Take a Chance on Me

by Vanessa Devereaux

  “Patient? Are you a doctor?”

  “No, a physical therapist.”

  “I’m being rude standing here like this. How about I slide this open and you can come over to my side of the suite and have a drink. Looks like the hotel left us champagne and chocolates.”

  “Sounds great, because I’m famished. I didn’t have time for lunch.”

  Mitchell pushed the wall back and Rachel followed him into the other side of the room.

  “Hey, you’ve got a whirlpool,” she said.

  “I assume it’s for both of us to use, so feel free to jump in whenever you want.”

  She wanted to, but guessed he’d think it sort of strange if she left her blouse on to do so.

  “You said you’re hungry and in fact, so am I. Should I order something from room service for us?”

  “That sounds great.” Rachel sat on the bed thinking what a nice guy he seemed to be Maybe this wouldn’t be as bad as she’d thought.. She watched Mitchell pull out the black folder with menu written on the front and walk toward her. She would have noticed the limp even if she weren’t a physical therapist. She tried not to stare as he dragged his left leg slightly behind him, but she couldn’t avert her eyes fast enough.

  He didn’t say anything but simply sat down and offered her the menu. Now she felt guilty about staring. Her of all people should have known better.

  “Anything you’re particularly hungry for?” he asked.

  She took a quick look. The cheeseburger sounded tempting. The photo of the shrimp quesadilla looked downright mouthwatering, and right now she couldn’t narrow it down. Her stomach rumbled as if telling her to make a decision, and soon.

  “Everything seems so good. The pizza might have won me over, though.”

  “I was thinking about one of those too. I’ve missed eating a really good one while I’ve been out of the U.S.”

  “Really, where were you?”

  “I was in the Army for ten years and I just got back from Afghanistan.”

  Rachel guessed, and it was only a guess, that maybe his limp had something to do with his profession. Had he been shot or wounded in action?

  She did have a couple of patients who’d lost arms or legs while serving in the Armed Forces.

  “How about we order the large size and split it?” he asked.

  “Sounds good to me.”

  “I’m an everything on my pizza type of guy, but if there’s something you prefer we can order that.”

  “I’ll eat just about anything, so whatever you’re craving’s fine with me.”

  “Okay, I’ll call down.”

  Rachel watched him again as he got up and walked over to the phone. She’d come here adamant that she wasn’t going to get involved with him but now she’d seen him, well, any woman would find him hard to resist. He turned around and smiled and her heart melted. She smiled back noticing that, like her, he had glitter in his hair and some flecks of it across his shoulders. The limo––that had to be the most logical explanation.

  Mitchell put the phone down and placed the menu back on top of the desk.

  “They said it shouldn’t be more than twenty minutes and I also ordered us a couple of sodas.”

  There was an awkward silence between them as he looked at her, she at him, and then they both spoke at the same time.

  “I’m…”

  “I have…”

  They both laughed. “Go ahead,’ said Mitchell. He walked over to her and sat on the bed close enough for her to feel the heat from his body penetrating into hers. It suddenly felt comforting and she began to relax.

  “I was about to say I’ve never done this sort of thing before,” she said.

  “Me neither, so I guess it’s the blind leading the blind.”

  “So what made you sign up for this?”

  “My brother.How about you?”

  “It was my mother. Thirtieth birthday present for me.”

  “When’s your birthday?”

  “It was last Wednesday.”

  “Well, belated happy birthday.”

  “Thank you. So what are you planning to do now that you’re out of the Army?”

  “A good question. I’m not sure yet. I might start my own security company, but before I make a definite decision I have to go into …”

  He stopped suddenly.

  “Can I get you one of those chocolates? In fact, I’d really like one,” he said jumping up off the bed.

  “Sure.”

  His limp seemed more pronounced now, probably because he’d been sitting. Rachel knew she could help him with some exercises specifically for that, but didn’t think this was the time or place to raise the subject.

  There was a knock on the door.

