The Day They Met

Kate was struggling to keep her purse in check while trying to use the crutches, and she was losing the battle badly.

Being as fiercely independent as she was, this was a huge blow to her way of life. She hated asking for help, and this was seriously going to hinder her life for the next six weeks or more.

She was kicking herself for taking the long strap off her purse just the day before; just having the short hand straps was complicating the use of the crutches.

Tears were beginning to form in her eyes and that just pissed her off even more. She hated crying!

When the purse fell to the ground and things spilled out, she felt the last of her resolve starting to fall apart. She tried to pick it up on one leg and it wasn’t working.

“Son of a bitch!” she hissed.

“Miss, let me help you!” she heard behind her and turned slightly to see a man reach down and start putting her things back in her purse.

She could see right away the rich chocolate color of his thick hair. She could see the lighter natural highlights scattered throughout and a stray gray strand or two as well.

She wondered what it would be like to run her fingers through that hair.

What the hell is the matter with me? I really need to get home, I think I am losing my mind! she thought to herself.

The man stood up, and Kate took in a sharp breath as she saw him in his full glory. The man in front of her was unlike anything she had ever been near.

That rich hair was tousled in a sexy but casual way. He had sparkling brown eyes that held a hint of mischief behind them.

She somehow wondered if they would change color with his other moods. Right now, they were full of concern, and it made her heart skip a beat.

His skin was tanned, and with his suit coat fitting like a second skin she could tell that he was very fit. He was tall, well over six feet, but compared to her five-foot-four frame, he looked like a giant.

She was instantly attracted to him and would love to see what was underneath that tight, white dress shirt.

“Are you okay? Do you need help?” the man asked.

His voice was deep and had a clear tone to it, like velvet, and it warmed her and made a swarm of butterflies start flying in her stomach.

He had light stubble over his face, and instead of it hiding his face, it made the chiseled jawline stand out even more.

She hadn’t quite found her voice yet and just shook her head as she felt a tear fall from her eye.

“Oh, I’m so sorry! How can I help you?” she heard him coo at her.

She swallowed and took a deep breath. “No, I’m sorry. It’s been a hell of a day and it seems to just keep getting better!

“I was trying to get my phone to call for an Uber and then dropped everything! I have never used crutches before and the doctor wasn’t exactly helpful in showing me how to use these.

“Plus there are no benches out here for people to sit on!”

Ted looked and saw she was right about the benches and made a mental note to rectify that situation immediately. And the doctor not helping her just pissed him off.

That was his job, and he was going to find out which one it was and set it right for this beautiful woman and have a discussion with him.

He tried to not show how attracted he was to the woman before him, but he couldn’t help but stare.

She had legs and an ass that was more than a handful, just how he liked. He didn’t like super skinny women and loved the curves, and she had that perfect curve on her backside.

She had a smaller chest, but wearing the tight T-shirt she was, he could see the sexy lace bra underneath it. She had the most intriguing shade of red hair, almost like a sunset.

She had green eyes that looked sad, and they shone brightly with unshed tears. And Ted wanted nothing more than to take her in his arms and make it better.

But did that make him a pervert? He could tell she was younger, probably only thirty or so, and had to have a boyfriend as pretty as she was.

But damn if she didn’t stir something in him that he hadn’t felt in a long time! And he would love to have her under him too.

“I can see that. So let me help you. Why do you need an Uber?”

“I need one to get home; I can’t walk fifteen miles like this!”

“You don’t have someone picking you up? How did you get here?”

“I took an Uber to get here. I couldn’t drive since it’s my right leg. And no, no one is picking me up. So can you hand me my phone and hold my purse so I can get home?

“I really need to get my leg up and take one of these pain pills,” she replied with waning authority.

“So, no boyfriend or significant other? No parents or siblings to help?”

She laughed. “No boyfriend or girlfriend for that matter. And my family lives three hours away, and I don’t need their kind of help!”

He was intrigued by what she said and more than a little stunned about her having no one to help her. “Well, then that settles it. I will just have to take you home.”

“What? You don’t have to do that! An Uber is just fine!”

“No, I am going to take you home and get you settled. Can you wait right here while I get my car? Or do you want me to get a wheelchair?”

“Oh god, no wheelchair!”

He chuckled. “Okay, I’m going to get my car. It’s just around the corner.”

“How do I know that you are not a serial killer and I can trust you?”

“You take Ubers but are worried about me? You’re right. My name is Ted Evans. I work here at the hospital, and I promise I am not a serial killer.”

Kate eyed him and couldn’t help but feel safe around him. She was rapidly tiring out and desperately wanted her couch, so she nodded her head, praying she wouldn’t regret this and end up dead somewhere.

She bit her lip as she thought about his comment about ride sharing.

“Okay, I believe you. Bring your car around and let’s go.”

Ted smiled at her. “Okay, give me just a minute. I will be right back.”

He set his briefcase down next to her, got her more stable on the crutches, and ran off to his car.

Kate enjoyed the view of his legs and ass as he jogged to the employee lot and found his car in his reserved spot.

Being the Chief of Staff certainly had its perks! He was so thankful that he had driven his SUV today to accommodate the crutches.

He pulled out and up to the entrance, stopping right in front of her. He got out and helped her gently into the front seat, closing the door when she was in.

He threw her purse and his briefcase in the back seat along with the crutches and went to his side and got in.

“I’m Kate, by the way. Katelynn Rogers. Thank you, Ted, for the help.”

“It’s really nice to meet you, Kate, and it really is my pleasure. So, where am I going?”

Kate smiled and gave him the general area that they were going to. He was impressed with the up-and-coming business district not too far from his house.

He took off, driving the sleek Mercedes with ease. Kate couldn’t help but notice his hands and was intrigued by them. They were large and strong, but the skin on them looked so soft.

She really wondered what they would feel like on her skin, and she squirmed in her seat to try to get rid of the dampness and tingling that was happening between her legs.

Ted noticed her movements and the smooth skin of her legs and felt himself start to harden below the waist. He cursed himself as she was hurt and vulnerable.

“So, I am taking you to your house, right? I don’t think you should be moving around since you are so unstable…”

“Oh no, you are. My studio is the front part and my apartment is in the back half. What do you do at the hospital?”

“I am a surgeon. Been at St. Margaret’s my entire career. I did my clinicals there and then my residency, and here we are. I love the people there and have some great friends.”

Kate loved to listen to him talk and let him talk about the hospital before she had to interrupt to give directions to her place.

She guided him to her street and saw her building on the end and directed him around the corner to where the private area was.

“K. Rogers Designs…is that you?”

“Yes, I’m the mastermind, I guess you can say…”

“I have seen some of your work. You have an incredible eye!”

“Thanks,” she said, blushing.

She loved her job and what she did and was proud of how good she was at it, but compliments made her nervous, and she always blushed.

Ted chuckled as he pulled into the space next to a white Mini Cooper convertible. He thought it was fitting for her, small but sexy.

He got out and went over to help her out, getting her steady on the crutches. He carried her purse and walked behind her to the door.

It was surrounded by an inviting patio with big planters filled with tropical flowers and palm trees.

There was a gate at the start of the driveway that was closing behind them, and he liked that she had a private area, especially since she was here by herself.

She made it to the door and entered a code on the lock mechanism, and he heard the lock open. He reached around her and turned the handle and pushed open the light wood door.

Ted held the glass storm door as Kate hobbled in. He followed her in and closed the door behind him.