Ana felt a bit anxious.
Her wait was already twenty minutes past her scheduled appointment with Dr. Grey. Even if the nurse were to appear right that minute, by the time her vitals were taken and she finally got to see the doctor, she'd have to hustle to meet with one of her professors.
She flipped through Seattle Magazine as the minutes ticked by. The buzz from her phone startled her.
It was a text from Kate.
CALL ME. I NEED TO TELL YOU SOMETHING.
Dithering over whether to put her friend off or call her, Ana approached the reception desk.
"At least twenty more minutes," a young man told her. "Dr. Grey had to attend to an emergency first thing this morning, so she's running behind."
Ana stepped out into the corridor to call her friend, wondering what could possibly be so important.
Kate picked up right away. Her speech was breathy and excited.
"He's here."
"Who?" Ana asked.
"Hunk-in-scrubs. Your description was spot on. Ginger. Broad shoulders. Strong jawline. Oh, my God. A tush to die for. I'm trying to read his ID badge, but he's too far away. He's with a woman."
"What kind of woman?" Maybe he was meeting an elderly aunt. Hunk-in-scrubs was hers alone, at least in her fantasies. She'd never considered he might have a love interest.
"Blonde. Attractive in a flashy kind of way. They're laughing it up. She's running her hand up and down his forearm."
Blonde. Attractive. Laughing. Kate's words were a punch to the gut.
"I don't need to hear more. Thanks for letting me know." She felt overly warm and a bit queasy. "I suppose it's best if I forget about him. I've only seen him once."
It had been only one encounter, but they'd shared a moment. Something had passed between the two of them, at least she'd thought so.
"I'll come by tonight with wine and ice cream," her friend said in reassurance. "We'll talk it out."
When she reentered the waiting area, Ana couldn't concentrate.
Her hunk-in-scrubs was with another woman.
Of course he was. A man like that would be surrounded by sexy companions.
Such a visceral reaction over someone she didn't even know was unexpected. Why should she care? She didn't even know his name, so she had no right to be disappointed.
Soon enough, a nurse called her name. It was another twenty minutes before the good doctor entered the exam room, looking impossibly fresh.
"Hello, Ana. It's so good to see you again," Dr. Grey said. Her demeanor was unhurried, relaxed, soothing. "I'm sorry for the wait."
"No problem. I understand how unpredictable your days must be."
"Deep breath," the doctor directed. "Wonderful. Your lungs sound clear."
"May I resume my workouts? I'd like to get back to my routine."
"You're cleared for exercise, but might I make a suggestion?"
"Yes, please. You're the expert."
"At the last appointment we discussed how you'd been using your inhaler more often on your runs. Have you considered a different type of exercise? Perhaps swimming. It's an excellent aerobic exercise that involves all the major muscle groups."
"There's a pool at my apartment, but I rarely used it," Ana hesitated. "I can't remember where, but I've read that chlorine can make asthma symptoms worse."
"Some studies do suggest a link between asthma symptoms and chlorinated water, but there's no conclusive evidence. If asthma is well-controlled, chlorine should not be an issue. Long-term studies dating back to the '60s show that swimming is less likely to trigger asthma symptoms when compared to running or cycling.
"However, If you'll be swimming in a public pool, I have several recommendations. First, make sure you have your inhaler at the ready. Use it ten minutes before swimming as a preventative. Use the nose test. If you notice a strong chemical smell, and you've been in the pool longer than 3 minutes, step out until pool management re-balances the chemicals."
Ana hated the idea of giving up her morning runs, but if she needed to make changes to improve her health, it was no-brainer.
"Sure, I'll give swimming a try."
And I won't have to risk running into Hunk at the Yellow Dot, she thought. The idea of him with another woman felt unbearable.
"Good," Dr. Grey said with a smile. "Water temperature may be an issue, so do warm-ups before going in the water. Also, if you're swimming in an outdoor pool, the water temperature is going to be colder than a heated pool, so you may have to wear a wetsuit..."
"Unless it's summer," Ana grinned.
"Right," the doctor nodded. A short silence followed. "Teddy really enjoyed the station tour."
