Page 19 of Someone Like You

Giselle

T hank God Jude came back into the room when he did. I had no business kissing Casimir Perez, no matter how distraught I was. But it was hard to fight the attraction whenever I was in his presence.

When Jude returned, he had a laptop that he must have brought from the car.

He used it to show me several listings. I was pleased with each of them online, but he said that I needed to see them in person.

I wasn’t too fond of the asking price for two of them, but I was certain that we could work something out.

Once we narrowed it down to three places, we headed out to see them. Casimir found something wrong with each place, but finally, Jude had advised him that he wouldn’t be the one renting, buying, or living in the place. In the end, I didn’t find anything that I liked.

“I know that I might seem picky, but I promise you that I’m not, Jude.

I just know that when I find the perfect spot, I will know it.

I don’t want to choose a place just because I’m inconvenienced right now.

I don’t want to pick something because it’s the best deal or whatever, and then later, I’ll be stuck with the property that I bought out of desperation. ”

“I promise that I won’t let you do that,” Jude stated. “Let me show you a couple of other places for tonight.”

“Not tonight. I’m sorry. I’m too tired. I appreciate all the time that you spent on me, but can we put it off for another day or so? Or whenever you have time to do another showing,” I suggested.

“Sure. Whatever works for you.”

“Thank you,” I replied softly.

“Where are you staying in the meantime?” Casimir asked.

I looked away because I didn’t want to say that I was staying in my office.

“No. You’re not doing that.” It was like he read my mind.

“Casimir, I’m fine, really.”

Jude looked back and forth between us. I wondered what all he knew about Casimir’s marriage.

“No. You’re not. I’m not about to let you sleep in your office and on that couch where people’s asses have been. It’s not safe or sanitary.”

“I cover it with blankets, and it is very much safe. No one knows that I’m here.”

“Giselle, there was a break-in at the office complex across the street just last week,” Casimir argued.

“Which is why they’ve beefed up security.” I pleaded my case because I didn’t know where he was going with all of this, but I knew that I didn’t need or want him involved in my situation.

“Although I’m reluctant to admit it, Dr. Champagne, I agree with Cas. But the two of you can argue this later,” Jude broke in as he looked at his watch. “In the meantime, let’s go check out one last property. I know that you said you’re tired, but I have one I’m sure you’ll love. Please.”

“Sure.” I agreed reluctantly.

I felt Casimir’s penetrating gaze on me the entire time. Every facial expression and every attitude felt as if it were under a microscope.

The three of us rode in Jude’s Lexus SUV, and the entire drive was filled with Jude’s chatter as he attempted to break the strain and tension between Casimir and me.

There shouldn’t have been any. After all, he had been my patient, and I had been his doctor.

There was no way that he should have been involved with this process at all, but unfortunately, he was.

We toured the next property, and though it was beautiful, it was above my price point.

“I have an idea,” Casimir stated as we left the final property.

I was beyond frustrated, and though I did not act it out, I was certain that they could tell by the look on my face. I wasn’t disappointed about the search but about my situation.

“What’s that?” Jude asked, looking into the rearview mirror at Casimir, who was seated in the back seat.

“Head over to The Vista.”

“Cas, if sh—”

“Nigga, do what I said,” Casimir demanded.

Throughout the day, I saw another side of Casimir that I’d never experienced before. Although Jude attempted to keep up professional appearances for my sake, there was only so much acting he could do when the two men interacted.

They both spoke slang a lot when speaking with each other, and then they reverted to a more professional and cultured way of speaking when they spoke to me.

But this was the first time that I heard either of them say the word nigga so casually.

And it was even more surprising how Jude fell in with the flow of it, not questioning it or correcting Casimir.

In fact, he went right along with whatever Casimir suggested that he wanted him to do.

Fifteen minutes later, we pulled up to a gorgeous glass and chrome building with valet parking and professionally landscaped grounds, complete with a doorman and a front desk reception.

“Why are we going here?” I asked as we stepped inside of the building, and both Jude and Casimir waved casually at the front desk staff.

“I don’t know. I guess Mr. Perez’s going to tell us that soon,” Jude replied sarcastically with an eye roll at his friend.

Jude pushed the button for the elevator, and the car arrived immediately. I watched as he pushed the button for the twentieth floor.

“Are there offices here?” I asked.

There was no way they were taking me to see any residences in this place.

This building wasn’t something that I could afford on my best day.

I had seen the construction of this place, and there was so much hype in the community when they’d first started, and there was a huge party when it was completed.

I could only dream of living someplace like this, and I wondered who lived here.

“There are some offices here,” Jude said slowly but cooly. I wondered what he wasn’t saying.

He stood with his head down, his hands shoved in his pockets, and then shook his head. Alternatively, Casimir stood closest to the back wall with his head tilted back and a firm set to his jaw. It was as if he was determined to go through with whatever was in his mind, no matter who said what.

When the elevator came to a stop, the doors opened, and both men stepped off and held their arms out to keep the door open. They waited as I stepped off the elevator, and then Casimir confidently strode off to the right, and Jude brought up the rear.

