by S. E. Law
Once I’m dressed, I get back in the chair and wheel myself to where my friends are waiting.
“So?”
Liz jumps up from the couch. “You look fantastic, Summer!”
I smile. “Thanks to you.”
Dee rolls her eyes. “We just picked the clothes. You’re the one with an amazing body.”
I smile shyly.
“I also have the best friends a girl could ask for.”
“Aw, shucks, Summer. You’re too kind,” says Dee.
We all laugh before Liz speaks.
“We better get out of here. I don’t think Mr. Hot Doctor would like it if we were all here when he shows up.”
“I don’t think he’d mind,” I begin saying, but Liz waves me off.
“You shouldn’t have an entourage during your first date. What guy would welcome that? You have to call us tonight and tell us all about it, though.”
I grin.
“You know I will. Thanks for coming to help me get ready.”
“Always,” Annabel reminds me. “Have fun tonight, sweetheart!”
The girls giggle and with a wave of their arms, leave my apartment. There’s still twenty minutes before Ridge is supposed to pick me up, and I spend the time thinking about what Dee said. She’s right; I shouldn’t put my life on hold over this accident. Maybe I’m still allowed to dream, even though things are different now and I may have to dream different dreams.
There’s a knock on my door, interrupting my thoughts. I wheel myself to the door and manage to open it. It’s five of six, but Ridge is standing on the other side with a beautiful bouquet. He’s gorgeous as always, with his dark hair swept back and those blazing blue eyes fixed on my form. I melt a bit. Has he gotten taller, or is it just my imagination?
“For you,” he says, bending to kiss my cheek. “You look great.”
“So do you,” I say shyly. I accept the flowers and wheel towards the kitchen. Ridge follows behind me. “Can you get a vase for me please? They’re above the fridge.”
I can’t even reach them when I’m standing at my full height, but Ridge easily pulls the glass from its dusty resting place. He must have grown. Or maybe he seems bigger because my apartment is so small.
“This one okay?” he asks.
“Perfect.”
I add water and slip the bouquet in, setting it on the table. It’s gorgeous with fresh, vibrant blooms of red and gold. “Thank you so much. I love them.”
He smiles. “I’m glad. Are you ready to go?”
“Yeah, sure.”
Ridge’s Mercedes is parked in front of my complex. Honestly, I’m glad he doesn’t drive some huge truck because I don’t think I’d be able to clamber three feet off the ground. After I’m situated in the passenger’s seat, Ridge folds up my chair and places it in the trunk.
“Where are you taking me?” I ask saucily as he gets in the driver’s side.
There’s a twinkle in Ridge’s eye. “You’ll see when we get there.”
I try to figure out our destination during the drive, but we leave town and head down roads unfamiliar to me. We finally pull up into a café called The Purrfect Spot. I blink. Are we at a pet store? Will there be human food?
“What is this place?”
He smiles. “Just you wait.”
I slip into my chair and wheel myself inside. It’s homey inside, with tables and chairs like any other café. Except there’s one big difference: there are cats everywhere. Prowling, playing with one another, and even sleeping in cute little bundles in the corners.
The hostess smiles when we enter. “Welcome to The Purrfect Spot. Have you ever been to a cat café?”
“A cat café?” I ask, looking at Ridge. “What’s a cat café?”
The hostess’s smile gets even wider. “You’re in for a treat. It’s a special type of café where you get to eat and drink, but also play with our cats. Don’t pick the cats up, because they’ll come to you. And please only feed them them our specially designated treats, and not your food. They’re friendly, but we don’t want a case of feline indigestion.”
I’m still not one-hundred percent sure what a cat café is, but I follow the hostess and Ridge through another door. Sure enough, inside are more tables with even more cats of every stripe and color prowling around.
I gasp. “Oh my god, this is so weird. But also wonderful!”
Ridge laughs. “I’m glad you like it.”
We end up at a table near the middle, and the hostess gives us each a menu and says our waiter will be with us shortly.
“In the meantime, have fun with our kitties. In fact, we have some new kittens around. If you’re lucky, one might take a liking to you,” she winks.
I gape as I stare around us. “This is so cool, Ridge. I didn’t know places like this existed.”
He grins.
“I’m glad you like it. I was hoping you were a cat person.”
“I am absolutely a cat person. I’m not allowed to have one in my apartment, which sucks but hopefully soon I’ll move somewhere that allows them.”
He smiles.
“My condo allows cats, but I’m always so busy that I worry about leaving a pet alone five days a week.”
I gasp. “You have the option to have a cat and you don’t have one? You’re a disappointment.”
He grins again.
“I hope it’s not a deal breaker. I would hate for something like this to come between us so early.”
I pretend to think about it. “I guess I can forgive you this once. But that is one strike against you.”
“I’ll be sure not to get any more, then,” he retorts right back with a flashing smile.
I melt a little. How did I meet such an amazing man? Oh right, at the hospital. Patients and doctors probably aren’t even supposed to date, but what the hospital doesn’t know won’t kill them.
Together, we take a second to study the menu. When the waitress arrives, I order a loaded burger and a strawberry milkshake while Ridge orders the same, but with chocolate instead.
