Healing Her Heart

by Kimberly Smith

  After the phone had rebooted, she watched as the status line filled with alerts from the various social media sites she was on, and alerts from her messaging application. She cleared all the Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter alerts then she checked her text messages. The most recent message was from a number she didn’t know. It was from just after midnight.

  After reading it, Denise realized that she had drunk text Dr. Sexy last night. She quickly went back reading all the text messages they’d sent back and forth. Denise had agreed to go on a date with him today. She checked the current time. It was almost noon. She wanted to cancel the date, but she also wanted to see him again. She blew out a slow breath, laying the phone down. She’d broken rule number two and three. Never send a text to a hot guy after the third glass of wine and never go on a date. Hookups where okay, that was just about sex, but a date meant talking and sharing, getting to know each other and that was a definite no-no.

  When was she ever going to learn that texting and drinking didn’t go together? Denise had vowed never to send a drunk text again after the one she sent to a guy named Dan. The text had said, “I’m naked and lonely, what should I do about it?” Denise got the message back that said, “Try not texting me by mistake.” She had sent the message to her Dad instead of Dan. She’d been mortified and had vowed to never use her phone after drinking.

  **

  “My goodness, you would think you’ve never been on a date before,” Ash said to her brother as he changed his clothes again. He’d tried on three different suits complaining that neither of them was right. “What’s wrong with this one?”

  “She agreed to have lunch with Dr. Sexy. This is more Jerkenstein than sexy,” Edwin said taking the Jacket off and tossing it on the bed with the other’s he’d tried on. He looked at his sister who sat on the floor Indian style a few feet away from him. “I’m surprised that she hasn’t canceled on me.”

  Ash jumped to her feet, going to his closet. She flipped through the clothes hanging on one side. “She likes you, or she wouldn’t have responded in the first place. “Your problem is that you are thinking too hard about the whole thing. You need to relax. Here, put this on,” Ash said tossing a pair of jeans to him. “Just do it,” she added when he started to protest. “And take off the button down. I’ll be right back with a shirt you can wear.”

  Edwin watched his sister as she left the room. He removed his slacks and put on the jeans. He hadn’t worn them since he’d gotten back from his trip. They were faded and soft with a few threadbare areas. Ash returned, handing him a black tee shirt. Edwin took it from her holding it up to see the design on the front. In bold white print, it said, “I’m Sexy, and I know it.”

  Ash laughed when he looked from the shirt to her with exasperation. “I think it’s perfect. Based on the messages you two were sending, Denise has a great sense of humor. She will love it.”

  Edwin removed the shirt he’d been wearing and pulled the tee shirt over his head. The shirt was small and stretched tight across his chest, but it was long enough to cover the top of his pants. Looking at himself in the mirror, he wished he’d had time to get his hair cut. With his fingers, he brushed back the locks that had fallen forward into his eyes.

  “Now you look like Dr. Sexy. Just put on some sneaks, and you’re done.”

  “Thanks Ash,” Edwin said going to his closet to grab some shoes.

  “Where are you taking her?”

  “I arranged something special.” That’s all Edwin was willing to say. He needed to get going. He picked up his brush, but his sister snatched it from his hand. “Hey!”

  “Nope, you look hot just like this. You should take my car,” Ash said taking her keys from her pocket. “What’s sexier than a man in a sports car?”

  Edwin pictured himself in her car and had to admit she was right. He took the keys from her. “Thanks.”

  5

  Denise stood in front of her bathroom mirror staring at her reflection., She looked good. At least her skin was mostly the same color. She only had a few light bruises that hadn’t healed yet. She put some nude lipstick on and decided that she was as ready as she planned to be. She was Ms. Too Through after all. She wasn’t trying to impress him. She turned off the light and went to the living room to wait for her ride. Her phone beeped. She grabbed it from the table and checked the message.

  Ms. Too Through,

  Your car has arrived. Dr. Sexy is waiting for you.