I waited while Casimir unlocked a door at the end of the hallway and held the door open for me to step inside. I walked into a beautiful marble foyer with a crystal chandelier overhead. The space was bright and airy.

“Go ahead. Walk through,” Casimir stated.

“I don’t understand.”

“Check out the space. Feel free to walk through every room,” Casimir encouraged me.

I looked between both men, and Jude simply nodded, encouraging me to do what Casimir requested.

I walked further into the residence, noting the beautiful lines of architecture within the home and how the polished marble surfaces, glass, chrome, and wood materials all blended seamlessly to create an upscale modern space.

Large floor-to-ceiling windows gave a sweeping panoramic view of the city and the springs beyond. Upscale appliances, marble counters, a large marble island, and gorgeous hardwood floors created a state-of-the-art kitchen and keeping room.

I moved from the kitchen to the dining room and beyond to the den and then the bedrooms before I finally returned to the living room, where the two men were arguing.

Throughout the time I walked around the penthouse, I could hear their low voices, and it seemed as if they were having a heated argument, but the moment that I stepped back into view, they instantly stopped.

“It’s a beautiful space. Massive. High end. I’m sure it’s pricey, so I’m not sure why I’m being shown this particular property. It’s fully furnished already. Even the bathroom is stocked with linens. Whose place is this?” I asked, looking between the two men.

“Yours if you want it,” Casimir stated boldly, those dark, flashing eyes holding my gaze.

Jude cleared his throat, but other than that, he said nothing.

“Excuse me?” I asked, looking at Casimir as if he’d just lost his mind.

“Dr. Champagne, my friend, though it seems he’s lost his mind—his proposal makes sense.

He closed on this place a week ago and had it furnished according to his specifications, including down to the linens and cookware.

The company he hired finished the job yesterday, and he just received the keys this morning.

He’s offering you a place to stay during your transition. ”

“What is this? A joke? I can’t stay here,” I stated and immediately turned away and headed for the front door.

Casimir was quick. He moved behind me and grabbed my arm, and I steeled myself against his touch. Though my back was still to him, I could feel his gaze on me. I was familiar with the liquid desire that I knew was in his eyes, and I could feel how desperately he wanted to crush my lips with his.

I closed my eyes briefly to regain control before I pulled free from his grip and turned around to face him.

“It’s not a joke, Giselle. You have no idea what you’ve done for me. There is no way that I could ever repay you for what you’ve given me.”

“I haven’t given you anything.”

For a moment, I think we both forgot that Jude was there as we became engaged in an intimate back-and-forth.

“You’ve given me everything. My freedom, my strength, and my courage. All those were things that I had lost in the last few years, Giselle.”

“I did my job, Casimir. I tried to help you and Bethany navigate the tumultuous waters of your marriage. But I failed.”

“No, you didn’t. You helped me to see the truth and restored my courage to face that truth.

My independence from that family is the only way that I can get back to the heart of the man I once was.

That marriage was a farce, and we were only holding on to it because of the look it gave us within the community. ”

“You are my patient—”

“Stop saying that,” Casimir bit out that last word through clenched teeth as his jaw worked overtime.

“Well, it’s true.”

“It’s not. I’m your former client. We no longer have that doctor-client relationship, and you know this. Stop treating me like you have to . . .”

“Have to what, Casimir? Keep professional boundaries intact? Maintain a distance between what is expected within the medical community and what you seem to be seeking?”

“Do you even know what that is?” he asked in a hushed voice that sounded as if he held some pain. But that could not be. Nothing had occurred between us more than a couple of kisses. It wasn’t like we’d had a relationship at some point.

“It doesn’t matter. I can’t do this,” I replied and swept my arms around the penthouse.

“You could. You’re just being too stubborn.”

“What is it that you expect from me, Casimir?” I scoffed.

“Listen, just stay here until you get someplace that is suitable for you while JR works on something more affordable and suitable for your needs.”

I shook my head. “I cannot—”

“You can,” he stated forcefully.

Jude stepped up beside Casimir, bringing our attention back to the fact that we weren’t alone. And I was grateful for that because I was getting lost in Casimir’s overwhelming presence.

“Listen. How about you stay here for the interim, as Cas suggested. And I’ll work hard on finding you what you need.”

“One day at a time,” Casimir suggested.

“It’s a short-term solution at best,” Jude interjected. “I mean, to his point, it isn’t safe for you to remain in your office. I’m sure the amenities aren’t comparable to this place,” he joked.

I sighed and crossed my arms over my chest. “And where will you stay?”

“Same place I’ve been staying.”

“Which is where?”

“With Bethany.”

For some reason, those words hurt me. I thought Casimir divorced Bethany. I thought that things were over between them. I had no right to ask the questions that I wanted to ask, and I definitely would not do that in front of Jude.

“If you don’t trust him, Dr. Champagne, trust me,” Jude stated.

“I don’t know,” I hedged.

“It can’t hurt,” Jude encouraged. “Hey, follow me. I’d like to show you a few things.”

I didn’t miss the smile on Jude’s face nor the look of relief in Casimir’s eyes when the two men exchanged a look.

“Fine.” I followed Jude out, and Casimir was right on our heels. We spent the next half an hour with Jude showing me all the amenities The Vista had to offer.