She grinned. He wrapped his arm around her and they walked into the hospital room. Her boss had the biggest smile.
“Hello, Britt,” he said.
“Hello, Mr.–”
“Please, call me, Dad.”
She looked at Jack and he laughed.
“I see you’re feeling better, Dad,” Jack said.
He smiled. “I’m a big jokester outside of work.”
“Oh, you’re kidding,” Britt said.
He looked down at my finger. “I didn’t see an engagement ring. But maybe in time I will, and then you can call me dad.”
She laughed. “Yeah, we’re just dating.”
“I couldn’t ask for a better gal to date my son. You are so sweet, talented, hardworking, loyal, and dedicated. And I hear you guys have this insane connection. Jack needs a girl like you in his life.”
“Thank you for all the sweet complements.”
“I mean every single word. And I’ve never seen Jack happier. I’ve been waiting for a girl to knock him off his feet. And I know you’re the girl that’s finally done it.”
Britt grinned.
“Jack has worked so hard and deserves to finally be happy. I can’t wait for him to settle down and give me about ten grandchildren.”
“Ten?” Britt asked.
His blue eyes twinkled. “The more, the merrier.”
“Dad, you’re going to scare her away,” Jack said, chuckling.
“I’m just excited for you, son. I know this is a new relationship, but I know how much you care and love this woman. She means everything to you, so she means everything to me also.”
Britt gripped his hand. “Thank you. I love Jack so much.”
“So how long are you two keeping this secret?” his dad asked.
“Well, Dad, you know how the rumors spread. Dating the boss’s son can cause all kinds of complications. We just don’t want the added stress. We want to focus on our relationship, not fighting off gossip.”
“I understand. My lips are sealed.”
They spent the next hour talking to him. He was the sweetest man and made Britt laugh. They had a few more visits over the next week and she saw a completely different side of him than at the office. He was always nice at the office, but so focused on work. Britt got to see the ‘fun’ side of him when he let go of work. And she could see where Jack got his charming personality.
***
Britt fell asleep with a smile playing at her lips. She dreamt of Jack. The two of them were on a long, lonely stretch of white sand beach with the sparkling turquoise blue perfection of the Caribbean Sea lapping at the shore. They were dancing across the wet sand in their swimsuits, laughing and kissing one another. She darted ahead of him and ran and he caught her, capturing her around the waist and kissing her neck. Little by little, their playful romping gave way to steamier caresses until they lay down right there on the hot soft sand and coupled swiftly, with fervor and desperation. He tugged aside her tiny pink bikini bottoms and filled her without even removing their clothes. He felt so big inside her, completed her so fully that she was shrieking, the piercing pitch of her own cries waking her. She stirred and sat up, felt her cheeks flaming with embarrassment at her graphic dream of a beach tryst with Jack. The piercing shriek came again and she looked around, confused, until she saw that her phone was ringing. It was the particularly high-pitched ring tone that had startled her awake, She rubbed her eyes and blinked at the screen blankly for a moment before recognizing Jack’s name and pressing accept to answer it.
“Hello?” she asked.
Britt was still half absorbed in her luxuriant dream, half in the discordant noise of early morning. It was still dark, she observed. Perhaps Jack missed her and couldn’t wait another moment to hear her voice.
“Jack?” she asked when he didn’t answer.
She heard a muffled static sound on the other end of the phone and shrugged, hanging up. Total butt-dial. He must’ve turned over on some cramped vinyl waiting room couch and bumped his phone which inconveniently redialed the last number called. She was debating whether to curl up and go back to sleep or get up and pee and then go back to sleep when her phone shrilled again. Because six a.m. sure came fast.