  Denise didn’t respond, slipping her phone into her purse she picked up her keys off the table by the door. She stepped outside, closing the door and locking it. When she turned, she froze looking down from the second floor to where Dr. Sexy leaned against a gleaming red Mustang convertible, looking like an advertisement for some super manly cologne or something.

  He was wearing mirrored sunglasses, and his hair was messy, and wisps of it, moved in the light breeze. His arms were folded across his chest, and his ankles were crossed. He looked yummy as he smiled up at her. Denise swallowed and turned her eyes away from him going to the stairs at the end of the building.

  Edwin’s heart ramped up at the sight of her and felt like it was going to break out of his chest. He was nervous, and he hoped she wouldn’t be able to tell. All the way to her apartment, he’d been worried that she would call or text canceling their date.

  When he arrived, he took a minute to get his nerves under control. Then he sent her the text and positioned himself against the car the way his sister had told him to. Ash had said that he would know if he’d mastered the Dr. Sexy persona if she did a double take when she saw him. She hadn’t done a double take, but she’d stopped in her tracks and looked him over.

  He remained in his sexy pose as she came down the stairs. Edwin was definitely having lunch with Ms. Too Through. Denise had pulled her hair back from her face in a tight bun at the back of her head. She didn’t seem to be wearing make-up, but she didn’t need it.

  As she got closer, Edwin took in her whole appearance. The long, maroon, fitted skirt hugged her hips, with a slit on one side that exposed a flash of thigh as she walked. Her white shirt was buttoned up to her collar, and the click of her maroon suede ankle boots made a beat that said she would have no nonsense. There was no smile, but Edwin did detect a smirk as she stopped in front of him. He stood to his full height of just over six feet. Unfolding his arms, he opened the passenger door for her. She eased past him and slid into the seat. Edwin closed the door and jogged around to the driver’s side.

  He started the car and let the windows up. Edwin didn’t want the wind to assault them since the top was down. He smiled, turning to her. “Thank you.”

  “For what?” Denise said turning to look at him as he pulled into traffic.

  “For being visually stunning,” Edwin said, his eyes roaming over her.

  Denise rolled her eyes at his compliment. It was hard for her to keep from smiling, but she managed it. “You’re lucky I came at all. I wasn’t exactly in my right mind when I sent you those texts last night.”

  “Is that so?”

  Denise glanced at him. “Yes. I had a few glasses of wine, and I was a little tipsy.”

  “Well then, I’d say my timing was perfect. I am sorry about not contacting you sooner.”

  Neither of them said anything for a while. Edwin wasn’t sure how to explain his reasons for his behavior. As they approached their destination, Denise turned to him, “Were you on a date last night?”

  Edwin smiled, “No, that was my sister. Her name is Ashley.”

  “You two seem like night and day.”

  “We are.”

  As Edwin turned the car, Denise sat up a little looking out the front window. “Are we going to the lake?”

  “Not exactly,” Edwin said with a smile. “The Arboretum.”

  “I’ve never been here,” Denise said glancing around as they drove through the gate into the parking area. Edwin was amused. She was looking all around like a kid at an amusement park. He parked the c
ar and let the top up. Edwin locked the top on his side and then leaned past Denise to lock down her side of the vehicle.

  Denise inhaled just as he leaned close. He smelled clean and woodsy like he’d been walking through the forest on a warm spring day. Once he’d locked the top down, he exited the car and came around to open her door for her. Edwin’s hand was warm as she placed hers in his, getting out of the car. A current of electricity zinged her as it flowed from him through her. She expected him to let go of her hand, but he didn’t, he held on to her as they made their way inside the main entrance.

  Inside the lobby, Edwin released Denise’s hand. “Be right back,” he said pushing his shades up on his head. He walked to the reception desk and spoke with the woman there. Denise glanced around at the images of the various gardens the arboretum contained while she waited. She had heard of people having weddings here. Some of the photos showed different gardens set up for ceremonies. Edwin returned, and they followed an employee of the arboretum as he took them through several smaller gardens and a courtyard before announcing their arrival at the woman’s garden.

