by Drea Riley
Rushing from a patient’s room to the elevator, he’d gotten there just in time to see...perfection. The angel dressed in a light green button-down shirt and a gauzy knee-length skirt was virtually glowing with energy. There was a slight spark of emotion in her dark eyes. She radiated worry and anxiety, but beneath that, there was something...sinful and strong.
Zeke had raced up the flight of stairs. He was going to ignore the woman and her rudeness, but he noticed the elevator had not made it up the one floor.
Something about that was odd. And he worried that the emotion he had seen in the woman’s eyes had been something dire.
He waited with his hand above the emergency phone until he heard the car come to life and work its way up. As the doors opened before him, he was blocking the exit. He had been so busy checking her out that she pushed him inside the elevator and hit the button. The doors began to close. Her antics only made him want her more. He’d never been so instantly attracted to anyone. He was about to step out of the elevator when he caught a glimpse over her shoulder. Lloydia was sneaking out of her room. She looked up just in time to see them standing at the elevator. The impish grin on her face told the tale. Busted! He had just interrupted her escape plan, but from the look on the face of her daughter, whom he could now readily recognize, Mrs. Dominquez wasn’t going anywhere but right to surgery.
He leaned back against the elevator and let it take him down to the main floor, where he could seclude himself in his administrative offices. A few moments later, he decided he would not be the person operating on Lloydia and passed the case on to a colleague; however, he would be sitting in on all patient meetings. And he would be finding out more about Lloydia’s “demure little girl.”
***
Looking over at Jonica as she wiped the last bit of mustard from the corner of her mouth, he was again struck by her beauty. She looked up and caught his gaze and immediately looked away. He could tell by the way she was fidgeting that she was about to make another of her escapes. “So I checked on your mother before I came up here. They had an emergency surgery, car wreck on the loop, but as soon as a room is clear they’ll begin. From start to finish the whole thing should only take about an hour, and then she’ll spend an hour or so in recovery.”
He watched intently as Jonica stilled her movements and closed her eyes. Her throat worked, and she held her breath. When she looked back at him, her eyes were moist with emotion. “Your dad is downstairs with her now. Everything should run smoothly, Jonica. Don’t worry. The performing surgeon is great, and this is all routine.”
“Listen, it may be all routine, but that’s my mother, so all your mouthing is not going to mean a thing until I see her and she’s come through it okay. Two days ago you guys where telling me about all the risks and how her heart is weak, and now you want me to just sit here calmly.” The emotion in her voice, the passion in her eyes...all of it beckoned to Zeke. All he wanted to do was gather her in his arms and protect her. Two days of observation and he could tell that Jonica was strong and fiesty, just like her parents, but deep down, she was all woman. Sensitive and delicate. Lloydia was right. Her daughter did need a big, strong man, but not just any man. In that moment, Zeke was determined he was going to be the man for Jonica. Hell, he already had both of her parents’ blessings.
“I am sorry, Jonica—I don’t mean to patronize you or belittle your fears. You are right—there is always some risk in any surgery. But your mom is a fighter. It’s going to take a lot more than some ‘pipe work,’ as she called it, to slow her down.”
A slight smile crossed her face. “How did you manage to convince Mami to go through with this surgery anyway? She was determined to go home.” She tossed the question at him.
Color rushed up his neck, and he looked away.
“What? She made you promise something ridiculous if she did it, didn’t she?”
Zeke couldn’t look her in the face. How was he going to explain that he’d bargained with her mother to get her to have the surgery she so obviously needed? Not that the price wasn’t worth it. He just didn’t think Jonica was going to be in agreement.
He was about to explain himself when he saw a tall man walking towards them. Jonica stood and rushed into the man’s arms. Zeke went on red alert. He could hear the man murmuring to Jonica. It was the same voice he’d heard over the phone in the last few days. Who was this man to Jonica?
***
I pulled back from Rob’s arm and brought him forward to introduce him to Zeke.
