Wild One (Summer Rush #5)

by Cheryl Douglas

  He smiled as though he was waiting for her to continue. “Yeah, for me too.”

  “For you?” She felt her face flame. “But you got nothing out of it.”

  His eyes raked over her body, making her feel exposed… and desirable. “Believe me, I got a lot out of it.” He winked. “Like fodder for my fantasies.”

  She laughed, pressing the water bottle to the V in her sweater, cooling her neck and chest. “You have to stop saying things like that.” She fanned her face. “Whoa, it’s getting hot in here, isn’t it?”

  “It sure as hell is.” He inched closer, taking her water bottle and setting both of them on the coffee table.

  She closed her eyes even before his lips met hers. She wanted this. His kiss. His touch. She wanted him to make her forget everything the way only he could. That was what she remembered most about their time together. With him, she’d been able to completely let go. She’d felt like a different person, one with no responsibilities or commitments. And she’d loved it.

  He slipped his hand into her hair, angling her head as his lips found hers. She moaned into his mouth as soon as his tongue tangled with hers. It had been so long since she’d been kissed like this, knowing it could lead to more. She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him closer. Before she knew it, his body was partially covering hers as she sank back in the deep cushions and let the exploration continue.

  “Damn.” He tore his lips from hers and she immediately missed the contact. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to get carried away.” He looked into her eyes. “You just taste so good and it feels so right. Triggered a memory, I guess. Reminded me how incredible it was.”

  “I haven’t forgotten that either,” she whispered, still holding him tight, urging him to stay where he was. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget it, Dec.”

  His exploration of her neck started and she curled into him, moaning in his ear as she wrapped her leg around his, locking him in place.

  “This stops when you say the word,” he murmured, sliding his hand up her sweater and over her satin bra.

  “I don’t want it to stop.” With him, she wasn’t a doctor. She wasn’t responsible for anyone else. She was free to be a woman, to explore her soft and sensual side.

  “You sure?” he asked, drawing back to look her in the eye. “I know sex is a big deal to you, and after what happened last time…”

  “I went on the pill after that, just to be sure it wouldn’t happen again.” She was embarrassed to tell him this but knew she had to. She’d probably feel like a virgin to him, so it was better he know now than be surprised later. “But, um, it wasn’t really necessary. I haven’t… that is, I’ve been so focused on work that, um, relationships haven’t really been a priority. I’ve been out on a few first dates, but no one I liked enough to see again.” She refused to look him in the eye as she babbled about her long stretch of celibacy.

  He drew back, and she looked up as his eyes scanned her face. “Are you saying you haven’t slept with anyone else since me?”

  Heat flooded her cheeks as her eyes closed. “Yeah, that’s what I’m saying.” He must think she was pathetic. A workaholic spinster who couldn’t get a date. God, this was humiliating. She should have kept her mouth shut.

  “Open your eyes,” he demanded. “Look at me.”

  That was the last thing she wanted to do, but felt she had no choice. What she saw in his eyes shocked her. Satisfaction. Joy. And maybe a little admiration. He respected her and her choice. And that made her feel better about it. He didn’t think she was strange. He got it. He got her.

  “I love that I was the last man you were with.” His large calloused hands were splayed across her bare ribs, his thumb brushing back and forth across her skin. “You know how many nights I lay awake imagining you with someone else? Some nameless, faceless stranger who treated you like the princess you were because they got it. They understood how special you were… that a woman like you comes around maybe once in a lifetime if a guy’s lucky.” His lips curled up at one corner. “I hated that guy.”

  “You did?” It was hard to believe someone like him had thought of her at all. In spite of the pregnancy, she believed she was just one of many one-night stands for him. Probably one of many pregnancy scares too, judging by the stories she’d heard about professional athletes.

  “Yeah, I did. I hated him even more when I imagined you telling him you were pregnant and him reacting the way I should have. Kissing you, holding you, telling you he was thrilled.”

