S.O.B.

  Slow deaths, that’s how she’s killing me.

  Pressing the start button, the engine rumbles to life, and I give the throttle a twist to make it growl. This bike is a demon on the road, and right now, I need to feel its power beneath me. “Ready?”

  Her chin on my shoulder and her hands laced tight around my abdomen, I feel her nod. “Yes!”

  I look both ways, searching for an opening in the traffic. Just before I pull out, I hear her voice in my ear. “Just for the record, I’m really proud of you for how you stood up for yourself in there.”

  A sliver of warmth—happiness, maybe—snakes through my chest, and I feel the corner of my mouth turn up as I release my grip and we shoot off.

  15

  Levi surprises me in the most unexpected ways. Up until this morning, I thought he was a bullheaded jerk who was happy living in his father’s shadow and having his life mapped out for him. Admittedly, his ability to stand up to David and take control of his life was impressive. Now, as we step off the elevator of U of C Medicine’s children’s branch, he’s delivering another surprise.

  If I thought Levi Black was a shallow son of a bitch before, he’s proving me wrong in a big way now.

  The hospital is reserved for children with varying medical problems. I’ve always avoided places like this because they make me sad. The very reason I got into the field I did was so I could help someone recover from an injury, but a lot of these kids are never going to recover from theirs. Some of them might not walk out of here at all. It’s depressing, but Levi is displaying the total opposite reaction. As he pulls me along down bright hallways, he’s energized in a way that I haven’t seen before. It’s as if he can barely contain himself.

  I understand why when we reach a large room at the end of one of the corridors. It’s wide open and filled to capacity with children and their families. As soon as they see Levi, cheers and clapping begin. At first, I think this must be a meet and greet, but it’s not. Just as I notice the giant banner painted on the wall, Levi leans in.

  “Welcome to the Levi Black Foundation.” A brilliant smile lights his face, and I watch as he goes forward to greet everyone with open arms. I stand back as the crowd swallows him, stunned.

  It’s amazing what he’s doing. A foundation? I knew Levi donated to charities, but I always assumed that was done for him, not by him. I certainly had no idea he had his own foundation. It gives me a little laugh, though, that it bears his name. It’s such a Levi thing to do.

  As I look around, I notice that the room is decked out in state-of-the-art equipment. There are several televisions, computers, video game systems, an air hockey table, and a station full of toys set up for all ages. There’s so much that I can’t catalogue it all, but I think I understand what he was going for here.

  This is a retreat for the kids, and Levi made it happen.

  “So, it’s usually more low-key, but what do you think?” Leaning with his shoulder against the wall, Levi surveys the room. Now that they’ve each had a chance to meet him, the kids are busying themselves with the toys.

  “I think it’s great. I didn’t know you had your own foundation. You’ve been busy.”

  Digging his hands into his pockets, he stares off in thought. “It’s just a pet project. Something to keep me busy. The kids seem to enjoy it.”

  It’s so unlike him, to be so nonchalant about this. I’m not used to humble Levi. I watch him as he watches the kids and I wonder, who is Levi Black really?

  “What made you decide on a children’s foundation?” As popular as he is in the sports world, he could have done anything. Why kids?

  Brows furrowing in thought, Levi’s answer is slow to come. “I’ve spent a lot of time in hospitals. Being hooked up to IVs, having surgeries, knowing there’s more to come. It sucks. It’s even worse when all you have to occupy yourself is a shitty local broadcast television and a view of a field or street through the window when you’re bored. This gives them something to look forward to at least.”

  Studying all the kids, they’re having fun. Even the ones in wheelchairs, with IVs still attached, wear smiles. My chest constricts when I think of what he’s given to them. “You’re doing a lot of good here, Levi,” I say softly.

  Dipping his head to his chest, Levi smiles sheepishly while raking his fingers through his hair. “Thanks.”

  Turning my head, I wait for him to look up at me, and when he does, I hope he can see just how proud I am of him. How proud I am to be standing here beside him. “Thank you for bringing me here. For sharing this with me.”

