by Cecilia Fyre
Ricco joined her, lighting his cigarette. Keeping his distance while he smoked, he made sure to blow the smoke over the velvety New York night. This simple courtesy was touching.
“This space is great,” Lea said. “A private roof terrace in Manhattan. I’ve never been on one.”
Ricco gazed out over the twinkling lights shining in the buildings below them. The indirect lighting set into the floor all across the expensive wooden decking made him look pale and wistful. “My job has some perks.”
Lea wondered about the words. They could have been a brag, but his tone of voice, flat, almost bitter, couldn’t have been further from that.
What’s really going on behind those intense eyes? But she kept her curiosity in check and changed the topic. “Aren’t the cats going to escape if we leave the door open?” Lea indicated two twitching tails, just visible on the stairs that led back into the penthouse.
Ricco snorted. "They're afraid of the dark, the cowards. They're scared of many things. They take after me." He winked but seemed to only be half-joking. "They come outside sometimes when it's sunny. They like the heat. Hey, I wanted to apologize… no, not that again," he added, interpreting the roll of her eyes correctly. "About the night I called you. I wasn't thinking straight, my head hurt so much. But I shouldn't have asked you for painkillers. Man, I didn't think. It could've cost you your job."
It was touching that he had thought that far and that he was willing to own up even after it had all worked out okay. Lea admired honesty so she decided to be frank with him as well. "I don't know about losing my job, but there was an awful lot of paperwork for 'one vial of Dilaudid accidentally broken'." She sketched quotation marks with her fingers. "I'm lucky, Dr. Mong, my supervisor is great. He didn't ask any questions. And I have the good girl bonus, though that might be used up now. The rest of the vials are safely locked away in his office now. The only reason I had them in the first place was that we fought so hard to get them. We didn't want to lose them in that ER chaos."
“Those pain meds were for your study?” Ricco sounded genuinely interested.
Lea nodded. “Fought the FDA tooth and nail for them.”
“Tell me more about that study.”
“I hope you got all night?” Lea grinned, feeling flattered. “It’s what I came here to do, and I get excited about it. Short version is, we’re investigating different forms of pain management in pre-clinical and first response settings, and how that correlates to post-treatment outcomes. It’s getting exciting in the new year, but at the moment we’re still doing prep work.”
“Sounds awesome, and complicated,” Ricco said, impressed. “Something for really clever people.”
His praise made Lea blush. “It’s very interesting, yeah, and exhausting. The grant only pays half my salary, for the rest of my paycheck I work as a junior registrar… junior doctor, I mean. At the ER at the Bellevue Hospital Centre on First Avenue.”
“And I thought I was busy.”
Lea shook her head. “I’m sure you’re very busy. Jetting all over the country, meeting interesting people.”
Ricco made a dismissive gesture. “Pssh… I just play. My work doesn’t matter, I don’t impact on anyone’s life.”
“I know for a fact that’s not true,” she said emphatically. “I have googled you, you know.”
For just a moment Ricco looked suspicious. What does he think I found? Lea hurried on, keen to ease his mind. “Your fans love you. So many happy stories from people who got to meet you.”
His eyes darkened, and Lea’s heart sank. Had she committed another faux pas? But after a moment, Ricco’s gaze softened. “Does it pay all right, being a junior doctor? Manhattan is expensive.”
The change of topic might have been clumsy, but the message was clear. Lea didn’t mind. She could only imagine what that constant fan scrutiny was like. “The pay is okay. I’m glad I got the shifts with the hospital directly. That way, when the research is done, it’s more likely they’ll keep me on. But no, it’s not enough to live in Manhattan, certainly not here.” She waved at the surrounding buildings. “That’s why I’m moving.”
“I thought you rented a room from your landlord?” Ricco asked. “I’ve seen him a couple of times, he’s not been here that long yet.”
“Carmine? That was just good luck. He’s the cousin of a cousin of my mother’s, but he doesn’t want a permanent flatmate… lodger… or, whatever…”
Ricco grinned. Her Britishisms seemed to tickle him. “He the tall dude, black ponytail? Sorta scary looking?”
