Chapter 2
?Perhaps there is no greater intimacy than two gazes that meet with firmness and determination, and simply refuse to look away.?
—Jostein Gaarder
Devon
I collapsed into bed, or rather let myself fall into it, because I felt completely exhausted.
I’d lost track of how many hours I’d been awake.
I lived on the top floor of a building in a modern, spacious apartment.
I had moved there after my separation and still had two unfurnished rooms. One was completely empty and I hadn’t yet decided what to use it for, and in the other I was trying to set up my office.
The bedroom was spacious with a large terrace that I currently had open, letting in a warm, spectacular summer breeze.
I closed my eyes, ready to let sleep take over, but minutes later the intercom buzzer startled me.
I looked at the clock on my nightstand—it was a few minutes before midnight.
—?God! Who could that be? —I wondered, as I rushed to the kitchen to answer.
Whoever was calling was rather impatient because it had rung several times.
—Who is it?
—Are you Dr. Dulcet? —asked a man’s voice that sounded quite familiar.
For a few seconds I tried to figure out who it could be. Until... it was him! It was Cavaller, no doubt about it. That authoritative and strong voice, yet quite sensual, was unmistakable.
—I am. Who are you? —I asked, just to avoid showing that I had already identified him.
—I’m William Cavaller.
—Who? —I asked, just to prevent him from thinking his name had been burned into my memory, which it actually had been.
I heard him huff, and I don’t know why, but that pleased me.
—Aurora Cavaller’s father, the little girl you examined in the emergency room today. I’m at your building door because I came to bring you your phone. Can you come down so I can give it to you and get back home?
Could he ever show a little friendliness? Evidently not. At least, not with me.
—Thank you for taking the trouble. Give me a few minutes because I’m in my nightgown and need to change.
—I can’t waste any more time, let me in and I’ll bring it up —he ordered.
Good heavens! That man was as rude as he was attractive.
I pressed the intercom button to let him into the building.
Then I went to the bedroom to put on my robe.
I was grateful that he had brought me the phone, but I was annoyed at having to see him again, especially since he treated me like I was a complete nuisance.
Knocking at the door pulled me from my thoughts. I tied my robe’s belt and hurried to the front door because that man was about to knock it down. How rude!
He might be brutish and rude, but I was struck again. He had changed from his suit into jeans and a completely unbuttoned black polo shirt, and as much as he was unpleasant, I had to admit he was extremely attractive and sexy, more than any man had a right to be.
He stood there observing me without any attempt to hide it, even brazenly. His gaze traveled over my entire body before settling on my eyes as he stretched out his arm for me to take my phone.
—Your phone hasn’t stopped ringing.
—I’m sorry. When I realized Aurora had taken it, it was already too late.
—I don’t allow my daughter to use them because...
—Aurora was crying heartbreakingly and it occurred to me to show her those cartoons to calm her down —I said, interrupting him—.
I should clarify that Mrs. Alba warned me about your decision, but I was the one who decided to let her have it because the little one had calmed down and that allowed me to examine her.
For a few minutes we just stood there challenging each other with our eyes, but seeing that he wasn’t saying anything, I decided to speak.
—You said you were in a hurry, so I won’t take up any more of your valuable time. Thank you for bringing it —I said, lifting the phone and trying to close the door, but, taking me by surprise, he put his arm out and prevented it.
—Are you throwing me out? —he asked, with a stern voice and without taking his eyes off mine, which unsettled me a little, or a lot, to tell the truth.
—You were the one who said you couldn’t waste time —I sighed, wearily—. May I ask you a question? —And I didn’t wait for his response before adding—: Why are you so unfriendly and arrogant? I don’t think I’ve done anything to deserve you speaking to me that way.
—What way? This is how I am.
—Well, you should improve because let me tell you that Aurora is a little princess, but you are an ogre —I stated, raising my voice slightly.
After I said it, I was surprised to see a subtle smile appear on his lips.
—You shouldn’t raise your voice because you’ll wake your family —he commented.
—I live alone.
Cavaller looked at me for long seconds and, when I thought he was going to turn and leave, he surprised me with what he said next.
“Aurora wouldn’t go to sleep because she kept asking for you. Evidently the nurse is right and you have a special magic with children.”
“I’m a pediatrician, I should have it. How is she?”
“When I left home she was sleeping, but she threw a monumental tantrum because she wanted to see Divon,” he said, calling me the way his daughter did.
At that moment I smiled and he did too. His smile was wonderful, it looked like one of those toothpaste commercial smiles, but what left me dazzled was that it was a sincere and cordial smile.
“Did you buy her the princess dress?” I asked, taking advantage of his more friendly demeanor.
“If I hadn’t, my daughter would have given me the silent treatment for life. She’s a little manipulator, but for this I blame you,” he pointed out.
“I can’t deny that because I gave her the idea and you were present when I did it, but... may I tell you something?”
“You’ve been telling me things all along, so don’t stop now,” he said, even seeming playful.
“You should enjoy those moments with her. Not everyone has the opportunity to experience those wonderful moments,” I noted, unable to avoid a certain melancholy in my voice that I hoped would go unnoticed by him.
I sighed and looked at him seriously. “Enjoy that little one, Mr. Cavaller, enjoy each stage of your daughter’s life, they grow at an alarming rate. ”
He returned to his serious demeanor.
“Good night, Dr. Dulcet.”
“Same to you, Mr. Cavaller. And thank you again for bringing me the phone.”
“If you ever want to visit my daughter, you just have to come see her,” he said, extending his hand to give me a business card. “Aurora will be very happy to see you.”
“I appreciate the invitation. You can also tell Alba that it would be a joy to receive them at my home,” I said, mentioning the nanny with the purpose of not making him think I was inviting him. “And now that I think about it, how did you know where I live?”
“I always get what I want, or what I need, as was the case this time.”
“I see,” was all I could say, because it was evident that this man was powerful and had connections.
“Is the invitation only for Aurora and Alba?”
“Uhhh, I don’t understand,” I stammered, not knowing what to say, because what he was asking was clear, but the implications of that question had disconcerted me and I didn’t know how to respond.
Cavaller smiled again, but this time he did it in a sensual way. Sensual? Why was he smiling at me like that?
“Of course you understand. Good night, Dr. Dulcet.”
“Good night, Mr. Cavaller.”
He turned and headed toward the elevators.
When I saw him walking away, I had to admit that his backside in those jeans was perfect and.
.. that back... The most attractive man I had ever met, but with an explosive temper and the personality of an ogre!
I closed the door and had to lean against it because I felt nervous.
Why had he affected me that way? That man deeply affected me to the point that I felt a flutter in my stomach every time he looked at me with those deep blue orbs.
I shook my head and headed to my bedroom.
I wasn’t going to check my phone, I was going to try to sleep and forget this strange day.
What reassured me was knowing that I wouldn’t cross paths with William Cavaller again. Or so I thought.