Just a Simple Love Story by Kimberley Nunes (best historical fiction books of all time TXT) 📖

out of Sebastian’s embrace, waving off the misunderstanding. My cheeks felt like they were on fire and I could only guess how red they had turned.

“No need to apologize” I offered.

“Well, Doctor Thompson was looking for you” the nurse explained.

My facial expression grew worried.

“Oh no, don’t worry. He said something about going out for lunch with the team” she reassured.

I relaxed and conjured my brightest smile. “Tell him to count me in.”

She smiled and went off. I turned back to look at the happy Benz family. Karin was on her phone, spreading the message, I guessed. Madeleine was conversing animatedly with a quiet Frederick. My heart skipped a beat seeing their youngest son leaning against the window, phone in hand and eyes firmly focused on me.

“Doctor Noakes” the head of the family called. “When will he wake up?”

I walked over to shorten the distance.

“You need to give him at least two days” I told him. “I need to leave now. You’ll be able to see him soon and will get a closer explanation on what the next steps are.”

“Thank you so very much” Madeleine hugged me tightly.

I smiled and returned her embrace: “I’ll swing by later on.”

With a final wave I left the room.

 

Two days had passed since Ian had been operated the second time. I had just entered the hospital and headed straight for the Benz’s room. Knocking lightly I heard agitated murmurs. Not able to wait anymore I opened the door. My eyes wandered straight to Madeleine tightly hugging her son. Sebastian stood opposite his mother a lone tear rolling down his cheek. I stepped in, my eyes growing wide and my bag slipping from my hand. Oh. My. God! Ian’s eyes were open and he smiled weakly. The younger Benz took notice of me standing by the door with eyes as huge as oranges and cracked a half smile walking over to where I was standing. Taking me by my hand he led me to the bed where his brother was being crushed by his mother’s embrace, as I was frozen in place, not able to believe the spectacle unfolding before me. Sebastian gently pulled his crying mother away from Ian. Madeleine cried while her youngest son tightly held her. Her elder son made an effort to say something, but the only sound leaving his mouth was an incomprehensible croak. I blinked once regaining my senses and rushed over to his side tenderly pushing him back onto his pillow.

“You should take it easy” I smiled softly. “I’ll get Doctor Thompson right away, so don’t move and don’t try to speak.”

I impatiently pulled out my mobile calling and waiting for my friend to pick up: “Gin! Room 1024! Now!”

Hanging up I checked the monitors and Ian’s values. Everything was normal. The door flew open and Gin Thompson ran in.

He looked up and the corners of his mouth curled up: “No way!”

Madeleine seemed to have calmed down slightly and wiped her eyes gazing upon her son, Ian.

“When…“ the great surgeon was lost for words. He glanced over to me just to receive my shaking head.

“He opened his eyes just before Kaitlynn could enter the room” Sebastian explained.

Gin looked back at me.

“Approximately six minutes ago” I told him.

Doctor Thompson nodded once and took my place whipping out a torch from his lab coat, testing the patient’s ability to react to light. He slowly turned around the Benz’s head checking for any fresh blood or anything abnormal. Laying him back down Gin smiled satisfied.

“At first glance, everything seems to be fine. I’ll get a nurse and we will do an overall check-up to confirm” the surgeon explained the procedure to Madeleine and Sebastian.

I exhaled audibly drawing Ian’s attention. His eyes wandered to me, questioningly. I smiled and noticed tears trickling down my eyes. I quickly wiped them away hoping nobody would see them, or at least no-one but the elder Benz.

I felt a strong hand grip my shoulder. When looking up Sebastian stood behind me.  He cracked that beautiful smile and my heart thumped.

“No need to cry, Doctor Noakes” he teased, while wrapping his strong arms around me. At that moment I didn’t care if Gin or Madeleine saw us like this. Sebastian carefully caressed my hair whispering every now and then “It’s fine” and “Thank you”.

“Feeling better” he finally inquired after a few minutes.

I nodded and unladylike wiped away my tears with the sleeve of my trench coat.

“I’m sorry” I apologized feeling embarrassed.

Sebastian pinched my cheek and smirked, something I had never seen before.

“You better be. After all this isn’t the time to be crying around, but to celebrate.”

The younger brother spun me around so that I was facing a smiling Ian.

“Ian, may I introduce you to your lifesaver?” he asked. “This is Kaitlynn Noakes. You owe her your life, so remember her name.”

I playfully slapped Sebastian’s arm shaking my head.

“Hi Ian” I finally was able to greet him. “Welcome back!"

Ian’s smile grew wider and he tried nodding, as I had told him not to speak, yet.

Just then did I realize Gin’s and Madeleine’s absence.

“Doctor Thompson said he needed one of us to accompany him, as there were still a few papers that needed a signature” the young Benz wised me up.

“Shit!” he exclaimed all of a sudden.

I arched a brow questioningly.

“Karin” was all he needed to say.

I chuckled and even his brother shut his eyes, his smile never leaving his face.

Sebastian called her: “Listen Karin… that’s irrelevant… the point is, Ian is awake! Head over right away.”