“That’s Carmine, yeah.” Lea grinned, too.
Ricco, his eyes sparkling in the faint light, moved closer. “When are you moving?”
“Next week,” Lea said. “The flat is getting a new coat of paint right now.”
“Where’s the new place?”
“Queens.” She chuckled when he made a face. “Don’t knock it till you’ve seen it. It’s a nice apartment, with some outside space. And I can afford it, just about.”
“I don’t know that I can even find Queens on a map,” Ricco said. “But if you need help moving, just shout, all right?”
Sure, when hell freezes over will I bother Ricco Como with helping me move to Queens. But she only said, “Thanks, I will.”
“Hey.” He looked awkward as he gestured toward the patio table and the small black object he’d picked up before they’d climbed up to the roof. “Would it, I mean… can I take some pictures of you? I got this new camera with supermax ISO the other day, and I'm dying to try it out in the dark."
Lea was momentarily lost for words. The man who had photographed his beautiful model girlfriends in the nude, in exotic settings and sexy poses, wanted to take photos of her? Her mouth went dry. Well, he also photographs dirty New York streets littered with garbage and derelict buildings with a passion. She had seen those photos online. She probably came somewhere between those two extremes.
As it happened to her sometimes when she was nervous, the answer that came out of Lea’s mouth before she could stop herself reflected none of that internal struggle. “If you want me to take my clothes off, you’ll have to wine and dine me first. I’m old school.”
As soon as the words were out she clapped her hand to her mouth in embarrassment. But Ricco just threw his head back, roaring with laughter. Seeing him so amused seemed worth a little embarrassment on her part. After a moment Lea joined in with the laughter a little helplessly.
When Ricco could finally stop chuckling his gaze returned to her, making sure he had her attention. “Noted.”
His voice was low and smoky now. With one languid stride, he closed the gap between them. Never breaking eye contact his hand came up, cradling the back of her head, carding through her hair. Goosebumps traveled up Lea's back as his strong, gentle fingers caressed the back of her neck. Then he pulled her close and kissed her.
She expected him to taste of beer and cigarettes, and he did, a little, but also clean and warm and sweet. He smelled amazing. Lea would often think of that first kiss when she encountered pleasant smells she couldn’t immediately place. His short stubble was surprisingly soft, and so was his mouth on hers.
He took his time, exploring her mouth, her lips, her teeth with his tongue. Lea had no idea how long they stood like this, had no recollection later of when he had taken the G&T from her, placed his other arm around her. The night air around them was cool and soothing, and New York kept up its frantic pace below their feet.
When they finally broke apart neither of them wanted to talk, for which Lea was grateful. She was in a daze, and when Ricco asked again if he could take photos of her she just nodded.
He directed her into certain poses, and even in her daze, Lea admired his focus. He didn't ask for anything lewd or complicated and simply seemed happy to try out his camera. But once he'd taken all the shots he wanted he seemed awkward, almost shy.
“D’you, umm—” he began, but Lea cut him off. She liked him, but she wasn’t ready t
o do what she thought he would suggest next.
“I better go home. I’m working tomorrow.” Which was true, but she actually had the afternoon shift. But she needed time to herself now, to digest it all. “It was a great night, thank you.” She gave him a quick peck on the cheek before he could say anything, then rushed down the two flights of stairs and out of the apartment.
Back in her own temporary bedroom, Lea leaned against the door, panting as if she had just run a mile.
She had never had a night like this in her life, and she almost regretted leaving in a hurry. He wouldn't have thought badly of her if she'd stayed, and she wasn't exactly an innocent girl. But still, in her gut, Lea knew that it was right not to give in to her desires right away.
Her cell phone buzzed. It was a picture message from Ricco. This is beauty, clothes or not… Sleep tight, doc! x
Lea tapped on the attachment. It was a photo of her, but not from the roof session just now. Ricco must’ve taken this one on his phone back at the gallery. He had captured her with her head cocked, studying one of the odd sculptures.