  “You mean you’re not starving and you don’t want to kick my ass?”

  His mouth twists into a teasing smile that gives me a hint of those deep dimples beneath his beard, and I chuckle. We missed lunch coming here, but truth be told, my hunger was forgotten the minute we stepped off the elevator.

  Grinning, I tell him, “Don’t push your luck, mister. A girl’s gotta eat.”

  I love how he looks at me, especially when he gets those little creases around his eyes. I’m beginning to learn that there’s a lot more to Levi Black than what he puts out there. Maybe I should be putting less stock in the media circus and more into what I see with my own eyes.

  “Did I tell you that this little shindig comes with a buffet?”

  “You did not,” I chastise him playfully.

  “Allow me.” Hooking his elbow out for me to take, he guides us past a group of nurses and parents to a table that’s, indeed, filled with all kinds of delicious looking food.

  “Did you pay for a caterer?” I ask Levi as I take the plate he’s offering.

  He chuckles, shaking his head. “No. This is a potluck. Everyone loves me here, obviously. Whenever they know I’m coming, they do this. We’re family here.”

  For a moment, I can’t take my eyes off him. His quiet confession leaves me speechless, and I begin to think about all the things he’s told me about his father. The way David Black spoke to his son this morning was upsetting to watch. There was no respect there, no sign of fatherly love. I won’t pretend to know what kind of relationship they have, but from what I saw today, I can say with confidence that what’s happening in this room is giving Levi something he needs.

  Shrugging off the heavy thoughts, I take another look at the dishes available and my mouth waters. There are enchiladas, baked spaghetti, several kinds of pasta salads, and a whole table dedicated to desserts. My stomach growls loudly.

  “This is beyond awesome. Don’t let this go to your head, but I’m kind of jealous of you right now.”

  “As you should be.” Nudging me with his elbow, Levi tips his head closer and his blue eyes meet mine. “Eat.”

  He doesn’t have to tell me twice.

  ***

  “You’re going down!”

  Levi is having his ass handed to him in a game of Mortal Combat against a kid that can’t be any older than seven. It’s the most hysterical thing I have ever witnessed. Not because the kids is as cocky and self-assured as Levi, but because Levi’s really trying. His face is scrunched up in intense concentration and his fingers are jamming on the controls so hard he’ll probably have to buy a new one, and he’s losing. Hard.

  “You rotten...scoundrel! When I figure out how you’re cheating, I’m giving you the worst wedgy of your life.”

  “In your dreams, rich boy!”

  On the screen, one of the characters throws out an arc of lightning and electrocutes the other character until his eyes burst in his skull. The boy throws his bald head back and cackles wickedly. I guess he won.

  I look around at some of the parents lingering nearby, checking their reactions. This is the most gruesome game I have ever seen. So far I have witnessed spines being ripped out, bodies split down the middle to reveal their internal organs, and a man’s genitals exploding. But none of the adults here seem to care. I guess as long as the kids are enjoying themselves, then that’s all that matters.

  When I turn back to the action, Levi
has his arms full of little boy. The kid is wrapped around him like a blanket, and Levi is speaking softly to him. The boy nods once, and then he pulls back, his smile revealing a gap where he’s recently lost a couple of teeth. As I sit here watching him cuddle the small child, I feel my stomach perform flips and there’s a funny tightening in my chest that forces all the oxygen from my lungs. And the only thought that runs through my head is that this man is amazing. Totally, completely, and utterly wonderful and I know…I might be falling for him.

  “Same time next week?” Levi asks him.

  “Hell yeah. Make sure you remember to bring a box of tissues, ‘cause you’re gonna be crying like a baby when you lose.”

  “The only thing I’m going to bring with me is a bar of soap ‘cause you’re gonna need it after I mop the floor with you.”

  “Dude, lame.”

