Unannounced
Natalie woketo her cell phone ringing. She’d fallen asleep on the couch, curled into Colt. Nugget snored beneath the coffee table. Colt wrapped his leg over hers as she let the call go to voicemail, then played the message on speaker.
“Shit,” Natalie said. A nurse had called in sick and the unit needed her to cover the shift.
“That’s disappointing,” Colt said, nuzzling her neck. “I’d planned to oversee your safety by keeping you in bed all day.”
“That sounds a lot better than checking vitals all day.” Natalie stood, wrapping herself in a blanket she kept thrown over the back of a chair.
“I’ll walk you,” Colt said. “And I’ll be waiting when you get off.”
“You know, I’d probably feel much safer if you stayed with me in the shower.” She tightened the blanket around her chest. “If you’re up for it.” She winked and retreated into the bathroom, leaving the door open in invitation; Colt enthusiastically followed after her.
* * *
“You can’t goto work without breakfast,” Colt said. He squeezed her hand as she rushed him across the street from her apartment.
“All I need is coffee,” Natalie said, watching for cars.
“Give me just a minute.” Colt stopped her in front of the chocolatier on the corner and rapped on the glass. The man inside waved from behind the counter and came to open the door.
“Colton!” The man said, shaking Colt’s hand warmly. “It’s good to see you again.”
Colt nodded. “Same here. Hey—do you have any of those chocolate croissants ready? Or the fruit Danishes?”
“Still hot in the back,” the man said. “Hold on.” He disappeared into the kitchen and came back with a paper bag folded over the top. “Make her try the Danish,” the man whispered, “we used fresh plums.”
“Thanks, brother. What do I owe you?”
The man waved him off. “This time it’s on the house. Enjoy,” he said, closing the door.
“How do you know that guy?” Natalie asked, taking the warm pastry Colt offered her from the bag.
“I stopped in every day after I moved here. Turned out someone broke in and robbed the till shortly before I arrived. I gave him a security assessment and a plan of action.”
Natalie became curious. “Security assessment, huh? Do you have one for me?”
“After last night and again this morning, it became apparent that the safest place for you is in my arms. We shall continue along this plan of action for the foreseeable future.”
Natalie burst into a laugh. “Oh is that right?”
“It’s my job to keep you safe. As such, you have no choice in this matter.”
“Hmm . . I think I’m okay with that. You’re the expert here after all.”
Colt bit into the croissant, melted chocolate oozing out of the layers. “I think I have outdone myself. This plan of action is my best one yet.”
“You’re impossible,” Natalie said amused.
* * *
Colt leftNatalie in front of the hospital, kissing her with lips that still tasted like chocolate and butter. Natalie turned to go through the sliding doors when her phone buzzed in her purse.
“Hi mom,” she said, backing out of the way of a man wheeling an oxygen tank.
“Did you call the realtor?”
Natalie tugged her jacket across her body. “Not yet. I’m at work. I got called in.”
