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Chapter 7
Tony
As I watched Jude, her cheeks kissed by the warm glow of the fire and blushing from the excellent wine, I found myself wondering if the blush extended beyond what I could see. It was a thought that made me uneasy. After all, she was an employee at the hospital.
Despite our separate roles at Pitt Medical, she was still technically part of my team. And if she bagged the management position she desired, that would put us in closer proximity, raising the stakes of the already simmering tension. But as we shared stories, laughter, and the delicious bottle of wine, I began to see Jude as more than just a colleague, despite my better judgment.
"You know, I think your policy on staff holidays is garbage," she declared out of nowhere, her voice laced with playfulness.
I nearly choked on my wine. "Oh? Is that so?"
"Definitely. You shouldn't make us ration our vacation days."
"And I suppose you have a better system in mind?" I countered, a grin tugging at my lips.
"Of course," she replied, mirroring my grin with a teasing smirk of her own.
There was no denying it—Jude was vibrant, and full of a fiery spirit that was utterly captivating. She was a woman who wasn't afraid to express herself, a woman who sparked a sense of admiration and respect within me. She had a rare combination of wit, tenacity, and boldness that was refreshing.
Despite her being a subordinate, Jude was staking her claim in my mind, causing ripples in my thoughts and stirring emotions I'd thought were long dormant. It was an unexpected, disconcerting revelation. Yet, there was something invigorating and alluring about it. I was enjoying sharing the evening with her, not just as her boss, but as a man who was captivated by her spirit, her opinions, and her infectious laughter. And even though I reminded myself often to be cautious, every bit of banter, every shared laugh, and each opinionated outburst from her were drawing me in, challenging me in ways I hadn't anticipated. And I found myself more than willing to meet that challenge.
Jude raised an eyebrow at me, a playful dare in her gaze as she prepared to continue her line of conversation. "I'm not saying it's bad, just that it could be better."
I leaned back, my arm resting casually on the back of the chair. "Well then, by all means, enlighten me."
She hummed thoughtfully, swirling the last bit of her wine in the glass. "Well, first off, staff should be given more flexibility with their vacation days. It’s more about quality over quantity. Maybe offer more three-day weekends instead of long, continuous holidays."
I chuckled. "Why am I not surprised you'd advocate for more time off?"
She grinned, the firelight dancing in her eyes. "Well, it's not like our job is stressful or we're saving lives or anything," she joked, a playful, sarcastic edge to her voice.
Her reply caused my laughter to continue and she watched me with a pleased smile on her face, seemingly content that she'd managed to draw such a response from me.
"We do have a tough job," I admitted, looking her straight in the eye. "You should consider putting that in your management proposal. I might just vote for you."
She looked surprised, then her face smoothed into a smug grin. "Well, thank you, Dr. Montivais. I think that's one of the few nice things you've said to me all evening."
I couldn't help but match her grin, shaking my head in mock exasperation. "I compliment you on your sense of humor, and this is how you thank me?"
The air between us was light and playful, the earlier tension now masked behind laughter and silly exchanges. As the snow continued to fall outside, inside the cabin, our conversation was building its own warmth, the crackling fire no competition to the heat of our banter. And as the night drew on, I found myself not wanting it to end, cherishing the company of this witty, opinionated, utterly captivating woman, and yearning for what was yet to come.
As the time became later and the wine bottle emptied, Jude's eyes flicked to me with a hint of hesitation. "Do you by any chance have something I could sleep in?" she asked, her voice layered with a coyness that made my heart skip a beat.
“Basically men’s clothes around here but let me take a look.”
Rummaging around in my closet, I managed to find a pair of athletic shorts and an old T-shirt. "They're not exactly high fashion," I called out to her, holding up the plain attire, "but they're clean and should be warm enough."
Her laughter echoed from the bathroom, warming me more than the fire. "Tony, as long as they don't smell like a locker room, I'm game."
I chuckled at her comment as I poured the last of the wine into our glasses and waited for her to emerge.
When she did, my mind blanked. The athletic shorts were conspicuously absent, the oversized tee shirt I'd provided hanging on her petite frame like a provocative dress. It reached the middle of her thighs, unveiling an expanse of shapely legs that I hadn’t seen before. Strong desire stirred within me, and my heart fluttered.
Biting back a groan, I stood, hoping to appear casual as I handed her the wine glass. "I see you opted for the ‘less is more' approach," I teased, struggling to keep my gaze on her face.
She took a delicate sip of the wine, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she looked up at me through her lashes. "The shorts were a tad too roomy. I didn't fancy losing them in the middle of the night."
A snicker escaped me at her response. "I promise you, Jude, that's a sight I wouldn't mind one bit," I confessed. The wine, or maybe the company, was giving me loose lips.