Ana brightened at the mention of the little boy who had stolen her heart. If Dr. Grey knew about the ice cream date scheduled for spring break, she wasn't letting on.
"That was fun," Ana said. "I'd love giving Teddy another tour." She hoped her voice conveyed the affection she felt for the child, and that Dr. Grey understood this was more than just a polite gesture on her part.
"He's quite taken with you," the doctor said thoughtfully.
"He's a joy. So bright and thoughtful."
"Thank you. He's the light of our lives." The grandmother beamed with pride, then paused thoughtfully. "My son is crazy busy, but if he can't make it, I'll do my best to bring him by for another tour. Or better yet...maybe a field trip with his class."
Ana liked the idea of meeting Teddy with his teacher and classmates.
"We enjoy hosting schools and youth groups, so that can easily be arranged."
The two women exchanged a comfortable-friendly smile. In that moment, the labels of doctor and patient no longer defined them.
As if remembering she had other patients, Dr. Grey broke eye contact and glanced at her watch. She gave Ana care instructions and told her to schedule another visit in six weeks.
"You're an interesting young woman," she said. "I'll be in touch about a field trip after I confer with Teddy's teacher. Take good care of yourself."
The kind, caring way the doctor treated her took a tiny bit of the sting away from the discovery that Hunk had a woman. The rest of her pain would be turned over to Kate and her prescribed wine and ice cream.
Christian would have preferred to spend his mid-shift break alone, but a promise is a promise. He'd given his word to his mother. When she passed Gia Matteo's phone number and beseeched him to make the young woman feel welcome, he had to follow through.
Because he was always short on time, he'd asked Gia to meet him at the cafe for a quick bite to eat. He'd explained that he was working a double shift all week, but he'd like to get reacquainted with her. Their families were in the same social circles. They'd both attended Lakeside, a private school in Bellevue, but the girl had left at the end of freshman year to attend boarding school in Switzerland.
He didn't remember her, so he was relieved when she called out to him in recognition.
"Christian Grey, as I live and breathe. Hello. I'm Gia. I sat behind you in English class back in 9th grade."
She extended a slim, freshly manicured hand.
"You are certainly lovelier than I remembered," he said, turning on the charm and humor. All the Grey men, even Elliot, were known for their gallantry.
"You were such a nerd. Always had your nose in a book," Gia chuckled, shaking his hand for a beat too long.
Her comment about his past persona made him laugh out loud.
"True" he said, nodding in agreement. "I was the ultimate nerd."
"And I was the shy girl with braces who sat in the back of every class. I rarely opened my mouth, so I don't blame you for not remembering me."
"Thank you for not holding my lack of memory against me."
"I have a confession to make," she said.
"What's that?" His interest piqued, she was prompted to continue.
"I had a baby crush on you back then," she whispered, throwing her head to one side in a cutesy gesture. She placed her hand on his wrist and ran it up his forearm.
He felt his smile fade. He pulled away and folded his hands under the table.
She would never be his type. Any attention from her was completely unwanted.
"I understand you've been living in Europe for many years," he said in an attempt to sideline her flirtations. "What brought you back to Seattle?"
"Family. And I've decided to open an interior design firm with a couple of friends."
This might work, he thought. I could help out this family friend and get the house spruced up at the same time.
"It just so happens I'm looking for someone to redesign my home."
Gia leaned forward, intrigued by the possibility of working with him.
"Oooh. I'd love to take you on. You'd be my first in Seattle. Tell me about your home. What sort of changes do you want to make?"
"I live on Lake Union. A houseboat. It's just the two of us, my son and me, so the boat is the perfect size. But storage is always an issue and lately the space has felt drab. The place needs something, but I'm not sure what."
"Just you and your son...Grace told me all about her brilliant grandson. Theodore, right?"
"Yes, but he goes by Teddy."
"Grace said he attends a school for gifted children. So I guess it's not like Lakeside where anyone can attend, just so long as they can afford the hefty tuition."
"Ted has been at Seattle Country Day since pre-K. Admission requires a score at or above the 97th percentile on the Wechsler. There are scholarships for children who meet the standard, but can't meet the tuition."
