15. An Accidental Kiss
15
An Accidental Kiss
Why did the nurse need a red crayon? To draw blood.
Natalie
The hot water of my shower felt insanely good.
It was still late summer and scorching outside, but the hot shower was exactly what I needed after a long shift. My muscles ached from running around the ER for the last twelve hours. I’d lifted patients, pushed carts, and hauled linens all night. I was exhausted, but my day was not done yet.
It was time for me to go to my second job.
I crawled out of the shower, sipping on the coffee I’d left by the sink. It was a good thing caffeine still worked on me. If it ever stopped, I’d probably die. I put on comfortable shorts and a t-shirt and headed across the hallway.
I knocked and opened the door, stepping inside to see three faces light up at seeing me. That was better than coffee any day of the week.
“Bahhhh,” said Penelope. She didn’t bother leaving her recliner. She wouldn’t move until my aunt came to get her, then she would gleefully hop off and follow my aunt upstairs to her garden heaven.
“Arghlsyehs,” cooed Ellie. I wasn’t sure she could actually see me, but I appreciated the greeting anyway.
“Good morning.” It was the deep voice that had my heart fluttering and my smile brightening, though. Dylan grinned at me, his brown eyes warm and looking at only me.
“Hi.” I didn’t mean for it to come out as a squeak, but it did. I was definitely good at this flirting thing. I cleared my throat. “How’d your night go?”
“We slept for a grand total of six hours,” he replied. “Unfortunately, not sequentially. She should take a nice nap for you since I haven’t fed her yet. How about you?”
I reached out and took the baby from him, settling her into my arms as she gurgled and cooed. “Just a night in the ER.”
“I just made fresh coffee in the pot, and there’s whiskey above the sink,” he told me with a wink. “I won’t even tell your boss.”
I chuckled, watching as he gathered his things to head to practice. It was hard not to admire him as he moved. He was a professional athlete, after all, and he had the smooth movement and muscle to prove it. Plus, it didn’t help that he was wearing a pair of dress slacks that accentuated his very muscular ass and a dress shirt that did not hide his broad shoulders or well-muscled arms.
The man was definitely nice to look at.
“What kind of practice do you have today?” I asked, trying to keep my mind from going into the gutter. Admiring was one thing, fantasizing was something I firmly needed to stay away from.
“It’s light pads today,” he replied, slinging a gym bag over his shoulder. “I’m still on medical leave, but I’ll be expected to play. You want me to bring home dinner tonight?”
I grinned. If he kept feeding me dinners, he was going to absolutely win my heart. “Yes, please. Spaghetti can wait.”
His eyes crinkled with an answering smile as he crossed the room to where I still stood by the door. He kissed my cheek and headed out the front door to go to work.
I didn’t even register it until the door closed.
He’d kissed my cheek.
My skin went hot and my heart hammered in my chest. I could feel the spot on my cheek where his lips had touched me.
“It didn’t mean anything,” I told Ellie, looking down at the baby in my arms. She had no idea what had just happened. “Your dad and I....”
I wasn’t sure how to complete that sentence. Her dad and I were not a thing. We were not dating. We had no plans to date. I didn’t date men like him and I was sure that he didn’t date nobodies like me.
Yet, I really liked the way his kiss felt on my cheek. I really liked the way his eyes lit up when he smiled at me. I really liked that he made sure there was always fresh coffee and clean blankets on the couch. He’d bought two different kinds of creamer because I’d casually mentioned I liked the vanilla and the caramel kinds at work. Fresh strawberries had randomly appeared in the fridge yesterday with a note to enjoy them.
A girl could get used to a life like this.
But was this what I wanted?
I wasn’t ready to be a mother yet. I wasn’t ready to parent or raise a child. I watched Ellie because she was a baby and it was easy, plus she was absolutely adorable.
And Dylan? That man was made to play the field. He was swoon-worthy and had dated models and cheerleaders. Besides, I hated football, right? How could I date someone in a sport that I didn’t like.
“Blgrh,” Ellie informed me.
I sighed. “You’re right, kiddo. Blergh. I don’t know what to do with that. So how about some breakfast instead? We can eat our feelings.”
“Blfgh adjd,” Ellie intelligently replied. She was right.
I went to the kitchen, my cheek still warm with the memory of his kiss. I was sure he hadn’t meant anything by it. He’d probably been meaning to kiss the baby and had been busy thinking about practice and all the fancy run plays he needed to do today. Yup, that was it. He’d meant that kiss for Ellie. He probably didn’t even realize that he’d done it.
“What would we even look like together?” I said out loud, not really talking to Ellie, but needing to talk to someone. “He’s a famous football player. I’m just a random nurse. I’ve seen those reality TV shows where they have the wives of famous athletes.” I shuddered just thinking about some of the women on those shows. “I’m just not sure it’s even possible.”
