Desire is a game without rules

Optimistic and hardworking, Angela Bouler prides herself on getting through life without asking for an assist. School, two jobs, caring for her nephew, Cory—she’s keeping it all together...then Isaiah Reynolds bounces into her life. The Jacksonville Gators’ star forward is coaching at Cory’s summer camp, but guardians and mentors aren’t supposed to mix—and certainly not surrender to red-hot kisses...

Isaiah has an image of the perfect partner in his head, and it doesn’t quite mesh with Angela’s hectic life. Or her evening job serving drinks at a gentlemen’s club. But deep down, she’s the only woman who sparks a true connection. He’s expected to keep his image spotless, but instead he’s risking everything on a strong, sexy, complicated woman. Winning her heart won’t be easy, but it’s becoming the only play that really matters...

A large hand wrapped around her wrist and prevented her from impersonating a flipped pancake.

Awareness prickled up her arm from the strong hand around her wrist. Her gaze lifted all the way up to a pair of dark sexy eyes. Her heart stumbled worse than her feet and air sprinted from her lungs like a that of a runner’s. Isaiah Reynolds.

The lean muscles of his arms were bared by a sleeveless red athletic shirt. Basketball shorts partially covered sculpted legs long enough to make a redwood jealous. If a tree could get jealous. The spice of sweat and his own masculine scent swirled through her senses and made her knees wobbly. Recognition brightened his warm brown eyes. For a split second he seemed happy and surprised right before his brows furled. His lips, the lower one fuller and so damn kissable, twisted into a frown.

“Angel?” he said in a tenor tone that was as smooth as silk and ran over her just as seductively.

Dear Reader,

Thank you for spending your time with my characters today. When I first introduced Isaiah in Full Court Seduction, I knew I had to write a story for him. The so-called “good guy” of the team needed a woman to make him put all his rules aside in the name of love. Angela “Angel” did exactly that. She’s not what he planned for, nor did he expect their first introduction to cause so much change in his life. Angela has been hit with some hard blows, but she remains upbeat and optimistic. Her refusal to let circumstances beat her down is one of the reasons Isaiah can’t help but fall for her.

I hope you enjoy their road to happily-ever-after. Please be sure to leave a review or drop me an email at synithia@synithiawilliams.com and let me know what you think.

Happy reading!

Synithia W.

Overtime for Love

Synithia Williams

www.millsandboon.co.uk

SYNITHIA WILLIAMS has been an avid romance-novel lover since picking up her first at the age of thirteen. It was only natural that she would begin penning her own romances soon after—much to the chagrin of her high school math teachers. She’s a native of South Carolina and now writes romances as hot as their southern settings. Outside of writing, she works on water quality and sustainability issues for local government. She’s married to her own personal hero, and they have two sons who’ve convinced her that professional wrestling and superheroes are supreme entertainment. When she isn’t working, writing, or being a wife and mother, she’s usually bingeing on TV series, playing around on social media or planning her next girls’ night out with friends. You can learn more about Synithia by visiting her website, www.synithiawilliams.com, where she blogs about writing, life and relationships.

Acknowledgments

Thank you to the great team at Harlequin Kimani: Shannon Criss and Keyla Hernandez. You two helped tighten my stories, always answered my questions and were super helpful during my time with Kimani. I wish you much success in your future endeavors.

Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Introduction

Dear Reader

Title Page

About the Author

Acknowledgments

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Epilogue

Extract

Copyright

Chapter 1

Bless the soul of the person who invented air-conditioning.

Angela Bouler sighed in ecstasy when she opened the door to the North Region Activity Center and cool air kissed her skin. Heat and humidity had combined to make summer in Jacksonville, Florida, beat Hell on the hot and uncomfortable scale. She leaned back against the open door and turned to her only nephew, who was coming up behind her. Oblivious to the heat, and enthralled by his cell phone, Cory walked slower than a two-legged tortoise.

“Come on, Cory. Whatever is on that thing will still be there once we’re inside the air-conditioned building.” Her attempt at an upbeat tone wilted.

After scrambling to get off work early so she could pick up Cory from her neighbor and get him to the activity center in time to sign up for a month-long basketball camp, in the middle of a heat wave straight from the pits of Hell, she didn’t feel too bad about not being perky. She’d left the blazer she’d worn to her day job as a court-appointed advocate for foster children in the car, but even without the extra layer, her blouse stuck to her back and tendrils of hair escaped the ponytail she’d swept her thick shoulder-length hair into and clung to her neck.

Cory slipped his phone into the pocket of his basketball shorts and picked up his speed to match that of a three-legged tortoise. “I’m hungry,” he grumbled.

“You’re always hungry.”

“I’m growing. I’m almost a man now,” he said with a cocky, know-it-all smile perfected by teenagers everywhere.

Angela rolled her eyes but didn’t suppress her grin. “Whatever, man. Pay me back for the box of Hot Pockets you ate in one day.”

“I said almost a man. I’m broke.” Cory grinned and looked so much like her brother Angela’s heart hurt. He was as tall as she was, but would probably grow several more inches. Despite his slow pace, his skin, the color of dark honey, held a red flush from the heat.

Angela ruffled his purposefully messy high-top fade, then gently pushed him farther into the cool building. Cory tried not to laugh and brushed her hand away. Ever since her brother’s girlfriend, Heather, had dropped off Cory at Angela’s door a month ago, saying nothing more than “I can’t take him to New York—he’ll ruin my chance at a stage career,” Cory had done nothing but eat, eat and then eat more, all while growing half an inch every fifteen minutes. Her fifteen-hundred-square-foot apartment felt like five hundred and if she didn’t hide her good ice cream in an old bag of frozen peas she’d have nothing to eat. Though she suspected Cory’s never-ending appetite would eventually lead him to explore the frozen veggies and discover her hiding place.

She closed the door and directed Cory toward the main desk. “Come on. Let’s get you signed up. This will be fun!” She managed legit excitement with the last statement.

The grin on Cory’s face melted away. Another thing she was learning about thirteen-year-old boys—they went from happy to sullen in a split second. “This is charity.”

“A favor isn’t charity. One of the boys originally registered for camp dropped out and my boss was nice enough to let me sign you up. There are plenty of other kids we work with who would love to be in your place. Do you want me to tell my boss to give the registration to another kid?”

Her office got five registrations to the activity center’s coveted camp with the Jacksonville Gators professional basketball team. Angela hadn’t asked for Cory to get the newly opened spot, but couldn’t turn it down when her boss approached her at the last minute. Cory deserved some joy. Her brother, Darryl, was serving time for embezzling funds at his job—the idiot—and his mom had up and left for New York. Angela refused to be another person who let him down. She would do whatever she could to make Cory feel wanted. Even though she had no idea what she was doing. Kids hadn’t been in her short-or long-term plans.

Cory stuffed his hands into his pockets and shook his head. “No.”

“Then zip it and let’s get you registered.” Angela rubbed his back and smiled.

She understood his aversion to accepting things. Help from others usually came with a price. Something she’d learned after her parents died and her aunt considered the money Angela’s parents left for Angela and her brother’s college educations to be her “reward” for taking in the kids. After that lesson, Angela chose to rely on herself to get what she wanted out of life. She’d taken a job as a bartender at a gentlemen’s club to pay for her undergraduate degree and continued serving drinks part-time after landing the position as an advocate to help cover the costs of graduate school. She paid her own way and was proud of that, but a coveted spot in a basketball camp with professionals was an exception to her don’t-accept-help rule.

