Fernando - Bad Boy Love (Bad Boy Love Series Book 1) (9 page)

It was his first day off from work, and Fernando arrived at the probation office with his employment contract in hand, hoping to see Gwen and talk to her for a few minutes. “Good morning, I’m here to see Gwen Cohen.”

The receptionist looked at him. “Your name? Do you have an appointment?”

He lifted the work contract. “Fernando Garcia. I don’t have an appointment but needed to drop this off to her.” Truth be told, it was a lame excuse to see Gwen. The contract could have waited another week. Fernando not so much.

“You can give it to me. I’ll see that it gets to the right person.”

“The right person? I don’t understand. Gwen Cohen is the right person. She’s my probation officer.”

“Not as of this morning. You’ve been assigned to Gerald Peters. He’ll be contacting you to set up your next meeting.”

“Wait. Why have I been reassigned?” Disappointment settled in his stomach, followed closely by anguish.

“Miss Cohen is unavailable right now.” The receptionist furrowed her brows at his insistent questions, and Fernando felt his temper rise. What right did this woman have to dismiss him like that? He had a right to know!

“Why?” The question came out louder than he’d wanted and he closed his eyes for a moment to find his calm. It wouldn’t do any good to put up a fight, in the probation office of all places. “I’m sorry, but has something happened?”

The woman looked down her nose at him, even from her seated position. “Mr. Garcia. I’m not at liberty to give out that kind of information. Have a good day.”

Frustration took over, and he longed for either a good fight or a cold shower. As neither was available, he opted for a glass of water and stopped at the water cooler on his way out. Just when he gulped down his second glass, he heard someone mention Gwen’s name and choked on the water. Coughing, he only caught fragments of the conversation between two of her colleagues passing by.

“…hospital…car accident…concussion.”

His stomach clenched, and he forced himself to stop coughing and quietly followed the two women along the hallway. “She’s at La Selva Hospital?”

“Yes. We could drop by after work and see how she’s doing.”

“I think they’re releasing her today.”

Fernando had heard enough and bypassed them, rushing down the stairs, taking three steps at once. He had to see Gwen and make sure she was okay.

Walking across town, his mind went in a hundred different directions.
I’ve never visited a girl in the hospital before. Am I supposed to bring her something? And if so, what?

Not coming up with an answer, he called Amada. “Hey, sis. I’m going to the hospital to visit a friend. Should I take her something?”

“A friend? You mean as in girlfriend?” Amada answered, but he didn’t have time for her inquisition.

“Maybe. But can you please answer my questions first?”

“If there’s the slightest romantic interest from your side, then, of course you should take her something.”

“Okay. What?”

“Well, flowers are a definite, but to really impress her, you should also bring some sweets. Fancy chocolates always work well.”

He nodded. “Okay, I can do that. Flowers and chocolates. Thanks, sis.”

“No problem. When will I get the detailed gossip?”

“Knowing my nosy sister,” he smirked, “as soon as I walk in the door tonight.” He hung up on her laughter.

He bought the gifts, then hopped on the bus, and twenty minutes later stood in front of the hospital. Right now, it didn’t seem like such a good idea anymore. Holding onto the flowers in his hand, he stepped through the sliding door and headed to the receptionist encased in a glass booth.

“Gwen Cowen, please.”

“Are you a relative?” the receptionist asked pleasantly enough.

“No, a friend.”

“I’m sorry, due to HIPPA laws, I’m only able to provide patient information to…”

“Fernando?”

He turned to see an attractive young woman with auburn hair and blue eyes staring at him. “Did you just call my name?”

She nodded. “Yes. You’re Fernando Garcia, right?”

He bristled, suspicion tightening his skin. “I am. Who are you?”

“Vivian.”

Fernando didn’t know anyone named Vivian. At least, not that he could recall. “Do I know you?”

She laughed. “No.” She gave him a glance over, and he fidgeted, unsure of how to act. “Why are you here?”

“Uhm...well, I’m here to visit a friend. She was in a car accident.”

“Gwen?” Her eyes observed him with more scrutiny than any police officer or judge had ever done.

“H-How do you know?” he stuttered, feeling like an insect under a microscope.

“She’s my best friend.”

Relief washed over him, then he grew excited at the prospect of some answers. “Is she okay? She wasn’t at work today, and the receptionist wouldn’t tell me why…”

Vivian’s expression softened. “Considering the circumstances, she’s fine.”

He exhaled a harsh breath of relief and expected the interrogation to be over, but Vivian took a step toward him, eyebrows raised, her blue eyes boring into him. “Mind if I ask about your intentions with Gwen?”

