The Fine Line Book One Between Worlds Series (5 page)

“
Please.”

“
I thought Jim Kelsing was
next in line.”

“
Listen to me, if I have
anything to do with it, I’ll pull for you. You are so good at this,
Robin, and you truly love the work. Jim’s burned out. You’re so
good with your families. Why do you think we promoted you to
intake? You were so wonderful with the ongoing families; it was
hard not to notice. I wish everyone had your devotion.”

It was quiet between them. Speechless at the
proposal, she still found herself trying to process it.

“
You just give it some
thought, okay?” he concluded. “The position won’t be posted for
another week. So you have some time to mull it over.”

****

That night, Robin enjoyed watching Matt and
his friends at their bowling league. She welcomed the distraction.
She felt energized near Matt. Her heart felt heavy though. The
possibility of being a supervisor was something she never
considered before. Once again, her insecurities bound her like
chains; such a curse, to feel so inadequate.

When the evening met its end, Matt walked
Robin to her car. As they strolled through the lot, Matt took her
hand and smiled. She didn’t react negatively, but graciously
received the closeness. But, no matter what, she couldn’t hide how
troubled she was.

“
What’s going on in that
head of yours?” he asked.

“
What?”

“
You’re
distracted.”

A deep sigh escaped her lips. “Do you
remember Paul?”

“
Sure. The older guy;
bald.”

“
He told me he is retiring
and he wants me to apply for the supervisor’s position.”

“
That’s good isn’t
it?”

“
It certainly has its
benefits; better pay and no pager.”

“
That would be a plus,
right?”

“
Yes. I just don’t know if
I can handle all of the responsibilities. I don’t feel like I know
the laws and the regulations and all the odds and ends well enough.
I just don’t know if I’m capable.”

She leaned against her old Ford Bronco
feeling defeated as if the battle was already lost. Matt still held
her hand, their eyes meeting intensely.

“
Change is something that
isn’t always welcomed. In fact, we fight against it most of the
time, but without it we don’t grow.” He sounded like a philosopher,
which surprised Robin. “Just in the short time I’ve known you,” he
continued, “I can tell you that I think you’re brilliant. You’re
such a hard worker. I really think you were born to lead. Don’t
sell yourself short.” He smiled. “But, I’ll admit, I am
biased.”

“
Thanks,” she said,
looking down at his hand as it twisted into hers.

“
I will pick you up at six
on Saturday, but you have to tell me where you live,” he
continued.

“
I will. I’ll catch up
with you tomorrow night online and give you directions.”

He nodded. She could see how unsure he was
about intimacy and whether or not he should even try to kiss
her.

“
You know,” he continued,
“I’m not the forward type. My dad always said that a lady loved to
be kissed on the hand and I’ve never done that before. Call me old
fashioned, but I don’t feel like we’ve really been out on a date.
So until then,” he said bringing her hand to his lips, “I’ll leave
it at this.” He respectfully kissed her knuckles.

“
That is very chivalrous
of you Dr. Gregory.”

Relieved at his gentlemanly act, her lips
turned up to reveal a beautiful appreciative smile.

“
I had a good time
tonight. It was really fun,” she said, her hand still to his
lips.

“
I’m glad you were able to
make it,” he said as he dropped her hand slowly. Still, he held it
in his. “I planned on coming to your game tomorrow night, but my
daughter is playing soccer, so I’m going to go to her
game.”

“
Oh, that’s fine. It’s
okay.”

“
I will call you,
okay?”

She nodded, pulling gently away from him and
settling into the driver’s seat. He looked at her.

“
Be careful going home,”
he added as he leaned in and gave her a lingering kiss on the
cheek. Her head turned to him, his face still close to hers. The
emotions made it hard for her to breathe.

Smiling, he pulled away.

“
I’ll talk to you
tomorrow, beautiful.”

Her stomach filled with butterflies as she
answered.

“
Okay.”

****

A very long night at the E.R. made Matt
yearn for his bed as he sat on his couch in his apartment. He sent
a text message to Robin. “Good morning gorgeous. Sleep well?”

His phone vibrated momentarily with a reply:
“Very well, thanks. How was your shift?”

He quickly typed the words, “Long. Glad to
be home. I will be online at about 7:30 tonight. I should be back
from Olivia’s game by then; can get directions then,” and sent the
message.

Another moment or two passed when his phone
vibrated again. The words, “Okay. Sleep well,” popped up on the
screen.

He replied, “Will do. Stay safe.”

He realized he couldn’t remember what life
was like before he started talking to Robin. He knew things seemed
to be moving really fast, but her safety meant everything to
him.

A knock echoed through the apartment. Bill
Kindell, his best friend, walked through the door.

An EMT for a local ambulance company, Bill
met Matt through the hospital. A Mexican-American and proud of it,
Bill was much shorter than Matt with curly jet black hair and
tanned skin. Genuinely, he cared about helping people and most of
all he bent over backward to help Matt. In fact, Bill could find
out anything about anyone. So, Matt utilized this. He had
approached Bill about Robin and asked that information be gathered.
Matt knew that this impromptu visit from Bill meant that
information was acquired.

Bill also worked night shift. Tired and
cranky, Bill made his way to the couch and collapsed.

Matt walked to the kitchen. “You want
coffee?” he asked courteously.

“
No thanks, amigo, but
after last night’s shift I think I need to hook it up to my veins,
you know? Damn. I hate the full moon. I stopped counting how many
times I saw you last night. Felt like we just kept bringing them
into the E.R. Are you the walking dead this morning,
too?”

Matt nodded as he walked back into the
living room with a hot cup of coffee “I’m pretty tired.” He sat
down in the recliner. “What’s up?”

“
Well, I did some digging
on your girlfriend,” Bill started.