She looked around the inside of the activity center. The large one-story building was filled with light from the multitude of windows along the front. It housed a gymnasium, rooms for various exercise and art classes, and a large meeting space. A table next to one of the classrooms had a sign that identified it as the spot to register for the Gators’ basketball camp.

They signed in at the desk and were directed inside, where twenty other kids and their parents and guardians sat waiting. She and Cory found a seat toward the front. Angela spotted and waved at the program director, Keri Little. Keri was a petite firecracker of a woman with mocha skin and natural red hair cut into a short tapered style. Angela often spoke with Keri when recommending kids from their office to the program.

Keri moved to the front of the room and tapped on the desk to get everyone’s attention. The hum of conversation disappeared and Keri gave the room a hundred-watt smile.

“Good afternoon! First, I want to thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to come to the orientation for the Jacksonville Gators’ basketball camp. This is going to be a great year, not only because I know we’ve got a great group of kids, but also because our Gators are league champions!”

Keri cheered and many of the parents and kids joined in. Cory sat up straighter. Excitement crept into his light brown eyes. Angela felt a rush of satisfaction. Finally, a show of interest.

“I know an orientation for a basketball camp may seem odd,” Keri continued, “but believe me, after partnering with the Gators for seven years to bring this program together, there are a lot of things we want to make sure we let parents and kids know. Plus, this year we have a few changes. Each year, Coach Gray lets me know which players will be participating in the camp. If you look in your packet, you’ll see a list of the players attending and when they’ll be here. Coach Gray just informed me that this year’s host player will be none other than star forward Isaiah Reynolds!”

Another murmur went through the crowd as a quick flash of excitement surged through Angela. She couldn’t serve drinks in a popular gentlemen’s club and not have come across a few members of the Gators team. As the team’s “good guy,” Isaiah was typically an exception to the rule, but he’d come in after the team won the championship and they all came in to celebrate at the club.

To her surprise, he’d hung out at the bar instead of making it rain hundred-dollar bills in the VIP section. She’d served him drinks. He’d asked about her tribal tattoo, an African symbol of strength, on her wrist. Not in the creepy, I’m-trying-to-fake-interest-to-hook-up-with-you way she often got. He’d seemed genuinely interested. Before long, they’d struck up a conversation that never lapsed or grew stale, even when she walked away to serve other customers. She’d felt a connection, so much so that she’d debated whether to give him her number if he wanted it, but he’d left without asking.

She’d been a little disappointed, but things happened for a reason. Isaiah not asking for her number had probably been for the best. Most guys who hit on her at the club only wanted a quick hookup. Not her style. That didn’t stop the flutter of her heart at the thought of seeing him again.

“I know we’re all very excited to be interacting with such talented players, but please remember, they’re here for the camp—not for socializing. We’re very protective of their privacy,” Keri said, as if she could sense the anticipation jolting through Angela.

Angela’s face heated even though Keri wasn’t looking at her. She was here for Cory. One cool conversation with Isaiah wasn’t important.

Keri’s smile shifted to a look of determination. “One of the reasons this program works so well is because of the rules. So here they are. There will be plenty of opportunities for you and your kids to take pictures with the players. So please, no selfies, unsolicited shots, or requests for pictures. Do not ask for autographs. The players will give each kid an autographed jersey at the end of camp. No asking for money.” Keri held up a hand when a few parents, including Angela, chuckled in surprise. “I know that sounds obvious, but we’ve had people try. And again, please respect boundaries—parents, that also means no fraternizing with the players, if you know what I mean. Violation of any of these rules will result in your child’s immediate withdrawal from the program.”

The lady next to Angela tapped her with her elbow. “Too bad, huh?”

Angela gave her a weak smile. When she looked at Cory he snickered with a hand over his mouth. “Why are you laughing?”

“Fraternizing with a player?” He wiggled his eyebrows.

Angela rolled her eyes and shook her head. “You don’t have to worry about that.”

Keri went through more of the rules. Angela pulled the papers out of the packet and skimmed through them. Despite the brief moment of excitement when she’d learned Isaiah would be at the camp, she really didn’t want to interact with the players. That would limit the possibility of them connecting Angel the bartender to Angela Bouler the advocate. She wasn’t ashamed of her bartending job, but her supervisor in the advocacy office thought the fact that she also worked at a strip club was best kept under the radar. Their director was ultraconservative, and he wouldn’t want any hint of a scandal.

A player recognizing her didn’t necessarily mean word of her part-time job would get back to their director, but to be sure, she’d limit her interactions. Drop off Cory in the morning, pick him up after work, and that was it. She could admire Isaiah Reynolds from afar and come up with silly fantasies of what might’ve happened if he’d asked for her number. She wouldn’t risk her job or Cory’s shot at some happiness just to talk to Isaiah Reynolds again.

Chapter 2

Isaiah watched the tattoo needle scrape across the upper arm of his teammate and friend Kevin Kouky and grimaced. “I can’t believe I let you talk me into coming here.”

Kevin grinned at Isaiah from a seat in his favorite tattoo parlor. “You know you want one.”

Isaiah only grunted and shifted in his own seat. Kevin and the tattoo artist, Jack, both chuckled. Isaiah ignored them and studied the pictures of the elaborate tattoos on the wall. Skin Ink was one of the biggest and best tattoo parlors in the Jacksonville area. Most of the members of the Jacksonville Gators basketball team got their art there.

Isaiah had no idea how many tattoos Kevin had in total. His arms, chest and part of his neck were covered with colorful designs. Today he filled in a blank spot on his right forearm with a picture of the championship trophy and the date. He’d told Isaiah the spot was saved for that reason. Kevin was thirty-five and one of the oldest members of the team, even though his colorful tattoos and even more colorful attitude made people think he was younger. He’d waited a long time to win a championship and even though Isaiah never wanted a tattoo himself, he was happy to watch Kevin fill in the spot. Well...willing to watch.

“I don’t see the point of scarring my body unnecessarily.” Isaiah repeated the words his dad often said whenever he saw tattoos on a person. He tugged uncomfortably on his white polo shirt. His mother and father were both college professors, in engineering and chemistry, respectively. They weren’t big fans of art, which definitely included body art. Isaiah had once felt the same, but after years playing basketball in college and professionally, he’d come to appreciate good body art—at least, on someone else.

Kevin looked down at the needle marking his arm. “Each tat has a reason. When you have a good reason, you’ll get one.”

Isaiah had flirted with the idea of getting a tattoo before, but hadn’t thought of anything he liked enough to permanently emblazon on his pecan-brown skin. Maybe the chemical symbol for testosterone or a differential equation. His parents might not freak out over a chemical bond or engineering nod versus a picture of the championship trophy. The idea made him smile even though he’d never do it. He no longer did things that would shock or disappoint his parents.

His cell phone chimed. Isaiah checked his email, then looked at Kevin. “Ms. Keri from the activity center sent over the agenda. You still helping with the camp this year?”

“Of course,” Kevin said in an eager voice. “Best time of the year. Thanks for inviting me again.”

Isaiah turned his chair around and straddled it with his arms resting on the back. “From what I heard, the kids loved you last year. Why wouldn’t I?”

