Chapter 2 #2
“Thank you, Little girl, for allowing me to help.” Razor leaned inside to press a kiss on her forehead before fastening her seatbelt. He stepped back to close the door with a firm hand. She stared at him through the window as the small gesture of affection deflated her annoyance and frustration.
They were underway in seconds, following the path on Razor’s phone he’d laid on the dash. He handled the car with finesse through the Friday night traffic. The glare of the lights coming through the windshield blinded Honey. She swallowed hard.
I never would have made it home safely.
His hand wrapped around her thigh just above her knee. “You’re okay. Relax. Tell me about yourself. What do you do?”
“I’m an admin at a small supply company—utensils and service ware for restaurants.”
“Interesting. How many types of spatulas are there?” Razor asked, glancing at her.
“Two hundred and twelve,” Honey answered automatically.
“That’s a lot. What’s your favorite item on the supply list?”
“There are these industrial crocks that appear stone-like but are lightweight plastic. I love them.”
“I can tell. Have you worked for the firm for long?” Razor probed.
“I have. Since I got out of high school. Continuing as part-time when I was in college, when I dropped out of coursework after a couple of years, and they hired me full-time in the office.”
“Why did you stop your classes?”
“I took all the required courses everyone has to study. Everyone told me that would help me determine what I wanted to do, but it didn’t.
Nothing truly grabbed my interest, so I decided to take a break to figure it out.
” She was amazed at how easy it was to share information with him.
Finished trying to pretend she wasn’t struggling, Honey leaned forward to grab her sunglasses from the console. Putting them on, she sighed in relief.
“Do you like your job?”
“No. I hate it. The boss yells constantly. But I’m good at what I do, and my job is secure.” Despite all the stress the never-ending ruckus caused, she had a fairly good salary along with insurance.
“How long have you had multiple sclerosis?”
His casual tone made her turn to stare at him. “How did you guess I have MS?”
“I had some other guesses, but I had the most confidence in that ailment. You fit a lot of the most common statistics for those with MS—female, early thirties, muscle weakness, blurry vision, light sensitivity.”
“I didn’t know I was that identifiable.” The nachos churned inside her stomach at the thought that everyone knew. She couldn’t believe her worst nightmare had come true. Honey never wanted those around her treating her like she was an illness rather than a person.
“You’re not. Remember, I’m a doctor. I’m supposed to put mysterious symptoms together and figure things out. You’re just as observant.”
That made her stop and think. “Because I guessed you were a Daddy? You’ve got a pretty big clue on your,” she hesitated a moment before using the term he’d taught her, “cut.”
“You’re right.”
She waited to see if he would follow up on her question, but Razor simply concentrated on the drive. His hand remained wrapped around her thigh, comforting her. Finally, she had to ask.
“Do you feel sorry for me?” Honey stared into the traffic ahead of them, not wishing to see pity on his face.
“The only thing I regret is that we didn’t meet sooner.”
“So you could be my doctor?” She shifted to see his reaction.
“Definitely not. That would be a conflict of interest. Do you not trust your physician?” He asked, glancing at her with a curious expression.
“Yes. More than that, I like her. She’s very compassionate and always tries to help.”
“Then, I like her too.”
Again, Honey hesitated, waiting to hear if he’d continue with more questions. Razor didn’t. He focused on the road. The silence could have felt stiff and uncomfortable, but it didn’t. Razor relaxed completely in the driver’s seat as he navigated through the rushing cars.
“What do you like to do?” he asked after making a right-hand turn.
“I love to read, watch movies, and devour popcorn,” she confessed.
“There’s a new animated movie at the theatre near your house. Would you be interested in going with me tomorrow?”
“Are you asking me out?”
“Yes. You sound surprised. I’m looking forward to spending more time with you.”
“But I have MS.”
“Okay. I have a hairy butt. Does that turn you off?”
A snort escaped her lips at his completely random personal detail. She giggled, only stopping when she caught sight of his serious expression. “You’re kidding, right? A hairy butt and MS don’t compare for reasons to avoid getting involved with someone.”
“Both are permanent. I don’t plan on getting my ass waxed. Don’t worry. It’s not long enough to braid or anything.”
A mental image of Razor with his hairy butt sticking up for an esthetician to slather hot wax over popped into her mind. She stared at him for a couple of seconds before exploding with delighted laughter. He joined her this time with deep chuckles that somehow aroused her.
Honey realized he was making a point. They each came with pluses and minuses. Her MS didn’t scare him.
“I don’t care if you have a hairy bottom,” she told him.
“Thank goodness. I don’t care if you have MS.”
He couldn’t truly feel like this—really understand what her present and future held. “Razor, you don’t need to say that to be nice. We just met. The reality of my disease impacts my life in so many ways. I’m not normal,” she explained as he entered her street.
Razor remained quiet until he pulled into her driveway.
He put the car in park and turned off the engine.
Her heart sank as he stepped out of the door and circled the car to open hers.
Silently, he leaned in to unbuckle her seatbelt.
His lips brushed against her forehead, reassuring her. Was that intentional?
“Oh!” she gasped as he slid his arms around her and lifted her from the seat.
As she clung to his broad shoulders, Razor closed the passenger door with a bump of one hip.
He set her on the hood of her car, stepping between her legs to tether her securely in place.
She didn’t question his dominance. It quieted the voice inside that told her he couldn’t be real.
“I refuse to be offended that you think so little of me to imagine I’d pursue you without considering the future.
As a doctor, Little girl, I’m aware of the worst-case scenario.
I also know they are making great progress in research and creating new medicines.
How about if you take me for what I’d like to be for you? A Daddy who doesn’t run from anything.”
“You’re kind of a badass,” she whispered, smiling at him.
“Exactly. A hairy badass.” Razor leaned forward to kiss her thoroughly. She clung to him as sensual feelings she had thought might be dead inside her swirled to life. When he lifted his head, Honey couldn’t believe the precious gift he’d given her.
Hope.