  “What? I thought that was pretty awesome.” Levi pouts, but it’s quickly forgotten. Reaching out, he rubs the boy’s head the way he would if he still had hair, then holds out his fist for him to pound. “Next week, bro.”

  “Better bring that A-game.”

  “Dude, always.” Turning, Levi finds me and walks over. “You ready to take off?”

  “Yep.” Standing, I stretch my legs then head for the exit with Levi’s hand at my back to guide me. We’re only stopped a handful of times on the way so some of the parents can thank him for spending time with their kids. One couple, though, nearly brings me to tears at the sight of their own when they thank him for settling their hospital bills so they won’t lose their house while their daughter receives treatment.

  What Levi is doing here is far more than just providing recreation to a bunch of bored kids. It’s more than a pet project. He’s changing lives.

  Levi is quiet on the way back to his motorcycle. I’m not sure what he’s thinking, but I get the feeling that his head is back upstairs with those kids instead of here with me.

  “Does David know what you’re doing here?” I ask him as we navigate the maze of hallways back toward the parking garage.

  “He knows I have a foundation for kids,” he responds darkly.

  “He doesn’t know you’re helping all those families?”

  The set of automatic double doors slide open as we approach, granting us access to the underground garage, and our footsteps echo on the concrete as we make our way to his bike.

  “This,” Levi says as he helps me fasten the helmet on, “is mine. It has nothing to do with my father, and that’s how I plan to keep it.”

  “So it’s a secret?” I ask, confused.

  “No, like I said, he knows it exists. He just doesn’t know my level of involvement. If he did, I’d never hear the end of it.”

  “But why? Wouldn’t it be good for your image to be involved with something like this?”

  Swinging his leg over the bike, Levi gets situated then waits for me to join him. The moment I do, he reaches back, grabbing my thighs and pulling me snug up against his back. I love when he does that. It causes little flutters in my stomach to be so close.

  “What’s good for the image isn’t always good for the wallet. At the end of the day, my father is more concerned with the bottom line.”

  The engine roars to life, filling the cavernous space. I guess that’s my cue to close my mouth and enjoy the ride. Flattening my palms against his rigid abdomen, I press my cheek to his shoulder and close my eyes as we pull out and blend into the city traffic.

  16

  When Vista came down the stairs in her little red polka dot bikini showing plainly through a flowing sheer dress, I thought I’d mixed the wrong pills and was hallucinating. Turns out she was serious when she said she wanted to use the pool. Indulging her, I put on my swim trunks and escorted her downstairs to the in-house pool. It’s fancy, even by my standards. Made to look like some Roman bathhouse, it’s decked out in imported tiles with reliefs on the ceiling depicting what I assume to be mythical gods, and there are potted ferns every-freaking-where.

  Even a rich prick like me has to shake his head at the sight.

  “This is where we’re going to do it?” Vista’s eyes are wide, darting everywhere as she tries to soak it all in at once.

  “As many times as you want,” I tell her, smirking when she levels me with one of her disapproving frowns that make her forehead wrinkle adorably.

  “I’m not even going to dignify that with a response.”

  With her chin held high, she takes the lead. There are chairs set up around the entire perimeter of the pool for the residents, and Vista chooses one¸ dropping her towel at the foot and, no lie, when she strips off the sundress, I think I have a stroke.

  She has the most beautiful body I have ever seen on a woman. Fit, firm, curvy in all the right places. I love her ass most of all. At the pond, I had my fingers buried in those cheeks so hard she probably had bruises for days after, and I’ve been anticipating when I can do it again. Despite her determination to keep me at arm’s length, I can’t get her off my mind.

  Approaching the edge of the pool, she dips her toes into it to test the temperature. “I’m assuming you know how to swim?” she asks sarcastically over her shoulder.

  “Like a fish.” Dropping my towel at the foot of the chair next to hers, I stand facing her with my arms folded over my chest.

  “I think we’ll start with a couple laps to get your blood pumping.”