“I know you think I’m wild,” Kevin said with a grin.

Isaiah laughed. “That’s why I hang out with you.”

Isaiah would rather have Kevin there than any of his other teammates. He and Kevin were total opposites. Kevin was the wild card on the team with tattoos, earrings and a spontaneous personality that had led to two failed long-term relationships and four kids. Isaiah had the reserved nature cultivated by academic parents, spent more time volunteering than partying and had limited experience with women, including one on-again, off-again relationship with his college girlfriend, Bridget, and a few hookups in between. Despite their differences, their personalities jibed. Mostly because Isaiah lived vicariously through Kevin. His friend wasn’t afraid to say, do, or go for what he wanted, whereas Isaiah spent more time thinking of long-term consequences instead of immediate needs. Nearly ruining his mother’s career due to a rash decision had that kind of long-term effect.

Isaiah checked the schedule for the basketball camp and compared it to his schedule, saw a conflict and grunted. “I’m going to miss picking up Bridget from the airport,” he said absently.

“And? She can’t find her way to a hotel?” Kevin asked drily.

Kevin had met Bridget twice and wasn’t a fan. Isaiah wasn’t offended. Bridget’s straightforward personality often rubbed people the wrong way. For the past year, she and Isaiah had been off-again while she finished law school. He’d asked her to move to Jacksonville after getting her degree. He was tired of being on the dating scene. He was ready for a wife and kids. Bridget was the best option. His parents liked her, they were compatible and he knew she wasn’t after him because he was a professional baller.

Isaiah flipped his phone in his hand. “I thought about letting her stay at my place,” he said in a blasé tone.

Kevin’s attention snapped to Isaiah. “Hell no!”

Isaiah shrugged. “Why not?”

“Her staying with you means you’re back on again.”

“I’m ready for that step.”

Kevin cocked his head to the side. “What step?”

“The next step. Marriage, kids, all that.”

Kevin’s head shook before Isaiah finished talking. “Not her.”

He hadn’t expected Kevin to give an enthusiastic endorsement for Bridget, but he wasn’t expecting the flat-out steel in his friend’s voice. “Why not?”

“Man, she’s a nice girl but she isn’t right for you.”

Isaiah leaned back and laughed. “She’s perfect for me. Smart. Beautiful. Good family. No scandals.”

Kevin’s head fell back and he made a snoring sound. “Boring.”

Isaiah grinned at his friend’s theatrics. “Reliable. I’d much rather trust my future with her than someone I don’t know. You know how exhausting dating is? I don’t want to meet some new woman’s mom, dad, sisters and brothers. I don’t want to have to figure out if she’s really into me or hoping to be the next star of celebrity wives. I know and trust Bridget.”

“You can trust her to tie your balls in a knot,” Kevin grumbled. “And not in the good way.”

Isaiah raised a brow. “There’s a good way?”

Jack stopped the tattoo gun to stare at Isaiah. “Of course there’s a good way.”

Isaiah waved a hand. “Oh, well, then enlighten me.”

Kevin pointed at Isaiah with his free hand. “You want a woman who drives you crazy and makes you laugh. Someone who heats your blood with just a look. A woman that’ll cuss you out when you’re being a fool, but you know she’ll always have your back.”

“That sounds like a recipe for drama.” Isaiah couldn’t keep the distaste out of his voice.

“It’s a recipe for excitement,” Kevin said. “She challenges you, pushes you, and you might not like it all the time, you may argue, but making up again?” Kevin grinned and nodded. “That makes everything worth it.”

Isaiah laughed. “No harm, but that doesn’t sound like the type of marriage I want.”

“Hell, what can I say? That didn’t work for my marriage, either.” Kevin said in a teasing voice, but Isaiah caught the glimpse of regret in his eye.

Kevin had married his college sweetheart and she’d divorced him after five years. Then he’d had another long-term relationship that had ended a few years ago. He’d admitted to his mistakes in those relationships, and joked about being a failure at long-term commitment. The only good thing he claimed from his rocky relationships was his kids. Even though he often joked about his past, Isaiah suspected his failed relationships hurt more than he let on.

“But we’re not talking about me,” Kevin said, his cheerful voice back. “You’re champing at the bit to find a wife and have a pack of kids. I get it—your parents have a beautiful union and you like stability. You’re that guy.”

“That guy?” Isaiah asked.

“The relationship guy. That’s cool. We need guys like you out there. It’s good for team testosterone to have decent men out there, but don’t let your visions of a perfect family lead you to marrying the wrong woman. Divorce isn’t fun. Believe me.”

“Bridget isn’t the wrong woman. That’s why I asked her to move to Jacksonville. When I get married I want to stay married. I know Bridget and she knows me. We both want the same things and our families love each other. She’s perfect.”

Jack glanced at Isaiah quickly before going back to the tattoo. “Perfect doesn’t mean you want to sleep with her every night.”

Heat filled Isaiah’s face and he flipped his cell phone again. “We’re compatible in every way if that’s what you’re getting at.”

It had been a while since they’d slept together. And the last time had been rushed, when they’d both been in the same city a year ago and only had a few hours before she had to catch a flight. He’d always thought their sex life was decent, until he’d heard the stories the guys told. Then he realized his and Bridget’s sex life had always been tame. There was nothing wrong with tame...it just made him wonder about wild.

Kevin shook his head. “Big deal. Most women are decent in bed. She’s moving here because you asked her to. Are you burning to see her in here?” Kevin placed a fist over his heart. “Is she all up in your head? Are you twisting, turning and downright yearning for her to get here so you can get your arms around her?”

Twisting and turning, yes. But not out of anticipation. More out of a sense of anxiety. Was asking her here the right thing? That wasn’t something to talk about now. Kevin was his friend, but Jack didn’t need insight on Isaiah’s boring romantic life. “Of course,” he said quickly. Kevin’s look said Isaiah was full of crap.

Isaiah focused on his phone and checked social media. He thought about the last time a woman had heated his blood. Still thinking about Angel. Isaiah clenched the phone and his teeth. He needed to stop thinking of Angel, but not thinking of her was nearly impossible. Dark sparkling eyes, full luscious lips, curves... Damn, the woman’s curves were amazing. Smooth, golden tan skin that had sparkled with a glittery lotion that smelled as enticing as she looked. And that thick dark hair—he’d wanted to reach out and touch it.

Angel was the perfect name. If that was her real name. The bartender at Sweethearts gentlemen’s club probably used a fake name, just like the dancers did.

Their conversation had lasted all night. He’d felt a connection, but wasn’t that supposed to be what he felt? Women at the strip club worked to make connections so patrons spent more money. Even though he’d wanted to ask for her number, he’d made himself walk away instead of shattering the illusion if she turned him down.

“What are you guys doing tonight?” Isaiah asked.

“Some of the fellas are going to Sweethearts. I’m not feeling it. I’d rather burn my money on something else.”

The jump shot of anticipation at the mention of Sweethearts made Isaiah’s heart dribble against his rib cage. He took a slow breath to steady the beat. He didn’t need to go back there.

“Why aren’t you feeling it?” Isaiah asked.

“I promised Chanel I’d take her to Hawaii.”

Kevin’s latest fling. Isaiah cocked his head and smirked at Kevin. “She give you the burning feeling you were telling me about?”

