Claudia smiled and moved closer. Her eyes lit up as she became even more interested in what I was saying.
I told Claudia how good-looking Brian was. I admitted I’d felt a strong attraction to him, and I thought he’d felt something too.
Claudia expressed her surprise to hear me gush about someone in that manner. “This is so exciting,” she said. “If he really feels the same way, he’ll ask you out. You're going to go on a date. My friend’s got a man!”
“No, Claudia. He's my boss. I work for him. My only job is to help him recover from his injuries, and then I'll be on my way out. I don’t care how attractive or loaded he is. I don't date people where I work,” I responded firmly.
Claudia tried to convince me that I needed to give it a chance if Brian was really into me, but I would have none of it. I was hell-bent on keeping it professional.
Chapter Five
You Feel It Too
Brian
I picked up my phone to call Katrina after Ariana had left, but I couldn't think about anything or anyone else but her. My mind remained focused on her exquisite features. I remembered her eyes, her smile, and the way she’d spoken. She was beautifully crafted.
Ariana was human evidence that God was the “Picasso on high.”
“Ariana? A nurse?” I questioned the ongoing reality when I realized that I couldn’t get a woman off my mind for the first time in my life. The feeling was surreal, and I loved it. My attraction for Ariana went beyond physical beauty. I had seen some of the most beautiful women in the world, so that wasn't it. I’ve dated some of the highest-paid models in the world, for goodness’ sake, but there was something about Ariana. She’d obviously had a humble background, but she was refined. She hadn’t been born into luxury, but she carried a certain aura about her. She obviously wasn’t royalty, but everything about her was regal.
“Those crazy Rodericks!” Chris said, walking into my room without knocking.
“What is it, Chris?” I asked, but I already had an idea of what he wanted. Christopher wanted to talk about the fact that I liked the nurse I’d wanted to reject before seeing.
“What isn't it? Brian, in this bedroom, standing on this very floor, you vehemently spat on the idea that a nurse would take care of you. What the hell happened when you saw Ariana?” Chris had a mischievous smile on his face. He knew I found Ariana attractive, and he wanted to hear me admit it.
“Well, having to walk down from my bedroom to the living room made me realize how much I needed to be nursed back to health if I am ever to reach 100 percent,” I responded. Even though my brother already had an idea as to why I’d changed my mind, I didn't want to give him the pleasure of admitting it so he could tease me about it.
“Of course, Brian. Just as I suspected. I didn't think it had anything to do with the fact that Ariana’s a total babe!” Chris cackled.
“Yeah, whatever. That's not it, Chris. I just want to get better as soon as possible.”
“And get better you will, my brother, you certainly will,” Chris said with a smile on his face.
“Please, go away, Chris. Don't you have one of those meetings with Dad where you guys develop strategies that will end world hunger?” I asked.
My phone rang as I spoke, and I answered the call, eager to get rid of Chris as soon as possible. Katrina was on the other end. She was beside herself, trying to comprehend what had happened to her “baby” and how she could help.
“Katrina, I'm not your baby, nor am I your man; however, I’m fine. I sustained some injuries, but I’ll be okay. I'm receiving treatment and responding well to it, so I'm good,” I said.
Katrina offered to visit me every day to take care of me, but I refused. I told her I had to go out every day, so there was no point. She wished me a speedy recovery and promised to call me again to check on my progress.
That night, I went to bed looking forward to the next time I would see Ariana. I couldn’t wait to be in her presence once more. I wanted to make sure I wasn't just lusting after her, that it wasn’t a first-time feeling. But I knew it was something more, and seeing her would certainly lift my spirits.
“Good morning, sir,” Anderson said from just outside my room. “Miss Ariana Smithson is here for you.” It was still the early hours of the morning, and usually I’d wave Anderson away if he announced I had any visitors at that time of day, but once I heard the name Ariana, I was wide awake.
“Ariana?” I asked.
“Yes, sir. She's currently in the home gym. She asked if we had one, and I said yes and directed her to it. She said you should meet her there if you don't mind.”
“She said I should meet her there,” I whispered as I sat up. No woman except my mother had ever told me what to do before. Even though Ariana was my nurse, and she had the right to instruct me, she also had some balls doing it through my butler. I’d have been atad offended if it had come from anyone else, but I admired her daring nature, and that was new for me.
“Please tell her I’ll be right there, Anderson. Thank you,” I responded as I got up to shower and get ready for Ariana.
“Good morning, Mr. Rodericks,” Ariana greeted me as I walked in. “How do you feel today?” She was wearing a polo shirt and jeans that accentuated her curvaceous physique. Although I loved her appearance, I wondered why she didn't wear a nurse’s uniform.
“Good morning, Ariana. I feel great. Are you going to change into your uniform later?” I sat down on the sit-up bench.