"Wow," Gia said, arching a brow in surprise. "Your kid really is brilliant. I thought maybe Grace was just being a bragging granny."
This made Christian chuckle. His mother was known far and wide for spreading news of Teddy's accomplishments.
"Did she take out her phone and do some show and tell?"
She shook her head.
"Be thankful that you were spared that ordeal."
This elicited a giggle from Gia. She was still smiling when she picked up her phone.
"I'm more than happy to look at your project. What day this week looks good for you?" She was poised to pencil him in on her Google calendar.
"Sunday is my day off. Would noon work?"
"Since I'm new in town, my datebook is wide open. You've caught me at a time when I'm available." Her eyelashes fluttered. He knew she wasn't talking about her design work.
His phone beeped with the familiar tone reserved for work. The text was from a coworker saying there had been a car accident with multiple casualties incoming.
"Unfortunately my calendar is always full," he said, hoping she'd get the message. "I wish I had time to offer you some lunch, but I've got to get back to work."
He'd been so busy talking to Gia that he hadn't ordered any food. He could feel it. This was going to be a particularly rough shift.
"No worries, Christian." His name rolled off her tongue like an inappropriate caress. She reached out to touch the back of his hand. "See you Sunday."
When Christian first told his son that someone named Gia Matteo was giving them an estimate on the design update of their home, the boy barely raised a brow.
And then Sunday arrived. They didn't expect her to arrive until 1:00 pm. It was a little past noon.
Christian was scheduled to work the night shift, and had to leave the house at 6 pm. Gail would arrive around that time and leave Monday morning after seeing Teddy off to school.
"Hey, buddy. No more juice. Save room for lunch," he said, when Teddy got up for a refill.
Father and son were settled on the couch watching a show about sharks on the Discovery channel.
"What are we having for lunch? I could go for some leftover pizza."
"Gia texted and said she's bringing something."
Teddy frowned.
"Isn't Gia the decorator lady? Why is she bringing us lunch?"
"She's trying to be nice." Christian shrugged. "She insisted on bringing lunch and I agreed."
By the time Gia arrived, Teddy was out of sight.
Christian greeted the pretty blonde with a smile and helped her put two oversized shopping totes on the counter. He was surprised to see such large bags.
"I hope you have a blender," she said, unpacking fresh berries and bananas. "I'm making a smoothie."
They made small talk while he pulled the blender out of a cabinet and plugged it into an outlet.
"I love your space," she said, looking around. "My specialty is residential interior design. I adore helping people express themselves through their environment."
"Where did you get your education?"
"I studied design in the Netherlands. The school was small; it had about 700 students from over 400 different counties. The meeting of different cultures enriched the school experience and helped me gain a global perspective." The sparkle in her eyes reflected her professional passion. "So, where's your little guy?"
"He'll be here any second, I'm sure. He always shows up for food. He's a bit like his Uncle Elliot in that way."
"Ah, yes. Elliot. I remember him. He was a senior when I left Lakeside." She got a bit starry-eyed at the memory. Actually she was just his brother's type. Elliot's social history was littered with blonde dalliances. Christian made a mental note to introduce the two of them.
Teddy walked into the room just as Gia was pulling more items from the bags.
"You must be the little prince," Gia said. "It's nice to meet you."
"Good to meet you, too," Teddy replied coolly, sliding into the nearest barstool. He eyed the food she set on the counter with curiosity.
"Don't you worry," she spoke as if addressing a four-year-old. "I brought a healthy snack, just for you." Her tone was animated. She produced a jar of spiced almonds with the fanfare of a 'ta-da.'
Teddy scrunched his nose in disapproval.
"No, thank you. We don't eat almonds. The almond growers are overworking the bees and it's killing them off."
Gia's eyes went wide at the news.
The combined politeness and seriousness of Teddy's tone made Christian chuckle.
"We watched a documentary," he explained. "Ted and I made a decision not to support the almond industry after we learned that the nuts are grown in a monoculture, leaving little to nothing for bees to forage on other than almonds. The lack of a flower-rich habitat combined with pesticides is killing off billions of bees each year. It's a dire situation."
Gia looked unsure of how to respond. She giggled and gave a shrug.
