Untimely You (7 page)

I frown and glance at Chrissy. If she can hear, I wonder if Yvette’s words would hurt her feelings.

“Yvette,” I say, changing the subject, “will you help me do something?”

“Sure thang, sugah. Let me finish gettin’ suppah started. I’ll be back in a hot minute.”

While she’s gone, I snoop around and look at pictures, asking Chrissy questions she can’t answer along the way. I’m so curious about her condition. Of course, she doesn’t have answers about that either.

“Adrian said you like the sun,” I tell her as I peek out the window. “In most of your pictures, you’re outside. I bet you miss it.”

When Yvette returns, smelling of Cajun spices, I instruct her on what I want to do.

“Miss Neesy, that ain’t gonna work,” she tells me, both dark hands on her hips over her apron.

I frown and visually measure the bed again. “There’s plenty of room. I just need your help pushing it over here.”

She shakes her head. “No, sugah. You is missin’ the point. Mr. Hocksted will string both us up by our necks if you do that.”

I remember the way he flipped out this morning on the nurse for closing the drapes. He’d wanted his wife to enjoy something as simple as sunshine.

“I’ll take my chances. If he asks, I moved it all by myself. Just help me and then you can go hide in the kitchen. I promise I won’t sell you out. Now, come on. Today’s a gorgeous day and Chrissy should get to experience it.”

Ignoring her grumbles, I set to opening the French doors to the outside patio. Once I get them open, a warm fall breeze gusts in and I smile. There aren’t many days like this during this time of year, so we have to take the chances when they land in our laps.

“You push that thing with all the machines on it and I’ll push the bed. The cords from the wall should stretch far enough,” I instruct.

She isn’t my willing accomplice but after some cursing and struggling, we finally manage to get her bed pushed to the doorway that leads outside. The sun is shining from the west and it cloaks the bottom quarter of her bed with light. I can’t get her outside but this is close enough.

“That man is gonna lose his mind about this, Miss Noble,” she warns.

I shrug my shoulders. “Oh well. Chrissy and I want to read in the sunshine. Adrian will have to get over it.”

Once she leaves, I drag a chair beside her bed. I uncover her tiny, frail feet so she’ll feel the warmth of the sun directly.

“And I thought I was pale. Let’s get some sunscreen on those feet so I don’t get fired the first day for burning you,” I tell her with a chuckle.

After some digging around in my purse, I locate a tube of sunscreen and set to rubbing it generously over her white feet. Once I’m done, I sit in the chair and prop my feet up on the bed next to hers.

“Book four. We’re flying through these little kid books. Don’t you worry, though,” I say with a serious tone. “I won’t make you listen to anymore about Adam and Eve once these books run out. Tomorrow, I’m bringing the good stuff. Adam and Eve have nothing on Christian and Ana.”

The time passes quicker when we can enjoy the sunshine together. She still never moves but I talk her ear off when I’m not reading.

After a quick bathroom break, I assume my position beside her and prop my feet back up beside hers. “I bet Adrian took you on amazing dates, huh? He’s probably all romantic with flowers and candles and stuff. The best date I ever went on was when this gal from my old publishing firm asked me to go out after work. Linda and I had been having the greatest time. She kept buying me drinks and telling me the funniest jokes. Afterward, we took a walk down to a local park to watch the sunset. Linda showed me a great spot right in the middle of these beautiful flowers to sit. We laid down on the soft grass and giggled like two schoolgirls as the sun descended. When she plucked a tulip from nearby and handed it to me, I thought it was the sweetest thing.”

I clutch Chrissy’s cool hand and frown at her.

“You’re never going to believe what happened next. Chrissy, she just leaned over and kissed me on the lips! I opened my mouth to tell her I wasn’t gay and then she slid her tongue in. I’m not going to lie. At that time in my life, I wasn’t getting much action. So, I let Linda kiss me until I was dizzy. I’m not sure what got into me. Maybe too much wine, but it was sort of hot,” I say in a conspiratorial tone. “Anyway, everything was going great until she put her hand on my thigh and started inching her way up under my dress! Now, I may be desperate, but I didn’t want to lead the poor woman on, so I gently pushed her away and told her I didn’t swing that way. The kiss ended and so did what I now realize to her was a date. Sometimes I wonder what would have happened if I didn’t stop her.”

“Are you hitting on my wife?”

The rich, deep voice cuts through my foggy recollection of a confusing moment in my life, and my skin blazes in embarrassment.

“What? No! You told me to be her friend. Girlfriends confess embarrassing stuff to each other—stuff that isn’t meant for men to hear,” I scoff.

He steps out past me and walks out into the yard. His suit hugs his tall, muscular frame well and I don’t look away when he bends over to inspect a plant. The way he plucks off a dead leaf with such care makes me realize their beautiful yard is because of him. Adrian could afford the most expensive lawn service but for some reason, he handles it himself. I can see that plain as day. My respect for him increases a little more.

He clips a red rose from a bush and carefully removes the thorns. Then, he strides back toward us. My heart quickens when I realize he’s going to give me the flower.

“So you kiss just anyone who picks you a flower?” His dark eyes scrutinize me and I squirm under his gaze.

“I, uh…”

He clenches his jaw as if he’s angry and changes the subject. “Neesy, what possessed you to drag her bed over here?”

I frown when he turns and places the flower in Chrissy’s hand, wrapping her delicate fingers around it. Heat rushes over me and my cheeks are probably blazing with embarrassment.

“You said she liked sunlight. I thought she might enjoy the warmth.”

“I told you to read to her, not treat her like a child’s doll dragging her all over the house,” he grumbles.

