Chapter 3

Steele

I don't think I've ever been so thoroughly ogled in one second flat. Damn, that girl was efficient. My skin was still tingling.

"I'm so sorry," Chelsea apologized once again for her colleague, her own face red as a tomato. "I told you that it was a bad idea to jump in a patient shower. Sheeba probably thought someone had left the water running by mistake."

"So, what you're saying is that we need a sign and for my cuz to be a better lookout. No harm, no foul," Inside I was still trembling. There'd been a great deal of shock in her gaze. But underneath that embarrassment was a longing that I was dying to address. I was more than happy to address the issue head-on, but she had yet to return to the room. I had a feeling that I was going to have to track her down myself if I ever intended to see her again. After finishing my shower, drying off, and moisturizing my skin, I threw on my clothes and went to the cafeteria to get whatever passed for food around here. A pricey, under-seasoned burger, can of soda, and mushy fries later and I was back on the unit.

"Anything good?" Simeon asked as I walked in the room, finishing my Coke. I shrugged, still thinking of what to say to Sheeba when I saw her again.

"You missed the dogs."

"What dogs?" Sim laughed.

"There are these dogs that volunteer to visit with patients once a week. They were in here about ten minutes ago. Real mellow and shit. It was good to hang with the animals. Your girl put me on to them. But you two didn't really get a chance to talk now, did ya, Shower Boy?" He cackled as I flipped him off. "Anyway, she's good people, dawg. If you ever manage to talk to her again, you'll enjoy it." I sat there feeling salty for the rest of the night, dealing with arrangements for our family coming tomorrow. Choyce could have the daybed and Desmond, Mirror, and I could take the floor. At least until we could find a hotel or rent a house or something. Mirror was coming in tomorrow afternoon, renting a car for when Choyce and Des came in and they'd all come over together. I was knee-deep in arranging all this and still couldn't get shorti off my mind.

"So, I'm going for the night, Simeon. Karine and Erica will be watching over you after me. I'll just-"

"Where is she?" I interrupted, knowing that she knew exactly who I was talking about.

"I don't think-"

"Where is she, Chelsea? I won't ask you to call her for me cause I know she'll find a way to avoid me. Just tell me where she is. Please?" I hated that I was begging. But I was feeling desperate. If needed, I'd go up and down the halls looking for her. I just hoped it wouldn't come to that.

"Sheeba is around room 25. I don't know her exact rooms, but that is where she is tonight. I hope you know what you're doing, Steele. I don't want you hurting my friend." She glared a little but left without saying anything more. I followed her, leaving my phone with Old Man Sim and ignoring his knowing smirk. I found her typing furiously, an adorable flush in those honey-brown cheeks of hers. God, this female had me sprung.

"What's up, Babygirl?" I said casually. Then I laughed hard as she squeaked and jumped up from her seat as if she was finna run. I actually grabbed a hold of her hand in case retreat was on her mind. "Hold up, shorti! I'm just playing wit you. What you writing?" The flush got a little darker.

"I… I was just…"

"Hefsiba," I chided her playfully, stepping closer to her as I did.

"I just… I thought I could write it out of me."

"Write what?" I asked, genuinely curious. She couldn't mean…

"I thought I could write the image of… I thought that I could write the image out of my head, but it's not working," she admitted in defeat.

"I'm just too much man for that," I joked, only to tug on her hand a moment later when she tried to ditch me. "Come on, shorti, you know I was just playin. Talkin about it might help, but writing about a naked man in the shower isn't going to do more than turn you on. Right?" Sheeba was staring at the desk avidly but nodded. "So let's talk about it. Chelsea said it was a bad idea to use the shower and I did it anyway. I'm not used to how it works around here."

"I'm sorry I didn't think before I opened the door. I just thought someone was wasting water in the bathroom."

"I should have locked the door."

"You can't. It's considered a suicide risk, so all the locks were removed from the rooms. Along with the shower curtains." I gawked at her.

"You're joking, right?" she just continued staring at me. "You're joking… Right?"