“Chocolate’s not a strike, right?”
I shake my head. “Chocolate is still a good choice.”
He playfully wipes his brow. “Thank God. I wouldn’t want two strikes ten minutes into our first date.”
I’m just about to reply but then two curious cats approach out table. They sniff at my chair, and then jump up on my lap.
“Oh my god,” I say in a hushed tone. “I’ve been chosen.”
Ridge smiles at me. “You’re a natural, sweetheart. Of course they love you.”
As he speaks, one of my new friends jumps on the table and wanders over to Ridge. The gray and white tabby purrs as he strokes her head, and I look at him with a teasing smile.
“She likes you,” I say. “So what’s it like being a physical therapist?”
He strokes the cat thoughtfully before answering.
“To be honest, it’s amazing,” he says. “Most people don’t say that about their jobs, but PT has been my dream even before I started my degree. I was never big into the surgery or diagnostic side of things but I really liked physically working with patients, and helping to figure out what’s wrong before teaching them how to fix it.”
I smile with admiration.
“You’re good at it, too.”
Ridge blushes, making him just as cute as he is sexy. “Well, thanks, Summer.”
“I mean it! Look at me. I’m a living, breathing testimonial to your incredible skills.”
He shakes his head modestly.
“That’s the thing with physical therapy,” he says. “It’s not just about the doctor. It’s the patients, too. You put in the work, and you see the rewards. I’m just a guide along for the ride.”
“You know, I love how you describe your role,” I muse thoughtfully. “It’s how I feel about my job, too.”
He cocks his head to the side in the cutest way.
“What do you do for work?”
My cat abandons
my lap for a newcomer, but a sweet kitten sits by my wheel, staring up at me. The tiny orange and white thing gets brave and hops up on to the armrest. The little guy sniffs around for a bit, then settles into my lap, and he’s asleep within seconds. I pet his soft fur, careful not to wake him.
“I worked at a women’s clothing store before the accident,” I explain slowly. “I was a personal stylist, so I’d have appointments with customers and help them find clothes that fit them best. But honestly, it’s not really about the clothes. It’s about how they feel in the clothes.” I check Ridge’s reaction. He’s studying me, curious. “I know it’s presumptuous for me to compare our jobs because it’s not really the same, but I guess we both want to make people feel better about themselves. Except you make real changes in people’s lives, and I just… well, help them get dressed.”
Ridge covers my hand with his.
“You do something awesome, Summer. You help people boost their self-esteem. That’s an admirable job.”
I shrug. “I’m not sure I can do it anymore, to be honest.”
He stares at me.
“Why, because you’re in a wheelchair now?”
I nod, suddenly embarrassed.
“Yeah, because who wants to buy clothes from someone like me?” I ask, gesturing to my wheelchair. “This isn’t exactly aspirational.”
Ridge shakes his head.
“You’re not giving yourself enough credit.” He thinks for a few seconds. “You have a really great vibe, Summer. You make people want to believe in themselves, and to be better. I’ve seen you with your nurses, and people really gravitate to you. I know things have been tough, but give yourself a chance, sweetheart.”
“You didn’t know me before. My name made a lot more sense back then, when I actually had a sunny disposition.”
Ridge squeezes my hand. “It still makes sense.”
My heart melts, and I practically become a puddle right there. Fortunately, the waitress picks that moment to bring us our food and my stomach growls, making us both laugh. We dig in, and after a few bites of his burger, Ridge asks, “Can I tell you a secret?”
I grin.
“I love secrets.”
“Well, I’ve been thinking about opening my own practice.”
I blink. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what that means? Like your own hospital?”
He chuckles. “Not exactly. Physical therapy can be done in regular offices, outside of hospitals. I want to open an out-patient physical therapy business staffed with folks just as passionate about this profession as me.”
I gasp.
“That’s awesome. Are you just thinking about it? Or is it something you’re serious about?”
He nods while taking another bite.
“I’m pretty serious actually. I want to be my own boss. There are some treatments I can’t do because I’m limited by the hospital’s rules and regulations, and by their stupid insurance policy. I’d like to make my own exercises and decisions for a change. I just have to take the leap.”
“You should do it,” I gush. “I know I’m biased, but you’re really good at what you do. If you think you can be even better outside of the hospital, that would be amazing. You should go for it.”
He grins.
“Thank you, Summer. It means a lot to me to hear you say that.”
I give him a shy smile.
“My turn. Can I tell you a secret?”
He smiles.
“Of course.”
“Well, I’ve been thinking about opening my own business, too. I want to be a personal stylist, outside of a set store. Like you said, if I was working on my own, I’d have more freedom. I could go to boutiques and other department stores, instead of being limited to the clothes at Lalique.”
“I can see you doing that,” Ridge says. “You have a passion for fashion, not to mention you always look great.”
I roll my eyes. “Yeah except I wore nothing but sweatpants for like a month.”
“Yeah, but they were cute sweatpants.”
I slap his hand playfully. “Liar.”
He chuckles.
