Love In The City

Urgent Care and Second Nights In The City

     I went most of the day without talking to Raul. I glanced over at his office door, thankful it's still shut. If I'm lucky, I would leave before him and avoid any conversation.

At some point, we will have to talk, but I’m not ready for that. I suspected he stayed in his office to avoid me too.

The phone rang, and I waited until the full second ring to pick it up, just as Raul advised in the note he left on my desk, “Mr. Hernandez’s office, how can I help you?” the call lit up as an in-office call.

The caller on the other end hung up. I hoped I answered the phone just as his note said to.

That was the second note from him now. The first being the one at the hotel. He left me a long list of things he wanted me to do today. The list kept me busy, but I finished it all and still had almost an hour left before my shift ended.

I stood up and stretched. The boredom was making me sleepy, so I walked over to the coffee machine that sat on a small table in the corner and poured myself a cup.

That was another thing on the list. He wanted me to make a fresh pot of coffee every hour. Every hour, I made a new pot of coffee and it just sat there. I was throwing out more coffee than a fast-food restaurant.

The mug was warm in my hand, and I lifted it up to take a drink. The scent of vanilla filled my nose as the hot liquid touched my tongue. A door slammed, and I jumped back as the mug slipped from my hands, “Ouch!” I could feel the hot coffee on my chest.

I pulled my white blouse away from my chest to minimize the burning.

“Are you okay?” Raul bent down and picked up the pieces of ceramic that lay broken on the carpet.

“I will be fine. I just need to go clean up,” I motioned to my coffee-stained shirt.

“Use my bathroom,” he said.

“I can use the employee one,” I didn’t need any favors from this guy.

“I am only trying to help. I'm not sure you noticed, but your shirt is see-through when it’s wet,” he c****d his head sideways and grinned. I blushed and covered my chest up with my hands. “I’ve already seen your breasts before,” he winked.

“You don’t get the privilege of seeing them again,” I stomped off towards his private bathroom, aware I likely looked like a child throwing a tantrum.

I shut the door behind me and locked it. Now that I can see in the mirror, I stared at my chest in horror. This used to be my favorite shirt. It will go in the trash can once I get home.

I pulled off some paper towels and turned on the hot water. After wetting the paper towels, I dabbed the brown stains to try to remove them. I knew it would not work. I need soda water or something similar.

I would just have to wait for it to dry. I wasn’t going back out there until Raul, left. I hope he was on his way out. s**t! Why didn’t I think to bring my cell phone in with me? I could have called Melly to bring me a shirt.

I slowly opened the bathroom door and peeked my head around the door. Raul was sitting at his desk working on his laptop. If I was quick, I could run out to the desk and grab my phone, but I will need to run back right after. It was that or sit in this bathroom until he left.

I sighed and took off running towards my desk. I was almost to his office door when my foot wobbled unsteadily and I heard a clunk. “s**t,” my heel broke. I braced my hand on the door frame to stop from falling.

“Gabby, what are you doing?” Raul stood up and walked towards me.

I must look awkward with one hand covering my chest and the other holding on to the door frame. I tried to move, but my foot throbbed in pain, “Can you hand me my cell phone, please?”

Raul pulled his chair around towards me, “Sit, let me get you some ice,”

I sat down in the plush leather chair and leaned down to examine my foot. Raul put a bag of ice gently on my foot, and I jumped as the ice touched my skin, “Thank you,” I said.

“Why did you run?” he examined my foot briefly.

“I don’t think it’s broken, just sprained,” I said, avoiding his question

The smell of his cologne filled the air, and I sat further back in the chair to distance myself from him. Why did he have to smell so damn good?

“Let me drive you to the Urgent Care for an X-ray,” he said.

“It’s just a sprain. It’s already feeling better,” I stood up from the chair and steadied myself. There is no way I’m going anywhere with him. “Do you mind if I leave a little early?”

He rested his hand on his chin and studied me cautiously, “You will need to fill out an incident report since it happened at work,” he walked over to his desk and opened the bottom drawer. I repositioned my foot to take the pressure off my left ankle. The pain was searing. “You can have a seat while you fill this out,” He handed me a clipboard with a paper clipped to it.

I skimmed through the paper and fill out the details, “All finished. Do you want me to leave it on your desk?”

He walked over and grabbed the clipboard and placed it on his desk, “Take my jacket,” he wrapped his jacket around my shoulder. His eyes fell on mine, and though I wanted to look away, I couldn’t. This was the sweet man I met in the club that night, not the guy who left me at the hotel without even feeding me breakfast. “I’m sorry,” he whispered, and if we weren’t standing so close I wouldn’t have even heard it.

