voice.
“Yeah. Why?”
He shrugged. “You just seem preoccupied. Do you want to go get Olivia?”
“No. She’s okay. Her Uncle Marco, for all his blustering, loves her to pieces and is probably feeding her ice cream instead of real food.” I swirled the straw in my glass. “I guess I’m just a little nervous. I’ve never left her with anyone before. I know she’s in good hands, but I won’t be easy until I see her for myself.”
Jason reached across the table and took my hand. “Try and relax. She’s okay with her uncle. You deserve some time to yourself too, you know. You work all the time. When you’re not at work, you’re taking care of Olivia. Take a moment for yourself. No one will think badly of you.”
I listened but couldn’t help thinking, you don’t know my mom. Raffaela De Luca can make the Pope feel bad. “I’ll try,” I finally said.
Turns out, I wound up having a pretty nice time. Jason was funny, making me laugh. He told me about himself, where he grew up, and about his son. I opened up about my childhood and working in the restaurant. I didn’t mention Trenton or the relationship we’d shared. Nor did I tell him about what had happened to me. I glanced down at my plate for a moment. When I looked up, it wasn’t Jason’s handsome face I saw. It was Trenton’s. He was smiling in that boyish way he had. His eyes would always twinkle with mischief as he teased me. I couldn’t help smiling back. I love you, I thought. And I suddenly, savagely missed him.
Then it was gone and I was once again looking into Jason’s pretty hazel eyes. “I hate to just take you home,” he was saying. “But I have to get to work much earlier than usual. I’m sorry. I’ll make it up to you.”
I shook my head. “It’s okay. I understand. I had a nice time with you tonight.” I said the words almost automatically. While I did have a good time with him, I realized that I’d been thinking about Trenton most of the evening.
Jason walked me to the door of my apartment. For a moment, we stood looking at each other. He smiled down at me. “I’m really sorry to cut our date short,” he said again. “But I’d like to see you again.”
For some reason, I didn’t want to go out with him again. I couldn’t quite put it into words, but I just wasn’t as into him as he seemed to be for me. Then I thought about what Marco and I were talking about before Jason got there. I should give him a chance. It wasn’t fair to compare him to Trenton when they were two different people.
So I found myself agreeing to see him again. “I’d like that,” I said quietly.
“May I kiss you?”
I nodded and he stepped closer to me. Gently, he cupped my face between his hands and brushed his lips across mine. My lips parted to allow the sweep of his tongue and I closed my eyes, letting the new sensations wash over me. His kiss was nice, soft and sweet. Though I could feel my body reacting to being kissed, it didn’t send the white hot flames of desire through me the way Trenton’s kisses always had. Maybe they would one day. Maybe I just needed to give him a little time.
He pulled back, his thumbs stroking my cheeks. “I’ll see you tomorrow, beautiful,” he murmured.
“See you tomorrow,” I said. I leaned forward and kissed him once more. “Thank you for tonight.”
“I had a good time too. I’d better go or I won’t leave.” He sighed before kissing me once more. “I’ll make you forget him,” he whispered before he went on down the steps.
I stood there for a moment. I didn’t need to ask who he meant. I already knew.
Jason didn’t know it yet, but he had his work cut out for him.
______
“I see you’ve been going out with a certain orderly a lot lately,” Tracy said one day, several weeks after Jason and I had our first date. “So what’s the word? You falling for him or what?”
I glanced at her. “We are just dating,” I said. “Friends really.”
“Friends with benefits?”
“No. Nothing like that.”
“So wait. You haven’t slept with him yet?”
This time, I gave her my full attention. “Um, no. We haven’t. You know that I don’t just fall into the sack with any guy. I have to get to know them first.”
“Is that it? Or is it because you’re still hung up on Trenton?”
She’d hit the nail on the head and I couldn’t lie. “Maybe.”
“You really should give him a chance. He’s handsome, a hard worker. Got a great body. What more could you possibly ask for?”
For him to be Trenton. “He’s a great guy. I like him a lot. But I don’t know. Besides, the opportunity hasn’t seemed to present itself yet.”
“Hmm.”
“Besides, I’ve been having this funny feeling inside. Like something is going to happen, you know? I don’t know if it’s something good or bad, but it’s something.”
“I think it’s just nerves. You gotta let go of the memories and stuff you had with Trenton and make some new ones with Jason. If you don’t at least try, I think you’ll regret it.”
“I guess you’re right. I just don’t know if I’m ready for another relationship yet.”
“You never are. Listen, boo. I get it. Trenton broke your heart. But don’t hold that against Jason. You never know. He might be your knight in shining armor. You can’t allow the past to cloud the future.”
I knew she was right. But it was easier said than done.