“This is Rob, a coworker. Rob, this is Dr. McAllister, one of my mom’s doctors,” I made the introductions. It was then I noticed the tension sparkling in the air. I looked between both men as they stared each other down. I couldn’t help it—I laughed. “You two are so funny. Oh my God, I wish Rachel was here to see this. We’d both be peeing our pants.” I broke up, tears streaming down my face as laughter consumed me. I was sent into another fit of laughter as both men stared down at me, arms crossed, looking none too pleased.
Rob muttered something under his breath and stalked off, saying he had better things to do than have me laugh at him. Yeah, that man definitely had better things to do, or rather someone to do, if he’d just quit playing around and accept what Rachel was offering. I was going to give him several more days before I intervened. I didn’t want my sister doubting herself. Sobering up a bit, I took out my phone and sent a text to Rachel about how I didn’t want to be left alone with the hot doctor. Hitting the send button, I looked up to see Zeke still staring down at me.
“You done laughing?” Zeke asked.
I wiped my tears and nodded. “Yes, thank you for getting my mind off of my mom’s surgery.”
“That wasn’t how I had planned it, but you’re welcome.”
***
Zeke watched as Jonica smoothed her hands over her thighs, and immediately he wanted to lift her in his arms and have her wrap those legs around him. He was seconds away from telling her just how beautiful he thought she was when an angry Rob rounded the corner and stalked up to them.
“Excuse me, Zeke, wasn’t it? I need to speak to Jonica.”
Zeke didn’t like the way the man seemed to feel he had some claim to the woman, and he hated even more the soft way Jonica looked at Rob and the way she placed her hand in his and allowed herself to be pulled away. He stood staring at the two of them as they conversed a few yards away. Rob kept looking his way, making him want to go over there and ask what his problem was. But Jonica patted his arm in a friendly way, and soon he was gone. Zeke waited for her to make her return.
“Sorry about that. He just wanted to make sure everything was okay.” Jonica didn’t elaborate, and he was going to push her for more when his pager went off.
“Just got a page from surgery—your mother is being prepared.” He saw the worry enter her eyes again. Zeke didn’t stop himself this time. Throwing caution to the wind, he took her into his arms, giving her the hug she needed.
“Thanks, Zeke—I really needed that.”
“Whenever you are ready, we can go up to the surgical waiting area.”
Jonica pulled back, and they walked up the hall. Finding a spot, they began the waiting game. It was a new experience for Zeke. He was usually the one performing the operations. Now he finally got to see what it was to wait for updates on a loved one. As a surgeon, his focus was solely on his patient; the family members never figured into his thoughts until the surgery was complete and he went to give them the news.
***
Almost two hours later, I wanted to pull my hair out. We were the only ones left in the waiting area. It seemed my momma was the only one still in surgery. I’d already sent Zeke to go check why it was taking so damn long.
“There was a small complication, but everything is going well.”
“What the hell do you mean ‘complication’?” I almost went out of my mind when I heard that word. ‘Complication’ was not a word I wanted to hear when my momma was in surgery!
> “Only a small one. There was scarring from previous surgeries that prevented the surgeon from getting where he needed to go. It was a minor setback, but he was finally able to get in. We just have to be patient.”
Zeke was soon going to find out that ‘patient’ was not in my vocabulary. I stood and began pacing, having lost feeling in my ass. I didn’t know how Zeke could just sit there so calmly. Of course it wasn’t his mother on the operating table.
My phone went off. I looked at the number—Rachel. We’d been texting back and forth all day.
“Bitch, did Mami escape or what? This is taking way too long. You said they started hours ago. Do I need to come up there? Where is Pablo? Jonica Farran, can you hear me?”
“Chingada, si te olli. Si no te quedas callada un segundo no tengo tiempo ni para parpadear, menos responder...” I started rapidly before slamming my hand over my face and breathing deeply. Tears burned my eyes, and I felt the energy beginning to slip from my body. Something was wrong. I opened my eyes in time to see Zeke rushing back through the double doors that led to the operating center.
