16. Can Handle That
CAN HANDLE THAT
“You didn’t need to buy anything,” Gabriela said as he drove back to her parents’ house.
“I really liked that vase,” he said. “But it’s not for me. My mother’s birthday is in a few weeks. I’ll see them next week and give it to her. I get to be the hero.”
That caught her off guard. “You’re going home for Thanksgiving?”
“No. My parents are coming here. I didn’t want to deal with airports or travel. They arrive Tuesday and are staying until the following Monday. Actually, they are staying with me until Friday morning, then the weekend in Boston.”
“That’s great. I’m glad you’re not alone. I thought I had to work, but it turns out if the office hours are actually off, on holidays during the week like that, we only have to do the morning and night rounds in the hospital.”
“That was explained to me when I was hired.”
“Guess I missed that part when I took the job,” she said drily.
She’d thought about asking him to join her family for Thanksgiving, but decided to wait and see how tonight went first.
It went well. Better than she expected. Except no one else believed she and Luca were only friends.
It didn’t matter how many times she insisted. The sly looks, the raised eyebrows, the knowing smirks. They all said the same thing: yeah, right. She’s lying.
She just shrugged inside. Let them think what they wanted. She knew the truth, and for now, that was enough.
They pulled into her parents’ driveway, and she got out of the car, hoping he’d at least walk her to the door. Since the porch light was on, no one was here yet.
Though she knew that since her parents were still mingling when she and Luca snuck out.
She fished around for the key in her purse, glanced up and saw him watching her. “So… you survived, right?”
He laughed. “Barely. Your family is formidable, but I don’t have any scratches on me.” He did a slow spin. “Any marks on this new suit?”
She brushed his shoulders, just an excuse to touch him. “Only that tiny one right there. Tell me honestly, how did I do as a tour guide?”
“Oh, you mean when you stayed by my side and didn’t take off alone?”
“Very funny. There were no rules saying I had to be your shadow.”
Not that she wouldn’t have minded it. Only that would have gotten more people talking than they already were.
“Well then. You weren’t quite flawless, but close,” he said, smiling. “And the family? They’re… a lot. But you warned me, so you get some extra points for that.”
“I’m all about earning those points. And you made it through without crying or sneaking out the back. Not even nervously stuffing cocktail napkins in your pockets,” she teased.
His shoulders went back stretching or maybe it was him wanting to get out of his suit. She knew she was dying to kick off these heels.
He stuck his hands in the pockets of his jacket, then pulled them inside out. “Not a single one. I consider that a moral victory, don’t you?”
“You did well,” she said, her hand patting his arm. Talk about nervousness. If she didn’t know better, she’d like to steal his shirt... right off of him. “Better than I expected. The Bond family can be a lot.”
He met her gaze. “Thanks. That actually means a lot.”
“Don’t get soft on me,” she said, grinning. “We still have fries to steal and sarcastic commentary to deliver. Of course I’m back to work in two days and your parents will be here, then back to work for you, so you know, we’ll both be itching for it by time your rotation is done.”
“I can handle that,” he said, his smile warm. “As long as you’re there to guide me through it all.”
Her heart fluttered. She wasn’t sure if he was joking or not. “I’ll guide. Just don’t steal the snacks.”
It felt safer ending that way.
For so many years, she hadn’t played it safe with men.
She put it all out there for them to know who she was and what they might be getting.
She was doing the same with Luca, but for once she feared turning him off.
Odd if he was just supposed to be a friend.
“How about we share those snacks,” he said. “And it’s cold out here.”
“What gave it away?” she asked, blowing her hair out of her face that the wind sent covering her eyes.
He reached up and tucked a strand behind her ear. Her breath caught. She couldn’t help herself.
Then his finger slowly drew down the side of her face, tracing her features.
It dropped away way too fast for her liking.
“Something like that. Could be the chattering of your teeth. Have a good night.”
“You too,” she said, holding her smile, then watching him walk down the stairs. No quirky witty replies came fast to her brain this time.
Keeping it funny and easy didn’t seem to work when he did tender moves like that.
He turned when he got to his car. “I’m not pulling away until you go in. I hope you aren’t going to turn this into a battle of who outlasts the other tonight?”
“I’m going, I’m going,” she said. “I’m sure we’ll talk soon.”
Because she’d reach out tomorrow or Monday. She didn’t like the idea that she wouldn’t see him again for over ten days.
Crazy if they were just supposed to be friends, right?
When she came downstairs twenty minutes later in leggings, fuzzy socks and a sweatshirt, the door to the garage was opening and her parents were walking in.
“You didn’t waste any time changing,” her mother said.
“I’m lucky I lasted as long as I did in those heels.”
The sacrifices she made for fashion. Give her sneakers any day of the week.
Hell, half the time she wore them to work now with a dress or pants. It was the style, and comfort was more important to her.
“I didn’t think you’d stay as long as you had,” her father said, loosening his tie. “Unless it was because Luca was going to buy that vase.”
“I didn’t know he was,” she said. “He said it’s for his mother’s birthday. Guess they are coming to see him on Tuesday and staying for a week.”