“I’m serious! You look good in anything, Summer. Or more accurately, you know how to make anything look good.”
“Well, thanks. That’s nice of you to say.”
Ridge gets serious.
“I really mean it, Summer. I think you could head out on your own right now if you wanted to. It could be the right time too. Why not? You haven’t been at your old employer’s place for months now, so this could be a good time to explore.”
I take a long sip of my milkshake. “Maybe. Not right away, but someday. And you should, too.”
“I think I will,” he says, copying me. “We have a lot in common, don’t we?”
I grin.
“Yeah, we do. I’m glad.”
Our date continues, and its amazing. The conversation is free-flowing and we laugh and connect like never before. My kitten stays curled in my lap the whole time, and Ridge has some feline visitors of his own. We continue to talk about ourselves, our lives, and our friends, sharing about ourselves and what we want from the world. There’s never an awkward moment of silence.
In fact, with every new fact I learn about Ridge, the more I fall for him because he’s so easy to talk to. I tell him about my family, which I never tell anyone about. Plus, he already knows about my dream to open my own business. In just one date, he’s learned more about me than any past boyfriends ever cared to know.
Ridge walks me to my door after our date. I’m not even self-conscious about being in a wheelchair as we amble up the path.
“I had a great time tonight,” he says.
“I did, too,” is my shy reply.
We smile at each other. To anyone walking by, we probably look like idiots, but I don’t care. Ridge bends down and cups my cheek with a big hand. “Goodnight, Summer,” he says. His lips gently brush mine, the whisper of a goodnight kiss.
But I’m not ready for the night to end.
“Do you want to come inside?” I ask tremulously. The flash in his blue eyes is my answer as he grins.
“I’d love to sweetheart. I thought you’d never ask.”
19
Ridge
When I kissed Summer, I didn’t expect her to invite me inside. I swear, I just wanted to feel my lips against hers.
Not that I’m complaining or expecting anything. It’s more that I’m hoping. After all, Summer’s still feeling self-conscious about her body since the accident. It was one of the many things I learned about her as we talked during our date, and honestly, it was the best first date I’ve ever been on. There were no awkward pauses nor nervous energy. We were both relaxed, and we couldn’t stop going with the flow. We only left the café because it was getting late and we didn’t want to overstay our welcome, although I know Summer hated leaving behind her little kitten. That guy loved her. He would wake up, spin around trying to get comfortable, and then lay right back down in her lap. It was adorable.
“Welcome to my apartment,” Summer says, clearly nervous. “It’s not much…”
“It’s great,” I say reassuringly. Her place is all one floor with a separate kitchen, dining room, living area, and bedroom. I like the open floor plan of my condo, but it’s nice to have walls between rooms sometimes because of the privacy it gives you. It’s nice to be in your living room without having a direct eye line to the kitchen.
“Thanks. My apartment would be even better with a kitten,” she jokes. “I probably could’ve smuggled that little guy out.”
I grin wryly.
“They would have noticed he was missing, and we’d have both been arrested for catnapping.”
“Worth it,” Summer decides. “Seriously, though. Thank you for taking me there. The food was delicious, but the cats were the best part. I’m going to take all my friends there. We’ll probably go once a week. I think it’s the perfect new girls’ night place!” she proclaims.
I chuckle.
> “I take full credit for introducing you to the greatest restaurant within a hundred mile radius.”
Summer laughs. “I appreciate it. I had a lot of fun.”
“Me, too.”
We’re both quiet, but it’s not uncomfortable. I take the moment to check out Summer for the millionth time tonight. She really does look incredible. The woman makes a simple jeans and shirt outfit look elegant and sexy, and I’m not surprised that fashion in her passion the way physical therapy is mine.
“My room is this way,” she says softly. “Can you help me into my pajamas?”
I nod, unable to speak. We both know she’s fully capable of putting her pajamas on herself because it was one of the first things we worked on in physical therapy. After all, she had to be independent before she could move home. So I think this is headed exactly where I want it to.
Summer leads the way down a short hallway, past a bathroom, and into her bedroom. She has a huge bed in the center of the room, with a vanity and a dresser off to the side. The layout is simple, but the walls reflect the Summer beneath the post-accident sadness. Beautiful paintings and photographs are hung all around the room. The walls themselves are painted a sheer blush, feminine and sweet. I bet it makes the room look huge in daylight.
She stops in the center of her room and faces me. “This is it. I know it’s really pink for some people but I love it.”
“I love it, too,” I say. It’s true. I love it because she looks so happy and sexy right now that she could say she loves mushrooms, the food of the devil, and I’d agree that they’re the most delicious edible in the world.
“Do you like mushrooms?” I ask, unable to stop myself.
She scrunches her face. “Absolutely not. Why are you asking about mushrooms?”
I close the distance between us. “No reason really, but that’s good to know. Where are your pajamas?”
“Top drawer,” she says. While I riffle through her dresser, Summer climbs onto her bed. I pick a pair of short shorts and a soft, strappy tank top that I know will accentuate the best parts of Summer’s body.
I hand her the clothes.
“Good choice,” she says. “Help me out of my blouse?”