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“Try to act like you mean it,” Suzie called after me, a smile in her voice.
“I’ll do my best.”
“That’s usually what you do.”
Suzie’s words stopped me at the door that led to the guest house where Zola lived. I did try to do my best in all things. Whether it was football in high school or helping where I could around town, and helping the doctors who needed me, I always did my best.
Except with Zola.
That thought didn’t make me feel good. Not at all. The morning after our night together, I’d wished her well and I meant it. She wasn’t just sexy and beautiful, she was lively and smart and I wanted her to go out into the world, and help as many kids as she could. I meant it at the time, but now that I was the one responsible for teaching her new techniques that would further her career, I was falling down on the job.
It was time for me to do better. To be better.
I sucked in a breath and pulled open the door that took me down a stone path to the guest house. Every step took effort, but eventually I stood there at her front door, but I couldn’t seem to lift my hand to knock or ring the bell. It’s just an apology. That’s what I told myself over and over until my knuckles landed on the door three times.
A few moments later, the door swung open to reveal Zola, looking beautiful in jeans that hugged her hips and thighs, and hung low on her hips. She wore a light pink tunic that intensified her brown skin, making it appear clear and shimmery.
“Is everything all right with Suzie and the girls?”
I blinked quickly until my eyes came into focus again and Zola’s face was all I could see. Even etched with concern, she was beautiful in a simple but alluring way. Her high cheekbones gave the appearance that she was always just about to smile, and her minimal makeup highlighted her natural beauty, long lashes and full, kissable lips.
“Well? Is everything all right?”
I cleared my throat. “Yes, everything is fine. Listen, can we talk?”
Zola let out an annoyed sigh and put her hands on her hips. “I don’t have time, Drew and to be honest I really would like to enjoy my day away from JRMC.”
“I don’t want to argue either, Zola.”
She laughed, but it came out bitter and hollow. “That would be a first. Besides, there is nothing for us talk about.” Her brown eyes dared me to disagree, as if that challenge would work on me.
“There is. I think we should clear the air between us.” It was the only way we could move forward with even a modicum of peace on the cardiac ward.
“There is nothing to clear, Drew. I’m here to work, to learn from you about the job, nothing else. I don’t need to be your friend and I’m not auditioning to be your fuck buddy. All I want is for you to treat me like you would any other fellow.”
Fuck buddy. Those words banged around in my head like a fire alarm and suddenly they were the only words I could hear. “Fine then, I’d like to clear the air. I don’t want to fight with you, Zola. I just want to get our work done without any problems.”
“You haven’t had any problems out of me, have you?”
“No,” I conceded. “I haven’t.”
“Then I’ll just keep doing that and you can, I don’t know Drew, figure out how to deal with the fact that I’ve seen you naked and tasted you and now we have to work together.”
“Shit, Zola. Why do you have to say things like that?” I raked a hand through my hair and let out a long rush of breath, squeezing my eyes tight until stars appeared to shake the thought of Zola settled between my legs, her lush lips wrapped around my cock.
She laughed and shook her head. “Because it’s clearly the only thing on your mind.”
“It’s not,” I insisted.
“If that was true, you wouldn’t act like such a dick to me.” She took a step back and motioned for me to step inside. “I get it, Drew, you’re embarrassed that you slept with me and you don’t want anyone to know. I don’t know or care why that is, but I can assure you that I’m not trying to air my personal business to the hospital or the town.”
“I’m not embarrassed.”
She held up her hands. “Don’t care, remember?”
“Right.” I looked around the guest room, for what, I had no clue, maybe some glimpse of who Zola was, really. “So we’re good, then?”
She nodded. “Yes, Drew, we’re good.” Zola looked at me, studied me for entirely too long. It made me nervous. “Anything else?”
“No, I guess not.” I expected to feel good, lifted, lighter somehow to clear the air between us, only I didn’t. Instead, I felt disappointed, which was stupid. Zola didn’t owe me anything. I wanted to clear the air and I did.