“Hell no. Chanel is only looking for a good time. That’s all I’m good for.” Before Isaiah could comment on the grim tone of his friend’s admission, Kevin got a knowing look in his gray eyes. “Are you going to the club?”

Isaiah grunted and shook his head. “Nah. What for?”

Kevin just grinned. He’d teased Isaiah about Angel for a week after the team celebrated at Sweethearts. Teased him and called him a damn fool for not getting her number. According to Will Hampton, another friend and teammate, her not giving him her number was unlikely. Perks of being a professional athlete, he’d said, but Will was the type of guy not many women said no to.

Isaiah wasn’t going to bring Angel back into the conversation. Bad enough her sexy laugh and beautiful smile still popped up in his dreams. “You’ll be back from Hawaii in time for camp?” He stood and looked at the pictures on the wall.

“Just going for a weekend. I’ll be back,” Kevin said.

One of the pictures on the wall caught Isaiah’s attention. He walked over for a closer look. The five curved lines arranged in a star shape reminded him of the tattoo Angel had on her wrist. The African symbol for strength.

A reminder that I can handle anything that comes my way. I’m strong enough to take care of me.

Her voice had held a trace of some lingering pain. He’d wanted to know what it was so he could wipe it clean away. But he’d changed the subject. Teased that he would get a shark tattoo because it was his favorite animal. She’d laughed and he’d fallen into her spell.

Too bad life wasn’t just about going with instinct, the way a shark did. Instinct would have him back at the club tonight. There were consequences to consider. Plans to be made. Plans that didn’t involve falling for a bartender with a beautiful smile after already asking the “perfect” woman to move to his town and talk about their future.

Chapter 3

Angela fought to keep the professional smile on her face as she listened to the volunteer sitting across from her desk give another excuse for not visiting the child she was assigned to this month. Olivia Parker was a decent lady. She was retired from the school system, had friendly brown eyes and a matronly appearance. She’d heard about the need for advocates when Angela’s supervisor was interviewed by the local news six months ago and immediately came in to volunteer. Except she always had an excuse for why she couldn’t put in the time.

Everyone in the office was assigned a group of volunteers to organize and ensure the kids they represented had someone to check in on them. Angela’s volunteers rarely missed visits because she was constantly touching base with them. Ms. Parker was her coworker Jerry’s volunteer. He’d asked her to deal with Ms. Parker because he “couldn’t be mean to someone who reminded him of his grandmother.” The real excuse: he didn’t know how to manage his volunteers.

“You understand, Angela, why I didn’t make it this month. Between my husband getting sick, the drama with my sister and Pickle’s surgery, it just slipped my mind,” Olivia said in a pleading voice.

Angela took a deep breath. Pickle was Ms. Parker’s miniature schnauzer. “I do understand, but it is also very important that our volunteers personally see their assigned child every month. That’s the only way we can ensure they’re adapting to their new foster home and are making any scheduled court appearances or visits with their parents. I’ll work with Jerry to cover your visit tomorrow, but please let Jerry know ahead of time if you can’t make next month’s visit.”

Olivia bobbed her head up and down. “No. No. I’ll go first thing in the morning. I understand and I promise I won’t miss next month. I’ll be sure to visit not just once, but—”

“Twice.” Angela forced her smile to remain. “I know.” She glanced at the clock and stood. This meeting with Ms. Parker had gone past five o’clock. Angela needed to be out of the office and on the road right at five to dodge the worst of the traffic before picking up Cory and getting him back to her apartment, where her neighbor, Nate, watched him while she worked nights at Sweethearts.

Angela stood, which prompted Ms. Parker to do so, as well. Ms. Parker liked to talk and she would easily go on for another thirty minutes about her dog and husband if Angela didn’t end the conversation. “Thanks again for your service, Ms. Parker. We can’t look out for the kids without the dedication of volunteers like you.”

Ms. Parker blushed and nodded and said again how sorry she was as Angela ushered her out of the office. Why people like Ms. Parker would go through the rigorous training and background checks necessary to volunteer with the child advocacy office only to flake out on responsibilities every other month didn’t make much sense to Angela. It was a constant source of frustration. The kids were the ones who suffered; things were missed when there wasn’t consistent contact with them. Angela knew because she’d lived it. If she’d had someone looking out for her after her parents died, maybe her aunt wouldn’t have found it so easy to steal her inheritance. That was the reason she’d gone into social work. She wanted to make sure no other kid was taken advantage of by the people who were supposed to protect them.

She poked her head into Jerry’s office, which was next to hers, but he wasn’t there. A quick check with the admin assistant and she learned Jerry was gone for the day.

“He did tell me to thank you for handling Ms. Parker,” Martha said.

Angela bit back her annoyance and took a deep breath. At least Ms. Parker had been reprimanded, and hopefully wouldn’t neglect her duties next month. Angela went back to her office, powered down her computer and scooped up her purse. Ten after five. Maybe enough time to hit the road and get to Cory before the activity center charged her for being late picking him up. It was his first week of basketball camp. She didn’t want to be late the first day and start off as “that parent.”

Somebody in heaven liked her because Angela arrived at the activity center at exactly five-twenty-nine. She jumped out of the car and raced into the building. The young guy working the front desk smiled and didn’t charge her for being two minutes late by their clock, then directed her to the gym, where Cory was waiting. She thanked the guy, glanced at her watch and hurried to the gym. Okay, pick up Cory, drive like a maniac back home, thank Nate again for being an awesome neighbor and get to second job.

Angela grabbed the door to the gym and pulled. Someone shoved the door from the other side and she stumbled back. Her heels slipped on the floor. A large hand wrapped around her wrist and prevented her from impersonating a flipped pancake.

Awareness prickled up her arm from the strong hand around her wrist. Her gaze lifted all the way up to a pair of dark, sexy eyes. Her heart stumbled worse than her feet and air sprinted from her lungs like an Olympic runner. Isaiah Reynolds.

He was wearing a sleeveless red athletic shirt, so the lean muscles of his arms were bared. Basketball shorts partially covered sculpted legs long enough to make a redwood jealous. If a tree could get jealous. The spice of sweat and his own masculine scent swirled through her senses and made her knees wobbly. Recognition brightened his warm brown eyes. For a split second, he seemed happy and surprised, then his brow furrowed and his lips, the lower one fuller and so damn kissable, twisted into a frown.

“Angel?” he said in a tone that was as smooth as silk and ran over her just as seductively.

Angela swallowed hard and tried to ignore the heat spreading through her body. She wanted him, which meant she had to avoid him at all costs for the remainder of the camp. Otherwise he’d have her with a crook of his finger and a smile.

* * *

Isaiah’s fingers tightened around Angel’s small wrist. He’d recognized her instantly. Gone were the sparkly white angel wings she wore behind the bar at Sweethearts. A tasteful gray button-up shirt replaced the white tank top he’d last seen her in, although the garment still hugged her perfectly rounded breasts. A fitted black pencil skirt silhouetted full hips instead of tight black pants. No glittery makeup enhanced her eyes, which were so brown and deep he could forget the world while holding her gaze. Perfect lips parted and the sweet scent of flowers surrounded him.

He wanted to draw her closer. He’d thought of her constantly after their conversation at the bar that night. The excitement of literally bumping into her again nearly made him step closer, breathe in her soft perfume, get lost in her eyes. Why was she here?

