pair of khaki shorts.
“Dr. Morales, this is unexpected.”
“When a man brings you take-out for dinner, you might want to call him by his first name,” he teased, raising one hand to display a large white paper bag that was labeled Woo’s Chinese while clasping another small brown-handled package in the other. “I thought you might not have time to go grocery shopping since your sister moved out today.”
Lexi’s mouth opened wide and she stood there speechless. She couldn’t believe he’d remembered.
“I’m sorry, do you have company?” Raul asked, still standing in the doorway.
“No, please come in. You’ll have to forgive how this place looks—Katie just left and I obviously haven’t had the time to redecorate,” she joked, stepping aside.
“I hope you’re hungry because Woo’s gives you a ton of food,” he said, strolling into the tiny kitchen area. “Did your sister leave you any plates?”
“I think so, let me look.” Nervously, she edged her way past him and rummaged through a couple of cabinets. “Here they are, and the silverware should be in the drawer right in front of you.” Grabbing the plain dinner plates, she set them down on the small table before ripping off a few paper towels from a roll that sat next to the sink. “We use these as napkins, because Katie thinks it saves on expenses.”
Sitting down, Raul retrieved three cardboard containers from the large bag and placed them in front of their plates. “I hope you like Mongolian beef, but if not, there’s a shrimp and chicken dish as well. Of course, they gave us plenty of rice,” he said, peering up with a guarded smile. “Okay, you seem nervous that I showed up unannounced. I probably should’ve called before coming over.”
“No. It’s good that you’re here. I guess I’m just a little more wired today than usual. I’ve never lived alone before.”
He turned at the waist to see what kind of locks were on her door. “Considering everything that’s going on in this city, your uneasiness is understandable. When I walk out that door tonight, you better be sure to lock it and put the chain on, young lady,” he said, dishing a variety of entrées on Lexi’s plate before spooning some onto his own. “Go ahead and see which one you like best. There are a lot of Chinese restaurants in the area, but Woo’s is my favorite.”
Lexi took a couple of tiny bites along with some rice before looking down into her plate. “It’s very good.”
“You’re usually much more talkative. Are you nervous being alone with me in your apartment?”
“No, of course not. I trust you…”
He put his fork down. “Look, I understand. We haven’t known each other for very long, and I’ve practically barged into your home. I apologize, Lexi. The last thing I’d want to do is frighten you.”
She brightened up at the soothing, genuine tone of his voice. “No, no, no, it’s okay. I’m happy that you’re here, and I love that you brought dinner.”
“I’m sure you could always barge in on your sister for a meal,” he said with a chuckle.
“Probably, but I really need to start taking care of myself and not depend so much on others. My dad used to say that all the time,” she said, her lips curving downward.
He angled his head lower to meet hers. “I was kind of hoping you might want to depend on me.”
Picking up her fork, Lexi remembered their conversation at IHOP as she motioned toward the small handled bag next to his chair. “Is that a gift?”
A satisfied smile played upon his lips. “It was just a spur of the moment purchase. Why don’t we open it later?”
After they’d finished eating, Lexi watched in amazement as Raul cleaned off the table, rinsed the plates, and placed them into the dishwasher. Taking what was left of the Chinese food, he repacked every last bit and stored the containers in the refrigerator. “There, now you have something to eat tomorrow night. Leftovers are very important when you
“Dr. Morales, this is unexpected.”
“When a man brings you take-out for dinner, you might want to call him by his first name,” he teased, raising one hand to display a large white paper bag that was labeled Woo’s Chinese while clasping another small brown-handled package in the other. “I thought you might not have time to go grocery shopping since your sister moved out today.”
Lexi’s mouth opened wide and she stood there speechless. She couldn’t believe he’d remembered.
“I’m sorry, do you have company?” Raul asked, still standing in the doorway.
“No, please come in. You’ll have to forgive how this place looks—Katie just left and I obviously haven’t had the time to redecorate,” she joked, stepping aside.
“I hope you’re hungry because Woo’s gives you a ton of food,” he said, strolling into the tiny kitchen area. “Did your sister leave you any plates?”
“I think so, let me look.” Nervously, she edged her way past him and rummaged through a couple of cabinets. “Here they are, and the silverware should be in the drawer right in front of you.” Grabbing the plain dinner plates, she set them down on the small table before ripping off a few paper towels from a roll that sat next to the sink. “We use these as napkins, because Katie thinks it saves on expenses.”
Sitting down, Raul retrieved three cardboard containers from the large bag and placed them in front of their plates. “I hope you like Mongolian beef, but if not, there’s a shrimp and chicken dish as well. Of course, they gave us plenty of rice,” he said, peering up with a guarded smile. “Okay, you seem nervous that I showed up unannounced. I probably should’ve called before coming over.”
“No. It’s good that you’re here. I guess I’m just a little more wired today than usual. I’ve never lived alone before.”
He turned at the waist to see what kind of locks were on her door. “Considering everything that’s going on in this city, your uneasiness is understandable. When I walk out that door tonight, you better be sure to lock it and put the chain on, young lady,” he said, dishing a variety of entrées on Lexi’s plate before spooning some onto his own. “Go ahead and see which one you like best. There are a lot of Chinese restaurants in the area, but Woo’s is my favorite.”
Lexi took a couple of tiny bites along with some rice before looking down into her plate. “It’s very good.”
“You’re usually much more talkative. Are you nervous being alone with me in your apartment?”
“No, of course not. I trust you…”
He put his fork down. “Look, I understand. We haven’t known each other for very long, and I’ve practically barged into your home. I apologize, Lexi. The last thing I’d want to do is frighten you.”
She brightened up at the soothing, genuine tone of his voice. “No, no, no, it’s okay. I’m happy that you’re here, and I love that you brought dinner.”
“I’m sure you could always barge in on your sister for a meal,” he said with a chuckle.
“Probably, but I really need to start taking care of myself and not depend so much on others. My dad used to say that all the time,” she said, her lips curving downward.
He angled his head lower to meet hers. “I was kind of hoping you might want to depend on me.”
Picking up her fork, Lexi remembered their conversation at IHOP as she motioned toward the small handled bag next to his chair. “Is that a gift?”
A satisfied smile played upon his lips. “It was just a spur of the moment purchase. Why don’t we open it later?”
After they’d finished eating, Lexi watched in amazement as Raul cleaned off the table, rinsed the plates, and placed them into the dishwasher. Taking what was left of the Chinese food, he repacked every last bit and stored the containers in the refrigerator. “There, now you have something to eat tomorrow night. Leftovers are very important when you
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