“No. I’m a nurse. If you get sick I can help you.”
From the distance she heard their names being called. “It sounds like somebody is looking for you guys. You better get on home and see what it’s about.” Shae put the vitamin C drops in Sterling’s hand. “Before you go, take these with you. Let your mother decide if you can have them.”
“Come on, Desmond.” Sterling shoved the drops in his pocket, then lifted the bike from the ground.
The little one hurried to the front of the bike and Sterling lifted him onto the handlebars. They sped down the street as J.D.’s black Crossfire zipped into the empty parking space in front of the clinic.
He climbed out of the car and hurried to the wood bench, watching the kids make their way down the street. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” She glanced at the pair as they crossed the street. “I made a couple of new friends.”
“Shae, I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“Is everything okay?” she asked, focusing on him. He looked as attractive as ever and she felt really happy to see him.
“The client I was expecting at three showed up at four-thirty with a lame excuse. Forgive me, please?”
“Sure. Things happen. I understand that.” She smiled at J.D., patting his arm. “Don’t worry about it. It gave me an opportunity to meet a couple of the kids from the neighborhood.”
“I’m glad. Although I feel really bad about being late.” The phone hooked to his belt began to vibrate. J.D. grimaced, glancing at the screen. “I’ve got to take this. Give me a minute.” He unhooked the phone and answered the call. Seconds later he ended the call and returned the phone to his belt. “Sorry.”
“No problem. Don’t stress over it.” Shae shut her briefcase and rose from the bench.
“Ready?” he asked, removing her leather briefcase from her hand.
“Yes.”
“How about dinner?” J.D. asked, cupping her elbow as he guided her to the car and opened the passenger door.
“Dinner?” Shae didn’t expect him to feed her every day, although she loved spending as much time with him as possible. “I don’t expect you to entertain me.”
“I know. But, I feel bad about being late. Plus, it’s your first day on the job. I want to hear all about it.”
Chapter 8
J.D. and Shae decided to go directly to dinner. He’d said he knew the perfect place for them to have a good meal and privacy to talk. And he was right.
Riva’s Restaurant was located on Navy Pier. It featured a breathtaking view of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan. As the hostess led them to their table, Shae got her first glimpse of the impressive 40-foot exhibition kitchen as the chef and crew worked diligently to prepare the Italian and seafood cuisine for their patrons.
“I love this place,” J.D. admitted as he set his menu aside. “Can I help you order?”
“Sure. Everything looks so good, your recommendation would be helpful.”
“No problem. I always have the Lobster Fra Diavolo,” J.D. said, pointing to the item on the menu. “It’s the best. It’s a spicy dish with linguini topped with lobster.”
Shae moaned. “That sounds heavenly.”
“It is,” J.D. assured her. “You won’t go home hungry.”
“I’m sold.”
After the waitress took their order, J.D. turned his attention back to Shae.
“So tell me about your day. Was it everything you expected?”
Grinning, she answered, “It was good. I met Desmond and Sterling. My boss Kenyatta dumped on me. But I sort of expected that.”
“Dumped on you how?”
“He had this large bin of resumes for me to go through. All the staff has to be hired by the end of next week.”
He whistled.
“Yeah. Then I have to train everyone.”
“You’re going to be busy. When are you going to open?”
“The first Monday in May.”
“Less than a month to get everything done.” J.D. shook his head. “You’re going to be very busy.”
Laughing, Shae nodded. “Yes, I am. But I asked for it, right?”
“That you did.”
“So how about you, J.D.? What kept you?”
J.D. scoffed. “Amir Jonson, the client from hell.”
Frowning, Shae said, “Mmm. That sounds scary. Why is he the client from hell?”
“Because Amir stirs up more crap then all my clients put together.” J.D. swallowed a sip of wine. “The young man has talent, but his friends know more than I do.”
“That can be difficult.”
“Yes, it can. I like Amir a lot. But he’s beginning to get on my nerves,” J.D. said.
“So what’s his story?”
“No father in the home. Mother trying to be both parents and failing at both. He’s got so much talent. I want him to have everything he’s dreamed of. But he’s so obstinate. Unless he changes his attitude we’re not going to be able to work together much longer.”
“Why are you putting up with him? I’m sure there are a lot of kids who’d like to have his opportunity,” Shae pointed out.
“I grew up in a home with two parents. They loved us and were always available. They gave us what we needed, not what we wanted. There’s a part of me that believes that Amir would be a different guy if he’d had the benefit of a father. Amir needed a male figure to care about him, give him guidance and spend time with him.”
“J.D., that’s not always true,” Shae whispered softly, thinking back to her life in her parents’ home. Having two parents in the home doesn’t always mean that the child will turn out perfect. She remembered all the disappointments and pain that her father caused by his broken promises. “My pop lived with us, but he wasn’t truly in the home. There’s got to be more.”
“I’m sorry, sweetheart.” J.D. reached across the table and took her hand, holding it between both of his. “You’re right. What I’m trying to say is that people have disappointed Amir so much in life that he’s unwilling to trust anyone. I want to break through that and help him.”
“I understand the need to help, J.D. I just don’t want you to be disappointed,” she squeezed his hand.
“It’ll be okay. I’m going to do everything I can to help him,” he promised. “Thank you.”
She smiled at him, feeling warm and happy at the closeness developing between them. Shae wanted to comfort him. J.D. seemed so concerned and sincere about the well-being of his clients. Somehow Amir had touched a chord in J.D.’s heart and he wanted to help the young man reach his dreams. “In the car you said you had something you wanted to talk to me about?”
“Yes. There’s something I want to talk—” His cell phone rang and J.D. sighed, glancing at the LCD. “Excuse me,” he turned away as he answered the call. “Hello? Yeah. Call me in the office tomorrow,” he stated. “This is a bad time.”
Shae blocked out the rest of his conversation, instead concentrating on trying to figure out what J.D. wanted to say to her. She hoped he didn’t plan to stop seeing her. She really liked him and didn’t want to lose his friendship