He hung up without another word and dialed the next number right away: “Ian’s awoken, father… around ten minutes ago… I understand… of course.”

The young Benz scowled for a split-second before putting on a cheerful face.

Were You always this Cocky?

 

Ian had awoken two weeks ago and was making great progress in rehabilitating. It was late afternoon when I decided on stopping by his room. Before reaching there though, I heard a loud child’s voice.

“Come on, come on!” a little girl’s voice shrilled through the hall.

“Mia, slow down” a familiar voice called out after the little girl.

I popped out my head behind Sebastian’s broad back: “Hi!”

Since Ian had awoken his brother had resumed working. It wasn’t the first time seeing him in his usual attire, but no matter how often he wore a perfectly fitting suit I couldn’t get enough. Today it was a dark blue suit with a wrinkle-free light-blue button up shirt and not to forget the matching tie and polished brown shoes.

Sebastian actually caught me staring at him a couple of times, which then led to him teasing me to his heart’s content.

“Oh gosh” he exclaimed. “Don’t just appear from behind and ‘hi’ me.”

The little girl with tiny black locks and clear grey eyes tugged at his arm while a small boy with flaming red hair clutched Sebastian tightly and buried his face in the crook of said man’s neck.

I smiled amused: “Let me just reaffirm. These two cutie-pies are not yours, right?”

He rolled his eyes exasperatedly: “Isn’t it obvious?”

“C’mon, Uncle-Seb!” Mia impatiently tugged.

Uncle-Seb? I chuckled crouching down to her level: “Hi, there. I’m Kaitlynn.”

She turned shy and hid behind her uncle’s leg, peeking over.

“Hey Mia, say hi to Kaitlynn” Sebastian told her.

Mia slowly let go of his leg and cautiously walked up to me. From the corner of my eye I saw the little red-haired boy stare at his sister and then me. She slowly extended her arm.

“Hallo, Ms. Kaitlynn. I am Mia Benz and four years old. How old are you?”

So adorable! I clasped her hand and answered: “Hi Mia. I’m 26-years-old.”

“Wow! Mama is sooooo much older” she informed me excitedly.

I giggled. Just the imagination of Karin hearing something like this irked me. I held out my hand: “Should I accompany you to meet your daddy?”

She nodded enthusiastically and gripped my hand tightly.

“That was fast” Sebastian commented surprised. “Hey Damien. Don’t you want to say hi, too?”

Uncle-Seb turned the little boy around who in return covered up his face with his tiny hands right away.

“It’s fine, Damien” I carefully stroked his eye-catching red hair.

The four of us walked to Ian’s room and Mia tried with all her might to open the door. As she wasn’t tall enough to reach the handle I helped out. The next second she ran in joyfully exclaiming: “Daddy!”

She jumped onto his bead throwing herself around his neck. Ian was clearly surprised. Little Damien let go of his beloved uncle who set him down on the bed. He crawled up onto his father’s lap. “Hi you two” Ian tightly hugged them.

Sebastian came over to where I was standing.

“You’re quite the uncle, there” I mused.

“Hn” was his reply.

I chuckled and sighed looking at how cute the two children were. Mia animatedly took out two paintings she and her brother had drawn for their hospitalized father explaining exactly what they had depicted.

“It’s great to have little children in the family” I smiled.

“Yeah” he confirmed. “You have a younger brother, right?”

“I do. I always wished for an older brother, though” I confessed.

“Guess, that’s not possible” Sebastian absentmindedly commented. “But it’s possible to have an older brother-in-law.”

“Excuse me?” I asked incredulously.

“Hm?” he asked. “Did you say something?”

Did I just imagine that?

 

Eleven weeks, Ian had spent eleven weeks in the hospital and was supposed to be discharged by next week. By now he was able to do most of the things by himself. He had adapted well to all the changes and had grown dear to me. There was no doubt here, Ian was a great guy, so I wondered why he ended marrying Karin. Oh well, he should have his reasons. I had just returned from Octavio’s office carrying even more papers I had to revise. My office door swung open and there stood somebody I would have least expected.

“Hadn’t I locked the office?” I inquired dumping the papers on my desk, turning around and leaning onto it.

“Maybe” came the arrogant answer while he shut the door.

“So, Mr. Benz” I mused. “What may I help you with?”

He made his way over to me and took me by surprise. Without any warning he leaned forward, close enough for me to feel his breath on my skin, but still too far for our faces to actually touch. He braced both his arms on either side of my body leaning against the desk, blocking any way to escape, as he captured my legs between his in addition. Not that I would have thought of escaping. I folded my hands on my lap and returned his gaze. His electrifying blue eyes bore deep into me. No matter how calm I looked on the outside, I was melting internally. Unintentionally I licked my lips. His eyes wandered to my lips for a short moment before returning back to my dark grey orbs. I bit my lip as I was itching to run my fingers through his hair, to caress his face and ultimately just grab his shirt and… He suddenly smirked.

“What are you thinking right now?” he whispered into my ear.

His warm breath and that deep voice sent chills down my spine. Not the creepy ones, though. Two can play this game. I grinned leaning closer so my lips lightly caressed his ear.

“Do you really want to know