“Hey, there.”
“Oh my, gosh,” the little girl squealed. “Is this for real? Are you really here?”
I walked over to her bed, careful not to touch any of the wires or tubes running into her arm.
“I’m Lexi. What’s your name?” I leaned in for a hug.
“Grace.” She was maybe eight.
“Well, Grace. I wanted to play a song for you. How does that sound?”
The giggling started and I didn’t know if she could stop long enough for me to get a song request from her.
“Can you play ‘Hearts and Tears’?” she asked.
“Of course.” I smiled. It was the fourth time I had played it this morning, but it didn’t matter. I wasn’t the one sitting in a hospital bed. I was healthy and strong, living my dream.
By the time I played a few songs for Grace, Jake was tapping on the glass window, motioning for me to wrap it up. I gave her a hug and waved good-bye.
“What is it?” I asked. “I was in the middle of talking to that little girl.” I was annoyed that even when I was doing what he wanted, it wasn’t enough. Jake pushed. He pushed too much.
He turned toward the nurses’ station and I saw what he was worried about.
My heart stopped. My breath caught in my throat. For a second, I didn’t think I could talk. I clutched my strings, making an awkward squeaking sound with my guitar.
“Shit,” I muttered.
The six five sex-on-a-stick that had licked me until I came last night was walking my way.
“Hey.” He grinned. That killer grin that had me purring under his tongue last night. I wasn’t sure it wasn’t happening again. I could already feel the tight coil in my belly.
“Hey.” I smiled.
“Mr. Canton, good to see you again,” Jake greeted him nervously, but he had already fallen into the background. All I could see were the flecks of green in Luke’s eyes. I remembered the way his flesh felt rubbing against mine. His mouth sucking every curve of my body.
“You too.” Luke nodded, but didn’t look in my manager’s direction.
“If you don’t mind, I thought maybe I could join you while you visit the kids.” He looked at me expectantly.
My eyes widened. “What? You want to do visits with me?”
He shrugged. “Why not? I’m sure there might be a Warrior fan or two in here.”
“Oh no.” Jake shook his head. “We have a tight schedule. We have a hospital photographer. I think we’ll have to coordinate something another time with the Warriors. This is not a joint event.”
I ignored his warnings and his stupid excuses. “I think the kids would love it.” I smiled at Luke. “I know for a fact there are Warrior fans here.”
He glared down at Jake. “You heard her. The kids will love it.” He towered over him, and Jake took a step back to get out of our way as we moved to the next room.
“I think you scared the shit out of him,” I whispered before we walked inside.
“Good.” He winked. “He’s an asshole.”
“True, but seriously what are you doing here? I thought we were meeting after I finished here.”
He ran his thumb across my lower lip and I couldn’t breathe. He held me with his stare. With his gaze. My hand was glued to the door, but I couldn’t move. I wanted to suck his thumb into my mouth. To hell with the fact we were in a public hallway.
“I couldn’t wait that long,” he responded with a sexy smirk.
I didn’t know what was right or what was wrong about him, but I knew then that somehow Luke Canton was going to turn my life upside down, and it scared the absolute shit out of me.
I nodded. “Ready to sing?”
“Oh I don’t sing. I sign things. Hats, shirts.” He patted a bag over his shoulder. “I brought some kid-sized footballs. They love these things.”
I laughed. “Well, let this be your introduction into the entertainment business. These kids are going to hear Luke Canton sing.”
“Alexa.” His voice was firm.
I liked how it sounded over my ears. It reminded me of last night. Of the things he said to me. How commanding he was. How sexy and hot he was in his room. How I did what he asked in his bed. I didn’t say no once.
I smiled widely, pushing the door open. I didn’t give him a chance to back out. It was fun to make the big strapping quarterback squirm.
“Hey, there. I’m Lexi and this is my friend Luke. We came to say hi and sing a little for you. What’s your name?”
Luke stood next to me. I could feel him beside me. The heat emitting from his body.
“Daniel.”
“You like football, Daniel?” Luke reached into the bag and pulled out a foam ball about six inches long. The Warriors logo was painted on all sides.