She laughed to herself. Beautiful, no. Interesting? Maybe.
Or Ricco Como seriously needed his eyes examined.
6
“Oh, hey… moving day is today?” Ricco stood in his doorway, looking surprised.
Lea put down the box she was holding and straightened up, wincing. How had she acquired so much stuff in the short time here? She had come over from England with just a suitcase and one bag only two months ago. Okay, most of the boxes were full of medical textbooks, but still.
She hadn’t seen Ricco since the night at the gallery. He had texted her that he’d be out of town for ten days. Then, when he was back, he’d called, but Lea was working that night and so had to decline. She needed the money from the extra shift, what with the rental deposit for the apartment. But she’d been upset that she’d not see him before she moved.
“You were gonna ask me to help,” Ricco continued, sounding hurt.
Lea fidgeted. “You’re busy. I didn’t want to impose.” Why on earth was he being so nice to her?
Ricco grabbed a jacket from inside his apartment. “Do I look busy?” He hefted a box. “And I offered. At least let me help carry that stuff down.”
“Wait,” Lea said. “The man and van I hired hasn’t turned up yet, and I can’t get hold of him. I might have to drag all of the stuff back up in a moment.”
“How many boxes you got?” Ricco asked.
“Three, a suitcase and a bag. My other stuff is still on the container ship.”
“Then it’ll fit no problem,” Ricco said, hoisting the box and striding toward the elevators.
“Fit where?” Lea asked, hurrying after him with the suitcase.
“Into my Jeep.” He balanced the box on one knee and pressed the button for the elevator. Then he nudged her with his shoulder. “I haven’t had my shots, though.”
“Shots?” Lea frowned.
“We’re going to Queens. That’s like going abroad.”
Lea laughed and mock-slapped his arm. “Funny, I’m sure. Thanks for your help, though. Really.”
Ricco’s smile was full of warmth and it gave her butterflies. “Has its perks, knowing a New Yorker with a car. We’re a dying breed.”
Downstairs Ricco put the box on top of the two Lea had already stacked in the lobby. “Wait here, I’ll get the car.”
Ten minutes later he propped the front door open with one of the boxes.
“Where do you park your car?” Lea asked. “In the street?”
“Sometimes. At the moment it’s in a lot a block over. It’s hard finding a parking space around here.”
“I should probably get a car now,” Lea mused. “There’s staff parking at the hospital.”
They took a box each out onto the sidewalk.
“God, yeah!” Ricco said emphatically. “You shouldn’t be riding out to Queens on the subway after a late shift, not with all those psychos.”
His gaze was full of concern. Blushing, Lea couldn’t think what to say.
He turned toward a beige Jeep that was double-parked in the fortunately deserted street. “Here we go.” He pressed the car key and the lights on the Jeep flashed.
Lea put the suitcase down by the rear bumper. “I’ll get the bag from upstairs.”
They got everything loaded up in less than ten minutes.
“Right, give me that Queens address,” Ricco said when they were both in their seats. “But I’m warning you, the GPS might refuse to take us there. I hope you got a map from the nineteen-fifties on you.”
Lea poked out her tongue at him and he laughed. She recited her new address and he tapped it into the screen on the dashboard. As they pulled away from the curb, he asked, “Why Queens? Can’t just be the money. There are some nice bits of Brooklyn that must still be affordable for a doctor.”
“The hospital is close to the Midtown Tunnel,” Lea explained. “Driving across is easier from Queens than from Brooklyn. Hence the idea with the car.”
“What kind of car d’you wanna get?” Ricco asked.
Lea shrugged. “I haven’t had one in ten years. Something small and cheap?”
“Hey, get a motorbike. You’ll fit through even the worst traffic jams, and parking’s dead easy.” He sounded excited.
“I don’t ride,” Lea said before he could get any ideas. But it was too late.
“I’ll teach you.” Ricco smiled at her, and the butterflies were back at full force. “I love bikes, I ride all the time up in Ottawa. That’s pretty much all I do there.”
