Chapter Two Gavin
Chapter Two
Gavin
There was only one thing to do when the most gorgeous woman I’d ever seen in my life turned down my offer and walked out of my condo. That was to pour myself a scotch and immediately bring it to my lips, staring at the last spot where I’d seen her, swallowing until the glass was empty.
Emily, I don’t know who the hell you are aside from the woman who just rescued my son . . . but damn, girl, you’re fucking beautiful.
The entire time she was helping Ben, I couldn’t take my eyes off her. The gentleness she used with him, the patience. The stuffed dog that was aimed to distract him. How she showed him everything she was going to do before she did it so she wouldn’t scare him off.
And that smile, shit. I couldn’t get enough.
I glanced away from the wall that she’d disappeared behind and looked at the ceiling, knowing I needed to get my ass upstairs and deal with Ben, addressing the drama he’d stirred up tonight.
That boy had scared me half to death when he came down from his room, screaming and panicked that he couldn’t get that goddamn thing out of his nose.
And when I’d tried to remove it, more shouting erupted.
If Dr. Kaplan hadn’t sent Emily over, we would have been at the ER for probably most of the night.
But even though it had only taken a phone call and Ben’s issue was solved, that wouldn’t always be the case, and Ben needed to understand that.
He needed to know that just because I had every resource at my fingertips didn’t mean there weren’t consequences.
That was the talk I was about to have with him as I stepped away from my wet bar to head upstairs. I didn’t make it more than a few paces before I heard the elevator, the low-pitched ding that went off when it arrived, the sweeping of the door as it opened.
I halted by the edge of the couch, listening to the sound of rubber soles move across my wooden floors, and when they silenced, Emily was peeking around the wall that divided the living room and foyer. “I hope it’s okay that I came back?”
“Did you forget something?”
She leaned her shoulder against the edge. “No. I got a text from Dr. Kaplan’s office that I’m no longer on duty.” Her smile was soft yet charming as hell. “I thought I’d take you up on that drink.” She paused. “As long as you still want one.”
Having a drink with her was all I wanted.
Fuck, that wasn’t true.
But a drink was a solid place to start.
“Make yourself comfortable. I’m going to go check on Ben. I’ll be right back.”
“Hold on.” Even though she was looking at me, I got the feeling she was taking in the entire space around me. “Ben’s mom or someone who isn’t Ben’s mom isn’t going to be upset that I’m joining you for a drink . . . are they?”
A fair question.
And a question I’d never been asked by any other woman.
“You have nothing to worry about, Emily.”
She nodded. “Okay.”
While she made her way to the couch, I went to the stairs, taking them two at a time until I reached the top.
Ben’s room was the second door in the hallway.
Although his light was on, he was in bed, tucked under the covers, sound asleep, cuddling his stuffed hockey stick that Uncle J had gotten him a few years ago.
Something he not only slept with every night, but it traveled with us too.
I pulled the blanket up to his neck and kissed his forehead, keeping my lips there for a few extra seconds to breathe him in.
I knew this wouldn’t be the last time he would scare me half to death. My son was an athlete. He had hundreds of games ahead of him. Situations where he could break all his bones. But tonight could have been avoided, and in the morning, I’d make that clear.
“Good night, my boy,” I whispered before turning off his light and returning to the staircase, the angle in which it was built giving me a direct view of Emily.
Fuck me, she was perfect.
Dressed in light-pink nursing scrubs, the top tucked in so the material hugged her tits and waist, jetting out toward her hips and rounded to her ass—curves that were exceptional.
That were just right.
That were everything I craved.
Her eyes were a piercing blue, and she had a cute splatter of freckles under her eyes and across her nose, pouty lips, with long blond hair she wore high on her head.
The total package—one hell of a face with a body that fucking rocked.
A body I wouldn’t mind devouring.
“Is he okay?”
She caught me staring as I reached the bottom step, and I headed for the bar. “He’s sleeping.”
She looked at her watch. “It’s late. Besides, tonight was probably a bit traumatic for him.”
“Tonight is going to be the main topic of conversation when I talk to him in the morning.”
She smiled knowingly. “I don’t doubt that.”
I stilled at the bar, my hand on the bottle I’d been drinking from earlier. “What can I get you to drink?”
“Anything. I’m really not fussy.”
I held the bottle in the air. “Scotch?”
