Free For The Love Of A God by Rosanna Leo

picking up one photo. “You look as happy as Friar Tuck at a medieval banquet."
    "I'll order some takeout,” she said as she moved into the tiny galley kitchen. Within moments she was on the phone with a Chinese restaurant, trying to make them understand she wanted combo number four and not number five.
    Trying at the same time to ignore the aura of sensual heat emanating from Eric's corner of the room.
    Eric continued to peruse the apartment, wondering how someone with her orderly brain could function in such clutter. At work, he'd seen her be methodical and precise. Perhaps there were two Maias after all. One who lived for order and another who was impetuous. Sensuous. Devil-may-care. It was a tantalizing thought, and he wondered what it would take to bring out her hedonistic side.
    He turned in an attempt to hide his massive hard-on behind a floor lamp. When he spied a grouping of dead plants on her window sill, he grinned. Poor ferns never stood a chance amidst her chaos.
    He glanced up to make sure she wasn't watching and touched the brown tips of the parched plants. Immediately, the ferns moved, as if inhaling a breath of fresh air. They swelled and turned a bright, healthy green.
    Hearing the click of the phone, he moved away from the revived greenery.
    Maia approached. “Well, food's on its way.” She immediately noticed the plants and ran a finger along one of the succulent leaves. “Wow. These things were really dead this morning."
    "Really dead,” he teased, “rather than just dead?"
    She glared at him, but he caught her hidden smile.
    "Your thumb must be greener than you thought.” He led her, still shaking her head, to the couch. “So, are you happy about your father?"
    She turned to him. “I don't really know what I am. Cautiously optimistic, maybe? People don't just recover from MS."
    He gritted his teeth, wishing he could tell her not to worry. “Maybe it was a miracle. They do happen from time to time."
    "Yeah, right. But this isn't a case of seeing the Virgin Mary in a plate of mac and cheese."
    "You're a skeptic, aren't you, Maia? A true nonbeliever.” Eric narrowed his eyes at her, trying not to feel so disappointed.
    "I have a background in art but also in science. My dad taught me not to believe the things I couldn't see. I would have thought you'd feel the same."
    "I do,” he replied. “But I guess I still allow for the possibility there's something bigger out there than all of us. Your science can't disprove it."
    "Or prove it,” she countered. “Anyway, like the doctor said, it's too early to assume he's in the clear. Look how strangely he acted when he saw you! What was that all about?"
    "Must be the meds,” he responded quietly.
    "Anyway, they'll be observing him for a while.” She scrunched her forehead, stymied by everything she had seen. For a moment, she just sat there quietly, staring at her hands in her lap.
    Then, reality kicked in and she remembered she had Eric sitting with her. Stud-muffin Eric. Sex-god Eric. Blushing, she looked up. “Look. I'm fine now. You don't have to babysit me. I'm sure someone like you has places to go."
    "Someone like me?” He grinned as he asked it. “Meaning?"
    Yeah, someone like you , she thought. Manly. Sexy. The sort of person who did not generally end up in her apartment unless he knocked on the wrong door. “You know. A big shot. Shouldn't you be in a fancy boardroom right now, scowling at someone's PowerPoint presentation?"
    Eric laughed. “Don't worry. I have a bunch of people to do my scowling for me. I've assembled a good team."
    "Right,” she said, rolling her eyes. “I've seen your ‘team.’ She's tall and blonde and wears a size zero, except in the region of her fake boobs."
    There was an amused light in his eyes then, as if he recognized her jealous tone and was excited by it. “You mean Sarah? I'll have you know she has excellent qualifications for the role."
    Maia stared at him, her dark eyes hooded. “I'll bet she