"Well, the bees are already dead and these are delicious. Let's eat up." She popped one of the almonds into her mouth. "You sure are cute," she said, reaching to ruffle Teddy's hair.
The boy was able to successfully duck, avoiding her touch.
"What else have you got?" He asked.
"I brought vegan hotdogs," she said, an artificial brightness to her voice. "Is that a grill I see out on the deck?"
"Yes," Christian answered. "I'll get the coals started. Hotdogs will be great, right, buddy?"
Teddy nodded politely.
Gia began to set three places at the kitchen peninsula.
"Gia went to a lot of trouble to bring us a nice meal. Thanks, Gia," Christian said, his gaze shifting to Teddy. "And look at that fruit. We're in for a treat."
"Yes," Gia chirped. "We're having banana-strawberry smoothies. And I brought chips, salad, and a cake for dessert."
When his father stepped out to start up the grill, Teddy slid one stool over, to be closer to Gia.
"How does that sweater keep you warm? It's sliding off." He didn't like the way her top fit. One shoulder was completely exposed, and the fuzzy material was slipping farther downward into dangerous territory.
"That's the style," she said with a laugh. "Off the shoulder."
"Well, it's chilly outside and I think you'd be more comfortable if you covered up."
To his eight-year-old eyes, this woman bore a strong, unflattering resemblance to some of his Uncle Elliot's dates.
"Thank you for the fashion advice." She rolled her eyes when she said this, and Teddy didn't like it, not one bit.
He didn't like this Gia woman and he needed to set her straight.
"My dad has a girlfriend. Her name is Ana. She's gonna be my mom. They're practically engaged. Just thought I'd tell you, so you don't get your hopes up."
Her eyes went wide.
"Your dad never said a thing about any of that, nor did your grandmother," she said in a dismissive tone. "In fact, Grace told me your father is very much single."
"If you wanna waste your time, go right ahead. I'm just trying to help you out."
Her hands went to her hips. She tried to stare him down, the same way Shoshanna Weinman did when they were both squaring off for the same piece of playground equipment.
He could play this game better than anyone. After several beats, Gia was the first to break eye contact.
"Wow, thanks a bunch for the help," she said, putting help in air quotes. "You're really something."
Teddy wasn't exactly sure what she meant by him being something, but he understood enough to know that she didn't appreciate receiving inside information.
She turned her back to him and busied herself, cutting up fruit. He studied her.
She wasn't ugly. But she wasn't beautiful like Ana.
Teddy had no appetite, something uncharacteristic for him. With his father occupied on the deck and Gia intently whipping up smoothies in the blender, he slipped off the stool and retreated to his room. He had plans to make.
As he reentered his home through the sliding glass door, Christian noticed that his son was no longer in the kitchen.
"The dogs are ready," he announced. "Where's Teddy?"
"I don't know. He was here a few minutes ago. We had an interesting conversation."
Gia's raised brow and pursed lips let him know the conversation hadn't gone well. He barely knew the woman and she somehow thought she was allowed to have an opinion on his son.
He released the platter of dogs a split second too soon and it clattered against the countertop.
"And what did you discuss?"
"Grace told me you're single, but Teddy says you're engaged to someone named Ana."
He chuckled.
"Teddy's very fond of Ana, but there's no engagement."
"So tell me...are you dating a lot of other women?"
He blinked in confusion.
Other women. Is she including herself? This isn't a date in any sense of the word.
"Yes, I'm single and dating."
"Okay...but how many women are you seeing? Would you consider paring down to one? One very loyal, special woman?"
She stepped into his personal space and laid a hand on his chest.
In his book, nothing was more off-putting than women who were too forward.
"I hope I'm misinterpreting your question. Are you asking me to be exclusive with you?" He removed her hand and gave her a pointed look. "What are you after?"
"I'm ready to settle down," she said. Some might find her directness refreshing, but he found her too forward. "I want what lots of other women want. A diamond, two-point-five beautiful children, the golden retriever, the big house on the water with a killer view."
What was Teddy supposed to be? The point-five kid?
"Whoa. We just met. This isn't a date. We're just two single people having a casual business meeting. You and I don't have a romantic connection."
