Hanging up on Daphne, I look to Fernando. “Your sister?” he asks.
I nod. “I have to go.”
“No problem. I should get going too. I have a few errands to run on my way home.” He gets up and practically takes all my weight as he pulls me up to my feet as if I’m a marionette puppet. How much can this guy bench press?
“It was nice seeing you again. Thanks for letting me cut to the front of the line.”
“It was my pleasure, Ava. I’ll see you tomorrow.” His hand lingers a little longer than necessary. As he steps back, his fingers brush lightly over mine, sending a zing up my arm.
“See you then,” I say softly.
He grins and starts whistling to himself as he strolls out of the market area and toward the parking lot.
I stare at his retreating form, admiring his powerful stride and theway his bubble butt shifts side to side. My phone chimes again, bringing me back to reality.
Daphne: The guy I bought the desks from just added a sofa and a side table for free! This is my lucky day!
That’s right. I was helping Daph before a certain Spanish man waylaid my thoughts. I’d better move it before she buys more stuff.
Chapter Four
On a whim the next morning, I swing by Norma’s Cafe on my drive into Sequoia Valley and pick up few boxes of bagels, some cream cheese, and two large thermoses of coffee for our clients, Fernando, Vicki, and me to enjoy.
Between the blueberry, cinnamon raisin, cranberry orange, everything, and plain options, there should be something for everyone. Hopefully Fernando likes one of them. At least I know Vicki will eat anything.
I pull into the parking lot and climb out of the car around six-thirty. The clinic won’t start until eight, but it takes about an hour to get everything set up. I rub my hands over my forearms. It’s about fifty degrees. Many of the leaves have fallen from the trees around me. There’s a thin layer of tule fog in the air that’ll burn off by the afternoon. I have a zip-up fleece jacket over my scrubs and could still use another layer.
Walking around to the other side of my truck, I pull open the door and shuffle the boxes around as a blue sedan pulls up alongside me. Fernando is in the front seat. He removes his sunglasses and rollsdown the driver’s side window. His eyes are lit up with excitement. “Good morning, Ava! Or should I say Dr. Brown?”
His hair is slightly damp from the shower. A few notes of his aftershave hit my nose. It’s a clean scent—cardamom or amber, I think. “Hi, Fernando. Ava is fine. You’re here early.”
“I was up at my usual time. I can’t ever sleep in. I hit the gym, then figured I’d play some games on my phone until you got here. But since you’re early too, you might as well put me to work.”
Ah-ha. That’s one reason he gets up early. He must be a gym rat. Unless he works there. I can picture him being a personal trainer. Heck, working with him would inspire me, and I haven’t even set foot in a gym since high school.
He rolls up his window and exits the car. He’s dressed casually in jeans and a short-sleeve black T-shirt, fitted just as snugly as the one he wore yesterday. “Can I help you carry anything in?”
I redirect my attention to my passenger seat. “Please, I have some coffee that’s a little heavy. If you could get one of the jugs, I’ll come back for the other after I take the bagels in.”
Picking up the pink bakery boxes in one hand, I fish the keys to the clinic out of my pocket with the other and unlock the front door. The lights hum to life. I place my load on the receptionist counter, rubbing my hands together. “I should turn the heat on for a bit.” Fernando, a step behind me, places the two jugs of coffee next to the boxes. My gaze travels to his bare arms. “Do you want to borrow a jacket? I think there’s one in your size in the back.”
“No, I’m fine.” He waves me off. “It’s a lot warmer than we keep it at work.” He chuckles.
I place a hand on my hip. “Is that the gym?”
“No. The mafia,” he deadpans.
He’s thrown me for a loop. I have no idea how to respond to that. I haven’t had my coffee yet, and my brain is moving at the speed of a sloth. “Uh...”
“I’m only joking. I work in downtown Sequoia Valley.”
There goes my personal-trainer theory. I wish he’d stop playing games with me. “No, what I meant was?—”
“Hey, Dr. B.” Vicki enters the building, interrupting us. “Oh, you brought bagels! You rock!” She crosses the room and immediately makes a beeline for the breakfast food. “Have I ever told you you’re my favorite boss—oh hi!”
She notices Fernando and stares for several seconds, a hand hovering over the bagel box.
“Good morning.” He grins, flashing a cheeky smile and rolling his Rs as usual.