  There were fountains, pools and a large flat green area surrounded by tall hedges, trees and some of the most beautiful flowers Denise had ever seen. Their guide led them down to the flat green expanse where a picnic had been set out on the grass. “Enjoy your lunch.” The man said with a smile. Then he turned and left them alone.

  Edwin took her hand again, leading her to the edge of the grass. He knelt in front of her, lifting her feet one at a time, removing her shoes. Edwin used one hand to hold her calf and the other to slip her shoe off. Her leg was soft and warm in his hand. He noticed the intake of breath she made as his hand touched her skin.

  When his hand touched her leg, she felt the same electrical zing that she’d felt when he touched her hand at the car, but this time it shot up her leg and brought her center to life. She inhaled holding her breath, willing herself to calm down. She felt the same thing when he removed her other shoe. She was grateful when he was no longer touching her.

  It was the perfect weather for a picnic, even though it was officially still winter. That was the cool thing about living in Dallas. You could have weather in the high sixties and low seventies during the winter months. When he had taken his shoes off, he led her across the grass to the blanket. Once they were seated, Denise looked around them and then at Edwin. “This is incredible.”

  Edwin smiled at her and pulled dishes out of a large wicker basket, placing them between the two of them. “I’m glad you like it.”

  “I didn’t know you could have a meal here.”

  “Under special circumstances, you can. They rent out sections of the gardens for events and weddings.”

  “They rent out the gardens for dates?” Denise couldn’t believe it.

  “Not exactly for dates like this, but I was able to pull a few strings,” Edwin said. He didn’t want to admit that he’d used his mother’s connections to make this happen. He uncovered a dish and offered it to Denise.

  Denise smiled at the offering he held out to her. The dish was filled with a variety of fruit: strawberries, grapes, pineapple chunks, and others. Edwin handed her a fork. She chose a piece of pineapple. Edwin watched as she took a bite. She moaned, “It’s so sweet and juicy.” Edwin tasted the fruit, and he agreed. It was delicious. “Don’t think that plying me with delicious food is going to win me over easily,” Denise said getting back to the reason for this beautiful setting.

  Edwin chuckled, “I didn’t think it would be that easy, Ms. Too Through. I am sorry. I thought about contacting you several times.”

  “Then why didn’t you,” Denise asked snagging a strawberry from the dish?

  He liked that she didn’t hold back, that she said what was on her mind. Edwin took a napkin and wiped his mouth. “Because at times I feel like my life doesn’t belong to me.” He knew that his statement sounded mystifying. “I have responsibilities, and I’ve always done what I thought was responsible.”

  “So, talking to me is irresponsible?”

  Edwin realized that he’d said the wrong thing. “No, that’s not what I meant. Certain expectations have been set for me, and I have obligations, and sometimes it prevents me from thinking of myself first.” Denise didn’t say anything. “I told you that my sister and I are like day and night. Ash does whatever she wants. I’ve always done what is expected.”

  Denise smiled, “So you’re a momma’s boy? You probably still live at home too.” The look Edwin gave her confirmed it, and she shook her head laughing.

  Edwin smiled. “I have been out of the country for a year. I came home, and well I haven’t had time to look for a place.” He was lying. It had never occurred to him to move out on his own. Why should he? He had everything he needed at his parent’s house.

  “I’m curious, does your mother still pick out your clothes and do your laundry, cut your steak for you?”

  Edwin screwed up his face at her question. His mother occasionally picked out his clothes, but she didn’t do his laundry. The housekeeper did that. “Why don’t we talk about you? You never did tell me what those guys were after, the ones who roughed you up.”

  As Denise answered his question, Edwin laid out the main course of their lunch and pulled a bottle out of the basket. Denise noted that it was sparkling cider and not alcohol. When She finished telling him her story, Edwin uncovered the main course and laughed at the face Denise made when she saw the food. “Yours is a hen. I’m a vegetarian. Mine is tofu. I hope this will serve as a suitable replacement for crow.”

  As they ate their meal, Edwin asked, “What’s next for you?”