Slowly I recognized my father’s arm coming around my shoulder, guiding me from the center of the room to one of the chairs that sat in silent rows, sturdy yet uncomfortable soldiers. I didn’t protest when Pablo took the phone and spoke softly to Rachel. I didn’t react when he hung up the phone and tucked it into his pocket. I hardly blinked when he pulled me across the seat and onto his lap and began to sing in Spanish, his mellow tenor wrapping me in the familiar warmth of my childhood. I couldn’t be comforted, for I was trapped within myself; fear bit at my soul.
As the hands of the clock ticked loudly, people came and went. I barely acknowledged Rachel’s appearance, nor the fact that she left the hospital right before Rob showed up to check on her himself. He didn’t stay long either. Or if he did, I didn’t notice. Other coworkers and friends stopped by or called. At some point, one of Rachel’s cousins took my keys so she could stop by my home and walk the dog. I had a moment of panic thinking that Claymore, my mixed breed great dane/ bull mastiff, was home alone, hungry and needing badly to relieve himself.
Five hours later, I was slouched deeply in one of the chairs, my head resting on my father’s shoulder as we both watched the muted television hanging in the corner.
***
Zeke was tired. No, tired was what one was after working a part-time job in a call center selling insurance or taking surveys. Zeke was beyond tired. He was bone tired, dog ass tired. Weary and emotionally drained. He had never had such a dramatic and stressful day. Never had he had a patient so extravagant and complex as Lloydia. The woman couldn’t even have a routine hysterectomy. Nope, she had to come out of anesthesia mid surgery and then nearly die twice. Once she was stabilized, they’d managed to complete the hysterectomy and stitch her back together. Zeke had gotten cleaned up and spent the last two hours monitoring her in recovery. He’d refused to leave her side even when the attending surgeon had declared she was okay to move back to her room. His was the first face he wanted Lloydia to see when she came to. Or so he had thought
Waking from the heavy dose of drugs, Mami had smiled faintly before cussing him like he was a common criminal. Once the sailor-esque sermon was over, she then declared she’d kept her end of their bargain by having the surgery and not “going to the upper room.” She was calling in her marker. Zeke was to leave immediately and take care of her baby. That meant copious amounts of spoiling, pampering and relaxing, all of which Mami had given him specific instructions on how to carry out. There were also instructions on how to “satisfy” Jonica’s more “adult needs” and a list of foods that were both Jonica’s favorites and on Mami’s “surefire to get her in the mood” list.
He’d kissed the aging pixie on her forehead and held her hand until sleep claimed her before making his way to the waiting room. He arrived just in time to catch the end of the attending surgeon’s explanation of how the operation went.
He witnessed something else as well. Over the past few days, both Lloydia and Pablo had explained why their marriage had failed, but looking into Pablo’s face, Zeke saw true, unadulterated love. Pablo and Lloydia may pretend they couldn’t stand each other, but Pablo loved that woman. Zeke hoped maybe the two would be able to reconcile. It would be important to both himself and Jonica that the two came together. He intended to be part of Jonica’s life for a long time. And in the short time he’d known all three, he’d become attached to them.
Waiting in the background as hugs and well wishes went around, Zeke’s gaze never left Jonica, following her around the waiting room. Lloydia would only be allowed two visitors for fifteen minutes, so everyone but Jonica and Pablo left, knowing Lloydia was resting comfortably in her room and promising to return tomorrow during visiting hours. Nobody noticed him standing in the background, and that was just fine with him. He only cared about one person, and she was now making her way to her mother’s room.
Fifteen minutes later, he was waiting for her outside Lloydia’s room. He wasn’t prepared for the sight of her cradled in her father’s arms. He could see the adrenaline and some of the stress finally draining and the beginning stages of exhaustion setting in. He braced his feet apart and waited while he watched Pablo rocking his daughter slightly from side to side. The sheer look of love and comfort that passed between them tightened his heartstrings. As awed as he was to see that exchange, he couldn’t wait to have his woman in his arms. He didn’t misread the warning in Pablo’s eye, nor the way the man held on to his baby girl a few seconds longer and then didn’t back away once she was in Zeke’s arms.