  “You want me to get that?” asked Rachel.

  “Sure, it’s probably our room service.”

  ***

  The room felt suddenly hot and oppressive, despite it being a spacious suite. To him, at first sight, Rachel was the most beautiful girl he’d ever set eyes upon. The moment he’d opened the door, his heart had flipped and his legs had turned to a wobbling mess that barely supported his weight. Her beautiful skin, the wavy dark blonde hair, the little upturn in her nose, and those mesmerizing green eyes…He’d vowed not to even think about getting into a relationship, and sex had actually been the last thing on his mind this evening, but now he wanted nothing more than to sweep her up in his arms, carry her to the bed, and make love to her.

  But she’d seen his limp. He knew she had. Rachel had been diplomatic enough to glance down at the floor when he’d caught her staring, but he’d seen the look in her eyes. She’d probably run right out of the hotel room and down the hallway once they got naked. Not worth even trying to go through with it.

  He watched as she signed for their meal and then looked over and smiled at him. She was so pretty when she did that. And she also had glitter in her hair, just like him. Now he didn’t feel like such an idiot. Maybe she’d been attacked by it in the limo, too.

  “Are you going to eat this with me? Because I warn you, I have a huge appetite,” she said.

  Laughing, Mitchell pulled out the chair from the table where she’d set the pizza along with two plates and a stack of napkins.

  “This looks more than great.” Mitchell took his first bite. It was heavenly, and not just because he hadn’t eaten honest-to-goodness American-made pizza for over a year. The present company was a hell of a lot better, too.

  “Wow, this is pretty fantastic,” said Mitchell, hoping she didn’t mind him talking with his mouth full.

  “So, what’s Army food like?”

  “Not as bad as you’d think, but nothing like this. I might have to take some of this home with me. I’m a lousy cook. How about you?”

  “I haven’t killed anyone with any of my recipes…yet.”

  They both laughed, and as they did a dollop of pizza sauce dripped from the slice Rachel was holding and onto her chin.

  Mitchell reached across the table and swiped it with his index finger. It had obviously taken her by complete surprise, because she stopped eating and sat there looking at him. Maybe he shouldn’t have––it was something people who knew one another really well did, like old lovers. Not a couple thrown together because of two overzealous relatives insisting they hook up.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be rude.” He wiped his finger on the napkin.

  “No, I didn’t think that. I’m afraid I’m a messy eater at times.”

  He must have made her nervous or something, because just as she said that, her hand shook a little and a chunk of pepperoni slid off the slice of pizza and landed smack in the middle of her pretty white blouse.

  “Geez, what you must think of me,” Rachel said, apology in her tone.

  Rachel removed the meat and set it down on the napkin before grabbing another one and dabbing at the stain, but it just spread it around the fabric and made things worse.

  “Here, take off your blouse and we can go and so
ak it in the sink before the stain sets in,” said Mitchell, standing. “Tomato sauce is deadly, and we Army guys are pretty good with laundry.”

  “No, please don’t worry about it. I’ll go to the bathroom and take it off there and rinse it under the tap.”

  “It’s no problem. Here, let me help you.” He reached out to help her, but suddenly regretted it when she dodged his arm . She stood and shied away from him. Her eyes and expression suddenly showed fear, or maybe it was dread. It was as if she were suddenly afraid of him.

  “No, please, don’t touch my arm or blouse, just don’t. Okay?”

  Mitchell stood with his mouth open as she threw down the pizza slice, ran across the room, went back to her side of the suite and slid the wall across with a distinct bang.

  He swallowed, sorry that he’d insisted she take off her blouse or tried to grab her arm. Maybe she thought he was going to attack her or something. He had to clear things up.

  He rushed to the door and tapped lightly with his knuckle.

  “Rachel, I’m sorry I didn’t mean to scare you or anything. I swear I wasn’t going to hurt you.”

  He put his forehead on the wall between them waiting, praying, for her to respond.

  “It’s okay. I didn’t think that at all,” she said through the door.

