Golden

Chapter 2: No night stands

"No James, I can't. We're coworkers." I say, when I turn to look at him he is unbuttoning his shirt and the front of his jeans seem tight. I close my eyes and try not to laugh.
"Really, I can't. It's not my style."
"Being on top? Fine I'll be on top." He laughs as he leans towards me.
"No I mean one night stands." I laugh and he stops moving.
"Wanna meet my dog?" He asks 
"I would love to." I say getting up to put my heels back on. He looks down at his unbuttoned shirt which draws me to look at his toned chest and abs. My mouth goes dry and I'm upset when he finally gets to button all of it.
We go outside and he calls a cab.
"You're such a New Yorker." I laugh. It's only about a 10 minute drive and he takes me up to his apartment. The eager dog is jumping on him the minute he walks through the door.
"This is Wilson."
"Hi Wilson!" I exclaim kneeling on my knees to be able to cuddle him better. The dog licks my face and jumps on me, it catches me by surprise and I fall over. Wilson stays on me and I can't stop laughing.
"Ana I am so sorry, I swear he's normally well behaved." Jimmy says grabbing Wilson's collar and putting him in his crate. I finally stopped laughing and see Jimmy standing over me. He holds a hand out to me; I take it and he pulls me up swiftly.
"I love that dog." I say staring at the dog who is now happily chewing on a toy football.
"I am sure that the feeling is mutual." Jimmy laughs. "Can I get you a drink?" He asks as I dust off some of the fur on my skirt.
"Yes please." I say following him to the living room. I have a seat on the couch and he hands me a glass.
"What is this?" I ask.
"Whiskey."
"Dangerous." I tease.
"Hopefully not." He winks.
"You're so smooth." I laugh before taking a sip of the brown liquid. He blushes and also takes a swing of his drink.
He tells me about himself growing up playing sports but pursuing a job in journalism instead, he tells me about his big Italian family and his favorite hobbies his favorite foods and guilty pleasures.
"Ask me something personal." He begs looking up at me, his head now lying comfortably on my thigh.
"What keeps you up at night?" I ask as I run my fingers through his short hair.
"My life choices." He says.
"What do you mean?"
"I grew up playing sports, I got through college playing sports but I didn't want to end up in that lifestyle. The minute I told my dad I didn't want to play professional football he acted like I slapped him in the face. I love journalism I love writing and knowing people care what I have to say. He just doesn't understand that." He sighs.
"What was your dad like growing up?" I ask and he looks up at me with glossy eyes and a smile.
"He was wonderful. He coached me through every aspect of my life he was my rock— my anchor. He worked a lot to make sure I could play all the sports I ever wanted. He's a great role model."
"How long has it been since you two have sat down and shared a meal?" I ask.
"7 years."
"Oh Jimmy." I sigh. "That's a lifetime."
"I see them for the holidays but we  just can't sit and talk."
"Do you have any anger towards him?"
"No. I love my dad he just feels like he wasted his time on me."
"Oh I don't believe that." I frown.
"You should." He sighs before putting his hand over mine. "You have the tiniest hands I've ever held." I laughs.
"Shut up." I laugh trying to hide my hands from him. He sits up and puts his hand up. I hold mine against his and he gets a kick for how small they are compared to his. He smiles before engulfing mine in his big one. I don't know what he's going to do until he brings my hand to his face and gently kisses the top of it. I smile and probably blush but I don't care.
"Old fashioned." I tease and gently push his shoulder back.
"You make me different." He lazily says.
"No I don't." I shrug off.
"You do." He nods. I catch a glimpse of the time and choke when I see it is 4am.
"Oh god Jimmy, I have to go—"
"Ana it is 2am, please stay over."
"No Jimmy, I don't feel comfortable taking over your space."
"I have a guest bedroom, you'll be fine please I won't be feel comfortable with you walking home or taking a cab." He says.
"Alright." I say knowing he is right. He takes me to the room and points to the bathroom out in the hall. "Toothbrush toothpaste towels shampoo it's all in there." He says.
"Can I borrow some clothes to sleep in?" I ask before he leaves.
"Sure, what do you need?"
"A shirt, preferably a big oversized one."
"No problem." He said disappearing into his room before he comes back with a plain black large tshirt.
"Thank you so much." I say taking the shirt from his grip. He smiles and I go into the bathroom to have a quick shower, I brush my teeth and stare at myself in the mirror. I took it too far, I'm afraid I'm in deep, just thinking about his smile gives me tummy butterflies. I step outside and see him coming out of his room. I stop in my tracks. My hair wet and wild my cheeks slightly red and my legs bare. He is in a pair of basketball shorts and no shirt so I get to see him in all his glory.