“Angela.” Her low seductive voice broke through his daze.

He blinked. “What?”

“My name is Angela. Not Angel.”

Of course. Angel suited her better, though. Her lips curved into a hesitant smile that snatched his ability to think. To breathe. Talk.

Man, he hated this. Seeing her made him feel like the awkward, tongue-tied teenager he used to be. The quiet kid who didn’t know how to talk to girls. Put a basketball in his hands, get him in front of a crowd of reporters discussing his latest game or business venture, and he knew exactly what to do. Have a pretty woman he liked smile at him and his voice box disconnected from his brain.

She was really here. And now she was frowning. Which meant he was just staring instead of talking.

Isaiah let go of her wrist and took a step back. “What are you doing here?” Props to him for keeping his voice normal. Maturity had at least given him the ability to hide his discomfort better.

“Aunt Angela, you know Isaiah Reynolds?” Cory, the boy Isaiah had quickly noticed during the camp, spoke up. Cory had been quiet, a bit sullen, especially when the girls in the camp were around, but he was great with a basketball. Reminded Isaiah a little of himself. Maybe more than a little.

Isaiah looked at the young boy, then back at Angel... Angela. “This is your aunt?”

Cory nodded. Angela reached for the silver charm on her necklace and played with it. Her slim fingers brushed the smooth caramel skin of her chest exposed by the V-neck opening of her blouse. That night in the bar, the lace edges of a black bra peaked out from the scooped neckline of her tank top. Was she wearing a lace bra today? He was tall enough. All he’d have to do is lean a little toward her and he’d be able to see down that V...

Isaiah took another step back. What the hell? You’re not Cory’s age. No staring down her blouse.

“I am,” Angela said.

An uneasy thought crept into Isaiah’s brain. People went to great lengths just to be close to a professional athlete. He may still occasionally get tongue-tied around a beautiful woman, but he wasn’t stupid.

“Did you—did you sign him up...because of me?”

Her eyes widened for a second. Her hand dropped from the necklace. She slowly turned to Cory. “Can you go wait for me by the car?”

Cory raised an eyebrow. “What for?”

“Because I said so. Now go to the car.”

Cory let out a heavy sigh. “Fine. ’Bye, Mr. Reynolds.” He waved, then shuffled away, mumbling something under his breath.

Angela glared at her nephew’s back. When he was out of earshot, she turned her sharp gaze Isaiah’s way. She stepped to the side of the door of the gym and he followed so they wouldn’t be so out in the open.

“Did you really just accuse me of bringing Cory here because of you?”

The disbelief in her tone sounded sincere. But he’d been in the league for seven years and he’d heard all kinds of “sincerity” from exuberant fans before.

“It’s a fair question.”

“It’s an insulting question.” Anger sparked in her brown eyes. “And a very egotistical one.”

“Egotistical?”

She crossed her arms over her chest. “Why in the world would I stalk you? Much less, use my nephew to do that?”

“I once had a man break his son’s arm so I would come visit him in the hospital. I’ve had people do crazy things to try and get close to me.”

That doused the flames in her eyes. “Seriously? Someone would do something like that to his own son?”

He wished it wasn’t true. For every hundred normal fans there was always one crazy one that took things too far. “Fans can be crazy.”

The tightness of her crossed arms loosened and the tension in her stance relaxed. “Look, the organization I work for has five slots for this camp every year. One of the kids we chose had to back out at the last minute. My boss offered the space to Cory.”

He cocked his head to the side. “Sweethearts?” he asked skeptically.

She shook her head and the corners of her lips rose slightly. “That’s my part-time job. I work full-time in an office that manages court-appointed advocates for kids.”

That explained her business attire today, and Keri had told him they’d had one substitution from the advocacy center. Still. “Will you always be picking up Cory, or will his parents...?”

The tension returned to her face and stance. “Just me. It’s a long story,” she said in a voice that told him she had no desire to get into it. “I promise this isn’t some crazy fangirl thing. I know you hear that a lot, but it’s true. I didn’t even know you’d be hosting until registration. When I found out, I promised myself I’d stay away from you.”

“Why?”

She shifted her stance and slid the strap of her black purse farther up her shoulder. “Because there aren’t many people who know where I serve drinks. I don’t need that getting back to my boss.”

He believed her. Which was crazy. He didn’t really know her, but despite the vibe he’d felt when he’d first met her, she hadn’t struck him as the type to seek him out. She’d been cool, easy to talk to and only a little flirty, but she’d also seemed like her life would go on after he walked out the door. It was one of the reasons he’d thought of her so much.

“Are you ashamed of where you work?”

Her shoulders straightened. “Absolutely not. Are you saying I should be?”

He held up his hands in defense. “No.”

She relaxed and tilted her head, thick strands of her hair sliding over her shoulder. “I’m surprised you thought I signed him up to see you again. I didn’t think you’d remember me.”

“I couldn’t forget you.”

Her luscious lips parted and she sucked in a breath. Isaiah’s face heated. Way to go, Isaiah.

“I mean, you were wearing angel wings.”

She lowered her lashes and chuckled. “Yeah, they do get people’s attention.” She peeked at him from beneath long lashes. He felt trapped by the warm depths of her eyes. Damn, she was fine.

Angela blinked, breaking eye contact. “I’ve really got to go.” She pointed toward the door. “I promise I won’t stalk you or anything. You won’t even see me.”

“I wouldn’t mind seeing you.”

Her eyes widened. Her smile brightened just a little before regret flashed and she shook her head. “Cory’s in the program. I don’t want him to get kicked out if I...”

She thought he was flirting. Was he flirting? Hell yes, he was flirting.

He couldn’t flirt with her. Bridget was coming soon. He wasn’t this guy. The one who had one woman and started up with another.

You and Bridget aren’t officially back together.

That didn’t matter. He’d asked her to move to Jacksonville and it wasn’t just so they could hang out occasionally and be friends. He wanted a wife and kids. He wanted it with someone he knew and was comfortable with. He owed it to Bridget to see if they could make things work. Not sabotage things with a bartender who had the face and body of an angel. A seductive angel...if seductive angels existed.

“No, I mean it’s no big deal if we see each other.” He managed a nonchalant shrug. “I believe you’re not a stalker.”

A second of confusion before her bubbly smile lit up her face and his afternoon. “Oh, good... I mean...great because I didn’t want things to be weird.” She waved her hand as if his words hadn’t been the invitation they both knew they’d been. “Umm...well, thank you, I guess.” She glanced at her watch. “You know, I’m late. Take care, okay?” She spun on her heel and sped up on her way to the door.

Isaiah watched her go. Nip the flirting in the bud. That was the right thing to do. He couldn’t get tangled up with her. Even if the vision of his arms and legs tangled with Angela’s made his body get hotter than the heat wave they were currently in. No entanglements when he’d asked Bridget to move here with the intention of them getting back together. He turned and walked to the offices in the back to tell Keri he was leaving, but glanced over his shoulder at Angela’s departing figure one more time.

Damn. Why did she have to be so fine?

Chapter 4

Angela half stumbled, half walked out of her bedroom while trying to slip her foot into one of the heels she wore at the bar. Neither Cory nor her neighbor, Nate, appeared to notice as she entered the living room. They were deep in conversation about Cory’s first week of basketball camp and the greatness that was Isaiah Reynolds. For what seemed like the millionth time.

