Free Arrhythmia by Johanna Danninger

like Desiderio.

Chapter 8
    I was completely exhausted the next day. I’d tossed and turned all night and hardly slept. For starters, oppressive summer heat had taken hold in Wollbach. When I finally managed to fall asleep, I was tormented by strange nightmares. I couldn’t remember the details, but it had something to do with black hands trying to tear out my heart. Really creepy.
    Even though I had a late shift, I felt sleep deprived and worn out. So I shuffled into the ER to start my shift completely lacking in motivation. I immediately ran into Desiderio, further straining my nerves.
    He was standing in front of Hans, about to make coffee, when I entered the kitchen. I was still on the threshold when I spotted the yellow mug in his hand.
    “You can forget that right now,” I informed him, dispensing with any greeting. “That’s my mug!”
    My vitriolic tone seemed to confuse Desiderio for a moment. “Dieter?”
    I merely nodded.
    “Your middle name?” he asked.
    “Yeah.” I entered the kitchen and stretched out my hand. “Give it here.”
    “Hm . . .”
    The roguish glint in his eyes did not bode well for my getting my mug back. He slowly raised his hand to start the machine.
    I took another quick step toward him. “Did I not make myself clear?” I placed my hands on my hips menacingly.
    His fingers hovered ominously over the “Start” button while we stared at each other and engaged in a silent power struggle. The fact that his lips were curling in amusement enraged me even more.
    “Enough!” I finally huffed. “You’re the newbie here, and as such, you have to submit to the kitchen hierarchy in which I clearly rank above you! So kindly step aside or give me the mug before someone gets hurt!”
    “We wouldn’t want that. But why don’t you just ask me nicely?”
    What? I had to ask for my own property and nicely as well? He had to be a few bricks shy of a load.
    I put as much biting irony in my tone as I could and forced out the words: “Would you give me my mug, please ?”
    He immediately dropped his hand. “Of course.”
    What a turd . . .
    He slowly turned toward me and flashed that cursed crooked smile at me.
    It was only then that I realized how close I was to him. I had to pull back my head to look into his eyes, which made me feel momentarily outgunned. He gave off a captivating scent that beggared description and slowly but surely dimmed my brain. I sensed my heart rate doubling, but I was powerless to stop it, as much as it annoyed me.
    I wondered if his hair felt as soft as it looked.
    Lena!
    I had to regain control of myself and show this jerk that I was stronger than his engulfing charm!
    With every ounce of focus I had, I leaned forward and pressed the “Start” button without taking my eyes off his.
    Hans started grinding and doing its thing while I continued my death stare, coming close to losing my mind.
    Finally, after what felt like hours, I retrieved my steaming Dieter mug and blew into it.
    All this time, Desiderio had been just as focused as I, piercing me with his inscrutable gaze. After what seemed like an eternity, he finally broke the spell.
    “Do you defend everything that belongs to you with such commitment?” he asked.
    “If need be,” I said, shrugging. I took a big gulp of coffee.
    He leaned down toward me a little and said, sotto voce, “I find you more impressive with every passing day, my little warrioress.”
    I opened my eyes wide and my coffee went down the wrong way, giving me a sudden, full-blown coughing fit.
    Desiderio walked out of the kitchen, laughing quietly, leaving me behind coughing and panting. It was a good thing he was gone, because some of the coffee got so lost that it reemerged through my nose.
    And yes, that felt just as nasty as it sounds.
    Gagging, I stood over the sink and attempted to get myself under control again—to get control of my breathing as well as my brain, which was running amok.
    Little warrioress!
    Was that