"I- Uh I just wanted to say goodnight." He stutters out.
"Goodnight Jimmy." I smile and I'm surprised when his hand grabs mine once again he plants a kiss to the back of my hand.
"Sweet dreams." He says against my hand. I go into the room and find myself dreaming about him.
My alarm rings at 6am and I crawl out of bed and into the bathroom where I wash my face and brush my teeth. My feet pad to the kitchen where I hear plates on the table.
"Good morning sleeping beauty, thought you'd never get up." He says fixing me a plate of eggs bacon and pancakes.
"When did you get up?" I ask.
"5, went out for a run and now I'm back." He smiles.
"And you made breakfast."
"I can cook." He proudly says.
"I expected you to be."
"Because I'm single?" He questions.
"Because you're Italian and have no sisters so you had to cook for yourself, I assume."
"You assumed correctly."
We eat and chat about workouts and what not.
"What time are you going into the office?" I ask.
"9, I can drive you if you'd like."
"Yeah I'm sure showing up in your tshirt would be a lovely sight to see."
"I mean you're wearing the hell out of that shirt— like you're doing it a favor, but I meant I'll drive you to your apartment get dressed and then we'll go." He explains making me laugh.
"Yes, of course thank you." We finish eating peacefully now that we've planned everything.
He lets me borrow some slides and we head over to my apartment. I get ready and we arrive at 8:45 perfect.
"Jimmy I need you." Jen yells the minute she makes eye contact with me.
"If I'm not out of her office in 3 minutes come rescue me." He begs before following her. I shake it off and grab a donut Lily had out on her desk. I go into my work space and read through what my staff has complied for my story. I look at the clock and notice it's been 15 minutes, where's Jimmy?" I walk out and see he is still in her office so I decide to step in.
"James I need you." I say opening the door.
"For what?" Jen angrily asks.
"I'm writing a story about a singer who used to play sports and I want to make sure my sports lingo is understandable for the interview questions." I explain.
"I can definitely help you with that, bye Jen." He says grabbing my hand and pulling me to my office.
"Three minutes I said three minutes Ana." He says.
"I'm sorry, I had work to do. How was it?"
"The first three minutes took care of everything and then she just started ranting about a new workout program she's doing and showed me videos and pictures of it- it was awful."
"I'm sorry that happened. Next time I will definitely come in on the three minute mark." I promise before he leaves my office. I do my work the best way I know how and then I get a knock on my door I look up to find Lily smiling at me.
"Miss Cabrera I'm doing lunch orders from Panera what would you like to eat?" She asks.
"She'll have a broccoli cheddar double bread bowl please." Jimmy says coming into my office.
"Am I now?" I ask with a smirk.
"She will." He says to Lily who gives me a knowing smile before leaving.
"You ruined my lunch." I say as I type out my reports.
"How so?" He asks.
"I'm allergic to broccoli." I joke and his face gets red.
"I'll go get her." He panics as he does for the door but stops when I start laughing.
"You got me again!" He laughs.
"I did." I smile getting up from my chair. To go admire the city.
"What a view." He whispers in my ear.
"Yes it is." I sigh.
"Can I take you out on a date?" He asks.
"Oh I don't know, can you?" I mock.
"Dinner at my place at 7:00 don't you dare be late." He smirks. I turn around and notice he is centimeters away from my face.
"What if I am?" I ask holding his gaze.
"Well then I'm gonna have to—" he's interrupted by Jen who barged into my office. I take a step back but she's seen too much already. She clears her throat and Jimmy steps back as well.
"Ana I want the reports on my desk in 15 minutes." She says.
"They're due at the end of the day." I say.
"Did I stutter?" She asks loudly before shutting my door closed.
"See what you did." I whine and get walk towards my chair but Jimmy beats me to it.
"I got it." He smiles expertly typing the report. I smile and watch him finish it with 5 minutes to spare. He prints them out and I hand him a folder.
"I'll take these to her." He winks before leaving.
I sit on my chair when he leaves and let out a sigh. My boss hates me, my editor hates me she's going to think I stole her man. I worry through the rest of my work time before getting a cab home. I take a quick shower and redo my makeup this time I go for darker sexier makeup with a bold red lip. I get a black bodycon dress that's not too revealing but very tight. By the time I am done it's 6:55...someone is going to be late.