"A suicidal woman on one of the units a floor below us locked herself in the bathroom and hung herself using the shower curtain. From what I heard, they reached her in time, but she's now a vegetable. The next day the locks were removed from every bathroom and the shower curtains were removed. Instant cutting shears are bought for every wing of every unit. Also, new curtain rods were installed in each room, designed to "break" in the middle if too much pressure is put on them. AHS does not play." I kept waiting for her to laugh, but she only stared at me evenly.

"Well damn, girl, that's crazy harsh."

"No, what was harsh was attempting suicide around a bunch of health care providers whose job it is to keep you alive. I'm sure someone will think of some other way of offing themselves and there'll be more precautions put in place." She stretched, trying to take her hand back, but I didn't let go. "Um… I have work to do, Steele."

"Not too much work if you've got time to write shower scenes," I grinned, still trying to lighten the mood. She finally smiled at me, revealing a dimple in her left cheek that demanded my full attention. Nothing would make me happier than to kiss it, but it wasn't time for that. Yet.

"How long have you been growing your hair?" I asked. Sheeba had her well-maintained locs in a high ponytail that fell to her lower back. Her reddish brown hair was lovely and soft where it brushed my arm.

"Since I moved here ten years ago," she said ruefully. "I found a lady who's almost as good with hair as my mom is and she promised me that it wouldn't end up looking like Bob Marley's dreads, so I gave it a try and I haven't looked back."

"Bob Marley?" I asked in amusement.

"Yeah! His dreads always looked like something was living in there. Like, if you got too close, something might come up out of there and try to bite you." I was dying laughing. The vivid picture she was painting was as hilarious as it was true. "This is the longest my natural hair has ever been. And as long as I let Barbara maintain it every six weeks so it doesn't look like that, I'm happy. I've even learned how to do a few simple styles with my locs for fun. I don't use them often, but I can do them and that's all that matters." She looked at the clock on the wall and flinched. "It's time to report off to the night nurses. I'll meet you back here in a few minutes?"

"I'll be right here," I told her firmly. Her smile was like sunshine as she scampered off to report on each of her five patients to the receiving nurses. I couldn't help listening in; Sheeba knew her stuff. Once she was done, she started gathering her things to go home. She offered me a sweet little half-smile that kicked my hormones into gear. What the hell was this female doing to me?

"Where are you going now?" I asked like a dumbass.

"Um… home? These desks are first come, first served. And they come at a premium." She pointed with her chin at another nurse who was waiting patiently for the desk she was vacating. I paced her to the front desk, then stopped her as her co-workers started heading out.

"How about a meal? There's nothing really good in the cafeteria, but maybe…" I looked down at her hopefully. Her eyes turned thoughtful behind her stylish glasses. Why hadn't I noticed her glasses before?

"It's a little late at night for it, but how about pizza? My treat? Papa John's is open until 1 in the morning around my way. Unless you want Burger King or McDonalds instead. Those are 24 hour drive-thrus."

"Woman, you just saved my life," I grinned. "Mind if I tag along with you? I don't have the car anymore, but Papa John sounds perfect."

"Sure," she grinned back. "Just let me switch out my stuff and I'll meet you back here!" She once again scampered off to complete her tasks and soon she was standing in front of me in her scrubs, a bright purple purse, and matching purple boots. "Come on. My car's this way." We took the back way to the parking lot and I was a little surprised to see her striding purposefully toward a black sedan that was in desperate need of a wash.

"This your car?" I asked in amazement.

"No. I'm stealing it with the keys in my purse," She deadpanned, causing me to snicker. "Why do you ask?" she asked as she unlocked the doors, putting on her coat and scarf.

"I was expecting a compact car or some shit," I answered honestly as I fastened my seatbelt. I looked up and she was smirking at me.

"I come from a large family myself - probably as big as yours, but not as tight-knit. I'm used to big cars. Hell, you're lucky this isn't a big-ass van or something. It would have been if it had been on sale!" We shared a laugh at that. Talking to Sheeba was surprisingly comfortable. The conversation flowed naturally between us. It wasn't an experience I was used to. I was used to being on the periphery of conversations, but her full attention was on me at present and it was weirdly enjoyable. It took my mind off the bitterly cold weather outside. When we got to her neighborhood Papa John, she ordered a small cheese pizza and I got The Works and The Meats pizzas for Old Man Sim and I. She tried to pay, but I beat her to it with a smirk.