  Her voice sounded muffled now. She was crying, and that was the last thing he wanted. They’d been getting along so well. He was also starting to really enjoy himself. He thought she was, too.

  Mitchell put his hand on the door handle, hoping to slide it open so he could see her face when he offered his apology. However, it wouldn’t budge.

  “Don’t try and come in here.” He heard her sobbing. Just what had he done?

  “Rachel, there’s something more going on here than the blouse and stain.”

  “Please just forget about this evening. I’m really sorry if I’ve ruined things for you.”

  “Hey, open this door and let me in. I hate to hear a woman cry. Please, Rachel.”

  “No, just get your money back from Perfect Pairing and leave, please.”

  “It’s not my money, it’s my brother’s and I’m not leaving you like this. It’s obvious you’re very upset over something and I want to make it right.”

  “You can’t, and it’s not your fault, really it isn’t. It’s mine.”

  “Give me a try, okay? Just one chance to make it right…And if I can’t, then on my honor I’ll walk out of this hotel room and leave you alone. You’ll never have to see me ever again. But please give this guy an opportunity to clear things up.”

  “You’re pushy, has anyone ever told you that?”

  Did he detect a slight laugh when she’d said that?

  “Yeah, all the guys I served with,” he said.

  “If I open the door you’re going to be shocked and you’ll want to leave anyway.”

  “Maybe, but I think it’s up to me to decide and not you.”

  There was silence for a few minutes and he feared the worst, but then the lock clicked. Mitchell slid the wall back and stepped into her side of the suite. Amy sat on the bed, tears streaming down her face, her blouse sitting next to her and her arm…well, now he knew why she didn’t want him to see it.

  He rushed to her side and sat close to her.

  “This is why you’re upset, isn’t it? Your arm?”

  ”Like I said, you may leave if you want. I won’t be hurt. Every guy does, so I’m used to it now.”

  He knew how she felt and that was the very reason he was staying put.

  He ran his hand over the puckered skin, hoping that was okay with her. He took it one step further and kissed it. He knew how she felt, what she was going through. Right now he wanted to hold her.

  “You shouldn’t have worried about me seeing this.”

  “I couldn’t help it, because every guy I’ve been with gets repulsed and I never see them again. One guy even left me stranded in a hotel room just like this. I didn’t want you to leave because you seem like a nice, sweet guy who I’d like to get to know.”

  “Oh, Rachel.”

  He put his arm around her and pushed her head down onto his shoulder, stroking her head.

  “How did it happen?”

  “When I was five my step father was drunk and lost his temper when he couldn’t get the BBQ ignited, so he threw gasoline on the grill but didn’t know I was standing behind it.”

  Mitchell wanted to cry too, but bit his lip. He could imagine how scary that must have been for a little kid. And the pain. He knew what he’d been through himself, and it made him want to scream sometimes.

  “I’ve had three skin grafts but it’s still not pretty,” she said.

  “But you are.”

  She turned to look at him and he lifted up her chin so he could see her face. Tears splashed from her eyelashes as she blinked. He leaned in and kissed her. To hell with his promise not to get involved and not take that dangerous step toward sex. He knew it might be an inappropriate time, but that’s all he could think about. She ran her hand over his head before letting it rest on the nape of his neck. Wow, his first real kiss in so long and it felt like being in heaven. He pulled away. But then he had to do it again just to prove to himself it was real and that he wasn’t dreaming. He leaned in and kissed her again. This time it was better than the first one. She opened her mouth to him. Mitchell slipped his tongue over her lower lip before they pulled away again.

  “I think I know why Perfect Pairing matched us up,” said Mitchell. He ran his hand down her cheek, wiping away a tea in the process. “In fact, they’re the smartest company I know.”

  “Why?”

  “Let me show you.”

  Okay, here goes. Suddenly he didn’t care about her seeing his leg. Mitchell stood and tugged at the button on his pants and then began pulling down its fly.

