Only You

Chapter 4- Dakota

We stay silent for a minute as I try to figure out something more to say to this very attractive man. For some reason, though I hardly know him, I kinda want him to stay... I want to know more about this strange man... "So..." I clear my throat reluctantly, feeling a slight pain in my chest as I gesture to his attire. "What do you do? For a living, I mean? That you're wearing a suit, & can afford to pay strangers' hospital bills?"

Rain laughs nervously, eyes on me. "I work for... an investment company..."

I nod. "Ah... What do they invest in?"

He frowns slightly. "Many things. Anything marketable, anything that'll earn something..."

"Hmm, ah. That's... cool..." I raise an eyebrow. "& do you like that?"

Rain chuckles darkly. "Not really... But it makes money, so..." He shrugs & I turn to him.

"So then... What do you like to do?"

"In my free time?" He asks & I nod. "Hmmm... Gardening, I guess... I've been into it... for years now..."

I smile, eyebrows raised. "Oh, really? That's interesting. What do you grow?"

Rain smiles shyly & gestures vaguely with his hand. "Oh, all kinds of things. Vegetables. Flowers..."

"Oh, wow! What's your favorite thing to grow?"

"Hmmm..." He stares off into space, hand on his chin & I stare at him. "That's a hard one... Probably jasmine flowers..."

"Hm, that's interesting... I don't think I've ever seen a jasmine flower..."

Rain smiles thoughtfully, looking off into the distance. "Well, you'd like them, I'm sure... They smell sweet... & they're very pretty..." He says this last bit as he looks at me, & I feel myself blush. "So... what about you?"

"Hm?" My eyebrows furrow.

He gestures to me. "What do you do? For a living?"

"Oh..." I look down at my lap self-consciously. "Nothing as lucrative as you... I'm... an architect."

"Oh! That's cool!" Rain beams, eyes bright & I smile shyly. "What kinda projects do you work on?"

"Oh... just kinda whatever the client wants. But lately, I've been doing a lot of restorations of public fountains & other water features... & that's been pretty interesting..."

He raises his eyebrows. "Oh, wow. Yeah... Do you like doing that sort of thing? Water features?"

I nod & smile. "Yeah... You could say that. I especially like the intricate ones that have a lot of planning behind them, obviously, rather than something simple. I'm not much of a minimalist myself." I chuckle & he smiles.

"So then... Is that hard for you? Trying to not have a minimalistic style, but having to maintain a budget, even in your own personal projects?"

I sigh. "Yeah... You could say that... My apartment is rather simple at the moment..."

He nods, frowning slightly. "Mmm, yeah... That sounds pretty frustrating... Well, if you ever need any help redecorating, or something... I could help."

I raise my eyebrows. "Really? You don't have to do that..."

Rain frowns, looking away. "I mean, if you don't want to, that's ok, I understand... I was just offering... I should probably go back to work now anyway..." He sighs & I try to sit up suddenly, wincing & he turns back to me, eyes concerned. "Are you... ok?" I nod, wheezing slightly, & he gently eases me back down onto the pillows so I don't have to move myself. My face reddens as his hands brush my shoulders & he looks into my eyes. "Are you sure?"

I nod again slowly. "Yeah, just the ribs again... Thanks... for everything..."

Rain smiles timidly, still looking at me. "No problem, really. Anyone would have done it." He lingers nervously a moment, as if he has something left to say, scratching his arm. "I better go... but... It was nice meeting you."

I feel myself blush & I smile shyly. "You too."

"Hey..." He clears his throat nervously & I look up at him. "Do you... want me to leave you my number... In case you need anything while you're recovering, of course..."

I nod, beaming. "Uh- yeah! ...Thanks."

He smiles shyly at me & gives a small wave as he heads for the door. "You're welcome."

Awww, they're already so cute :3. Hope I'm not going too fast w the romantic aspect... I've never been very good @ pacing... Welp, I'll see you guys later, I guess... Byeeeeeeee :3