“Neither do I.” he felt her swallow and could smell that delicious vanilla and wondered if it was the soap she used or a perfume. “I came by to ask you to meet me tonight at my restaurant. I want to cook for you.” he felt her take a deep breath then continued, “I would’ve told you the other night but you had nothing to write it down on. In fact if I remember right, you had nothing on at all.”
Lena couldn’t move. It was as though she was a deer trapped in the headlights of an oncoming car. Here she was, professional Dr O’Donnell standing in her office in the middle of the day with a man whispering in her ear and making her want to reach down between her legs and give herself some kind of release. She swallowed and unconsciously tilted her head to the side. That was when she felt his mouth as he kissed the side of her neck gently. She was sure she would’ve fallen over but his hands gripped her tighter and he lifted his head and looked down at her.
“Nothing to say?”
She shook her head quickly and he stepped back taking with him his warmth. She looked him over and noticed a bulge straining hard against his zipper.
“I think we can safely give up the argument that you’re not my type. Right?”
Lena stood motionless feeling like an idiot then she remembered, “I-I- can’t do tonight.” she stuttered for the first time in her life. She watched Mason narrow his eyes a little.
“I swear I’m not putting you off. I have something I have to do. Can we make it another night?”
He walked over to the door and she thought he was going to leave. She almost found herself calling out for him to stay, but he stopped turned and flashed her that sexy ass grin, “How about Wednesday?”
Chapter Eight
Lena shut down her computer, switched off the light and headed out into the cold. It was Monday night and as she took the elevator down to the parking garage she started to think back to this afternoon. Somehow Mason Langley had got past her defenses. He’d managed to irritate her into a date, then stalked her into a second one. She groaned leaning back against the wall thinking about how good he’d felt against her. She’d been fine before he’d come along. Of course, she wished she could go out meet some random guy and take him home, but if she was honest with herself that always made her feel much more lonely then just being alone. So she’d stopped the random hook ups, put up her barricade and had hidden behind it quite well, until him. Making her way to her car she got in and drove down to the little boutique flower store, ‘Precious Petals’. Parking out front as usual she got out bundling herself up in her coat and walked across the lot to open the door to the store. She loved hearing the tinkling of the bells as she walked in, it made the place feel special, magical. The whole store, including the lovely owner, made her feel comforted in a way nothing else did. Just as she was reaching the counter Catherine walked out from the back and a smiled so bright Lena thought it could light a room.
“Lena!”
Lena smiled and waved, “Hi Catherine.”
“How are you tonight my dear?”
Shrugging Lena nodded. “I’m okay. Getting by. How was your day?”
“Oh lovely dear. Just lovely.”
Catherine came around the desk stopping by one man asking him if he needed help. When he shook his head she continued over to stop by Lena. Slipping her arm around Lena’s waist she moved them toward the back room. “They came in just an hour ago.” she whispered as though she was telling her state secrets. Lena squeezed the little lady tighter, so happy to be there with her. She always made Lena feel comfortable with her, she never asked to many questions. In fact Lena would have to say this was just about the happiest she’d been in years. If she were honest and like Mason had said, she should always be, part of that had to do with him. Catherine turned them around the last corner in the back room and sitting in an aluminum can were seven bright yellow sunflowers. They were magnificent. Lena grinned and patted Catherine’s hand. “They’re beautiful.”
She moved over closer and looked at the wide face of the flower. They were flawless. Catherine only ever picked the best for her.
“They’re happy little things and they make you smile. So they must be beautiful.”
Lena looked over her shoulder toward the lady standing under the bright light of her shop. She had to be around sixty Lena would guess and she had laugh lines around her eyes and mouth, a testament to the fact, she’d enjoyed life. Lena had been coming to Precious Petals since two weeks after Carly had been killed.
That was nine years ago. She remembered walking aimlessly down the street in the middle of winter and she’d heard the tinkle of some bells and turned to see a lady at the top step of her shop sweeping them free of snow. The lady had smiled and waved her forward and she’d gone because she had nowhere else to go. Catherine had taken her inside and given her a cup of hot chocolate and she’d sat in the warmth of this lady’s shop looking around when she saw three sunflowers, Carly’s favorite, smiling back at her. It was the first time Lena had found herself smiling in the weeks after her sister’s death and ever since then she’d ordered one sunflower a day to be delivered to Carly.
“How much do I owe you?” Lena asked as she stood up and walked over to Catherine.
“Just the usual dear.”
Lena shook her head, “You need to let me start paying you the right price Catherine. How do you expect to make a profit?”
“Oh pssh! You’re one of my most loyal customers and I’ve been dealing with you since you were in college busing tables to pay me. You almost feel like my own daughter. I will not change the price now. No matter how successful you are.”
Grinning Lena reached down to hug her. She was a virtual stranger to her but at the same time she was the most familiar person in the world.
“Thanks again Catherine. Same time, same place?”
“Always dear, always.”
Lena paid her the money then walked outside back to her car. As she got in she thought to herself, why on earth would Langley be delivering flowers for Catherine? Oh well, pushing that thought aside she turned on the engine, maybe she’d ask them on their next date, turning cautiously into the street she headed home.
Wednesday morning rolled around and Mason was standing in the walk in fridge, taking inventory of what he needed to order for the weekend, when he heard Rachel come in behind him. “So why do you need the night off tonight huh? Got another 15 minute date up your sleeve?”
He grinned at her then responded as any brother would. “Screw you.”
She laughed and pushed past him reaching for the strawberries on the top shelf. “So what are you going to do to impress the pants suit?”
“Her name is Lena.”
Rachel rolled her eyes popping a strawberry into her mouth. “I know, I know. Dr Magdalena O’Donnell. I’m impressed. Even for you a doctor is impressive.” she paused and cocked her head to the side, “Is she a psychiatrist?”
“No you pain in the ass.” he said snatching a strawberry for himself. “She’s a Pediatrician.”
Rachel’s laugh was loud and obnoxious she even snorted at the end.
“What?”
“Well I guess that seems about right. She’s use to dealing with people as mature as you are. Now it all makes sense.”
Sticking his tongue out to prove his maturity she laughed even harder. “Thanks a lot Rach.”
“Well I was starting to wonder. I mean come on. The girls you date wouldn’t even be able to spell her name.”