“Next time try not to slam your door shut,” I laughed nervously. Standing so close to him made my stomach flip-flop, and I didn’t like the feeling.

It wasn’t like that with Carlos. Honestly, I always thought women exaggerated when they claimed a man-made them feel butterflies and other things.

“I’m sorry,” he smiled sheepishly.

I walked towards the door trying to bite back the pain searing through my ankle. Two arms wrapped around me and picked me up.

“I can walk,” I protested.

“No, you can’t. I’m taking you to urgent care now,” The look on Raul’s face told me there is no need to question him. I sighed in defeat.

“Good news, Mr. and Mrs. Pearson, it’s only a sprain. A few days of rest should help. Rotate between cool and warm, compresses, and Ibuprofen as needed for the pain,” The doctor said.

“We’re not married,” I said.

“My apologies. I’m usually good at guessing. The Nurse will drop your paperwork off in a few minutes,” The Doctor said.

The Doctor shut the door behind him, leaving me alone with Raul.

“You can work from home for the next few days. I can bring my laptop over and we’ll go over the Krieger files,” Raul stood up and stretched, then sat down on the edge of the bed.

“I can get crutches and come into the office,” I didn’t want him in my house.

“Nonsense Gabby! You’ll work from home. You heard the Doctor. He said you have to stay off your feet for a few days,”

A knock sounded on the door, then the Nurse came inside, “I have your discharge papers,” she said.

“Thank you,” I told her, grateful to go home.

“Do you have any questions?” she asked.

“I need some crutches to return to work,” I said.

“I’ll pick her up some crutches, but as her boss, I’ve already told her she can work from home,” Raul interjected.

“That’s a good idea. Rest will heal it faster. You can pick up crutches at the Pharmacy,” she sat the papers down and walked out the door.

Raul picked up the papers and folded them, “Are you ready?” I nodded my head as he picked me up gently in his arms, “I’ll get you home first. Then I’ll go get dinner and everything else you need,”

“I can have Melly do that,” I said.

We arrived at his black BMV, and he placed me inside. I reached for the seatbelt, but he beat me to it. I felt like a kid and I told him so, “I’m not helpless, Raul,”

He walked around to the other side and got inside, “Look, we have to work together. I know you think I’m an asshole but for f**k’s sake let me help you!” He put the car in gear and the car jerked to life.

“I know, but that doesn’t mean you need to concern yourself with me. I can take care of myself,” I said.

His dark eyes grazed over me, sending a warmth between my legs. I groaned internally, knowing he still has this effect on me, “I know what your problem is,”

“You think after one night with me, you know me now?” I shouted.

He pressed his foot down harder on the gas pedal, “It’s all over your face,” he said.

I scoffed, the nerve of this guy, “what is all over my face?”

“As soon as I get you home, I will show you Gabby,” he smirked.

I don’t know what I’m in for, but I’m afraid to find out.

Raul opened the car door and lifted me out. I hate that his touch makes my heart race, and my cheeks flush. The sooner I let him take me inside, the sooner he'll be gone.

As we entered my apartment he said, "Which room is yours?"

I pointed to my bedroom door but remembered that I left my panties on the bedroom floor, "just put me on the couch,"

His dark eyes penetrated mine, "when will your roommate be home?"

"In a couple of hours," I said.

"Where's your room Gabby?" he said.

I pointed to my bedroom knowing he wasn't going to give up until I showed him. He opened up the door and laid me on the bed, "how's your ankle? The medicine hasn't worn off yet has it?"

"No, the medicine hasn't worn off," I told him hoping he would just leave.

He yanked his gray tie off then unbuttoned his shirt. I gasped. What is he doing?

"Do you like what you see?" he asked as he reached the last button.

"Raul," I gasped, "What are you doing?" I adjusted myself on the bed.

"I told you, that I would show you," he took his shoes off, kicking them to the side when he was done. His dark eyes never left mine.

"We can't do this," I whispered.

He was on top of me now. His lips lingered above mine, I could feel his hot breath on me. A warmth spread through me, betraying me as my body responded to his touch. He ran his tongue teasingly along my lips, "Do you want this?"

"No," I lied.

"Tsk Tsk, Don't lie Gabby, that will earn you a s******g," he moved a stray hair from my face with his fingers.

"s******g" I stammered.

"Oh yes. Now, tell me Gabby, do you want this?"

My heart is racing in my chest. How did I end up back into bed with this playboy again?  I swallowed, "I don't do one night stands,"

"I don't usually come back for seconds, yet here I am. I can't give you more than s*x, but I promise you one thing," he lifted my shirt off me.

"What's that?" I ran my hands down his chest. I lost the war to my body.

He reached into my panties, and I gasped with pleasure, "I'm going to f**k you so good," he said.