Gripping a top of the line EXcape tennis racket, Zander raised his artificial-arm high and brought it down with a swoosh, sending the tennis ball sailing over the net.
“Game!” he shouted, as Kent lunged for the ball, barely missing it.
“You bastard,” Kent called good-naturedly. He bent over his knees and inhaled deep gulps of air.
Zander walked in circles to cool down.
His thoughts spun about like hornets. Sure, he was getting fantastic sex again. But he didn’t know where Effie was at, emotionally. One minute hot, the next cold.
She bewildered him. They didn’t talk for two days after the Trisha encounter. He’d been wondering if he’d ever see her again, contract or no contract. Then, he’d convinced her to have phone sex last night. Today, before his tennis game, she’d texted him to tell him she’d go on another date with him. She was probably preoccupied with school or something, he reasoned.
All he could think about was having her in his arms again.
Still, constant uncertainty threatened to pull him back into the dark place he’d occupied less than a year ago.
To keep from slipping into insanity, he’d decided to take a more active role in his company again. He even showed up for a meeting with Attica, after Kent assured him that Attica was on the up and up.
“And,” Kent had advised, “if ArcTix One has Attica on their radar, EXcape had better step up to the plate.”
So, Zander had shown up, and sealed the deal, something that brought a measure of success to his week.
Kent strode around the net toward him, twirling his racket in his hand. “You up for some lunch?”
“Sorry, man, I have plans.” Zander suppressed a smile.
“Let me guess…your sugar baby?” Kent crossed toward the fence where his gym bag rested.
“You guessed it.” Zander couldn’t hold back his grin.
“So, things are going well?” Kent crouched next to his bag. He fished out a zippered cover and placed it over the head of his racket.
Zander went to his own gym bag a few feet away. “More or less. I’m sure you’ve noticed, I’m taking a more active role at the company again. It’s all due to being with Effie.”
He thought about the great phone sex they’d had last night. Their heat was so intense he thought the phone might explode.
An even more idiotic grin spread across his face as he covered his racket.
“That’s great,” Kent said, in a tentative sounding voice without looking up. “Really good to see you interacting with the staff more.”
Zander cocked an eyebrow. It sounded like a “but” would soon follow Kent’s cautious enthusiasm. Warily, he closed his gym bag, shouldered it, and strode off the court.
Kent caught up with him.
“So,” Kent said, hesitating, a minute later.
Here it comes, Zander thought, as they passed the other courts.
“What?” A sliver of annoyance lodged in his belly.
The sharp whack of rackets meeting tennis balls and the squeak of shoes on the hardcourt surface provided a backdrop of sound.
“You’re keeping it casual, yeah? You know the unspoken rule. A sugar baby’s only useful until the sugar melts. After that, it’s, ‘adios, señorita.’” Kent smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes.
Zander mentally crushed the outburst at the back of his throat. “Oh, sure. Casual all the way.” He waved his hand in the air. “We’re having fun, that’s all.”
“Okay,” Kent said, stretching out the word. “Mia probably misinterpreted. She said she thought you were falling too hard and fast. I’d hate to see your heart get shattered, again, Zan. That’s all.”
Zander’s jaw tensed. “I appreciate the concern, but I’ve got this. I even got it written in the contract, like you suggested—no contact after the contract ends.”
His pace increased as he beelined for the locker room.
“Right, right. I know,” Kent said, hustling to keep up. “Mia only overheard a conversation you had with your sugar baby yesterday. I meant no disrespect.”
“Mia needs to mind her own business.” Zander’s positive mood began to sink.
“Come on, Mia’s a great assistant for you. She’s been a rock while you’ve been recovering.”
“She has,” Zander said, pulling up short at the men’s room. “Despite me being an asshole at times. But my private life is mine to sort, not yours, hers, or anyone else’s.”
Kent clapped him on the back. “Look, man, forget I said anything. I know you know your priorities. The sugar baby deal is all fun and games. You’re not going to make the same mistakes you made when you and Trisha split. I know you’re keeping the business front and center.”
Zander’s breathing increased, thundering in and out of his windpipe. “Do you feel it’s your mission to keep reminding me of the past, Manning? News flash. I live with it every day.”
“Hey,” Kent said. “I know you’ve got this. It’s really good to see you in a better mood.”
“Thanks,” Zander said, yanking open the door to the locker room.
As he showered and dressed for his date with Effie, he kept questioning himself. Am I falling hard and fast?
By the time he’d dressed and exited the sports gym, he’d decided to not jump to conclusions about Effie and do as Kent has advised—keep it casual. He barely knew the girl. His so-called “crush” probably came from an underused sexual appetite.
He climbed in his cobalt blue Lexus LC Hybrid Coupe, tossing his gear in the midget-sized back seat. After firing up the engine, he eased out of the parking lot and headed toward the PIM District where Effie lived. Once he arrived in the guest parking area near Elliott Hall, Effie’s dorm, he brightened, seeing her standing near a parking meter.
She immediately waved and began stepping in his direction. She’d dressed in another workout suit he’d had sent to her dorm, and she looked fantastic. Her flaxen hair had been pulled back into a high ponytail, reminding him of what she did the other day when she’d untied her braid in the limo. And then, back at the house.
His cock twitched at the memory. “How’d you know this was my car?” he said, leaning across the console to open her door. “I didn’t mention it.”
“Duh,” she said, sliding into the seat. She held up her hand and curled all but the forefinger. “First, it’s blue. Your favorite color.” Her middle finger extended next. “Second, how many PIM students do you think could afford a car like this?” Next, came her ring finger. “Third, you arrived precisely at the time when you said you’d arrive.”
Zander reined in his desire to kiss her hello. Or, drive somewhere less populated, lean back the seat, and have her climb on top. Instead, he placed his hand on the stick shift and eased on the gas. He reminded himself to keep it casual, even though his insides gunned at full throttle.
“Excellent deductive reasoning, Ms. D’Archangel.” He side-eyed her before pulling out into traffic.
That pretty blush of hers bloomed over her neck and cheeks. She glanced at him with her intoxicating green-eyed gaze, before directing her attention out the window.
“Thanks. And anyway, if I got it wrong, it wouldn’t be the first time.” She shrugged. “I seem to bumble my way through life.”
“We’re going to change your perception of yourself,” Zander said, his mood already beginning to accelerate back toward the positive.
“Am I your secret project?” she said, adding a tittering little laugh.
“It’s no secret. I’m telling you. Full disclosure here.” A goofy grin split his face.
“Thank you, Mr. Billionaire. So, what am I in for today? You only told me to prepare to work out.”
“We’re going to a climbing gym.” He flashed her another side-eye.
“Climbing gym? What are we going to climb?” Her eyebrows stitched together.
“Rock walls, what did you think?” He flipped on the turn signal, heading for the Greenlake area where his once favorite climbing gym was located.
“Oh, God,” she said, her head falling against the headrest. “You’re seriously trying to kill me, aren’t you?”
“You did pretty good on boulder hopping at the river last week.”
“Are you kidding? I was petrified. My boulder hopping consisted of falling forward and hoping to God I’d catch myself. I hid my shaking legs from you. And then, remember me almost drowning?”
His eyebrows arched. “I thought you did pretty well with the boulders. Let’s just see how you do.”