  Between bites of food, Denise answered him. “I have an interview for a position in law enforcement tomorrow.”

  “Oh yeah, doing what exactly.”

  “Chasing down bad guys. I’ve applied for a job with a private investigation firm as a bounty hunter.”

  Edwin stared at her for a second or two, “A bounty hunter?”

  “Yup.”

  “Like that guy on cable. You’re going to go out and apprehend criminals, bail jumpers?”

  Denise smiled at the surprise in his voice. “Yes. It won’t be quite the same. I’ll also work as a private investigator. Most of my job will be tracking people down.”

  “Aren’t you concerned about …” Edwin didn’t want to say it out loud, but she should be worried about getting hurt.

  Denise knew what he wanted to say. She wasn’t afraid of being hurt physically. “Sometimes you have to face things head on. What about you? Have you always wanted to be a doctor or was there something else you wanted to do?”

  Edwin explained, “I like working in the ER, but my career has been planned out since I could walk, and I am supposed to be transitioning into a private practice among other things.”

  His voice seemed to fall flat when talking about having a private practice. “It doesn’t sound like you want that,” Denise said before sipping from the glass he’d poured for her.

  Edwin wiped his hands on the napkin on his lap. “I’m not sure that I do,” he admitted, looking out past the grass to the pool of water on the other side.

  “Then don’t do it. Do what you want.” Denise lightened the mood saying, “I just realized that I had answered your second question from our talk in the hospital, but you haven’t answered mine.”

  Edwin turned meeting her gaze with a smile, “You’re right. You asked if I enjoyed dining out.” He said it playfully.

  Denise put her dish aside cleaning her hands. “Well Dr. Sexy, my question was…” she paused, laying her hands in her lap in a very graceful manner. “Do you like eating out and you know exactly what I mean.”

  Ms. Lewd was back. Edwin grinned at her, licking his lips and then answered, “I enjoy a box lunch from time to time.” Denise hid her smile, or at least she tried to. his cheeks flooded with color and she gave up trying to keep a straight face. She laughed, and Edwin laughed with her. Once they stopped gi
ggling, Edwin said, “We should clean this up. I only rented the garden for an hour.”

  They replaced all the dishes inside the basket before Edwin stood and held out his hand to assist Denise to her feet. He pulled gently and found himself looking down into her luminous hazel eyes. Edwin held her burning gaze for a moment or was it an eternity? Then his gaze shifted lower to her lips.

  His breathing had changed, and it seemed as if he couldn’t get air in his lungs. His eyes drifted back to hers. Her gaze was hooded, and her eyes looked more brown than green. She didn’t seem to be breathing at all. Edwin’s head lowered, he had to taste her sweet lips. Before their lips met, Denise stepped back moving out of his reach crossing the grass to put her shoes on. “I’ll meet you at the car. I need to use the lady’s room before we go,” She said with her back to him.

  Breathe girlfriend, just breathe, Denise told herself as she walked away from Edwin to find her way to the lady’s room. She wanted to kiss him, she really did. It was just too intense, the look in his eyes wasn’t the look she was used to seeing. The way he looked at her scared her. He wasn’t just looking at her. She felt like he was looking into her like he could see her soul.

  **

  Edwin watched her walking back in the direction they had come from. He sighed heavily. He didn’t know what had happened. Maybe she was reverting to their game. She had started this date as Ms. Too Through, but at some point, he’d seen a glimpse of the woman from the hospital bed. Ms. Lewd had made an appearance, but when Edwin moved in for a kiss, Ms. Lewd was gone. He cleaned up the space and walked back to the car.

  When Denise walked out of the entrance, Edwin had resumed his Dr. Sexy pose against the car. Sunglasses firmly in place, so that he could watch her without fear of her seeing his eyes. It was Ms. Too Through that exited the building. She strode towards him with the same no-nonsense walk she’d displayed at her apartment. There was no smile on her beautiful face as she stopped in front of him. Edwin stood and opened the car door for her. “Thank you,” Denise said getting into the car.