  “Don’t be shocked at what I’m about to reveal,” he said. “And no, I don’t mean it’s got something to do with the size of my cock.”

  Rachel burst out laughing. She even fell backwards on the mattress and held her side as she continued to chuckle. Hey, he’d made her smile and laugh. And wow, could a woman get any prettier? Rachel did when she did that.

  Okay, he was lowering his pants and she’d probably see his very obvious erection through his boxer shorts but he didn’t care, because showing her he also had scars to hide was more important than seeming eager to get her between the sheets.

  He let his pants fall to his ankles, turned and lifted up the edge of his boxers to show her his thigh.

  “Oh, Mitchell. I’m so sorry, and there’s me making a big fuss over my arm. And you got this serving your country…I’m assuming.”

  Mitchell nodded. “The reason they thought it was time for me to retire from active duty. I’m going to have my first skin graft next week.”

  Rachel reached over and ran her fingers along the red jagged edge. He drew in his breath, not because it hurt but because her touch soothed him physically, and mentally, too.

  “How did it happen?”

  “I went into an area where there was a car bomb. Well, we didn’t know there was a car bomb. Everything went still, then kaboom and next thing I knew, I was being thrown in the air. Guess I was the lucky one though, because the two guys with me were killed outright.”

  “Mitchell, it must have been horrible…and you being so far from home.” She closed her eyes and then opened them and looked up at him. He reached for her hand. She put it inside his palm and he pulled her up. Again he had the urge to pick her up and carry her to the bed, or even just make love to her right on the floor.

  Mitchell put his hands on either side of her face and leaned in toward her. They rubbed noses together before they kissed again. He ran his tongue along her bottom lip. Her tongue then dueled with his before he slipped it inside her mouth, and suddenly he was lightheaded, amazed at how quickly this was all happening and how swiftly the two of them had obviously fallen for one another. Well, he’d fallen fo
r her big time. Maybe she just wanted sex, although she hadn’t come across as the type. She pulled away from him and looked him in the eye, almost as if she could read his mind.

  “While I’d like to get you naked and into the whirlpool just for the sake of it…It would also be great therapy for your leg,” said Rachel. She ran her hands down his chest as she spoke. They were both on the same page about this.

  “Is that your professional opinion?”

  She nodded and smiled, and he was a goner.

  “Okay, but only on one condition, and that’s if you join me. Maybe offer me some physical therapy while we’re in there.”

  “That I can do, with pleasure.”

  She smiled once again and dimples appeared in her cheeks. He went weak at the knees. Not even his ex-fiancée had this sort of effect on him the first time he’d met her.

  “How about we undress one another? Not that we’ve wearing much clothing now,” said Mitchell.

  Without responding, she began unbuttoning his shirt. Her fingertips brushed his skin as she made her way downward. Even that felt good and yes, strangely comforting. When she got to the last button she pushed both sides apart. Rachel looked up at him before running her hands over his chest and belly. He closed his eyes and thought, how can something as simple as that be so erotic? Maybe he should take her to the bed right now, he thought, because his cock was getting harder by the minute. It pulsated with the thought of being inside her. Ryan had been right. It had been too long for him. And how could he resist this beautiful woman?

  “You are so tempting. Anyone ever told you that?” he asked her.

  She shook her head and he pulled her in close, his cock straining against her belly. Was she as turned on as him. Was she wet, hot, looking forward to them having sex? She pulled away from him.

  Rachel pulled the shirt off his shoulders and let it fall on the floor. He took the opportunity to lift up the t-shirt from her body. She raised her arms and he pulled upward, easing it over her head and shoulders. He tossed it on the floor by his shirt.

  Mitchell passed his fingers across the very tops of her breasts as they spilled over the lace edge of her bra. They were beautiful, and her skin, so soft. Where had she been all his life? He slid his hands around the sides of her body, eased them behind her back and unclasped her bra. He took it off her shoulders and let it too slip to the floor. Next, he unzipped her skirt and let it fall away from her hips.