Luna

by Pepper North

  Out of the corner of his eye, he watched her follow his directions as he filled her care information into a new chart. She smiled radiantly as she unwrapped the new toothbrush carefully preserving the container. Spreading a scant layer of toothpaste, she began to brush her teeth closing her eyes in delight. When her gums were getting sore, she stopped, and after rinsing the toothbrush, she returned it to its container. She began packing the supplies in her backpack carefully taking one toothbrush, one toothpaste, the bottle of mouthwash, and the antibiotics. She turned with the cereal bars, acetaminophen, and extra supplies in her hands.

  "I won't bother you for these. You're doing so much for me. Can I put these back in the cabinet?" she asked not wishing to open the doors without permission.

  "Put those in your bag," he said firmly. "Now, my office opens at 8:30 tomorrow. Can you be here at eight, so I can show you the phone system and the day's schedule on the computer."

  "Sure . . . I can be here at eight, but I don't have any office clothes. Maybe I won't be good behind the desk. I can work cleaning or picking up trash outside," she offered.

  "You look fine. I have an assistant's jacket you can wear if you'd feel more comfortable. Now, tomorrow morning, okay?" he said seriously as she finished putting away the supplies. He caught a glimpse of a stuffed, furry ear in her bag before she quickly zipped it closed. "What has she got hidden in there?" he wondered as she turned around with a smile.

  "Thank you, Dr. Graham," she said sincerely. "I owe you so much."

  "Come back tomorrow," he said, "And you can repay me, Luna." He walked her to the door and watched her walk to the bench at the bus stop. She hesitated halfway there and turned to look back at his building. Her face lighted with a brilliant smile as she waved before turning back to continue her way.

  Sebastian waved to her at the bus stop on his way home. She seemed to be a very nice young lady that had run into some problems. He hoped he'd see her tomorrow.

  Chapter Three

  Parking his SUV at the side of his office building, Dr. Graham gathered a few things he'd brought in for his lunch and some extras for Luna if she appeared. There was a risk that she'd decide not to return when the pressure from the infection was relieved. It would come back, so she needed to finish her medicine.

  Walking to the back entrance, he stopped in his tracks to see plastic grocery store bags filled with weeds from his neglected landscaping. The bags were piled by the back wall and Luna was drawn into a tight ball with her arms and legs wrapped around her backpack. Her forehead rested on the top of the bag as she slept. The temperature overnight had hovered just over freezing. He looked at Luna's hand stuck into the opposite arms' wristband of her light-weight jacket to protect her fingers. It was not designed for cold weather wear. She wore a hand crocheted hat that was poorly stitched over her medium length red hair. Her knees were dirty from kneeling in the flowerbeds. She must have returned after he left to begin working in his gardens. By the look of the bags of weeds, she had worked hard for many hours.

  "Luna?" he asked baffled. "Didn't you go home, yesterday?"

  Her head shot off her knees with eyes filled with alarm. They calmed when she saw him. "Hi, Dr. Graham. I'm ready to get started this morning." She didn't understand why he made her feel so safe. He just did.

  "You didn't answer me, Luna. Did you go home, yesterday?" he asked probing.

  "Home is relative for me these days. I did a little work in your gardens until it got too dark. Then, I camped out here, so I'd be sure to make it back on time," she explained rolling her shoulders to work out the stiffness in her back. She stood up as he opened the door. "Is it okay for me to come in now or would you rather I wait until eight?"

  "Please come in. It's too cold out here. You have to be frozen," he ushered her inside and turned up the heat. "I'll start some coffee to warm you up." He watched her stamp her feet several times to help the blood flow to her extremities. In her homemade hat and her bedraggled clothing, she looked younger than he had guessed she was yesterday. He wrapped his arms around her pulling her inside his unzipped coat, so his body heat would help warm her quickly.

  "Oh, you don't need to do this for me. I'm plenty warm," she reassured him as she gritted her teeth together to keep them from rattling.