"Steele! I'm trying to prove I'm an independent woman, here. I can afford to splurge on pizza!"

"I know, shorti. Believe me, I know. But I was taught to be a gentleman. And my grandmother would hurt me badly if I let you pay on our first date."

"So… I'm doing you a solid by letting you pay?" she asked shyly, putting her wallet away.

"You got no idea, Babygirl. Renee Vern Mason has a mean backhand from years of practice. Please don't let that woman get any more practice." The girl was shaking with laughter, tears rolling down her cheeks and everything. We sat down on a bench and talked some more. It only took twenty minutes to finish our order. The good smells emanating from the boxes were tantalizing, especially after a day of barely eating. I dug right in as shorti drove us back.

"Damn, this is some good shit!"

"Well, hunger is the best seasoning," she smiled at me kindly.

"Nah, girl. What's the secret? Cause I've had Papa J's and it's never been this good," I laughed, eating another slice.

"Well… It could be the heroin in the sauce." I stopped immediately, side-eying her. Then she giggled, pulling into the hospital again. "You should have seen your face! We've just got better, fresher ingredients up here, man. That and the fact that you just said that you've barely eaten today explains the taste. Come on. Let's get the pizza to your cousin before you eat it all." I looked in the boxes and was surprised that I'd finished half of each of the large pizzas. I'd inhaled those bitches; I barely remembered eating them, just talking to shorti for fifteen straight minutes while we drove back to the hospital. And it wasn't heavy topics or anything either. We were just talking. It was so nice to talk to her without the drama that most females bring to the table. Sheeba combined my pizzas to save space and I got rid of the empty box while she took off her coat and left it in the car with her cheese pizza.

"You not gonna eat with us?" She looked a little shocked at the question.

"Well, you already ate your pizza. I'll get you back to your people and all, but," she shrugged. "Besides, I figured you'd be sick of me by now. It's close to one in the morning and we haven't stopped talking yet."

"You sick of me already?" I asked, feeling some type of way.

"Never," was her instant answer, relieving me. I couldn't keep her if she didn't want to stay. "I just… I'm not used to this."

"Used to what?" She looked down and away, fidgeting with her purse strap as I set OS' pizza on the hood of the car. Finally, she huffed a breath and answered me.

"I'm not used to anyone wanting to hang around me for large amounts of time. I spend a lot of time on my own and I don't mind my own company. So, I won't be offended if you need to-" She stopped when I grabbed her face and kissed her deeply. To say that she was shocked is an understatement. Her whole body stiffened in my arms and she gasped so loud I heard the echoes of it in the parking lot long after she melted into me. A gratifying whimper rubbed out the back of her throat as she timidly returned my kiss. Once I was sure that she was putty in my arms, I released her, kissing where I knew that cute little dimple was.

"Listen closely, Babygirl. You just described me perfectly. I tend to keep myself company and keep my own counsel. So," I said, lifting her face where she was staring at the ground, "know that if I wanted you gone, I would have said so long before this. I like having you around, Hefsiba."

"You… you do?" she asked, and her vulnerability broke my heart a little.

"Oh yeah," I told her emphatically before my lips found hers again.

Sheeba

I'm in the middle of a parking lot, having the mouth kissed off of me by a man I met yesterday. A man who gravely insulted me and who I'd seen naked only a few hours ago. What is wrong with me? Mustering the last of my stubborn willpower, I ripped myself out of his arms. He looked as shocked as I felt.

"What… is this?" I cursed myself as my voice cracked halfway through what should have been a powerful statement, an accusation.

"I don't know, Babygirl," he said, still breathing hard. That made me feel better like this wasn't all in my head. "I've never felt like this before. There's something powerful between us. Don't you feel it?" I shuddered and turned away so he wouldn't see how his words were affecting me. I felt so out of control; I'd always strived to be a W.I.T.C.H. - a Woman in Total Control of Herself. But since I'd met this man… His soft, sinful lips were suddenly on my neck and my head fell to the side, another whimper escaping me as my hard-earned thoughts scattered to the wind. He seemed to take that as permission, nibbling my neck lightly before using his hand to gently lift my head. Then he kissed me again and I was lost. By the time my thoughts were my own again, it was after one in the morning. I felt him withdrawing his lips and forced myself not to whimper again. Then he licked my lips and he got that whimper.