“Okay, enough about the Jacksonville Gators,” Angela said. She pulled dangling silver earrings out of her pocket, flipped her hair over her shoulder and put one in her left ear.

Nate looked at her as if she was crazy. The muscle in his jaw worked as he chewed gum. “Why? I want to hear what’s going on.”

“For what? You aren’t going to get any trade secrets about the team from what Cory sees at a summer camp.” Angela put in the right earring.

“You don’t know that.”

Angela rolled her eyes. Nate may have been the twenty-seven-year-old owner of an office building in downtown Jacksonville that he’d had the brilliant idea of converting into a shared office space he leased to entrepreneurs who couldn’t afford their own office areas, but when it came to the Gators, he was a kid. His toffee-colored eyes sparked with excitement and he’d actually put away the cell phone that seemed to be glued to his hand most of the time to talk with Cory about the Gators. Nate was a good friend, and an even better neighbor. Angela was eternally grateful he’d agreed to watch Cory some nights when she worked at the club.

“I do hear what’s happening, Aunt Angela,” Cory chimed in a tone that indicated he was “in the know” of all things Gators. “Isaiah says I have real talent. He told me that if I keep practicing, I have the potential to go far. He also said that the team is excited about their new recruits and hope to make it back to the playoffs this year. Did you know we’ll get to visit the coliseum and tour the locker room?”

Nate sat forward in the chair. “Are you serious? If you need a chaperone for that, I can go with you.”

Her heart fluttered every time she thought about the brief encounter with Isaiah at the center on Monday. Had he flirted with her, or had she misunderstood? All she could think about was how much she’d liked his touch. The seductive way he’d called her Angel. She was losing her mind! Which meant all talk of Isaiah needed to stop. It didn’t help that he stopped to chat when she picked up Cory, or that sometimes their conversation still felt a little flirty.

She spun and went into the kitchen. She snatched a bag of marshmallows off the counter, stomped back into the living area and tossed the bag at Cory. “Here, eat those. Maybe that’ll keep you from talking about the Gators for a second.”

Cory’s dark eyes brightened and he ripped into the bag. He grabbed three and shoved them into his mouth. “Thanks,” he said around the wad of marshmallows.

Nate gave Angela a perplexed look. “Why do you want him to stop talking about the Gators? This is a great opportunity. Let the boy enjoy it.”

“Yeah, Auntie, let me enjoy it,” Cory mumbled.

She grabbed a small black-and-blue book bag from the chair and slipped it onto her shoulder. “I want you to enjoy camp. That doesn’t mean I want to hear about it every second of the day.”

Nate’s eyebrows rose. “Why not?”

“Because she likes Isaiah and I think he likes her, too,” Cory said with a mischievous grin before stuffing three more marshmallows into his mouth.

Nate’s eyes widened. “Wait, what?”

Angela glared at her nephew. “Don’t you have a princess to save in a video game or something?”

Cory shook his head. “No, but if you admit I’m old enough to stay here alone while you work, then I’ll drop the subject.”

Angela gritted her teeth. “Cory,” she said in a warning tone. She was not having this argument again. She was new to this parenting thing, which meant he got a babysitter whether he liked it or not.

Cory’s grin was filled with teenage manipulation. “I’m old enough.”

“You’re still a kid. A kid I’m responsible for.” She pointed to his room. “Go save the princess.”

Cory huffed and she waited for the argument, but his phone buzzed. He looked at it, then jumped up from the couch. “I gotta take this.” He was down the hall and out of the room before she could ask who was on the phone.

Nate chewed gum and smirked. “You’ve got something going with Isaiah Reynolds?”

Angela wished she had another bag of marshmallows to throw. Dang teenagers and their big mouths. Cory was only in this camp for one month. She could avoid showing how much she wanted to swoon over Isaiah for one month.

She looked around for her keys. “What? No.” The keys were on the end table next to the couch. She snatched them up.

Nate leaned back on the couch and crossed one ankle over the other knee. “Then why does Cory think something is going on?”

“He recognized me from the club.” She looked toward the hall to make sure Cory wasn’t coming back. Cory knew she was a bartender; he didn’t know where she served drinks. “He came into Sweethearts after they won the championship.”

Nate nodded his head as if everything suddenly made sense. “Ahh, so he’s trying to get you in bed.”

Angela slapped Nate’s arm and laughed. “No, he’s not.”

Nate scooted away and shrugged. “That’s what it sounds like to me.”

“Regardless of what it sounds like, we can’t hook up even if I wanted to. Cory would get kicked out of the camp and I’m not going to ruin his summer more than his parents already have.”

She was Cory’s support system for the summer. As much as the idea of being responsible for a teenager scared her, she wouldn’t let fear keep her from doing her best to smooth out this rocky patch.

“You’re not going to disappoint him,” Nate said. “There aren’t many people who would take in their brother’s child without one word of complaint. I haven’t heard you say a single negative thing since Heather dumped him on you.”

Nor would she. Of course she was mad Heather dropped off Cory and then hadn’t called since, but the idea of Cory thinking she resented having him brought back her own ugly memories of her aunt’s daily reminders of how much of a burden she and her brother were.

“He wasn’t dumped on me. I’m his aunt and I can handle things. I’m not upset about having Cory here. I’m going to do everything I can to make sure he’s happy and comfortable until his mom returns.” If she returned. Heather hadn’t set a definite return date. Her brother had four more years until she saw him.

“You aren’t the least bit worried about what will happen if she isn’t back before school starts?”

A cold sweat broke out over Angela’s skin. She took a deep breath. No need to freak out about something that hadn’t happened. “I got this,” she said with a confidence that was a little shaky on her part. “I can handle whatever comes my way.” She eyed the strength tattoo on her wrist and ran her finger over it. Her and one teenage boy for a few months. She could do this on her own.

Nate stood, wrapped an arm around her shoulder and gave her a side hug. “Nothing ever shakes Angela Bouler. I know you got this. You always handle your business.”

Nate’s confidence in her abilities overpowered her own doubts. “Which means I won’t get him kicked out of camp just because Isaiah Reynolds might be interested in me.”

“But if there was no camp issue, you’d want something to happen?”

A buzz of excitement tickled her. “I don’t mess with the guys I meet at the club.”

“Then why are you grinning from ear to ear?”

She forced the smile off her face. “I’m going to be late from work.” Nate laughed and heat spread up Angela’s neck and cheeks. “’Bye, Nate.”

Nate chuckled and walked her to the door. “I’m just saying, when you hook up with Isaiah Reynolds, don’t forget you’ve got friends that want tickets.”

Angela waved him off. “Thanks again.” She ignored his laughter as she went out the door.

Okay, so the idea of getting to know Isaiah Reynolds a little better wasn’t terrible. She’d been interested that night they’d talked in the club, but he’d left without a backward glance. Then on Monday, when she’d bumped in to him, she’d thought he’d been flirting but he’d brushed off her assumption only to kinda flirt with her the rest of the week. Or maybe she just wanted to believe he was flirting. She couldn’t get a read on him. Which made her feel silly for the way her pulse raced and her body buzzed when he’d touched her wrist. She was in the middle of a crush and he was looking at her as if she was just another random fan.