  "I think I've already warned you that there are consequences when you lie. I'd take down your pants to spank you, but that would just make you colder." He watched her face carefully to see how she reacted. Her face blushed red, and instantly her head dropped to a subservient position. He was not reading her wrong. He had battled himself last night trying to convince himself that she didn't fit the profile of a Little personality. Today, he knew his first impressions had been correct.

  "Come stand here on the heat vent. I'll be right back," he instructed firmly. Starting the coffee pot and stowing the lunches he'd made in the small fridge, turned on the lights and computers in the office before returning to find her standing exactly in the spot he'd left her. "Let's get some coffee, Luna. Follow me." He started back to the employee break room.

  "Can I use your bathroom? I'll be careful not to leave a mess," she said in a rush. She crossed her legs desperately. She had considered running to the restroom earlier, but she didn't want to violate his instructions. She wanted him to be pleased with her. Thank goodness, she hadn't wet her pants.

  "Of course. You don't need to ask, Luna. It's the first door on the right," he watched her hips sway slightly as she walked down the hall. He noticed that she took her backpack with her

  Five minutes later, she found him in the break room. Her face was shiny clean, and her hair was neatly brushed. The hat had disappeared into her backpack along with her stained clothes. She was wearing another pair of jeans and a tee shirt, but they were clean. Her hands fidgeted slightly, and he noticed that she had cleaned the green stains carefully from her fingers.

  "Sit down, Luna. I need you to tell me a little about you. First, what's your full name?" he asked being very business-like.

  "Luna Marie Anderson. I'm twenty-five years old. I don't do drugs or drink. I've been homeless for a year – personal problems," she recited automatically. Everyone always needed to know the same information. She'd tried everywhere to get help or shelter. The resources were thinly stretched. Someone always needed the help more.

  "Okay. What personal problems led to you being homeless?" he probed.

  "Do I have to tell you?" she asked nervously as she looked at the floor. She didn't know how he would react to her story. Many people judged her harshly believing that she should have realized that the lifestyle was a long-term one.

  "Yes," he replied simply. He observed her body language realizing that she was battling whether to tell him the real story. He added after a long pause when she hadn't begun talking, "Tell me the truth, Luna." Almost immediately, Sebastian saw her shoulder relax from their tense position up around her ears. She began talking.

  "I lived with the wrong guy. All our possessions were seized when he was arrested for embezzling. Since I couldn't prove that I purchased all my stuff, I was only allowed to leave with a few things. The publicity was bad. I lost my scholarship at the university and had to drop out. A friend gave me money to buy a bus ticket out of town when the company employees laid off due to the financial strain began to take out their anger on me." She shrugged. "It was only a few bruises, but he was afraid it would get worse. By that point, I was living on the streets. I was ready for a change, so I came here." Her voice was steady. He could tell she was telling the truth. "Would you like me to leave?" she asked raising her green eyes to meet his dark brown ones, sad anticipation of his goodbye reflected on her face.

  "No," he said simply. He stood and poured her some coffee to give himself enough time to think. He believed her. Thank goodness for the friend who had sent her out of her hometown. He made a mental note to find out who that was and repay his kindness in some way. He handed her the cup and asked, "Have you eaten breakfast?"

  "No,
" she answered just as simply looking at him as if he was amazing. She tried to school her features to disguise how much it meant to know that he still trusted her. She memorized him as he stood in front of her. His cream-colored, buttoned-down shirt made his light brown eyes look like caramel. He was tall and muscular moving with the grace of a natural athlete. His face was handsome. Not cute like a young man but chiseled with a few laugh lines around his eyes and mouth. She had tried to convince herself that he was not as wonderful as she thought last night as she weeded the garden and huddled against the building after dark. She didn't understand this attraction she felt toward him.