  “That would have been pretty hard for you to do over the phone.”

  Her fingers danced over the buttons on his shirt. She wanted to undo them, spread the fine fabric, and trail her lips all over his hard chest. His words were slowly repairing all the hairline fractures that experience had caused. She’d stopped trusting men after that. She’d even stopped trusting her own judgment. That was the reason she’d kept men at arm’s length. She couldn’t afford to make another mistake like she had with Dec. Only now she was starting to think of it as something other than a mistake.

  “Point is, I’m ashamed of the way I acted when you called. The things I said to you, there was no excuse for that.”

  She appreciated his willingness to own his mistakes instead of trying to brush them under the rug. It spoke volumes about his character. “I caught you off guard. You were shocked.” She knew he didn’t want her to let him off the hook, but after all this time, she could put herself in his position and imagine how he might have felt. “I’m sure I wasn’t the first stranger who called you, making a claim like that.”

  “Actually you were. First, last, and only one. And for the record, I didn’t think of you as a stranger by the time you left my house the next day. I thought of you as someone I’d known a hell of a lot longer than twenty-four hours.”

  She smiled at the reminder of the great talks they’d had. He’d wanted to know about her life. She wanted to know about his. The time they’d spent together was the equivalent of six dates for her, and she hadn’t had that many dates with one man in a long time. “You didn’t feel like a stranger to me either. I felt like I knew you.”

  Which was why it had hurt when he’d reacted the way he had. She’d expected more from him. Maybe she’d expected him to reassure her that everything would be all right, that they’d figure it out together, instead of accusing her of being a liar. That reminder was like a bucket of cold water, chilling everything in her that had been warm and needy only moments before. Her hands fell away as she shifted, forcing him to get off of her.

  “Tell me what you’re thinking,” he said, looking confused. “Don’t shut down on me. Yell, scream, swear, whatever. Just don’t shut me out.”

  She was always in control, always calm. In her line of work, she had to be. Her job was to soothe sick kids and scared parents. She couldn’t afford to allow her emotions to take over at work, and she didn’t know how to give herself that permission now. “It’s nothing.”

  “Don’t lie to me. Or yourself.” He inched back on the couch, watching her right her clothes. “A minute ago you were ready to put the past behind us. Now you’ve changed your mind. Why?”

  “I just…” Punishing him for something he clearly felt bad about and had already apologized for wasn’t fair, but she couldn’t help it. She’d always vowed she’d never allow a man to disrespect her and he had.

  His words came back to her, words she’d never forget. “I can’t believe this. You don’t even bother to call me, and now you find yourself knocked up and you think you’re gonna pawn this kid off on me? Why? Because I make more money than all of your other hook-ups combined? Listen, sweetheart, I had it wrapped the entire time, so if you’re looking for a baby-daddy, you need to look elsewhere.”

  She told herself they were just words. People said things they didn’t mean all the time. He wouldn’t be here now if he really believed she’d been trying to trap him back then.

  “I’m begging you,” he said, reaching for
her hand. “Just talk to me. Whatever you have to say, I can take it. Don’t worry about offending me.”

  She swallowed the lump in her throat. She’d never opened up to anyone about her family or her reasons for becoming a doctor. “I grew up across the street from this little girl who got sick when we were in the second grade. Cancer. It was so horrible to watch her getting sicker and sicker. And her care was expensive. Her family couldn’t afford the ongoing cost of care, so they had regular fund-raisers. Seeing her suffer, and what her family went through trying to help her, made me realize I wanted to be a doctor. It’s hard to imagine anything being more important to me than that.”

  “I get that,” he said gently. “We didn’t have much money when I was growing up and my sister got sick. My mom nearly lost the house. That’s why I was so determined to make it to the big leagues. I wanted to be able to take care of my family.”

  She smiled. “You take care of your family?”

  He shrugged as if it was no big deal. “Bought them all houses, cars, that kind of thing. It was the least I could do. They sacrificed and believed in my dream. I felt I owed them.”