That woman had guts. He hid an amused smile. “Are you trying to protect her honor?”

“Yep. Now answer my question.”

“How about this?” he gestured toward the cafeteria on the other side of the entrance hall. “We go sit over there, and I’ll answer your questions. And when you’re satisfied with my answers, you tell me her room number. Deal?”

Vivian grinned. “You’ll answer all of my questions?”

“I didn’t say all, but I’ll answer some of them.”

“Good enough. Follow me, I need caffeine.”

He followed her to the hospital cafeteria where she ordered a pot of coffee. Not a cup, an entire pot. Once she’d doctored it with cream, sugar, and a fancy flavoring she pulled from her purse, she started grilling him.

“So, you and Gwen? You two like each other?”

“You could say that, but she has to stay away from me. She is – no was – my probation officer.”

“What crime did you commit?”

“Armed robbery.” It sounded awful, and he expected her to at least widen her eyes, but nothing.
She already knows the whole story and just wants to test me.
Her next question confirmed his suspicion.

“You’re part of a gang?”

“I was. I’ve changed. Am changing.”

She finally showed a sign of surprise, her face softening a little. “And how’s that going?”

“It’s been tough. But since I found a job, it’s getting easier by the day.” It was the truth. The work at the fitness studio kept him too occupied to fall back into old habits. And the thought of an irate Ben if Fernando violated his “rules” did the rest.

“So, you really like my friend?”

Something twisted deep inside him. “I really, really like your friend.”

Vivian nodded and then lowered her voice. “I should warn you that if you break her heart, not only will you have to contend with me, but also with my five brothers who love Gwen like she was their second sister. Do we understand one another?”

Fernando couldn’t hold back his grin. “I would say the same thing to any guy trying to date my sister. Yes, we understand one another. And I promise not to break Gwen’s heart.” He used a finger to cross his own.

Vivian laughed. “Good, then you should have nothing to worry about.”

As if I would.
He wasn’t afraid of her brothers, even if there were five of them. He’d dealt with worse guys than they could ever think to be.

Gwen was dozing and having the most wonderful daydream about Fernando when the sound of the door opening jerked her out of her fantasy. She opened her eyes, blinked several times to clear the cloudiness from them and then smiled when she saw Vivian peeking her head around the door.

“Are you awake?” her best friend whispered.

“Hi. Come in.”

Vivian entered the room, snagging a chair, and pulled it up beside her bed. “How are you feeling this morning?”

“I’ve been better. Yesterday it was just my wrist and head that hurt. Today, my entire body feels as if that van ran over me, backed up, and did it again.”

“Aren’t they giving you something for the pain?” Vivian asked, clutching at her hand.

“They are, but my brain still isn’t functioning on all cylinders so they will only give me so much.”

Vivian leaned over and looked at the small cut on the side of her head. “Ouch!”

“Yeah.”

“And your poor wrist. Any word on when they plan to cast it?”

“Hopefully sometime later today. They needed to make sure it wouldn’t have to be reset first.” Gwen made a face. “Thank goodness they won’t have to.”

They chatted for a few minutes, and Gwen gave her friend her house keys so she could bring her back a few things. Vivian also was making arrangements for her to get a rental car while hers was being fixed.

Vivian’s eyes were sparkling, and Gwen narrowed her own. “What?”

“I have a surprise for you.” Vivian made the sentence more like a song.

“A surprise? You didn’t have to bring me anything–”

“Well, it’s not that kind of surprise. You have a visitor, but first, you have to guess who it is.”

Gwen scowled at her. “Viv, you mean old lady. I’m injured, and you want me to rack my battered brain?”

Vivian grinned bigger. “Just to see if your brain still functions, sweetie. And I can send him away. It’s no big deal.”

“Him? So it’s not your parents?”

“Nope. Guess again.”

Gwen sighed. “Chuck?” When Vivian shook her head, she went through all five brothers and her own brother, Donovan, still not getting the answer right. “I give up.”

“You don’t get to give up. Now, before you answer, think. Who is the one person you would like to see the most right now?”

Her stomach did a flip-flop, and she blurted out, “Fernando.” She waited for a reproach, but Vivian simply beamed at her. Had she drifted off to dreamland again? Faintly, she whispered, “If this is one of your bad pranks…”

Before Vivian could say anything, a knock came on the door, and Fernando strolled into the room holding flowers and a box of chocolates in his hands.

Gwen blinked. Surely her eyes were playing tricks on her. “Fernando?” she whispered, afraid to say his name too loudly and make his mirage disappear.