  "I'm going to have to get some more nutritious food in here," he laughed handing her a granola bar. He was aware that internally, she was thinking very hard. He couldn’t read her mind, yet. "Eat. Take your medicine and brush your teeth. I'll meet you at the reception desk in ten minutes." He poured himself some coffee and walked to his office aware that her eyes tracked him to his door. He tried to tell himself that he was making a big mistake. He shook his head slowly. He didn't have a choice. He was going to help her no matter what.

  Chapter Four

  Eating half the granola bar and tucking the remainder into her bag, she took her medicine savoring the piping-hot, aromatic coffee. She'd missed good, hot coffee the most. She quickly drank the cup before brushing her teeth at the sink. She joined Dr. Graham at the desk and took careful notes as he ran through the phone computer systems. She was feeling overwhelmed when the back door opened admitting an older woman in scrubs.

  "Good morning, Alice. Come meet Luna," he greeted the newly arrived hygienist. "Luna will be filling in at the desk for a while. She's new to this so any help you can give her would be appreciated."

  "Of course, Dr. Graham. Glad to meet you, Luna. You'll love working here. We're a friendly bunch," she said warmly. Scanning the tall redhead's clothing, she suggested, "The lobby gets a little chilly when the door opens so often. Wear my extra jacket. It will be big, but it will keep you warm," she suggested helping the taller woman into the jacket.

  Just then, the phone rang. Dr. Graham and Alice looked at Luna. Squaring her shoulders, she answered the phone, "Dr. Graham's dental office. This is Luna. How may I help you?" She began looking through the schedule to find an opening on the next day. "There's an appointment tomorrow at nine. Would you be able to come in then? Wonderful, help me with the spelling of your name, and I'll reserve that appointment for you." She adeptly entered the name and saw a file pop up denoting that she was a regular patient. "My pleasure. I'll look forward to meeting you tomorrow as well," she replied honestly to the friendly woman who had called. She looked up to see Dr. Graham and Alice looking at her with smiles.

  "You're going to fit in here well, Luna," the doctor said as he shrugged on his pressed, white coat. "Ask if you have any problems," he instructed as he wandered back to his office. He needed to put a little space between him and the intriguing young woman. Otherwise, he was never going to be able to concentrate on his patients.

  The morning flew passed as Dr. Graham's patients streamed in for treatment. She had several questions to ask as she tried to negotiate the phone and computer. After the first hour, she began to rub her jaw unconsciously as the pain grew from talking and holding the phone to her ear bumping that sore area. A large hand with two white tablets appeared in her line of vision.

  "Take these, Luna. They're simply over the counter meds that will help that jaw pain," Dr. Graham insisted watching that she took the medicine with the cup of water he provided. "That should help. If it doesn't, let me know." With a last serious look, he strode back to the next waiting patient. He enjoyed her automatic compliance with his directions. She trusted him. Sebastian couldn't even pretend anymore that she was not becoming more important to him.

  At the lunch break, the dentist, Alice, and Luna gathered back in the employee lounge. Dr. Graham insisted that Luna share his lunch. She tried to decline to show him that she had the other half of the granola bar to eat. "I don't usually need very much to eat," she said trying to convince him as her mouth watered at the sight of Alice's homemade chicken noodle soup and Dr. Graham's thick sandwich. When her stomach growled at the delicious aromas filling the room, Luna turned red and stood quickly. "I'm trying to figure out something on the computer. I'll go work on it now while there aren't any patients."

  "Sit down, Luna." Dr. Graham's voice brooked no argument. He waited until she sat down before continuing. "All employees are required to take a lunch break. I'll work with you in a little bit to help you navigate whatever is troubling you." He put a half a sandwich in front of her and an apple. Alice added a couple of homemade chocolate chip cookies from a tin on the table.

  "There are always cookies in this tin, Luna. Help yourself to a treat whenever you wish. I love to make cookies. Dr. Graham is a health nut that doesn't eat too many, but I like to tempt him," Alice winked at Luna.

  Luna took a bite of the fantastic sandwich. The roast beef was medium rare and spiced with horseradish mustard. The bread was soft and fresh. She moaned at the taste. Luna missed Alice and Sebastian's exchanged look of concern.