  A man who’d made sure his family was taken care of definitely wouldn’t turn his back on his own child. Knowing that made Marika feel better.

  “You were saying?” he prompted. “Being independent?”

  “Right, well, I’d never reached out to a man because I needed something from him before. I’d never let myself lean on anyone, outside of my family and closest friends. And when I called you that day, I guess it was because I really did need you.”

  He drew a deep breath. “And I wasn’t there for you. I’m so sorry, babe.”

  The endearments came so easily to him, as if they’d been a couple forever. Like she was his girlfriend… or he wanted her to be.

  “Since then, I haven’t been able to let anyone get too close. I guess that experience kind of changed me, made it harder for me to trust men.” She sighed. “It’s not like I had any illusions about us. I knew who and what you were. I didn’t think we could have a relationship or anything, but—”

  “You knew who and what I was? What the hell does that mean?”

  She hadn’t meant to offend him, but she thought they were being completely honest with each other. “Just that you had a reputation. I didn’t really find out about it until after we were together, but—”

  “That’s why you didn’t return any of my calls or text messages?” he asked, releasing her hand. “Because you thought I was a player?”

  “You’re saying you weren’t?” She wanted him to look her in the eye and deny it because she really, really didn’t want it to be true.

  “I’m saying you can’t believe everything you read.” He picked up his water and took a long swig. “Have there been a lot of women throughout my life? Yeah, sure. More so after I found out about…” He bit his lip and closed his eyes. “Your pregnancy. I hated myself and I didn’t know how the hell to ease the guilt. A lot of guys turn to drugs and alcohol when they’ve got shit like that weighing them down. I’m a professional athlete, so that isn’t an option for me unless I want to lose everything I’ve worked so hard for.”

  “So sex is your drug of choice?” Marika didn’t understand that. Sure, she’d had a one-night stand with Dec, but he was the first and last man she’d been with that she hadn’t had a relationship with.

  “I guess you could say that.” He glanced at her, and she saw the shame in his piercing green eyes. “I’m not proud of it, but those girls gave me a reprieve, I guess you could say. For a while, I didn’t have to think about what an ass I’d been, how I screwed things up with the most incredible woman I’d met in… ever.”

  Marika tried to process what he’d said, but before she could, her phone rang. Given how late it was, she couldn’t ignore it. It might be an emergency.

  “I have to get that,” she said, jumping up and lunging for her purse before she missed the call. She immediately recognized the number as Calvin’s cell. “Hey, what’s up? Is Lorna okay?”

  “It’s time, Mari. Can you get to the hospital? She really wants you here. She’s nervous as hell and I know you could calm her down.”

  “Of course, I’m on my way.”

  Dec was grabbing his wallet, slipping his key card into one of the slots. “Lorna’s having her baby?”

  “Yeah, I have to go.” She rolled forward to kiss his cheek.

  “I’ve sent my driver home for the night,” he said, taking her hand, “but we’ll grab a cab. I want to come with you, if that’s okay?”

  She realized this was one of those rare times she really could use someone to lean on, and he was offering without being asked. That said a lot. She smiled as she slipped her hand into his. “I’d like that. Thanks, Dec.”

  ***

  Marika was holding her best friend’s hand through the contractions while Calvin sat on the other side, trying to do the same. They’d been at this for hours and she’d heard murmurings of a C-section because the baby appeared to be breech and they couldn’t seem to turn it in spite of their best efforts.

  “I really wanted to deliver naturally,” Lorna said, the tears and sweat melding and disappearing into her hairline.

  “I know,” Marika said, remembering her friend’s detailed birthing plan. She’d had it all figured out, but as a doctor, Marika knew you had to go with the flow sometimes. “But having a healthy baby is the only thing that matters. Think about it. In just a couple of hours, you’ll be holding your beautiful baby in your arms and it won’t matter how they got here.”