"It's not like that," Gia replied, a little flustered. She waved her hands about as she spoke. "I just wanted to know who else you're dating. You can never be too careful in this day and age. I didn't mean to be intrusive."
"Good. Now that we have that settled, let's eat." He stepped away and called to his son. "Ted, it's time to eat."
"Shall we?" Gia poured extra thick smoothies into three tall glasses. She had even thought to bring fancy striped straws and napkins, both in a coordinating blue.
Without a word, Ted retook his favorite spot at the kitchen peninsula. Gia placed a hotdog, kale chips, and smoothie in front of him.
"Enjoy," she said with a broad smile.
He could live the rest of his days without kale chips, but the hotdogs were good, especially after he added heaps of mustard and sauerkraut.
The smoothie was so thick that he struggled to suck it up the narrow straw. His cheeks collapsed into two sharp angles with each draw.
Giving up, Teddy took out the straw and retrieved a spoon from a drawer to scoop up the smoothie.
Gia made small talk by asking about life on a houseboat. Christian patiently explained both the blessings and the drawbacks.
"I don't like eating anything that requires a straw," Teddy announced loudly.
"Why is that?" Gia asked.
"I once saw a video of a sea turtle with a straw stuck up his nostril," he said, as he tried to swirl his spoon through the dense, icy smoothie. "The animal rescuers struggled to get it out with a pair of tweezers."
Gia gasped, and Christian stared at his son in disbelief. That Teddy had chosen to share that piece of information now was beyond him.
"You certainly watch a lot of wildlife videos," Gia said, shaking her head in disapproval. "They sound scarier than horror films."
"When did you see this? You never mentioned it to me," Christian questioned.
"It was at school. Teacher made us watch the entire video. Some of the girls were crying, watching the turtle in pain, bleeding and all."
"Oh, my," Gia's voice dropped. "What happened? Did they manage to get the straw out?"
"Yes," Teddy replied, "but the turtle bled during the procedure. I hated watching the poor animal in pain."
Both adults stared at the straws and then back up at Teddy.
Gia looked defeated.
Christian cleared his throat.
"It's a sad story," he said, refilling their smoothies to the brim. "In the meantime, we're going to enjoy the treat that Gia prepared. I'm having no trouble drinking mine."
He gave his son a pointed look.
Gia looked pleased that Christian was appreciative of her efforts.
"So...Miss Gia, what are you going to do to our house?" Teddy asked.
His father smiled at him approvingly for including their guest in pleasant dinner conversation.
"I'm so glad you asked," Gia said. "I'm getting Scandi vibes. Or maybe Japandi? I'm thinking shades of gray, ranging from light to mid-range, with lavender as an accent color. How does that fit with what the two of you have in mind?"
"Not lavender," Christian said, frowning at the thought. "What's Scandi-Japandi?"
"Scandi is Scandinavian. Japandi is a blend of Japanese design and Scandinavian. How about a teal blue instead of lavender?"
"Yes, blue would be better," Teddy offered. "But I don't think we need your help. I don't think we should change anything."
"Why not?" Gia asked.
"No offense, but it's moms who choose colors and furniture. I've been around so I know this. When Dad marries Ana, she's gonna want to make her own choices. She might not want Pandi-Pandi stuff in here."
"Ted." Christian's voice was tension-filled. "Knock. It. Off."
"No offense." Teddy said to Gia. "I'm just trying to help."
"Apologize properly," Christian commanded.
"I'm very sorry, Miss Gia. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings."
"No offense taken, sweetie," she said tersely.
An awkward silence fell over the trio, and Christian struggled to find some topic of conversation to change the mood.
"Gia, as I recall, you have an older brother. What's he up to these days?" As host, Christian did his best to make Gia feel welcome, even if she was annoying.
"He's married with twin daughters. He just made partner at a big law firm in Dallas. Unfortunately, I only get to see him a couple of times a year."
"That sounds tough," he said. "I'd hate not being close to El and Mia."
"Time for my homework," Teddy announced. His father gave him a quizzical look. "The diorama. Remember?"
Christian slapped his hand on the countertop a little too loudly.