Lea shifted in her seat. “I have to confess, I still haven’t watched your show.” She’d wanted to, but Carmine only had one TV set, which was turned to football most of the time, and his WIFI had been spotty.
Ricco shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. I don’t mind not talking about the latest episode or arguing about who we killed off this season for a change. Everyone, from cab driver to the delivery guy from the Chinese around the corner wants to talk about Gone to Hell. I did a dozen interviews for it in LA last week since we’re just back from hiatus.”
“Oh, yeah. Carmine mentioned that he saw you doing a talk show.” That her landlord had exclaimed ‘Hey, look, it’s your boyfriend on TV!’ Lea kept to herself. “Did you have a good time in LA?” she asked instead.
“Yeah. I don’t get to go that much now, so I stayed a few extra days to hang out with some old friends. And I got to see the exhibition, finally!”
“Exhibition?” Lea asked.
“Didn’t I mention my photography exhibition? It’s showing in LA right now, so we had a party while I was there.” He beamed. “I wish I could take you. I wanna show all my friends, but most are in New York or in Ottawa.”
She was a friend… was that what they were? Lea knew she should be delighted that Ricco Como thought of her as a friend, but there had been this feeling that they could be something more.
Ricco seemed not to notice the change in her mood. He was still talking about LA but Lea was only half listening.
“You okay, doc?” he asked at last.
He frowned, and Lea blushed. Had she failed to reply to a question or something?
“Sorry, I’m fine.” Lea pulled herself together. “What did you say?”
“I asked if work has been okay?” Ricco said without heat. “You went all quiet on me, I thought I’d change the subject. Sorry I ranted on about uninteresting shit.”
He wasn’t being sarcastic, but genuinely worried that he had been boring her. Lea didn’t have any experience with celebrities but she’d bet money that most would assume that people were hanging on their every word. Actually, a lot of men were generally like that, too. He’s really an unusual guy. She smiled.
“It wasn’t boring.” She turned her focus back to him. “So, LA. Was that where you’d just come back from when you texted me?”
She had only asked to show she wanted him to keep talking about his trip but Ricco�
��s face grew dark. “No, I was at a fantasy convention in Chicago for the weekend.”
“Oh, I’ve heard about those,” Lea said. “With costumes and autographs and stuff?”
“Yeah.” But he didn’t elaborate, and his face remained as dark as a thundercloud. He looked so forbidding all of a sudden Lea didn’t know what to say.
His sudden mood swing wasn’t as much a surprise as she would have thought. He’d displayed that Mercurial side before, but it was still unsettling. As a doctor, her instinct for people’s emotions was good, honed by being around patients who were ill and in pain. There was a rawness in Ricco now, a fear that showed plainly in the tense set of his shoulders, the way he gritted his teeth and gripped the steering wheel. Something had happened at the convention. Lea wanted to ask, she was curious what had made him lose his calm so abruptly. But she didn’t say anything. He didn’t seem ready to talk about it.
They didn't speak for the rest of the way, just listened to the instruction from the GPS. When Ricco parked outside her new apartment Lea was glad to get out of the car.
Ricco grabbed the first box from the trunk and Lea took the suitcase.
“First floor,” Lea said when they got into the hallway, but corrected herself as Ricco veered off down a corridor. “Sorry, second floor. I forgot.” She went up first to lead the way and unlock the door. “It's nowhere as nice as what you're used to.” Ricco carried the box into the living room, looking around with interest. When he gazed at her his eyes still looked haunted, but he gave her a sweet smile.
"Baby, what you see back at the penthouse isn't what my life was like for most of the time." And without warning or preamble, he stepped close and kissed her, deep and full of passion. They didn't come up for air for a long time, and Lea never forgot those minutes standing in the sparse apartment that still smelled of paint, his arms around her, his heart beating against her.
Finally, they broke apart. Ricco held her gaze a moment longer, and Lea could hardly breathe. "Sorry for being a dick earlier. I'll tell you what happened in Chicago, but let's get your stuff up here first."