______
That funny feeling that I’d been feeling the last week or so was becoming more insistent. I wished that I could figure out what it was. Mama always said that feelings like this should never be ignored. I suddenly wished that she and Papa weren’t so angry with me so that I could go to the house like I used to. I would lay my head in her lap and she’d stroke my hair as I told her what I was thinking or feeling. She wouldn’t laugh or downplay what I said.
But I couldn’t do any of that. They weren’t speaking to me right now. I blew out a sigh and busied myself straightening up the room for my next patient. I didn’t know who it was. All I knew was that he’d gotten hurt in an accident and needed physical therapy after surgery. I wished that I’d had time to read over the man’s chart before we started the first session, but oh well. I’ve worked with less information than what I had now.
Since I had a few minutes before the person was scheduled to come, I decided to go downstairs to peek in on Olivia. I was grateful for the onsite daycare that had staff 24 hours. There were many nights when I’d have to work and had no one to watch her. I went to the observation station, as the ladies called it. From there, I could see her but she couldn’t see me. That way, I could check on her without her seeing me and the big water
works because she wanted to go with me.
Satisfied that she was happily playing, I turned to go back upstairs. The elevator doors opened to reveal Jason standing there. He grinned at me as I stepped into the car.
“Hello,” he greeted me. “Checking on the offspring?”
“How’d you guess?” I answered with a smile.
“Well, the only other thing of interest downstairs is the cafeteria. And you aren’t carrying any food or drink.”
“I might have eaten it already,” I countered, enjoying his little game.
“Nah, I don’t think so,” he said, moving closer to me.
I lifted my face for his kiss. I slid my arms around his neck, Tracy’s words sounding in the back of my mind. I opened myself to the sensations that always sparked to life when he kissed me. And even though I liked it, I was waiting for the fire, for the almost uncontrollable urge to throw him down and make love to him. But it wasn’t there. Not with him.
The doors opened and we broke apart. He stepped back so that I could exit first then followed me into the corridor. I glanced at my watch. I had only a couple more minutes before my patient was to get here.
Jason followed me into the lobby. “So, would you like to go somewhere with me tonight?”
I glanced at him. “I don’t know if I can. Olivia has gymnastics tonight.” I paused. “But maybe you can go with us if you’d like. That is, if it won’t bore you to watch heavily made up moms screeching at their little ones to try again and yelling that the coach didn’t see that move.”
He laughed. “It sounds like a good time.” We got to the room and he lowered his voice. “Your patient is in there already. That’s what I was coming down to tell you. I left his chart on the table.”
“Thanks. I haven’t even had the chance to look at it. I don’t even know who it is.”
Jason frowned. “I think his name is Boone or something like that. Anyway-”
I went stock still, not hearing anything else that he said. No. It couldn’t be him. It couldn’t. He’d transferred. He’d said that he’d be gone for two years, longer if they needed him or he decided to stay. Jason was still babbling, unaware of the whirlwind of thoughts and emotions going through me. How would I feel when I saw him again? Would I run into his arms or slap him across the face? Would I hate him or fall in love all over again? I stopped outside the door. It was almost completely closed so I couldn’t see in, nor could he see me. Part of me wanted to see him again, to see if he’d changed any, then another part of me wanted to walk away, not see him. I didn’t want to feel like I did that day he broke up with me. Nor did I want to see a gold band on his finger or hear about his happy marriage and kids. Especially when he had a daughter whom he knew nothing about.
“Lexie? Is something wrong?” Jason asked, putting a hand on my arm.
I jumped startled. I’d forgotten that he was there. I realized that he’d been talking to me the whole time and I hadn’t heard a word he’d said. “No.” I cleared my throat. “No, nothing’s wrong. I’m fine.”
“You look kind of pale. Maybe you need to sit down for a moment.”
I shook my head. “No. I’m okay. I’d better go in and get started.”
“Do you want me to come too?”
“I can handle it. Thanks though.”
Jason looked skeptical but didn’t argue further. But he set his jaw and followed me into the therapy room.
I picked up the chart as I moved further into the room. I opened it, holding my breath. Sure enough, the name on the chart read, Boone, Trenton Dale. The good colonel sat in the chair, typing furiously on his phone. I found myself wondering if he was texting Maggie. I tried to tamp down the sudden jealousy that was fighting its way to the top. I watched him, his sandy head lowered. He still wore that short buzz cut of the military. Instead of wearing his uniform, he wore an olive green T-shirt and black shorts and clean white sneakers. His right knee was wrapped up and in a brace from thigh to calf and stretched out in front of him, propped on the other chair in the room. All of a sudden, my mind was flooded with memories of the things we’d done together. The laughs, the long nights of loving. Me watching him train the new troops. Heat flooded my body now as it had three years ago.
I cleared my throat. “Hello Trenton,” I said softly.
His head snapped up and his gaze met mine. “Alessandra,” he said.
Even after three years, the sound of his deep voice saying my name sent shivers down my spine. Cut that out, I commanded myself. Be professional. He’s just another patient.