  “I can think of a few other things that will get my blood pumping.” She casts me another look over her shoulder and I wink at her, which only irritates her more. Or so she pretends. Personally, I think she likes it when I play with her. I know I do.

  “So laps. I think one or two should do it. Just remember to take it easy. The water provides a natural resistance. You won’t realize how tired your muscles are until you get out of the pool.”

  “I know how it works, princess. Are you planning to join me?” Taking the hem of my shirt between my fingers, I pull the material over my head and toss it aside with my towel. When I look up, I find Vista’s eyes on my chest, openly staring.

  A small smile forms as I walk toward her. “If you want it, don’t be ashamed to ask for it.”

  Blinking up at me, that deer in the headlight look she has from being caught quickly morphs into a death glare. “I’m not asking.”

  “Maybe your mouth isn’t,” I say, leaning down and placing mine next to her ear, “but your body definitely is.” Turning my face toward hers, I let my beard scrape gently across her flushed cheek before placing a light kiss beside her mouth. Her lips part slightly, and I hear the sharp intake of breath at the contact. She wants me. I don’t know why she resists so hard.

  “We already did it once. What’s one more time?” I hold her gaze in mine for a few beats before backing off. “When you’re ready to live again, let me know.” Then I dive into the pool and let the water envelope me.

  My breath momentarily evaporates as my lungs constrict and my body adjusts to the change in temperature. Kicking my legs, I push myself through the water at a furious pace, making it to the opposite end of the pool in a matter of seconds. I haven’t been swimming like this in a while, unless hot tubbing with super models counts. It’s nice to be back in the water, the smell of chlorine everywhere.

  When my hands touch the smooth tiled wall, I flip deeper beneath the surface. Once I’m turned around, I kick off, using the wall to jettison me back to the opposite side and returning even faster than I went.

  When I come up for air, I see Vista’s feet on the concrete lip in front of me. Wiping water from my eyes, they travel up the length of her toned legs to her flat stomach and round breasts. When I reach her face, I’m not surprised to find her scowling.

  “I told you to take it easy.”

  “Didn’t I?” Lifting my arms out of the water, I prop them on the edge of the pool.

  “No, you didn’t. You completely ignored my instructions.” Huffing, she stands there, looking out across the water and taking deep breaths
to compose herself. “Look, maybe you don’t care if you recover or not because you don’t plan to go back to playing soccer, but I do. Healing properly takes time and patience, and if you think you’re in pain now, just wait until you’re fifty.”

  Normally, I like riling her up, but this time something about her tone makes me bristle. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do, Vista, I really do. But it’s my body and I know my limitations. Don’t forget, I’ve been here before. Numerous times.” Dropping my head back, I dip down into the water, soaking my hair.

  “That’s the point though, isn’t it? You’ve been here numerous times. Isn’t that the reason you have a fully stocked medicine cabinet?”

  She’s so smug, looking down on me as if she’s the authority on my life. I just fired my father from that role. I’ll be damned if she steps in to fill his shoes. “Do you know what I think, princess?” I ask, smiling slyly back at her. “You’re so busy handling everyone else’s business that you keep forgetting to live your own life.”

  My hand shoots out before she can realize my intention. She jumps when I grab a hold of one of her hands that hangs at her side, and the scream she belts out when I give it a yank, sending her sailing forward into the pool, bounces off the walls.

  “You son of a bitch!” she splutters when she breaks through the surface. Her dark hair is plastered to the sides of her face, and she frantically rubs at it to clear it of water.

  Laughing, I float just out of reach in case she gets any bright ideas and tries to slap me. “What’s wrong, princess? I thought you liked when I make you wet.”

  Growling, she sweeps her hands through the water, tossing waves of it into my face. Thankfully, I see it coming, giving me just enough time to turn my head away. “I don’t think you want to start a war with me, princess,” I warn her.

  “You don’t know what I want,” she returns with another wave.

  I shake my head, feeling water pooling in my ear. Such a defiant brat. I love it. “If that’s how you want it...Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”