14. April
I’d been holed up in yet another magnificent five-star hotel all day. Working with wealthy clients wasn’t new to me. I’d traveled with a few before but never so far out of Nebraska and never for this long. This level of opulence was insane. The private jets, the luxury hotels, the chauffeured vehicles, there was even a helicopter ride simply because Julian didn’t like the idea of sitting in traffic and being late for his meeting. His life was a little crazy. All along, I assumed he just played hockey for a portion of the year and relaxed and partied for the rest.
I was so wrong. As it turned out, he made more money on the business end than his actual sports career. He was driven, way too driven for a guy who chose to be a professional athlete. It was almost like he was chasing something and was running out of time. I was confused, but I didn’t dare ask what was going on with him. I mean, we weren’t that close yet. Sure, we’d warmed up to each other a little in the few weeks I’d been traveling with him, and we’d even shared a couple of intimate conversations, but we weren’t...anything.
We’d fallen into this weird space where I wasn’t sure if we were still childhood enemies, friends, or frenemies as he liked to say, or if he liked me as a little more than a friend. There were moments I caught him looking at me with interest, what one would probably call sexual male interest, and I liked it. However, we’d been skirting around each other since that kiss.
Leaning against the window, I gazed over Manhattan, admiring the skyscraper buildings and the bustling city below. It was getting dark so there were already thousands of lights illuminating the scene. Accepting the gig as Julian’s travel nurse turned out to be a great decision. The pay was so good that it was outrageous but, the best part was seeing places I never even knew I wanted to see. Stepping out of the small town Oakland bubble had opened an appetite to see the world. I was never one to dream about seeing the world, but what I’d seen so far was great. I wanted to see more.
Still taking in the view, I plucked my phone from my pocket to check in with my sisters. Before I could send a text in our group chat, another text came in. It was from Julian.
Open up, nurse. Your patient has returned.
I had no idea why that simple message made me smile. He’d been away on yet another business meeting. Something about coming to a final agreement for some advertising deal. He had a manager, but he insisted on taking part in almost everything behind the scenes. That was smart of him. I bet he couldn’t trust too many people to do right by him when so much money was involved. I walked to the door of my suite to open it.
“Hey, my favorite hippie.”
I smiled again. Learning that the nicknames Julian had ever given me were never meant as an insult made me accept them warmly. Maybe a little too warmly... “I’m the only one you know.” Instead of glaring or biting his head off as usual, I actually joined in on his foolishness. We kept flirting with each other, and I knew I should have been worried. He was dangerously close to charming my panties off. I kept having these moments of intense desire around him where I wanted him to just grab me and kiss me again like that time in my room. The fantasies didn’t stop at kissing. We went further. Way further, like mind-blowing orgasms further. I really needed to stop thinking about him in that way.
Grinning, he gave me a once-over in my embroidered maxi skirt. The look was smoldering enough to make me combust. Oh, my God. What was happening here? Sometimes the flirting was so subtle, I barely caught it. But other times, like now, it was so in my face, my heart did somersaults.
“True,” he agreed, “but you”re still my favorite.”
Feeling heat spread into my face, I shifted under his hot gaze. “What’s up? Do you need something?” His wounds were healing nicely. I didn’t even have to clean and bandage them anymore. In fact, I barely did anything but provide company.
His gaze dropped once again to my feet, hidden by my skirt and back up. “What I need is…”
I gulped because the way he was looking at me, I was convinced he’d say, “you.”
“For you to come over to my room tonight.”
“Huh?” My eyes widened and my lips parted. Okay, that was bold.
“For dinner.”
Oh.My face burned hotter. I felt so stupid. Why on Earth would Julian blatantly invite me to his room for sex? And why was I so disappointed that he didn’t? Groaning inwardly, I met his gaze. “Um...why?”
He huffed. “Do I need a reason other than to make sure you have a nice meal?”
“I have great meals alone in my suite. Room service is the shit.”
He chuckled. “True, but I brought you something special.”
My brows popped up. “Oh?”
