AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“That when a guy is mean to a woman, it means he likes her. I used to hear it so much as a kid.If a boy teases you, it means he likes you.Mom used to say it. Dad said it. It’s so wrong. It’s so ingrained in us from the time we are little kids.” I shook my head. “No wonder so many women grow up to confuse abuse with love.” My mouth dried up at the thought of Sara.
“I’m sorry, Carolina.” I found nothing but sincere repentance in his eyes. “I’m sobering up with the food and am starting to realize I’ve placed my foot in my mouth quite a bit tonight.”
His words were indeed less slurred. I nodded in acceptance of his apology, and his muscles relaxed.
“Besides,” I said dismissively, “if it happens to be true that Keach likes me—which I very much doubt—I would never accept affection from a man who chooses to show a woman he likes her by torturing her and messing with her. That wouldn’t be my type at all. Too childish.” I crinkled my nose.
Hector raised an eyebrow. “Whatisyour type, Dr. Ramirez?”
I thought about it for a second, and he patiently waited. I had never been in a significant relationship, not that I’d tell Hector that. I’d dated, of course, but nothing had ever gotten serious. I finally settled on saying, “I’m trying to think of a throughline in the men I’ve dated, but they were all so different, I don’t think they fit a particular type.”
“Okay, but you must know what you like—traits you value.”
“Yeah. Sure. Let’s see. Smart. Smart is a must. Mature. I like a man who is self-assured, but still humble—not that you would know anything about humility. Balance, I guess. I’m so boring, aren’t I?” I chuckled.
“No, Carolina. You are not boring. And I don’t know what you are talking about. I’m the best at being humble.”
“You realize that very statement proves otherwise?”
Hector threw his head back with laughter.
“I really have to get going. I won’t even have a chance to sleep now, but I do have to get ready to go to the hospital.”
“I’ll walk you out.”
I let him stand first to make sure his balance was sufficient for him to climb the stairs by himself. He was steady enough, at least for me to avoid being in his room again. That would be a mistake.
“Carolina.” He stopped me before I could open the door. “Thank you for tonight. And I’m sorry for what I said. There is no excuse.”
“It happens. I believe intent is important, and I know you weren’t trying to be malicious.”
He stepped closer to me, nearly pinning my back to the door. “No. It was not my intent to be malicious.”
My breath caught in the back of my throat. He leaned in closer—the distance between us now nearly nonexistent. He bowed his head until our noses almost met. My heartbeat loudened until it was all I could hear. I looked at his eyes, but his gaze was frozen on my lips. My eyes dropped to his mouth—I couldn’t help it—and his lips parted.
There was no confusing this moment. It waswant.I wanted him, and his body made it clear he wanted me too. It was a beautiful fantasy, but it could never be more than that—a fantasy.
Hector’s lips hovered over mine, and his gaze drifted back to my eyes, a question written in his. He was asking for my permission to seal the kiss that lingered like a ghost on our lips. I felt his movements as his arms went past me, and his hands landed on the door behind me. The muscles in his biceps tightened, and deep blue veins bulged to the surface. Restraint. He wouldn’t deliver on the promise of contact—not until I accepted it.
I couldn’t. My body almost gave in, but I was too practical. I knew if I let go, I would regret it. Not to mention he wasn’t completely sober yet. Mygood head on my shoulderswould be the ruin of me. I couldn’t succumb to an affair that would undoubtedly hurt everyone involved.
Everyone.
“Andrea,” I whispered her name, though the syllables tasted bitter on my tongue. His arms dropped from their iron grip on the door behind me, and he stepped back.
My hearing returned as my heart slowed. We both sobered and killed the lust we’d let escape to the surface for a moment. How could we have been so careless? I guess we were only human, after all—not the gods we played at on a daily basis at work.
“You are married,” I said, more loudly now.
He nodded and looked down at the gold band around his ring finger. He twisted the band around a few times before laughing. “Right. Mywife,” he said, but there was something off about the laugh. “Good night, Carolina. Thanks again for everything.”
“I think you meangood morning, Dr. Medina.”
