"Too Tall, Too Dark, Too Handsome" chap 5

Chapter 5


It had been a long night, mused Shea from her place at the nursery window. Sometime around three in the morning Kent had returned asking if she'd like to hold her newborn niece, and she hadn't but the baby down since that time. Now the sky was turning colors, the sun bringing the promise of another day while Shea's heart felt real joy for the first time in months. This tiny baby was her second chance.

"Well, I didn't realize you'd be holding her for hours." the hushed voice of Kent Pharrell made the hairs on her neck stand on end.

"I couldn't put her down." she replied, turning to face him, which proved to be yet another mistake. His eyes, a deep chocolate color were soft, and they begged to see the little one she held close to her chest. Could it be that he'd built a bond with her niece?

"I know the feeling." he smiled, eyes glimmering as he crossed his arms over his chest.
She couldn't resist anymore, the thoughts of the combination of big, handsome man with tiny, adorable baby too much. "Would you like to hold her?"

He nodded, unfolding his long arms and taking the baby cradling her against his chest gently. "She's going to need a name you know." he whispered, never taking his eyes off of the newborn, beholding her as the gift she was.

Shea sighed, "I know, I've been thinking about it, but nothing seems right." She spoke around the lump in her throat, he was far too much for her to deal with.

"What about Lilly?" he asked, eyes finding hers.

Her breath caught in her chest, and she fidgeted with the blanket she had on her shoulder. "Lilly is beautiful." she whispered, standing and looking down at her new charge.

"Yes, she is," answered Kent, his smile growing then slowly disappearing as he looked into her eyes once more. "So is her aunt."

Cheeks burning, Shea fought to tear her gaze from his, what was she doing? Slowly her gaze reached his again, "Thank you."

"For what? The truth?" he chuckled and set Lilly back into the incubator.

"That and taking care of Lilly. You're a sweet man."

"Sweet? Not good-looking, charming, handsome?" he smiled wide, tugging on one of Shea's curls.
"Well, of course those too, to an incredible extent..but...oh my look at the time!" she smacked a hand over her mouth. What had she just said aloud? Lilly would be fine until she could get something to eat and maybe some sleep, then she'd be back.

"Shea! Don't leave." he called, running after her. She was almost to the elevator when he grasped her arm and pulled her back. He always had a habit of catching her at her worst, and now he had her. She just hoped that she could get away without letting him have her heart as well.

"I've got to leave, Kent, I've got to keep my heart in tact. You don't understand." she gushed, tugging away from him and wishing she could disappear.

"Make me understand, Shea. Make me understand, why you think I'll break your heart. We're just friends, for now. Remember? Tell me. What's wrong?" his eyes burned into her's, and for once she actually felt like she had a real friend in the world.

"Maybe another day, Kent, I've got too much going on right now. I'll be back in a few hours to visit Lilly. See you around." With that, she tugged her arm out of his grasp and slammed her hand against the elevator button. It showed up with some speed and she escaped leaving him standing there alone in the hall. Somehow she needed to either get with the program and offer her heart and her story, or she had to play it safe. Either way seemed painful to her.

--

After a long day of wondering about Shea, and caring for thirty babies in the Neonatal unit, Kent left the hospital for his mother's house. Even after nearly thirty years of life, he was still held to the Saturday night dinner at his mom's. As was his sister and her family, but still he liked to complain. It wasn't too far from the hospital to his mother's small home, so he parked the car within minutes and crossed the street. Soon he was being swept inside, his nephews clinging to his legs and his mother yelling at him. Life was always the same there, nothing different except his heart was heavy for the woman who'd left the hospital earlier. He really couldn't enjoy the dinner, nor the time with his family because she continuously was running through his mind. Along with her precious niece.

"Earth to Kentavious..you alive man?" his brother-in-law Rick sat beside him on the couch, and handed him a cup of coffee.

Kent nodded, "Yeah, I suppose, if I have to be."

Rick laughed, "So what's her name?"

Swallowing hard, he looked at his brother-in-law, what was he wearing a sign that said he was tripped up by a chick? "How'd you know?"

"You've got that 'she-got-me-tripping-over-my-own-heart" look, I know it all too well." Rick grinned, winking at Yvonne as she passed.

"Truth," Kent nodded, "Her name is Shea, she's incredible, although she's kind of down on herself for some reason. I don't know, I guess I really don't know much about her. But, one look at her and I'm head over heels. I don't understand it..."

Rick chuckled, "Of course you don't, man, nobody does. It's called love, it makes the world go 'round."

"You're sounding like an after-school special." muttered Kent.

"Maybe so, but he's right." Yvonne sat on the arm of the couch wrapping her arms around her husband.

Kent sighed, seemed he wasn't going to get very far with his wishing he wasn't attracted to Shea. Somehow he needed to figure out what to do with her.

"Aw! Look at him, he's adorable, all in love." Yvonne giggled to her husband, touching Kent's cheek.

He groaned, "Please, I hardly know her, Vonne."

"Maybe not, but from the look on your face, I'd say you're going to stop at nothing until you do know her." his sister grinned.

Kent nodded, he couldn't contend that point. For once in his life, he didn't feel like putting his sister's head in the toilet and flushing it. She was dead on, and from what they said it was perfectly normal. Now if only he could get to know Shea without her pulling away again. Driving toward home he sighed, he'd figure it out in the morning. For now, he was ready to drop.