"What? I thought it was due on Thursday."
"No, it's due tomorrow," Teddy said, flashing a mischievous grin.
"Tomorrow?" Christian raised his voice. "And you wait until the last possible moment to tell me?"
"Sorry," Teddy muttered, looking wide-eyed and innocent.
"You're on your own, buddy. We have company."
"But-dad?!"
"But nothing. I expect better from you. Now, go. What are you waiting for?" Christian pointed toward the stairs.
As Teddy marched off, Christian felt his shoulders relax.
"He's a handful," Gia said. "So strong-willed and with so many opinions."
"As challenging as he can be, I wouldn't want him any other way. He's my world. There's no room in my life for anyone who doesn't love and appreciate Ted."
Gia turned to her meal and it was several minutes before more words were exchanged between the two adults.
Christian excused himself to check on his son and make sure he was on the right track with his project. Upon his return a few minutes later, Gia had moved from the table to the couch, phone in hand.
"Okay. I agree we need new furniture with more storage options. When should I expect a proposal and estimate?" He asked in a polite tone.
As much as he tried to ignore her mouth, his gaze settled there. There was a tiny piece of green stuck between her teeth.
Should he tell her?
Heck, yeah, he should.
He cleared his throat.
"You've got something stuck between your teeth."
She ran her tongue over her top teeth.
"Where?"
He pointed to the top left.
"I like you," she smiled. "You're honest. Something my ex-husband certainly never was. The cheating bastard knocked up his paralegal." There was no shortage of bitterness in her voice. "One day, I came home to find him wearing a Zorro costume and carrying a scary-looking leather whip, with the bitch chained to our bed."
Whoa. If that last statement was meant to catch his attention, it worked.
"He was one sick bastard," she fumed in an increasingly bitter tone, fiddling with her necklace. "A sadist. He was into BDSM, but I didn't find out until after we married. I had no idea he'd been visiting one of those clubs throughout our entire marriage. I'm told the place was a dungeon with whips and torture chambers."
Wow, he thought. Just wow. TMI.
When two people are just getting acquainted, things should be chill and casual, not spilling your heart out about your traumas and personal baggage.
Had they been in a restaurant, he wouldn't have hesitated to say: "Check, please."
As much as he hated to admit it, Elliot was right. Here he was having dinner with a woman at his place. It felt far too intimate, and there was no easy exit.
It was indeed a good idea that he was meeting Ana at an ice cream parlor and not here in his home. The thought of Ana made him smile.
"Dad?" He heard Teddy calling from upstairs. "I need help with my project!"
Christian clicked his tongue and shook his head.
"Sorry," he muttered apologetically. Inwardly, he sighed a sigh of relief. "Teddy needs help and then I've got to get ready for work."
"No worries," Gia said. She gathered up her things.
"Word of advice about that ex of yours," he said, as he walked her to the door. He spoke from personal experience. "Don't ever lower your standards. It's better to be single than be stuck with a person who isn't right for you."
Teddy had grown impatient. He'd paced his room, filled with worry over their lunch guest.
All he could think about was how Gia kept adjusting her flimsy top while smiling at his dad.
The woman was definitely an obstacle to his plans.
Ana.
She's the woman who should be in their house right now.
The ice cream date was too far into the future.
Spying the stack of Valentines he'd prepared for his classmates, he had an idea.
He sneaked out of his room and tiptoed to the railing. He looked down just in time to see Gia and his dad making another date for the following weekend.
"Thanks for a great evening," she murmured. She closed all space between herself and his dad, and before he could process what was happening, she deposited a quick kiss on his dad's jaw, close to the corner of his mouth.
Teddy released a startled gasp, which nearly made him stumble and knock over a potted plant. Incredibly, the two lovebirds seemed oblivious to his plight.
"How does next Saturday sound?"
His dad checked his phone. "Next Sunday sounds better."
"Sure, I can make it work," she said.
His father and Gia exchanged broad smiles, which further convinced him. The situation was even worse than he'd previously thought.
He knew exactly what he had to do, and he needed to do it fast.
A/N: Thank you, Nani Leonardo, for your sage advice!