Ellie did not have anything to say in her father’s defense.
“But he’s super sweet,” I continued, making a bottle with the machine. “And he’s really good with you.”
Ellie gurgled her approval.
“But...” I sighed, heading over to the couch to feed Ellie. We sat with a soft thump. “Maybe I’m just tired. Maybe I’m not ready for a relationship. Maybe I’m not ready to be in a parental role.”
Ellie squeaked indigently.
“Oh, right.” I gave her the bottle. “See? Not great parenting skills. Also, me complaining to a three-month-old about my grownup problems? Also not appropriate.”
I sighed.
My cheek still felt warm. Just thinking about him made my chest flutter and my stomach tighten in the most delicious way.
I wanted him to kiss me again. I closed my eyes, imagining if he came home right now. The way he would walk through the room like he owned it (because he did) and lean over the couch, his strong arms framing me in on either side before he slid one hand behind my head to pull me into a kiss. My breath came fast just thinking about it.
The front door opened and I stood up so quickly that Ellie nearly lost her bottle.
“Dylan....” I gasped, hoping, praying that he was back because of that kiss. That I had somehow summoned him with my fantasy.
“Nope, just your aunt,” Aunt Marnie announced. “I’m here to get my goat. Dylan gave me keys to make it easier this week.”
“Oh. Right.” I cleared my throat, hoping that my cheeks weren’t bright red. I felt like I had a neon sign over my head pointing down and proclaiming that I had dirty thoughts going on about Dylan. It did not help that his daughter was still in my arms.
I was not proud of myself.
Penelope jumped from her recliner, cleared the baby gate effortlessly, and happily bleated as she hurried to Aunt Marnie.
“There’s my good girl,” Aunt Marnie cooed, hooking a leash to the goat’s collar. I realized now that it was bright pink and had her name on it. I’d seen him ordering it online a few days ago. Yet another reason to like Dylan. He took care of his things.
“How is the garden going?” I asked, ensuring Ellie was still enjoying her bottle in my arms. She didn’t seem to mind that I had jumped up from the couch like I’d been on fire. She just chugged happily away at her bottle.
“Fabulous,” Aunt Marnie replied with a beaming smile. She had my mother’s eyes but a different smile. The same hair, but my mother never would have worn it as short as Aunt Marnie did. She reminded me of my mom, but not at the same time. “Penelope and I are fast friends.”
“I know you said you only needed her for a couple of weeks, but if you’re interested in adopting her...” I trailed off. Penelope wasn’t really mine to give away, yet I didn’t think Dylan had plans to keep her. Technically, she still wasn’t allowed in the building. It wouldn’t be long before the front desk noticed and Dylan got in trouble for her. Besides, this was not the best place for a goat.
“I love her, but once I plant the mums, she can’t be up there. She’ll eat them all. Plus, I will be leaving for Paris in three weeks.” Aunt Marnie patted the goat fondly on her head. “I’m afraid I can’t take her forever, even if I wanted to.”
“Of course.” I forced a smile. “Thank you for taking her now.”
“Of course, dear.” Aunt Marnie turned her fond smile to me. “Oh, I meant to tell you that the lake house is available this weekend.”
I stared blankly at her.
“Did I not tell you?” She laughed, shaking her head. “The updates are all done. I had them put in that new outdoor shower I saw at Beth’s place. The dock is fixed, but the kayaks are still leaky from last year. I won’t get to use it for the next month or so, but you are always welcome to it. You know where everything is and you always take such good care of it.”
“Thank you,” I replied. “I don’t know if I have any time off soon, but you know I love it out there. Thanks.”
“You are my favorite niece,” she informed me. “You might as well enjoy the perks.”
“I’m also your only niece,” I gave her my standard reply.
“Which makes you the best,” she agreed. Penelope pulled on the rope and I had to reach over and pull an unused diaper out of her mouth. Ellie giggled when it went by her head, reaching out a chubby fist that made Aunt Marnie smile again. “I’ll leave you to the little one.”
She clucked at Penelope who happily left the stack of diapers and pranced alongside my aunt as they headed out the door and up to her garden.
I settled back on the couch. The room was quiet except for the gentle sucking noise of the bottle, but Ellie’s eyes were glazing over. She was almost done with the bottle and would be asleep soon. Just like me. Weariness tugged on my body, weighing me down and making it hard to untangle my thoughts about Dylan, Penelope, and Ellie.
Just sleep for a little bit , I told myself. Maybe it will all make sense when you wake up .
I thought of Dylan’s accidental kiss again.
Or maybe I’d have a really nice dream to make it even more confusing.