CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Rose was now on a first time basis with most of the nurses, but she didn't let that bother her. The doctor had give her the good news. At the rate of his recovery, he would be off the ventilator the following day, and he could be taken home on Saturday; which was in five days time. She couldn't let the finer details worry her yet, like who'd take care of him, the company, the secrets she was looking for with Laurent. No, she was ignoring the real world in light of the good news.

And she had a plan. Since she decided to ignore the real world, she was going to do it with a bang; she was going to seduce Laurent that night. After her momentary shock at the other visitor's question, they'd both blushed in embarrassment while she explained that they weren't even dating. The woman had forgotten her tears and gone off in a huff for almost 5 minutes, talking about how she should better take the opportunity now, and do something, even if 'her man' was dragging her feet. 

Apparently, Lydia, that was her name was really hurt at her husband-to-be. They'd been together for the better part of 8 years, and it had taken a cancer diagnosis to get him to propose. And she'd had to beg for that. So, that was what Rose was doing. True she didn't really know Laurent as a man other than the size of his whole body - she'd had dreams of licking water off every inch of his skin- and it was in the plan for that night. But first, they'd go on a date. That was how men and women got to know each other, right?

She picked up her phone and sent him a text.

Busy day, Love?

He always called her pet names. Time to give as good as she got. She twiddled her thumb uselessly while she waited for him to respond. 

She checked her phone screen. It had been 5 minutes already, and his status was online. So why wasn't he responding? Was he already tired of her? Shit, she was working herself up to a pool of anxiety.

Her phone pinged, and she almost threw it away. Maybe he was texting to say she was bothering him, or that he was busy. She didn't know which option she preferred.

She closed one eye and used the edge of the other o skim through, breathing a sigh of relief. His only response was, You have no idea, babe.

Awww, he called her his babe. He really was interested then.

She contemplated what next to send him.

What can I do? 

And then she almost smacked herself. What if he got offended at that? She had little experience in the dating line, but from what she'd seen and heard, men didn't like to be told that they couldn't fend for themselves. What if he took that to mean she was saying he couldn't think? She chewed her already short nails, a bad habit she really needed to drop.

Just remain there with yiour pretty, innocent face. I can't wait to see you, I'm sitting here just breathing and trying to remember that beautiful face.

She blushed, and wasn't suprised when her reply was

You think my face is beautiful?

Yup, she was officially off her rockers. Someone call the cops, she needed help.

Her phone rang instantly. Shit.

She cleared her throat. "Hey", but that came out as if a frog had died in her throat. She cleared her throat again in mortification at his low chuckle. God, her man was hot.

"Hey"

"Hi" she responded inanely. Someone please shut her up.

He laughed again. "I miss you, Rose"

"You do?", she choked out, expecting him to laugh again. 

But instead his voice sounded serious, "I do. I wish you were close by"

She remained silent, and he continued, "But that's selfish. A lot are happening that won't be fair to you"

She didn't like the words that were coming out of his mouth. "I miss you too, Laurent"

"No, you don't" he smiled.

"Why would you say that?" she was offended, but more confused than ever.

He was silent for a beat too long, then he gave another of his laughs. That laugh that instantly made her want to drop her pants and go to her knees for him.

"Don't mind me, Rosey. It's just been a long day"

She took the olive branch and offered one of her own, "Come over"

"I'm at work, love"

"And the Boss' daughter is asking you to leave early. Just tell people my father requested you at a moment's notice"

He laughed at that. This laugh was more genuine. All his laughs were genuine, but this one just made her want to cuddle up to him, and try to kiss him until she got to the source of that joy.

"You bad girl"

She blushed, "Are you coming?"

He took a sharp breath and she heard what she said. The tension between them went up to flaming red.

"Packing at the moment, ma'am"

She breathed out, "Good. Come quick."

As soon as they hung up, she practically keeled over. Had that really been her on the phone? She tried to go through the conversation again, should she have said something else? She breathed out. Why was it that commanding a board room was child's play to her, but when it came to talking to Laurent, she turned into a blubbering idiot. Was this a crush? Or was this what people called Love?

She'd worry about it later. For now, she had a man to entertain, and while she was in a hospital, she could still do her best. She was a female, afterall.

Running to her car like a high schooler, she picked up her make-up kit. If she was planning to knock Laurent off his feet, she had work to do. The planned out date would have to wait a while, they needed to get this tension out of the way for now. She had a few ideas.