Maybe he didn’t want to risk Cory’s place in the camp, either?

If there wasn’t the issue of Cory getting kicked out of camp, then she would flirt a little harder and put herself out there. She wasn’t looking to get married and become dependent on a husband, but she didn’t shy away from letting a guy know if she was interested. Cory wasn’t going to be in camp forever. If she got the vibe again, she could drop the hint that after camp was over, she’d be willing to get to know him. After all, not going after the things she wanted wasn’t in her personality. She’d gotten this far by trusting her instincts and every one of her instincts said Isaiah felt a little of what she felt, too.

Chapter 5

“I don’t have to work tonight. Maybe we can try out that trampoline park?” Angela suggested to Cory while she walked him into camp.

Cory’s annoyed sigh would have made disgruntled teens everywhere nod in approval. “I’m thirteen. I don’t want to go to a trampoline park.”

Angela gritted her teeth and counted to ten. The boy had been in a state all morning. He wouldn’t tell her what was wrong, but the mood had grown over the weekend. Angela chalked it up to teenage mood swings.

She held open the door for Cory. “Fine. No trampolines. How about a movie?”

He dragged his feet through the door. “There’s nothing out right now that I want to see.”

Annoyance, meet my last nerve. “What do you want to do?”

“Nothing,” he mumbled.

Angela couldn’t suppress her sigh. Try to remember what it was like to be thirteen and moody. She remembered her aunt making Angela and Darryl feel like unwelcome houseguests the entire time. If anything, she worked harder to make Cory feel welcome in her tiny apartment, but damn, could he at least try to meet her halfway? She didn’t know what to do when he just clammed up.

They walked in silence to the front desk and Angela smiled at the young man behind the counter, then signed in Cory for the day. She’d barely gotten her signature on the paper before Cory turned his back to her and stalked toward the opening of the gym.

“Cory.” Angela dropped the pen on the desk and raised an eyebrow.

He sucked his teeth and grunted. “What?” He faced her with a glare.

“What?” Oh, hell no. Being patient with him was one thing, but letting him talk to her as if she was nothing was not about to happen.

She walked over, took his arm and pulled him away from the other arriving kids. “Look, I don’t know what’s gotten into you, but this attitude stops now. You do not snap at me and say ‘what’ like I’m some annoyance you’re forced to deal with.”

“You mean like I am to you?”

The retort slapped her in the chest. “What are you talking about? You’re not an annoyance.”

“But you’re forced to deal with me. I know I’m a burden. You had your own life and I’m messing everything up.”

Angela tried to keep up. Where had all of this come from? Last week he’d been happy about camp and teased her about liking Isaiah. Now he was angry and accusing her of not wanting him around? What could possibly have changed over a weekend?

She softened her voice. Concern replaced her anger. “No, you’re not. You’re my nephew and I love you.”

“Before my dad went to jail I saw you about once a month—if that—and less than that after. Now I’m supposed to believe you’re happy to have me in your apartment?”

Except for some holidays and birthdays she hadn’t spent a lot of time with Cory before now. Only because Angela had always thought Heather was selfish—funny how her instincts has been right on that. It didn’t mean she didn’t love him. “I would do whatever it took to make sure you were with family instead of put in the system. You’re not a burden. We’re making things work.”

“Well, maybe I don’t want to make things work. I don’t need my parents and I don’t need your pity.” He turned to walk away.

Angela took his arm and spun him to face her. “Where is all of this coming from? What’s gotten into you?”

He jerked his arm away. “Just go to work, and leave me alone.”

“Cory.” Isaiah’s stern voice broke into their argument. “Don’t talk to your aunt like that.”

Angela’s heart imploded. Just what she needed—Isaiah witnessing how inadequate she was at dealing with teenage mood swings. She turned to him and wasn’t too embarrassed to miss how good the green of his Gators T-shirt looked against his skin, as it draped over his muscular torso.

“I’ve got this,” she said.

Isaiah looked from her to Cory’s slumped shoulders. “I know, but I can’t stand by and watch one of my camp kids be disrespectful. Cory, you need to apologize to your aunt.”

Cory nudged his foot against the floor. “Sorry.”

Isaiah crossed his arms over his chest. “The way you were disrespecting her was sorry. I need you to apologize. Like a man. Lift your chin and look her in the eye.”

Cory raised his head and squared his shoulders. When he met Angela’s eye, there was a flash of regret. “I’m sorry, Auntie.”

Angela placed her hand on his arm. He stiffened and glanced around. Several other kids from the camp watched. She squeezed his arm instead of pulling him into a hug. “Cory, I love you. You’re not a burden and you’re not unwelcome. I know we’re still working things out, but we can’t get through them if we don’t work together. You can talk to me about anything. Don’t forget that.”

He nodded and the stiffness left his body. “I know.” His gaze darted to the side. A young girl Angela recognized from the camp walked by on her way into the gym. Cory glanced back at Angela. “Can I go now?”

Angela nodded and dropped her hand. “We’ll talk more later.”

“Twenty laps,” Isaiah said to Cory. “Learning to control your emotions is part of the discipline you’ll need to be professional at anything. Think about that while you’re running.”

Cory sighed, but nodded and trudged into the gym. They both watched him go.

“What’s going on with him today?” Isaiah asked.

Angela shrugged. She wished she knew where this burden nonsense came from, but Isaiah didn’t need to know all her business. “He was in a bad mood when he woke up this morning, but it really started brewing over the weekend.”

“He lives with you?” Isaiah’s dark eyes met hers. She felt the force of his gaze like a blow to the stomach. It took her breath away. Without Cory there between them she was acutely aware of Isaiah’s closeness. They didn’t touch, but she could still feel him. His nearness was like an electric current in her vicinity. Powerful, potent and potentially dangerous.

She shifted away slightly. The distance didn’t help. Isaiah was a big man and her instincts didn’t want to escape his gravitational pull. “I’m his guardian for now. For the most part, things have been going really well. It’s just when he gets like this...” When I have no clue what I’m doing. “I’m still learning the mind of a thirteen-year-old boy.”

His shoulders relaxed and he arched an eyebrow. “You really don’t want to know everything that goes on in the mind of a thirteen-year-old boy. Trust me.” He chuckled. His laugh was low, warm and sexy.

“Is it that bad?”

Isaiah rubbed the back of his head and gave her a smile that had her sliding back into his circle. “Worse than you can imagine. I’ll talk to him today and keep a close eye on him. He’s a good kid, but I can tell he’s got a lot going on in his head.”

“You really don’t have to do that. I’m not asking for any special treatment. Thanks for stepping in. I was about to go straight fool on him and that wouldn’t have helped.” She didn’t like appearing as if she needed assistance, but she had to admit, Isaiah diffused Cory’s sour attitude much faster than she had.

“It’s no special treatment. When it comes to all of the kids in the camp, if I think one of them is struggling with something I talk to them. Sometimes it helps to talk things out with someone who isn’t a parent.”

“That’s one of the reasons I thought he’d be willing to talk to me. I’m not his mom and he’s never hesitated opening up to me before,” Angela said, frowning.

“If he’s staying with you, then he’s probably viewing you as a mother figure.”

Angela cringed and fought back panic. Mother figure. She reached for the diffuser charm she wore on a slim chain around her neck and inhaled the scent of lavender. She could do this. It was only for a summer.

