The Blue Zone

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

When Kate got home, there were candles lit all around the loft. The stereo was playing. Something soothing and romantic-Norah Jones.

Greg slid out to meet her, wearing his cheesy tuxedo T-shirt with a tie around his neck. “Signora Kate…” Fergus wagged his way up, a necktie wrapped around his collar, too.

Kate eyed Greg suspiciously. “Tina got to you, right?”

“Not me.” Greg winked, gesturing with his chin toward Fergus. “Him.”

Kate giggled, removing her jacket. “Okay, Casanova, what is it you have in mind?”

Greg led her over to the folding card table they had found at a thrift shop for five bucks, which he had centered in front of the windows. The Williamsburg Bridge was lit up beautifully. There was a flickering candle on the table and a bottle of wine.

“I waz about to pour ze 1990 Mazis-Chambertin,” Greg said in a silly, Clouseau-like accent, more his native Spanish than French, “but eenstead zere is its distant cousin, ze Two-Buck Chuck.” He poured. “All a third-year resident can afford.”

“Vintage 2006. July. Nice!” Kate giggled. Greg draped a paper napkin across her lap. “And to go with it…?”

“To go with it”-Greg made a flourish toward the kitchen-“our chef’s signature dish…the Beef in Green Curry and the Shrimp Pad Thai, served, as always, in their ceremonial tureens.”

Kate spotted a couple of take-out containers from their favorite local Thai restaurant still on a tray, chopsticks to the side.

She laughed approvingly. “Is that all?”

"‘Is that all?’” Greg sniffed derisively. “And for later, to make your romantic dream date complete…” From behind his back, he produced a DVD case.

Jack Black. School of Rock .

“Perfect!” Kate couldn’t help but laugh. Truth was, she could use something totally dumb and mindless tonight. Maybe Tina was right. This was what she needed after all.

“Mademoiselle is impressed?” Greg asked, pouring a little more wine.

“Very impressed.” Kate winked. “It’s just that maybe I have my own idea.”

“And what eez dat?” Greg asked, bringing his wineglass together with hers for a toast.

“Bedroom. Say, two minutes? I’m just going to freshen up and make myself smell great.”

Greg scratched his chin and dropped the silly accent. “I can live with that.”

Kate jumped up, giving him a teasing kiss on the lips. Then she hurried into the bathroom, removing her T-shirt and kicking off her jeans.

She hopped in the shower, her pores reviving as the warm spray splashed on her face. With Greg’s insane hours and all the stress of the past year, they’d become like some old married couple. They’d forgotten what it was like to just have fun. Kate let the water soak her hair and run down her body and lathered herself in a sexy lavender-scented soap she’d found at Sephora.

Suddenly the shower door opened. Greg hopped in, an impish grin on his face. “Sorry, couldn’t wait.”

Kate’s eyes twinkled mischievously. “So…what took you so long?”

They kissed, the hot spray beating down on them. Greg pulled her close to him, and every cell in her body seemed to spring alive.

“You smell fantastic,” he sighed, his chin nuzzling against her shoulders, while his hands massaged the tightness of her buttocks, her breasts.

“And you smell like the ER.” Kate grinned. “Or is that the chili sauce speaking?”

He shrugged apologetically. “Lidocaine.”

“Oh.” She widened her eyes, feeling him press warmly up against her. “But I see you’ve brought along the pad Thai. ”

They laughed, and Greg turned her around, easing her back gently as he guided himself into her.

“Good plan, Kate.”

He always knew the way to make her forget everything. She knew how lucky she was. They rocked a few moments, his hands on her thighs. The feel of him inside her made her body fill with warmth, her heart quicken. Kate let out a gasp, her breath intensifying. Then faster and harder as the spray splashed over them and they slapped against each other’s thighs. Their rhythm started to build, and she tightened inside. Greg was panting, too. The rush was beautiful. Kate closed her eyes. A few moments later, he was pressed up against her in the warm spray and her heart beat feverishly, her body both freed and coiled.

“Sorry about dinner,” he teased.

“No sweat.” Kate nestled her head on his shoulder and sighed. “This’ll have to do.”

Later they did have dinner. In bed. Right out of the containers.

They watched the Jack Black movie and laughed out loud. Kate rested her head crosswise on Greg’s chest. Fergus was curled up at the foot of their bed in his basket. She hadn’t felt so relaxed in a long time.

“More wine maintenant, s’il vous plaît,” Kate said, tipping her empty glass.

“Your turn.” He shook his head. “I’ve been slaving in the kitchen all day.”

“My turn?” She kicked him playfully. “It’s my night.”

“Oh, like you didn’t already get enough?”

“Okay.” Kate gave in. She threw on her nightshirt. “See if I come back with anything for you.”

The phone rang.

“Fuck.” Greg sighed loudly. They’d learned to hate the sound of the phone at unexpected times. It was usually the hospital, calling for him to come in.

Kate fumbled for the phone. The number on the screen wasn’t familiar. At least it wasn’t the hospital. “Hello,” she answered.

“Kate, this is Tom O’Hearn. Tina’s father.”

“Hi!” She wondered why he was calling so late at night. His voice sounded weary and strained.

“Kate, something terrible has happened…”

Kate looked anxiously at Greg, a tremor of nerves rippling down her spine. “What?”

“Tina’s been shot, Kate. She’s in the OR now. It’s bad. They don’t know if she’s going to pull through.”