He sent his future father-in-law a look that promised he’d give his life for Jonica. All of his emotions, his soul itself poured from his dark eyes. Only when Pablo gave him a barely perceptive nod did Zeke look down at the angel in his arms. Already Jonica was dozing, her breathing becoming deeper as she snuggled her face into his shoulder.
“Ready to go home, baby?” Zeke asked softly.
At her nod, he led her out to his SUV. After making sure she was safely buckled in, he went around to the driver’s seat and
got in.
Jonica was out cold in the short time it took him to drive out of the parking garage. He smiled.
Arriving home and parking in the garage, he got out and unlocked the door leading into the house before going over to Jonica. Opening her door and undoing the seatbelt, Zeke took her in his arms and carried her inside, all the way up the stairs and onto his bed. Leaving her clothes on, he only took off her shoes before tucking her in. He needed a shower, so he kept quietly moving around the room. Not that it mattered, because it looked like Jonica was out like a light.
After showering and locking down the house for the night, he slipped into bed with Jonica. It wasn’t easy, being that she had taken command of his bed. And being a big man, he had a Texas-size bed. Maneuvering himself, he found a comfortable position and reeled her into his arms.
***
I woke up at five a.m. There was nothing unusual about that. My body’s internal alarm clock was set from years of training. What was unusual was my state of dress. I hadn’t fallen asleep nude since my freshman year in college, when the parties had been frequent and the nights lasted forever. I always dressed for bed after following a strict bath time routine. And since there was no man in my life, there was no chance of something “fun” having happened. Stretching and yawning deeply, I settled back against the warmth radiating against my back. It felt nice, but I really wanted to roll over. Feeling with my hand, I knew I was close to the edge of the bed.
“MOVE, Rach,” I mumbled. When my best friend didn’t budge, I tried again.
“Dammit, Rachel,
I know you’ve lost your whole ass mind trying to cuddle me up outta my own bed, move over!” I accented my frustration by thrusting my considerable backside against my best friend in an attempt to win a few more inches of mattress surface.
What I gained was the realization of tw
o things. First, I was not in my own bed, and secondly, it wasn’t Rachel behind me in the bed that was not my own.
With a speed that couldn’t be caught on camera, I shot out of the bed and towards the open doorway directly in front of me. My bare feet moved like lightning, but still I registered the deep pile of the lush, caramel-colored carpet. I missed the warmth of that carpet the second my feet touched the cool tile of the bathroom floor. Not that my feet were on the floor long. I slammed and locked the door without ever turning around. Moments later, I was perched on the tank of the toilet with a decorative candleholder clinched in my hands. I listened for sounds from the room I’d vacated, my body tensing when I heard movement close to the door. After about three minutes, when I could no longer hear any movement, I moved from my perch and took in the room.
Finding a security badge on the large double vanity, I flipped it over and discovered my captor’s identity. Well, this wasn’t exactly how I’d planned to take Rob up on his wager, but now that I was here…. I knew Mom had to be okay, or Pablo wouldn’t have allowed Zeke to take me away. So I decided to spend some time relaxing and enjoying all that was Dr. Ezekial McAllister.
***
Zeke couldn’t suppress the laugh that rumbled deep within him. Jonica fleeing his bed was nothing to laugh about, but the joy of knowing she was in his home after having spent the last three nights cradled in his arms warmed him more than any thought ever had. Rolling over onto his back, he stretched languidly before getting up and striding to his massive closet, where he found a pair of drawstring shorts and his favorite jersey. He’d had that jersey since high school, though he didn’t wear it anymore. He was several pounds larger and nearly a foot taller than he’d been fifteen years ago. He placed the clothes in a neat pile, along with a fresh towel and a hairbrush, on the floor in front of the bathroom door.