“You also told me to read her the Bible. For the record, she hated it. We had to entertain ourselves somehow,” I say in defense.

He scrubs his palm over his face and casts a wary glance my way. “Thank you.”

I’m startled by his words. “Well, you
are
paying me and all…”

I watch with envy as he presses a sweet kiss to Chrissy’s forehead. She’s lucky to have married a man like Adrian.

“I also pay those nurses. I pay Yvette. But they’re just doing their jobs. You…” He sighs and gives me a tired smile. “You care. Not because you have to but because you want to.”

I shrug my shoulders and stand. “Sheesh, give me a big head or something. Did you pick up any books for us to read tomorrow?”

Shame morphs his features. “I’m sorry. I was just in a rush to get back to her and—”

“Adrian, don’t worry about it. I’m a book nerd. I’ll bring my stash. I’m not going to lie, though,” I tell him with a saucy grin, “you probably won’t approve of my reading selection.”

He laughs, and I love the way it seems to bring life to the world around us. “Chrissy used to read some pretty racy stuff. I’d roll over in the middle of the night and she’d still be glued to her book. You would have really liked my wife,” he says in a wistful tone.

I scrunch my eyebrows together. “I
do
like your wife, Adrian.”

His smile falls upon the realization that he spoke of her as a memory instead of the living, breathing soul in front of him. I watch in awe as his face twists into an ugly, angry expression.

“Help me move the goddamn bed back and you can go,” he snaps.

Swallowing down the way his hurtful tone stabs at me, I choose not to respond and simply help him move her back across the room. Without another word, I stack the books back into the box I retrieved from Damien’s room and scoop up my purse. Once I shoulder it and step into my shoes, I hightail it for the door. I’m twisting the handle when a strong, warm hand grips my bicep.

“Neesy.”

My skin flames where he holds me but I don’t want to look at him for fear of him seeing the hurt in my eyes.

“I’m sorry, okay? Things are just stressful lately. You should stay for dinner, please. Yvette always cooks enough for an army,” he mutters. The sadness and loneliness in his voice are what have me taking pause.

“Guess it beats frozen pizza,” I finally say and flash him an unsure smile over my shoulder.

His eyes light up and his own smile is back. “Yvette’s seafood gumbo is outstanding. It’ll do me some good to have someone to eat with too. Things get kind of boring around here, especially now that Damien is in college.”

“You might reconsider your invitation,” I say with a laugh. “I talk a lot. You’ll be craving silence before we even sit down to eat.”

He reluctantly releases my arm and smirks. “Who said I was going to let you talk? Maybe I want to do all the talking.”

“Hmmm,” I tease. “This is going to be a difficult friendship, I’m afraid.”

His features darken and he steps closer to me, our chests nearly touching. I swear he even inhales me and that does insane things to my heart. “Who says I want to be your friend?”

My head dizzies with images of an entirely different sort of relationship. One that involves naked bodies, tangled sheets, and edible underwear. I’m contemplating if I’m once again imagining his interest in me when he speaks up again, giving me my answer.

“I’m your boss, not your friend,” he clarifies, interrupting my lust-filled fantasies. “After you.”

Turning away from him to hide my humiliation at his words, I push open the door and let him lead the way to the dining room. Supper is quiet despite his promise to talk my ear off. A new nurse showed up and was quickly shown to Chrissy’s room.

Adrian is moody and grumpy as hell, seemingly annoyed by my presence. But then sometimes, I think he wants me here by the way his eyes light up when I speak or how he seems to lean in closer to hear each word I say. Every time I follow that train of thought, though, he throws me back in my place and I’m back to square one. I’m already missing my boring phone job and I’ve been doing this one for only one day.

“That was delicious. Thank you for letting me stay for dinner but I should be going now,” I tell him once we’ve dropped our bowls into the sink.

His stormy gaze lightens and his dark eyes dart all around. “Wait. Shit!”

I jump at his harsh tone and frown at him. What’s wrong with this man?

“Listen, Neesy. Stay and have a drink with me. Please. I’m your boss but I’d like to be your friend too. Problem is, I kind of suck at friendship. Eric’s my friend but that’s because he’s been there since before Chrissy and everything. It’s hard for me to become friends with new people. Apparently I’m not good at opening up.”

His blast of honesty calms my winding nerves and the miserable expression on his face has me halting. I could blame my urge to leave on my imaginary cats that I need to feed but I can’t walk away from the man who’s struggling to keep me in his presence for some reason.

“Fine but you have to play Scrabble with me.”

He searches my face for humor. But I’m not kidding.

“I saw it in the top of Damien’s closet earlier today. That’s the deal. You play with me and I drink with you,” I tell him firmly.

His lips quirk up into a half smile. “I can agree to that. Have a seat in the living room, and I’ll fetch the game after I check on Chrissy.”

“I can grab it,” I chirp and start toward the back. His hand darts out and snatches my wrist.

“Last time you were up in that closet, you nearly broke your neck. Go sit down like I told you. You’re a horrible listener,” he complains.

“Well you’re bossy and rude. Remind me why I’m staying to hang out with you again.”

He releases my wrist and stalks away calling out over his shoulder, “Because I’m paying you to, Neesy.”

Well then.

I
can’t stop staring at her.

Every time she sips the whiskey in the tumbler I keep filling up for her, my gaze falls on her full, glistening lips. Each time she curses when her fingers knock some tiles out of line on the board, I watch how her hands fly up in exasperation. Every single time she laughs, I close my eyes and revel in the throaty sound that pulsates through me.