As he approached the bed, Vivian got up and whispered, “I’ll give you lovebirds some privacy.” Then she was gone.

The air filled with Fernando’s unique smell and butterflies whirled in Gwen’s stomach. If she had been able to, she’d have jumped off the bed and into his arms. “You? Are you real?”

Fernando’s eyes twinkled with mischief. “I sure am. Wanna touch me to believe it?”

Yes, I want. Badly
.

He took her hand, and she instantly melted. It wasn’t due to the concussion that her brain completely stopped working. For how long he stood beside the bed, holding her hand and looking down at her with so much love in his brown eyes, she didn’t know.

“How did you know?” she whispered when she finally found her voice.

“I went to the office to drop off my work contract, and you weren’t there. The secretary wouldn’t tell me anything except that I had been assigned a new probation officer.”

“But how did you find me?”

“I overheard two of your colleagues talking. One or both of them are planning to stop by after work today and visit you.”

She squeezed his hand tighter. “You shouldn’t be here.”

“I should. And I had to see for myself that you’re fine.” He gently sat down on the edge of her bed. “Hey, you’ve officially been dismissed. You’re not my probation officer any longer.”

“But…”

“No buts.” Fernando leaned down and kissed her gently. It felt oh so good, and her heart raced with joy and excitement, but she shouldn’t. At her feeble attempt to push him away, he pressed her hand against his heart. “Feel that? It’s beating a happy rhythm because I’m here with you.”

She looked down at her hand on his chest. “This isn’t a good idea…”

Lifting her chin until she met his eyes, he said, “Tell me you don’t want me, and I’m out.”

Gwen swallowed, licking her bottom lip. His presence made her head swirl with emotions and her body ache with longing for him. The essence of his kiss still lingered on her wet lips. Of course she wanted him. Like she’d never wanted anybody before, but that didn’t mean she should act on it. No words left her mouth.

“See?” he said and sealed her lips with another kiss, reducing her universe to the two of them. Nothing else mattered. He cupped her face with his strong hands and held her head in place while his tongue slipped inside her mouth, exploring every crevice of it. Gwen closed her eyes and let her passion take over. She was done with rational.

When they came up for air, he gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and said, “How long do you have to stay here?”

“They’ll release me later today after they cast my arm.”

“How will you get home? Vivian told me your car was towed to a repair shop.”

“Probably a cab. Viv is working on getting me a rental, but I’m not sure if it will be ready by the time I’m released.”

“You shouldn’t be driving anyway,” he said, and she realized he was right.

“True, I’ll ask about that when the nurse comes back in.”

He grinned at her. “You could get the rental, and I’ll be your personal chauffeur, taking m’lady anywhere she wishes.”

“Do you even have a driver’s license?” she asked.

Fernando chuckled. “Yes, I have a driver’s license, officer.” He reached into his back pocket, pulled out his wallet and showed it to her. “See, that’s a horrible picture, but it’s me nonetheless.”

“It’s a law that they can’t take a good picture of anyone.”

Fernando took her good hand. “I’m glad to see you still have a sense of humor.”

“I never lost it,” she chuckled, but soon realized that was a mistake. A sharp pain shot through her neck, and she hissed.

“God, I’m sorry, babe. I didn’t want to hurt you.” Guilt was written all over his face, and she had to laugh again.

“Ouch. You didn’t hurt me; it hurts when I laugh or move too much.”

“Then I probably shouldn’t make you laugh,” he said with a serious face, but he couldn’t discuss the topic further because the nurse chose that moment to come in.

“Miss Cohen, you have a dragon for a friend.”

Gwen blinked at her. “Come again?”

“Your friend? She tried to keep me out of your room.” The nurse eyed Fernando as if she couldn’t quite figure out where she knew him. “Time to take you downstairs, do another x-ray and get your wrist fixed up.”

“How long will that take?” Fernando asked.

“A couple hours at most, then we’ll need to go through the discharge process.” The nurse looked back to Gwen. “Will your dragon friend be driving you home?”

“No, I’ll get her home,” Fernando interjected, then took Gwen’s good hand again. “I’ll be back in a couple hours, okay?”

Her heart twisted at how earnest he looked. “Okay.”

He lifted her fingers to his lips, kissing each knuckle softly. With a nod to the nurse, he was gone. A warm feeling invaded her heart, and she hoped it was there to stay.

Marcela helped Gwen into a wheelchair, covering her legs with a blanket. She patted her shoulder before she pushed her from the room. “He’s a fine man, that boyfriend of yours.”