  Chapter Five

  Sebastian kept an eye on Luna all day. She worked hard and caught on quickly. He appreciated that she asked questions when she needed to, and problem solved when she could. There was something special that drew him to her. He'd felt it the first time he'd seen her, and it kept growing with every minute she was in his life. Professional to the core, he'd sworn an oath to himself that he wouldn't ever mingle business and pleasure. Already, he was having trouble remembering that around Luna. Her soul-deep moan while eating a simple sandwich had gone right to his groin. His first response had been that he wanted to see if he could make her feel that way during some other activity.

  If he wasn't wrong, she was attracted to him as well. He'd turned around slightly after reaching down in a cabinet for a special supply tray and caught her eyes focused on his butt. She hadn't seen him notice, but Alice had laughed at the smile on his face. Alice saw everything. She leaned toward him when they talked, and her face often reddened when she did realize that she had been caught looking at him.

  "That Little girl could use a Daddy," Alice whispered to him just before she left for the day. She was aware that Sebastian had been looking for a Little girl for a long time. The mother of several children, she was a master at reading people. Alice was legendary for being right in her observations of people. Old – young, it didn't matter. If you wanted a read on people, Alice knew them.

  "And how do you know she's a Little?" he asked smirking. He'd worked with Alice too long to argue. Besides, he had the same feeling.

  "You can trust my instincts. Talk to her," she suggested with a knowing smile.

  "Night, Alice. See you tomorrow!" he waved off her suggestion. Turning to look at the reception area, he watched Luna accept the payment from the last patient and send them to their car with a smile. All his patients had reacted favorably to Luna. Poor Mrs. Jacobs, who had to come back two days in a row, had sung her praises.

  "That Ashley from yesterday was just unpleasant! You keep a hold of Luna. She's a keeper," the eighty-year-old advised with a pat on his arm.

  "Indeed," he thought to himself. "She's a keeper."

  Chapter Six

  Luna watched Dr. Graham lock the front door to the office. She'd heard Alice leave earlier. She straightened up her desk and powered off the computer. Standing, she bent her head to look up at his face. She was tall but still had to look up at him. "Did you find a professional to come take over tomorrow?" she asked with a smile.

  "I did find a professional to work tomorrow. She was here all day. If I replace her, Mrs. Jacobs will skin me alive," Sebastian moved closer to Luna. He deliberately trapped her between his body and the desk. He watched her closely to gauge her reaction. He was pleased to see her eyes widen as heat flared in her eyes.

  "Oh, I was just helping out," Luna stammered nervously. She could
smell his manly scent. He didn't wear cologne. He just smelled like a warm, healthy male.

  "I would like you to work for me full-time, Luna. At least fill in for my regular receptionist while she's on maternity leave. Then, we'll talk. I need to expand my staff. My practice is too big for just three people to handle all the work. You'll keep working to help me out, won't you?" he asked holding her eyes captive. He was not going to lose her. Already she was too important.

  She nodded mesmerized. Catching herself, she said quickly, "It's the least I could do. You're fixing my tooth."

  "I need to check on that tooth, Luna," he said smoothly leaning in to press his mouth to hers. He loved the feel of her firm lips under his. Sebastian felt her lips part as she sighed into his mouth. His tongue swept in to taste her sweetness. Only when he heard her faint gasp of pain did he raise his head. "I'm sorry, Luna. I didn't know your mouth was still hurting. Did you take any more painkillers?"

  When she shook her head, "no." Sebastian took her hand and led her into the break room. Handing her a cup of water and a couple of tablets, he watched her carefully to see that she swallowed the medicine. "You're coming home with me, Luna. I won't ask you for anything that makes you uncomfortable. I don't want you in the cold. I have a guest room with a double bed. A hot shower and a warm meal would probably be appealing to you after working all day." When her eyes lit with interest and longing, he continued, "Get your backpack and let's close the office."