“
Not my girlfriend, Bill.
Keep it light.”

“
Don’t be so literal man.
Anyway, Robin checked out, but there’s some stuff.”

“
Is it bad?”

“
Her background is all
legitimate.”

It was quiet for a moment.

“
And?”

“
Her education checks out,
too. She’s from a very small town in the south, like she told you.
No marriages, no kids, just like she said. But, you told me her
friend Wendy warned you about hurting Robin. I know why. She had a
boyfriend a few years back; a real badass. He used to beat on her.
He lived in Hamilton. She moved in with him. One night he held her
hostage in their apartment. He nearly killed her. I saw the photos
of her after the hostage situation. I’m really surprised she didn’t
have to have plastic surgery. He’s in jail now, but this girl, your
Robin, she has really been through some things. She is fragile
amigo. You get what I’m saying? Handle with care.”

Matt saw red.

“
How could
someone…”

Bill leaned up with his elbows on his
knees.

“
You really like this
girl, huh?”

Matt only nodded. If he opened his mouth
again a stream of obscenities would escape.

“
She checks out man,” Bill
continued. “Seems like a real good lady.”

He nodded again.

“
Good.”

Knowing what she had been through, Matt
wanted to hold Robin and tuck her safely inside of him. He felt cut
to the core knowing what she had lived through. He saw her in a
whole new light. He understood her cautious nature now and her
unwillingness to give herself proper credit when it was due. She
didn’t see herself the way he did; courageous.

****

Saturday was nerve wracking for Robin.
Restlessly, she stood in front of the mirror taking account of her
appearance. The reflection didn’t ease her apprehension at all.
Wendy helped her pick out a sexy ensemble: A cami top with halter
tie in wild designs of purple, green, white, and black, a pair of
black Capri pants, and black cross band wedge sandals. Because of
the heat, Robin twisted her hair up and pulled wispy strands out to
add depth. The silver hoop earrings brought the outfit together
nicely.

Taking account of her emotions and of
herself, she continued gazing into the mirror. She realized how
comfortable she felt with Matt. But, her fear still outweighed her
desire to open her damaged heart to him.

She heard his truck pull into the parking
lot.

The apartment complex she and Wendy lived in
was very nice in a very upscale part of town. Everything was clean
and tidy. The landscaping was perfect.

Robin peeked out her window to see Matt
shutting the truck off. He stepped out and as she watched, he
breathed in deeply. The sun beams danced off of his dark hair.

She watched him walk up the stairs to the
apartment and then she closed the curtain. Sitting on her bed, she
did her best to catch her breath. She heard the knock at the front
door and she heard Wendy and Terri’s voice. A few short moments
passed. She still heard Terri’s voice, but not Wendy’s. She felt
paralyzed, unable to move from the side of her bed. Finally, Wendy
opened the bedroom door. The imaginary cement loosened from Robin’s
rear-end and she stood up, calmly walked to the mirror again and
frowned.

“
He’s here,” Wendy
announced quietly.

“
Do you think this is too
much?” she asked as she continued twisting to see every angle of
her body in the mirror.

“
No way, you look like
lava baby!” she whispered excitedly. “Go have fun. And girl, he is
looking sexy. He’s so hot he could light a fire
cracker.”

“
So remind me again why in
the hell he’s with me?”

“
Stop this,” Wendy said as
she walked closer. She put her hands on Robin’s shoulders and
smiled into the mirror. She knew the look on Robin’s face; the
uncertainty and poor self-esteem. “You are a beautiful, successful
woman. Quit thinking that you’re not good enough. What happened
before… you didn’t deserve that. You can have so much more; so much
better.”

“
I know you’re right. I’m
sorry.”

“
Don’t have to be sorry to
me doll. You just take all this in and have a good time. Let him
spoil you. If he doesn’t do it for you, move on. If he disrespects
you, get out. You know?”

Robin nodded.

She walked into the living room with Wendy
following. Robin observed how handsome Matt looked. He wore a pair
of light washed boot cut jeans, a short sleeve graphic t-shirt, and
his navy blue Converse high tops. The t-shirt fit tightly around
his chest showing off his brilliant build.

When Matt saw Robin his mouth dropped. She
heard him whisper, “Wow.”

She felt the skin in her face warm up as she
blushed.

“
Ready?” she asked
quietly.

He stood silently with his mouth still
hanging open.

“
What?” he asked after a
few seconds. “What happened?”

She giggled at his expression.

“
Oh, yeah,” he continued,
“we’re ready.”

“
Distracted?” she asked
jokingly.

With a smile, he answered, “You seem to have
that effect on me.”

He opened the door and followed her out.
After reaching the truck, he walked to the passenger side of the
truck and opened the door.

“
You look sensational,” he
complimented.

“
Thank you. You’re looking
good yourself Dr. Gregory.”

He smiled at her as she hopped into the cab
of the truck.

Not one moment of silence passed on the
drive to the concert. When they arrived at the amphitheater, he
hopped out quickly and opened her door.

The conversation in the car enlightened
Matt. Robin told him how much she loved classic literature and
Shakespeare. Old fashioned to the core, she enjoyed reading about
knights and damsels in distress. She was a romantic dreamer.

With this in mind, Matt approached her with
a gallant, “M’lady,” as he pulled on the door handle.

“
Thank you good sir,” she
answered with a smart smile.

She got out of the truck and stepped away as
he shut the door. She leaned against the door and stood very still.
Her stomach flipped with anticipation and want.

He placed his hands on the truck bed
stretching his arms on both sides of her as if to hold her
captive.

“
I just want you to know,”
he said softly, “I am so glad you came with me tonight.”

“
I was looking forward to
it.”

He leaned in closer.

“
I have been waiting all
week to be with you like this. But, before we go any further,” he
paused.