“I wanted to take you to my favorite restaurant in the city. The food there is incredible. But, I didn’t want to ask you out because I knew you’d say no.” He shrugged. “Plus, on the off chance you said yes, the night would have been ruined because someone would start snapping pictures and you’d be pissed so I decided to bring the restaurant to you.”
I gawked at him for a moment. Did he say ask me out? Surely, he meant as friends or whatever we were. “You wanted to go on a date?” I mentally facepalmed myself. Why would I ask him that?
He rocked back on his heels. “I mean, I guess it would be a date but not like...you know...a date-date.”
My brows dipped.
He looked skyward and sighed. “Jesus, April, I wanted to have dinner with you. What’s the big deal? We both have to eat.”
I nodded. Essentially, it wouldn’t have been a date among two people who were attracted to each other. Just a we’ve- known-each-other-forever-let”s-grab-a-bite-to-eat kind of thing. Understood. “Yeah, okay. I’ll be there. Give me twenty minutes?”
“Perfect.” He smiled and turned to walk to his room.
Blowing out a breath, I closed my eyes. Why did I have to make everything so awkward?
* * *
I knocked softly on Julian’s door. He opened it, and I was hit with his smile. The one that I was sure melted many panties. Mine were certainly threatening to go up in flames. I swallowed, wishing I could make this severe case of growing attraction go away. Julian and I were just a bad idea. He wasn’t for me. I wasn’t for him...no matter how well we’d started getting along.
“Hey.” I smiled.
“Come in.” He stepped aside.
I smoothed a hand over my loose wavy hair and mentally scolded myself. It didn’t matter how I looked. This wasn’t a date. We were just in his hotel suite for goodness’s sake. I hardly needed to look glamorous. That’s why I opted to throw on a casual dress and my silly house slippers that had a bunch of flowers on the front.
“Nice footwear.” Julian grinned.
“Shut up,” I muttered but smiled back. “What? Did you expect me to wear come fuck me heels?” My mouth snapped shut. I just said that out loud, didn’t I? I’d gotten so comfortable with our banter that I totally said that out loud.
Julian raised a brow and studied my feet as if he was picturing me in a pair of sexy heels.
He opened his mouth and I quickly said, “Not a word.” Julian closed his mouth but wore a wicked smirk. I knew he was going to say something completely inappropriate, then I’d tell him he was being immature, and we’d start to bicker. I couldn’t have that because I was hungry and the aroma wafting from the dining area made my mouth water. I glanced at the table and was surprised by the sight. It was a replica of any five-star restaurant setup. A white tablecloth covered the table. There was a beautiful floral centerpiece that made me smile. All of my favorite flowers were included. Surrounding the centerpiece were various dishes with metal covers. Two bottles of red wine were present. There were even napkins with fancy scribbles on them. It was probably the name of the restaurant he mentioned.
“The restaurant delivers?” I asked him over my shoulder.
“Nope. They don’t offer take-out.”
“Yet you got the tablecloth, the dish covers, and the napkins from said restaurant.”
“A very hefty tip can get you favors.” He gestured to a chair then hurried to pull it back for me.
My lips parted. It seemed as if he’d gone through a lot of trouble. I sat and watched him warily as he took the seat beside me. “Julian.”
He looked at me with a smile.
“I thought you said this was no big deal.”
He froze. “It isn’t…” Settling, he turned to me. “Relax, I just thought this would be a nice gesture. A thank-you dinner.”
“To thank me for what?”
“Being my patient, long-suffering nurse.”
My eyes widened. “The insane amount of money you’re paying me isn’t thanks enough?”
His lips quired at the corners. “No amount of money is worth listening to me bitch and moan about the handicap of wearing this thing.” He lifted his left hand with the cast and grinned. “Or me whining about not being able to have alcohol because I’m on meds.”
“Or being a big baby when I’m dressing you boo-boos?” I gave him a huge toothy grin.
He gave me a mock scowl but amusement shone in his gorgeous blues. “She always has jokes but, sure, that too.”
My giggles floated around the room. I giggled in his presence. Oh, God. I let out a breath and rubbed my palms together. “Well, if this is an appreciation dinner, then you’re welcome. Let’s dig in, Grayson. I’m starving.”