Page 4 of Big Bold Security

I am dozing off in line as I wait my turn to order some coffee. Thankfully this cute little shop is just around the corner from the hospital, so I should have enough time to sit on one of the cozy couches until the caffeine hits my system. I’ve had less than four hours of sleep and my body is threatening to shut down, literally.

The man in front of me backs into me, smashing his foot down on my toes and pushing me into the person in line behind me. I look back at the woman behind me and apologize.

I straighten up and glare at the man’s back, expecting some form of apology but he doesn’t say a word. Instead, he steps back again, and this time when he steps on my foot he grinds down; like he intended to do it.

“Ouch. Shit. Watch where you’re stomping your giant feet, asshole,” I blurt before I can stop myself.

“What did you call me?” the man hisses, turning around to face me and I swallow. His eyes are bloodshot and flashing with anger, and I wish that I had just held my tongue but, I don’t apologize. Just because he’s taller and bigger than me gives him no right to act like a douchebag.

“You keep bumping into me without excusing yourself,” I say, wondering why the hell I am choosing to engage in a fight I am sure to lose. “You need to watch where the hell you are going.”

His eyes narrow at me, and I figure that at this rate, I am the one who is going to need treatment when this man slams his massive fist into my face. I don’t understand my snappy attitude but, to be fair, I haven’t had enough sleep; if only this line would move faster, then I would get my daily dose of caffeine to make up for it.

“Why you little…” his words run dry as he looks over my shoulder. I watch in fascination as his face morphs from irritation to downright fear. His lips open and he makes some sort of weird noise before he jumps out of the line and runs out of the coffee shop.

I can’t fathom what could have caused his behavior. Nervously, I look behind me prepared for something terrifying but instead, I am met with familiar blue eyes.

“Mr. Coleman,” I whisper, my voice coming out breathy. He is wearing a black button-up shirt and black slacks. His hair is slicked back and with the scowl on his face, I can understand why that man ran away. It’s crazy how we met yesterday, yet the impression he left on me makes it feel like we’ve known each other our whole lives.

“It’s Maverick,” he says, his deep voice rocking me to my core and I forget about everyone and everything. My body strums with need and I have to fight the urge to lean in and get a whiff of his chocolate and coffee scent.

Maverick Coleman. 43.

Despite my better judgment, I went through his medical records before switching to the internet. He’s had a lot of injuries, which makes sense given that the man owns a security company. His whole aura screams danger and I bet he is good at his job.

At twenty-two, it should probably turn me off that the man is twice my age but it doesn’t. He doesn’t look a day over thirty-five and even with the salt and pepper in his short blond hair and neatly trimmed beard, I would have pegged him at least a decade younger.

Say something damn it!

“Maverick,” I parrot his words and I almost smack myself when he smirks. “I mean, how are you feeling? Is your arm hurting? I could massage it if you’re sore. I always carry some ointment cream in my bag and if you…”

Someone clears their throat just as I am digging into my bag and I look up to find several people staring at me with uncomfortable looks on their faces. It’s then that I realize that I am holding up the line, so I hurry to the counter to place my order.

Once I have my coffee, I glance around at the indoor seating but now all of it is taken. I make my way out of the shop and question whether to wait for Maverick or just leave. With any other person, a simple greeting would have sufficed but… he’s different.

I want more time with him.

I could lose my nursing license if someone found out I was having an unprofessional relationship with my patient but… technically, I wasn’t. I had treated him yesterday, so he wasn’t my patient anymore…right? It was a grey area for sure. Plus, I’d just run into him and it wouldn’t hurt to check on his condition. I would do the same with any of my other patients.

Liar.

“Scarlett,” Maverick says once he steps outside. “Were you waiting for me?”

Yes.

“No, I was just breathing in the warm and fresh morning air.”

“It’s snowing,” he says with a sly smile that he tries to hide behind his coffee cup. “Besides, New York hasn’t seen a single fresh morning air since the eighties.”

“You would know,” I snip back and bite my tongue at the slip. His laughter rings out, taking us both by surprise, and it’s not long before he is losing it in the middle of the busy sidewalk. People glare as they bustle around us, but for once I honestly don’t care.

“Touché,” Maverick says, once the laughter dies down, before turning to me. “Would you like me to walk you to work Nurse Adams?”

His words take me by surprise because I know he is not headed my way. The intensive research I did on the man last night told me more about him than I needed to know. Learning that he was part of the military for twenty years before taking an early retirement didn’t really surprise me either.

“Scarlett?”

“Uhm, I don’t… I mean, if you want to,” my cheeks warm hearing my name roll off his tongue so easily.

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