“That’s nice,” her mother said, kicking off her heels and stretching her toes on the floor. “I was going to suggest inviting him for Thanksgiving if he was around.”
“I thought of it too,” she said. “But no need now.”
“I liked him,” her father admitted, pulling his tie off completely.
“We’re going to change,” her mother said. “Why don’t you make some coffee for the two of us, and we can chat?”
“Oh boy. Let me guess. This is about ‘we are friends,’ right?”
Her father laughed. “I told your mother that. But the more you argue your point, the less she believes it.”
“I’ll make the coffee,” she said, heading for the kitchen. “Decaf for me. I want to sleep tonight.”
“You can do decaf for me too,” her mother called from the bedroom, and they disappeared behind the door.
Was she really protesting too much?
Maybe it was better to let it go, let everyone draw their own conclusions, and just enjoy the night for what it was.
She poured the coffee, the rich aroma filling the quiet kitchen. Her father leaned against the counter, arms crossed, watching her with a half-smile after beating her mother out of the room.
“So,” her father said, taking a sip of a cup he’d had. “Luca survived the night without running for the door?”
“Barely,” she said, laughing. “He handled it surprisingly well. You know how it can be. It’s a lot. All those new faces, the family and assumptions. He didn’t flinch. Or not that I could see.”
Gabriela had tried to watch for it too. She had to admit she was pretty impressed.
Her mother appeared in the doorway, hair tousled from changing, and grabbed her cup. “I noticed. And he actually laughed at the terrible jokes your dad hates when too many doctors get together in one room.”
“That’s impressive,” she crooned, raising her eyebrows. “Guess I missed that. Most men would been running for the hills.”
Her father snorted. “I like him. He was professional and polite, not that I expected any differently. And he seems genuinely kind. Again, with his profession and dealing with kids, he’d have to have some level of patience or be a kid himself.”
“I’ve seen a playfulness to him in and out of work.
I think it’s natural for sure.” She crossed her ankles in front of her, shifting her butt against the counter, smiling despite herself.
“He makes me laugh. I haven’t laughed like that in a while.
I mean, like not around another adult. He gets my sense of humor. ”
“Which few do,” her father said.
Her mother’s eyes softened. “That’s important. You need someone who can make you laugh.”
“Exactly,” her father added. “And someone you enjoy being around.”
She swirled her coffee in the cup carefully. This was getting out of hand.
“We’re just friends,” she mumbled, more to herself than them. “And I know, I’m protesting too much, so I’ll stop.”
“Just friends, huh?” her mother said, arching an eyebrow. “Sure, sure. But it doesn’t mean you can’t notice when someone’s good for you.”
Her father looked at her mother, nodded his head and then turned to her. It was like they’d rehearsed what they were going to say. “Pay attention, Gabriela. That’s all I’m saying.”
She forced a frown on her face as if they were getting on her nerves, but they thought she was kidding. She wasn’t though. Not really.
“I am. I really am. Now, if that is all for the night, I’m going to enjoy my coffee in my room and unwind.”
She marched past them, back up the stairs and hit the power on the remote. She didn’t really want to watch TV.
What she wanted to do was talk to Luca.
But what was she going to say to him?
She looked around her room, found her bunny slippers and couldn’t resist.
After slipping them on, she snapped a picture to send. Much better footwear now.
She put her back to her headboard and surfed the channels for anything to catch her attention.
The minute her phone went off, she picked it up and read: Joke or tease. Like real tease, cuz you know...part of a bunny outfit.
Oh, Lord. That hadn’t even crossed her mind. But now it was.
And now this could turn into some other teasing. One she’d been dying to try out but had been fearful of it with him.
He made the first move though. Might as well push a tiny bit more.
How much do you really like bunnies?
He was typing back, then his message appeared: More than might be good for me.
Her thumbs were flying over her keyboard: I might have to put more thought into this.
I’m not sure I can survive that.
Her body was heating. She put the coffee on the stand next to her bed so she didn’t spill it, then crossed her legs on the bed and searched for a Playboy Bunny costume, copied the picture, then did the same for a cuter costume but still sexy in its own right. Like girl next door sexy.
She typed back: I like the second better.
You’re killing me, Gabriela.
Holy cow. Was she not alone in her thoughts?
You didn’t answer me.
The bubbles were on her phone as he was typing. You know the second one is tempting, right?
Exactly why I like it, she typed back.
Maybe we think a lot more alike than we both realize.
Woohoo! Now they were getting somewhere. Great minds, she replied.
You started it, he replied. She heard her parents moving around downstairs and realized that this might get out of hand.
I should probably stop, she teased. Don’t want to be responsible for…any consequences.
Consequences? His reply came almost instantly. I like consequences.
Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, a rush of heat curling through her. Oh my God. She so wasn’t going to sleep tonight!
Careful, she typed slowly, I might take that as a challenge.
I like challenges too.
She set her phone down for a moment, letting the tension hang. Just a simple text exchange, but it had her heart racing, her body reacting, a playful shiver running down her spine.
And the thought that he was probably grinning on the other side made it infinitely worse.