"We should… get the pizza to Simeon. I know that boy is hungry," he said after a wonderful eternity of holding me in his strong arms.

"Um… Okay," I nodded, suddenly upset that I couldn't think of something clever to say. He came around so that I was facing him and kissed me tenderly. My arms wrapped around his neck without my permission as my body followed suit and melted up against him. God, I felt like I was on fire. My ears and all the rest of me were burning up; if he didn't stop soon, I'd incinerate. There'd be nothing left of me but a pile of ash. Luckily, he stopped before I could test this theory. He gathered the pizzas from the car and closed the door, locking it as I tried to gather my thoughts. It was a good thing getting into the building didn't require higher brain functioning. My brain felt short-circuited at the moment. I couldn't even come up with a topic of conversation on the way back to the room! And I was pretty good at redirection thanks to my nursing training. He grabbed my left hand with his right and kissed it as the elevator door closed, making me gasp.

"I can't be kissed like this at my place of business," I told him with a worried look on my face. "I could get reprimanded."

"Not fired?" He threw it out there.

"No," I told him firmly. "I have six years seniority and you're not my patient or even a patient. It just looks weird. AHS doesn't like weird. So, I need you to promise me that we'll behave on hospital grounds."

"Why do I need to promise you?" he asked, rubbing my hot ear as I looked away in embarrassment. My face on fire, I answered him, glad that I'd chosen the far elevators for this trip so we wouldn't be interrupted.

"This is all new to me. I've never had an adult relationship, so I don't know what to do with it. You therefore officially have more confidence and control than I do right now. I'm trusting you to guide this relationship because I don't know how to." I had the floor's full attention, but I was quickly learning that Steele Mason didn't like my focus on anything but him when we talked. He gently lifted my face to his and smiled at me. Something clenched in my gut at the same time something else unfurled in my chest.

"We'll figure this out together, Hefsiba," he whispered against my lips before taking them in a short kiss. He then pressed the button for the seventh floor but kept his eyes on me. I've never flushed so much in my life as I did on that elevator ride. He just continued to smile at me and kiss my hand. When the elevator stopped, he released my hand, just like he promised. I felt bereft but quickly schooled myself. This would be an unusual situation for all involved. I needed to be a friend and not a girlfriend.

"So… Do you know any places renting out apartments or houses short-term?" He asked me in a friendly manner and I was upset until I looked into his hungry hazel eyes and saw that he wanted to kiss me again. That calmed me and I smiled softly up at him. He sucked his teeth and started walking away from me. "I can already tell you're gonna test my resolve at every turn."

"What? But I didn't-"

"Exactly," he said firmly, looking me over as if I was on the menu. I decided to look elsewhere so as not to provoke him.

"I actually might have a few leads for you. My parents came up for my graduation with my grandparents. There wasn't enough room for all of them in my tiny little apartment at the time, so they ended up renting a house for their two-week visit. Let me talk to them. It's been six years, but I'm sure they will have some useful information." I remembered how disappointed my parents were that I was renting. Never mind that the place was school property and therefore heavily discounted. Russos didn't rent property. We owned that shit. And two years later, that's exactly what I did. But my family didn't come back for my housewarming party. In fact, there was no housewarming party; no one had time to celebrate with me.

"What are you thinking about?" he asked warmly as we made our way back to his cousin's hospital room.

"Old wounds," I shook my head to clear it. "Let's get a move on. Simeon might be worried about you by now." He shrugged, but picked up the pace, leaving me behind with those long strides of his. I was used to it though, and picked up my pace, quick-marching to the unit. I was the only one who could open the doors since this was the back way. Then his hand found mine as we traveled and I forgot what I was going to say. None of my tall friends had ever slowed down for me before. As we walked side by side, all I knew was that I was in love.