“Sounds delicious.”
I refilled my glass and poured one for her and brought it to the couch, handing it to her before I took a seat one cushion away.
She held the rim to her mouth. “This isn’t how I expected tonight to end.”
“This isn’t the end, Emily.” I reached across the space between us and clinked my glass to hers. “This is only the beginning.”
Her cheeks flushed as she took a sip.
“Question.” I had to force myself to focus only on her face because everything below her chin was just as fucking enticing as everything above it. “How did you know it was me? You called me by name when the elevator opened. We’ve never met . . .”
“I saw you at the arena at a Boston Bears game. Your grandmother actually gave Maya and me the tickets to go. You and Jordan walked onto the ice and handed over a check to a charity.” She ran her palm over the top of her forehead. “An evening I’ll never forget for several reasons.”
“I believe I know the one you’re talking about. That was the game when Maya realized who Jordan was, am I right?”
Her hand left, and her brows lifted. “Jordan told you the whole story?”
“Oh yes.” I chuckled. “Bettie too.”
She smiled, and it was better than art. Hell, it was better than a fucking touchdown.
“You have the best grandmother, by the way.” She tucked her legs underneath her and positioned herself to face me more. “I’m dying for her to get out of rehab so Maya and I can take her out.”
“You’re going to . . . take her out?”
“Are you kidding, she’s going to be a blast.”
She was good with kids, and she liked hanging out with an older generation.
Emily was getting more interesting by the second.
“Let me get this straight. You work at the rehab center, I’m assuming during the day. And you work for Dr. Kaplan at night?”
“Just a couple nights a week, but yes.”
I took a drink. “Two jobs. That’s tough.”
“For the most part, it’s easy. The nights, anyway.
I’m on call for about four to five hours.
I don’t always end up visiting the patient.
Sometimes I can speak to the patient’s parents and get things worked out over the phone.
” She smiled even larger. “But sometimes, like tonight, it’s unavoidable, and I end up at their home. ”
And I wasn’t mad about it.
When it came to what Ben did—yes. But having her here—no.
“Still, that’s a lot of hours each week.”
“Unfortunately, it’s necessary. This city is completely outrageous.
The amount of money I pay in rent, and still have three roommates and we all have to share a bathroom—it should be illegal.
” She glanced around the living room like she was in awe.
“You know, problems that fit into the normal-people category.”
“As opposed to?”
“Your category.”
“Which is?”
“Not even close to normal.” Her hand went out.
“What I mean is, you’re a retired NFL player and an executive at Worthington Enterprises.
I can’t imagine your pay stub has the same amount of numbers as mine.
Or your bank account.” She bit her lip as her gaze returned to me.
“Maya filled me in on what you guys do and everything you own. You’re quite a badass, Mr. Worthington. ”
With Maya being her best friend, I wasn’t surprised Emily was well versed in the Worthington family.
I also had a feeling she knew more than almost all the women I’d slept with.
“For the record, I’ve shared a bathroom before.”
She laughed. “Yeah?”
“One with Jordan while we were growing up. Another in college when I lived in the dorms my first two years. And the final when I moved off campus and shared a house with some of my teammates.”
She shook her head like she was recovering from a joke I’d just told. “You’re cute.”
“Tell me more, Emily.” My eyes narrowed as I focused on her lips.
“You’re cute because you’re trying to compare what your life was like back then to what I’m experiencing now. Do you know what’s not cute? Being thirty-one and having to wait to pee when you first wake up since one of your roommates is taking a shower.”
I huffed out a mouthful of air. “Damn.”
“I know. But it’s fine. I’m saving and dreaming about when I’ll be able to get my own place.
In the meantime, aside from the bathroom situation, I’m honestly having the best time.
I love both of my jobs, so I don’t mind working so much.
The rehab center is a much different speed than a hospital, and I appreciate the level of calmness, and my part-time gig with Dr. Kaplan puts me in the pediatric sector, and I love that more than anything. ”
“Is orthopedics—I figure that’s the main focus at a rehab center—what you concentrated on in school?”
A swell of emotion came over her face before her expression turned stoic. “No.”
“And that was?”
“Pediatrics.” Her eyes may have changed, but the softness in her tone was telling me the emotion was still there.
“I can see why. You were so good with Ben.” I traced the edge of the glass with my thumb. “Did you ever work in a hospital?”