His blue eyes roamed over me. “You look good,” he said.
“Thanks. So do you.” I gestured to his knee. “Well except for this.” I opened the chart again, aware that Jason was watching us closely. “According to this, you tore the meniscus. They repaired it with surgery.”
He nodded. “Yep. The doctor suggested physical therapy to get my range of motion back.” His eyes twinkled with that sudden humor that I used to love. “So here I am.”
I smiled in spite of myself. I looked down at the chart again so as not to stare at him. “You could have had the surgery at the base in Houston.” I looked up at him. “Why come all the way back here to have the operation?”
Trenton shrugged. “I wanted to come home. Besides, when they told me I’d need physical therapy, I knew I wanted you to take care of me.”
Jason snorted from behind me and I glanced at him over my shoulder before meeting Trenton’s gaze. “Why me? There are plenty other good PT’s.”
His eyes fell on Jason and he sat back in his chair. “I have my reasons.”
It was Jason’s turn to clear his throat. “Um, Lexie, you have another patient coming after this one. So we’d better get started.”
Trenton raised an eyebrow that said plainly, we?
I closed the chart and laid it on the desk. I went over to Trenton. “Can you stand? I need to get you up onto the table so I can look at that knee.”
He grimaced in silence but got himself upright. I put an arm around his waist to help steady him. Only I heard his swift intake of breath as I pulled him close to my side. Though I knew it galled him to do so, he leaned heavily against me. He stumbled once on the very short walk from the chair to the table. Jason came over and helped me get Trenton on the table. He lay back almost wearily and I slid a pillow under his head. He smiled his thanks and Jason cleared his throat again.
I glanced at him. “I think we’re okay here, Jason,” I said. “I’ll page you when we are done so you can get Trenton, I mean Colonel Boone back to his room.”
Jason frowned. He looked from me to Trenton and back. “Sure. No problem, Lexie,” he said, his voice tight. “You never answered me about tonight.”
I saw Trenton’s eyebrow lift. But he didn’t say anything. Great, I thought. Just what I don’t need. A jealous orderly and a smirking Colonel.
“Can we talk later?” I said softly, knowing Trenton was listening.
Jason glanced at Trenton then back to me. I think he may have just put two and two together. And I was going to have to answer a bunch of questions later on.
“Fine. We’ll talk later. Let me know when he’s done. I’ll come take him back upstairs.” With one last glance at Trenton, he walked out of the therapy room, closing the door behind him.
I moved to unfasten the straps that held his brace in place. He lay there watching me.
“So is that the way things are now?” he asked.
“What are you talking about?”
He lifted his chin, indicating the door where Jason had just left. “You dating him?”
I carefully lifted his leg out of the brace and moved it aside. His sigh of relief was audible. I gently ran my hands over his knee and thigh. Suddenly, a bulge grew in the front of his shorts and he didn’t even try to cover it up. I acted like I didn’t notice it, but inside I was burning up. I tried to keep my mind on what I was doing and not what was happening with other parts of him. But it was hard to concentrate.
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I managed to make it through the session without losing my composure. As I wrapped his knee up again and fastened the brace into place, I felt his eyes on me. I glanced at him.
“What?”
He gave me a crooked grin. “You never answered my question,” he said.
“Which one?”
“Are you dating that orderly?”
“Why?”
I helped him sit up and he absently rubbed at his knee, grimacing. “He seems to like you a lot.”
“I hadn’t noticed.”
“I’ve been around him for fifteen minutes and I could see it clearly. Are you dating him?”
I stepped back and helped him stand. His arm went around my shoulders and a whiff of his cologne brushed past my nose. God, he smelled so good! I suddenly wanted to kiss him. But I kept my lips to myself.
“Jason and I are friends,” I said, finally, easing him into the wheelchair. I got him situated before I continued. “Why does it matter to you anyway? You don’t want me. You made that clear three years ago.”
Sadness passed in his eyes. “And that was the worst day of my life,” he said softly. He settled back in the chair. “Are you going to call him?”
I shook my head. “No. I’ll take you back myself. “I paused. “Unless you don’t want me to.”
He met my gaze squarely. “I want you to take me.” He paused. “I want you.”
It was what I wanted to hear and it sent shivers down my spine as heat exploded in my belly. But I couldn’t let him sway me. Not that easily. I had too much at stake to simply let him sweet talk me into anything.
“What about Maggie?” I said.
He sighed and looked away, but not before I saw the hurt in his pretty eyes. “You were right,” he murmured. “I’d hoped that we’d make it work this time. I thought that she wanted the same thing. I was the fool again. She hadn’t changed. How could I have been so dumb a second time?”
I knelt to set the lock on the small plate that elevated his knee. “Maybe you wanted to believe that she’d changed. There’s nothing wrong with that.”
Trenton stayed quiet for so long, I looked up at him. He was staring at me, his eyes wide.
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