  “You’re right,” she said, squeezing Marika’s hand. “Thanks for being here.”

  “Wouldn’t be anywhere else.”

  Lorna’s doctor walked into the room, looking grim but determined. “Well, folks, I’d say we’ve waited long enough. We need to prep for surgery.”

  Calvin sighed and Lorna whimpered, but Marika brushed back the hair from Lorna’s forehead. “It’s going to be fine, honey.”

  “Dr. Boyd, I’m afraid only her husband can be in the delivery room with her,” Lorna’s obstetrician said, smiling at Marika.

  “Of course,” Marika said, standing. “I understand.” She squeezed Lorna’s hand. “I can’t wait to meet the newest member of your family, honey.” Since they didn’t want to know the sex of the baby, it would be a surprise for everyone. “I’ll be right outside in the waiting room.”

  “Thank you for everything,” Lorna whispered, tears still streaming down her face. “You know I love you, right?”

  “I know.” She smiled. “I love you too.”

  Calvin rounded the bed to give Marika a hug before she made her way to the waiting room. Sitting in the waiting room, Dec had his arm over his eyes, leaning back and relaxing.

  As soon as he spotted her, Dec opened his arms and she stepped into them, sagging against his strong chest. “Hey.”

  It was three in the morning. She had to be at work in six hours, but she wasn’t going anywhere until she saw her friend wheeled out of that operating room along with a perfect infant. “Hey.”

  “How’s it going in there?” he asked, stroking her hair.

  “The baby’s breech. She needs a C-section.”

  “That sucks.”

  “Yeah, but it’ll be okay, I’m sure.”

  It meant Lorna would have a longer recovery, but her mother would be there to help with the baby, so she’d have the support she needed. Her parents would have been at the hospital, but they were out of town attending their niece’s graduation. They were due back the day after tomorrow.

  “Sit down, baby. You must be dead on your feet.” He passed her a bottle of water. “I would’ve gotten you a coffee, but I wasn’t sure when you were coming out. I didn’t want it to get cold.”

  “Thanks.” She rested her head on his shoulder when he put his arm around her. “But you haven’t tasted hospital coffee. Water is better.”

  He chuckled. “I’ve tasted plenty of hospit
al coffee, believe me. All those hospital visits I do, they serve coffee and baked goods to thank you and you can’t be rude and turn it down.”

  Marika was glad he hadn’t visited her patients just to score points with her. It was something he did routinely, which shouldn’t have surprised her, since he’d been a natural with the kids. “You really like kids, huh?” She took a long pull from the bottle.

  “Love them. I’ve got two nieces and two nephews and believe me when I tell you I’m the cool uncle all the kids tell their friends about.”

  She laughed. “Their pride wouldn’t have anything to do with that flashy championship ring you’re sporting, would it?”

  “It may have something to do with it,” he acknowledged. “Or it might be my cool ride or the fact that I take them to the zoo and the amusement park when I’m in town. My two nephews are teenagers, so for them, it’s pretending I don’t hear the swear words or see the inappropriate pics they post on Instagram. Oh, and there’s the front row seats to any sporting event they might want to go to. That’s pretty cool too.”

  She’d like to see Dec interact with his family. She was sure the kids loved him as much as he claimed, and no doubt his sisters did too, given how much he’d done for them. “I remember you telling me your dad wasn’t in the picture when you were growing up. That must have been hard, huh?” Her father had been the glue that held their family together, so she couldn’t imagine not having him in their lives.

  “Not really,” he said, raising a broad shoulder. “I’d never known him. Can’t miss what you don’t have. Besides, I had a lot of great coaches who stepped up and helped me out. They made sure I got to practices when my mom had to work or sprang for some of the away games when my mom couldn’t swing it.”

  Her heart swelled when she thought of all the people who’d supported Dec in his dream. “Do you ever see them or talk to them? Your old coaches?”

  “Yeah, sure. We keep in touch on social media and I make sure they’re looked after if they want to come to a game.”