BXBX NOVEL Chapter 236 - Meet JoAnna (5)
Jeff woke up and looked around. Unfamiliar place. It took him few seconds to realize that he is in JoAnna's apartment. He observed the room. There was a sofa, desk with a chair... books on the bookshelves. Not too many things, and no unused space. Everything is neatly organized.
His jacket was hanging over the chair. Jeff saw that he is only in his shirt and his lower half is covered with a blanket. He checked under the blanket and saw that he is still wearing his pants. 'Why did I feel a relief thinking that I still have my pants on?' He pinched roof of his nose.
JoAnna was not in sight. He got out of the bed and headed outside.
He found JoAnna in the living area, watching television.
JoAnna was startled when he cleared his throat. She jumped off the sofa, turned off the TV and looked at him. "I hope you slept well." Her eyes were clear and there was no sign of the uneasiness from this morning.
He nodded and observed her. She was wearing gray yoga pants, and a white t-shirt with a wide neck opening which was leaning to her left, revealing her collarbone. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail, and her fair skin on the neck was exposed. 'So beautiful...' His mind was on a loop and he could not get out of it. She was right in front of him. 'So beautiful...' He felt his heart racing, and his throat was constricted. He swallowed hard trying to remove that uncomfortable feeling in his throat. It was not successful.
She smiled at him. "No need to be so tense... Why don't you freshen up until I prepare something to eat?" Her eyebrows creased. "I'm sorry I don't have fresh clothes to offer you." After a second she added with a smirk. "Mine will not fit you."
"I have in my car.", Jeff told her while thinking: 'Is she offering me to shower, change and stay for a meal?' He needed time to process this information, but she was already talking again.
"Oh, good. Give me the keys and I will fetch them for you. Where are they?"
"In the trunk." Yes, his carry on with clothes was in the trunk of his car.
JoAnna tilted her head and raised one eyebrow. She wanted to know where are the keys. How difficult would be to find clothes inside a car? "The keys..."
He realized his mistake and cleared his throat before speaking again, "My jacket, left pocket."
"You can use bathroom in the bedroom." She already entered the bedroom and few seconds later headed outside with his car keys.
Jeff was glad to see that JoAnna is back to her usual self. Unfortunately, that puts him into a disadvantage. He is getting into a daze very easily... 'She will think that I'm retarded when I respond so clumsily.' He rubbed his temples. 'I need to get myself together. I can dominate over twenty international CEOs at a time, why is this one girl getting me so flustered?'
…
JoAnna stepped outside apartment and leaned on the closed door taking a deep breath. 'OK. This is working... as long as I suppress thoughts of me embarrassing myself and do my best to ignore how handsome he is, I'm doing just fine.' She took the stairs down; it will give her more time to think. It was easy to push away thoughts about him earlier, when she thought of him only as a patient, she would tell herself that she will not see him ever again and it worked. But now she knows that he is more than a patient. He is Aiden's brother, Sarah's boss... and her savior. There is no way that they will not see each other again. And she does not want them to be distant… She craves for that sense of security that she felt while he held her in his embrace.
JoAnna admitted to herself that Jeff is very handsome. The strong aura he showed while suppressing Dr. Light that morning is complimenting his looks perfectly and making him irresistible. Can she even dare to dream of being anything more than an acquaintance with him?
...
JoAnna returned to the apartment with Jeff's carry on and found him still standing in the living room. She took the suitcase to the bedroom and returned to him. "You can go in now..." She gestured toward the bedroom where bathroom is.
Jeff was confused. 'Did I just space out? How come she is already back?'
JoAnna smiled as she watched him walk toward the bedroom. His broad shoulders and narrow waist… she wished for a chance to see his back without it being covered with clothes… and maybe even his front… She smiled and headed to the kitchen.
...
Jeff came out of the shower, in fresh clothes and smell of pastries from the kitchen filled up his nostrils. He got into the kitchen just in time to see JoAnna pulling a tray of croissants from the oven.
JoAnna arranged hot pastries on the plate while glancing at Jeff and smiling. "You need to try these... my brother-in-law makes best croissants ever."
Jeff frowned. Since when Aiden knows how to make these things?
"You don't like croissants?" JoAnna saw him frowning. She was sure that croissants will be something he likes, because she ate three of them that morning in his hotel room.
Jeff shook his head. "No, no... I was wondering, when did Aiden learn to make pastries?"
JoAnna realized the misunderstanding and giggled. "Not him. My other brother-in-law, Felix."
It took him a second to understand that 'other brother-in-law' means that Sophia has a boyfriend... which clarifies JoAnna's relationship status: she is available. Jeff felt a relief and at the same time his heart almost leaped out of his chest.
Through his haze, Jeff heard JoAnna speak, "Come on, let's eat... I'm hungry, I waited for you to wake up so we can eat together."
She ushered him to the dining room where table was set with coffee, juice and fresh fruits.