Page 13 of Scandalously Yours

What I hadn’t realized was that they wanted me to focus on my books and studies and by working, they feared I would do something to jeopardize the scholarship I had been in line to receive.

“You’re destined for great things, baby girl,” my grandfather had whispered, and I was still waiting to see if he was right.

While I remembered every conversation like that, he rarely even recognized me, or knew me by name anymore. At first, he’d been a bit forgetful, but it hadn’t been anything too out of the ordinary. Over time, however, it got worse, and he started to forget more than memories. He couldn’t tell who different people were, my grandmother included, and he often turned combative. He didn’t know who we were, where he was, or even who he was. It was so scary to see him deteriorate, and heartbreaking as well because I was in New York City by that time and rarely ever got the chance to drive home to spend time with him.

“Your usual, belleza?” Ramon asked, breaking up the thoughts festering in my head.

I smiled at the man who reminded me a lot of old Frankie Ruiz himself. As he prepared my order, which he obviously saved to memory, I pulled out my cellphone and used the mobile payment app to settle my tab.

“I’ve put some extra sauce on the side just for you,” he told me once my order was ready.

“Gracias,” I responded, then grabbed the paper bag from his hand.

My condo was just across the street, so I looked both ways before crossing, then hurried into the building. The doorman was there with his usual smile, and I returned it before going to the elevator. The steam from my bag wafted around me as soon as I got into the car, and it lingered in the air until I reached my floor.

Once back in my unit, I opened the bag and inhaled the scent of the food. I always ordered two carnitas tacos with extra of the green tomatillo sauce I would cover them in. I got one ready to eat and had just brought it to my mouth when my phone started to ring. I didn’t recognize the number, so I let it ring. I ate the two tacos, then cleaned up the mess. When I picked back up my phone, the “message waiting” notification flashed across the screen.

I dialed my voicemail and nearly dropped my phone the second I heard the voice. I’d never forget that husky rasp. “Good evening, Miss Johnston. I wanted to remind you of our introductory meeting on Monday. It’s set for 7:30 PM, so make sure you’re on time. I will see you then. Goodbye.”

It sounded so formal and very unlike the man who’d whispered such naughty things to me back in the Bahamas.

“Only one will stop me from making you come.”

“Do you ache like I do?”

I squeezed my thighs together as I remembered those very words coming from his mouth. There were no introductions needed, and especially not after the one thing that kept echoing in my head. “Since the night I met you, Ale, I’ve thought of little else but fucking you. Tell me what you want, and I’ll give it all to you.”

“I want you,” I murmured aloud, then sighed deeply as the realization set in that it couldn’t happen again. From the sound of his voicemail, it didn’t even seem as if he remembered me, anyway. For all I knew, I could’ve been another in a long line of short flings he had when he was away from his wife and kids.

He had spoken to me off and on about his marriage, but he had been careful not to say certain things, and I could only surmise why. As I sat there on my couch, I realized it was likely just Kris catching himself from letting anything slip. The whole “I’m in a bad marriage” line was as old and played out as the “We’re going through a divorce” one, and yet I fell for them both.

Idiot. I got up and embraced the slight anger starting to bubble up inside of me. It wasn’t uncommon for men like him to have mistresses, and if he had some of his own, it only made me feel that much more forgettable that he didn’t even want me for one. I had provided a distraction for him, and after I’d given what he’d worked so hard for, I was now nothing more than some other doctor he had to meet. How in the hell was I supposed to work for, and, with him now? I had only just gotten finished with my residency, so it wasn’t as if I could ask for a change of assignment. I had no seniority, and no valid reason for the request. I would have to just try to steer clear of him during my shift and keep any foolish fantasies to myself. I just hoped I was strong enough to do what I needed to do.

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