“I guess you’re right.” She met Isaiah’s eyes. He seemed to watch where her fingers toyed with the charm of her necklace in the V of her blouse. Angela dropped her hand. For several tense seconds, the air stuck in her lungs.

He quickly looked away. Angela tilted her head to the side. Was he blushing?

Before she could be sure, he ran a hand over his face and shrugged. “Because of that, he may be more comfortable talking with someone else.”

“Someone like a famous basketball player whose memories of being thirteen will seem much cooler than mine.”

Isaiah shoved a hand into the pocket of his black basketball shorts. “Believe me, my teenage memories are very boring. Chess-club member, anchor for the school morning-news show, the ugliest glasses you’ve ever seen. I was an official nerd. Far from considered cool.”

Angela took in his tall, toned body and handsome face. For the life of her, she couldn’t imagine him as a nerd. “You’re joking.”

“I’m dead serious. My younger brother and older sister were the cool ones. I was the geeky middle brother along for the ride. My dad put me in basketball when I was fourteen to help me get exercise. I ended up liking basketball more than chess. Some days, I still can’t believe I made it to the pros.”

She’d seen him play and couldn’t imagine him not on the court. Finding out he hadn’t always been a superconfident jock actually made sense. He was the “good guy” of the team. The one with the preppy bow ties and always in the news when the team did something in the community. She’d admired that about him. “There’s nothing wrong with being a little nerdy.”

“I didn’t feel that way then. Girls did not look my way.” His voice didn’t hold any hint of lingering resentment, but just enough self-deprecation to make her chuckle.

“If they’d known you’d grow into such a fine man they wouldn’t have ignored you.”

He rubbed the back of his neck and glanced away. The hint of red appeared beneath his pecan skin, which in turned made him even cuter.

“That’s the thing,” he said. “I wouldn’t want them to like me because they knew I was going to be a professional baller. I’d rather they liked me because I was me.”

“I’m sure there were other girls like me, who tended to crush on the smart guys in class. I don’t like brashness and bravado. I prefer someone more laid-back. Someone I can talk to all night about anything and everything.”

Like they’d talked the night he’d sat at her bar for hours. He hadn’t been interested in the women onstage, hadn’t drooled down the front of her shirt, or spent the entire time trying to get her to go home with him. He’d talked to her about movies, music, the right way to make a martini. She hadn’t truly enjoyed talking to a guy in a long time.

“Yeah, I like that, too.” His gaze probed hers. His pull made her want to reach out to him. Run her hands across the strength of his chest. Run her lips over the fullness of his.

Movement in the corner of her eye drew her attention. Keri smiled but there was a sharpness in her eyes as she walked over that made Angela step back from Isaiah.

“Everything good?” Keri asked, and when she looked at Angela her eyebrows drew slightly together.

If Cory had guessed there was a vibe between her and Isaiah after a few seconds, then she shouldn’t be surprised Keri would look concerned after she and Isaiah had been speaking for several minutes.

Angela acknowledged Keri’s concern with a nod. “Everything is fine. Isaiah stepped in with Cory this morning. He’s in a bit of a mood.” She smiled at Isaiah. “Thanks again. I better get to work.”

Isaiah tilted his head forward. The slight bow would have looked silly if another man had done it, but seemed fitting when Isaiah made the motion. “You’re more than welcome.”

Keri shifted next to Angela. Angela tore her gaze from Isaiah, said a quick goodbye to Keri and got out of there before she forgot that succumbing to Isaiah’s pull right now had consequences that would affect Cory. Three more weeks of camp and then maybe she’d be able to find out if he was into her, too. Angela smiled on her way to the car.

* * *

Isaiah watched Cory as he stared with all the longing of a teen in love. The target of his longing was Denise, one of the girls in the camp. Cory sat alone on the bleachers during the lunch break, watching Denise but never gathering the courage to walk over to speak to her. Cory’s crush on the girl was obvious, but if she looked his way, he stammered and walked away. All of his bravado on the court evaporated when Denise smiled at him.

Isaiah could relate to the boy’s struggle. He’d felt the same way when he was a teen. Felt that way now whenever Angela smiled at him. Just like an angel, the brightness of her smile struck him speechless. She must think he was ridiculous.

He’d blushed! What the hell. Kevin would take his man card if he knew.

“What are you frowning about?” his teammate Will Hampton asked.

Will sat next to Isaiah on the bleachers. He was taller than Isaiah at six foot six, with dark skin, a full beard and dark eyes that were always sparkling with laughter. Will lived life with an enthusiasm that tended to spill over to everyone around him. That’s why he was one of the most popular members on the team.

Isaiah pointed toward Cory across the gym. “Cory is too afraid to go over and speak to Denise.”

Will followed Isaiah’s gaze. “He has been giving her puppy-dog eyes from day one.”

“Thing is, she’s been giving him the same puppy-dog eyes. I think she would respond well if he decided to talk to her.”

“Then he should talk to her,” Will said with the confidence of a guy who’d never been afraid to approach a woman he was interested in. Isaiah couldn’t quite call Will a player because even though he always had a new woman on his arm, he always ended up their friend and was yet to have one of his flings get possessive or clingy with him. Isaiah had no idea how the man did that.

“You don’t know how hard it is to go up to a girl. I used to be petrified to talk to girls I liked when I was that age.”

Will grinned and slapped Isaiah on the back. “That’s because you were overthinking things. Women are easy. You smile, tell them they have nice eyes and before you know it, they’re giggling and eating up everything you’re spitting. Treat them with respect when you’re ready to move on, or make them think it’s their idea that they’re ending things and you’re golden.”

“Shut up,” Isaiah said without any heat. “The world already knows you wiggle your finger and women come flocking.”

Will laughed and tugged on his collar. “Hey, I’ve got a gift.”

Isaiah looked at Cory again. Angela had said he didn’t have to talk to Cory, but he wanted to know why the boy had been so rude to his aunt. Maybe it was something as simple as pining over a girl he liked. Isaiah stood. “I’ll go talk to him. He was giving his aunt a hard time earlier today. There may be a few things on his mind.”

“Isn’t his aunt that bartender at Sweethearts?” Will’s voice rose in interest.

“Yes.” Isaiah’s tone hardened. He gave Will a hard look.

Will only smiled and leaned back. “I thought so. You two talked for a long time the night we were all out.”

“And?”

“And is she the reason why you’re so concerned about Cory?”

Isaiah would have stepped in if any of the kids at camp had disrespected their parent or guardian in his vicinity. Yet, he couldn’t deny something else made him especially want to lend a helping hand in this case. “I’d help out no matter what and you know that. His aunt has nothing to do with this.”

“Uh-huh.” Will’s tone called Isaiah a liar.

“Bridget is coming to town in a few days. I’m not that kind of guy.”

Will’s smile grew. “Uh-huh.”

Isaiah ignored the teasing glint in Will’s eye and waved him off. He hopped down the bleachers and crossed the gym to Cory. Cory appeared to notice him, sitting up straighter and trying to look relaxed.

“I’m not doing anything,” he said.

Isaiah sat next to the kid. “I’m not going to give you a hard time. I just want to talk.”

“Everyone wants to talk,” Cory mumbled. He pulled on a shoestring and scowled.

“That’s because we care about how you’re feeling. If we didn’t care, we wouldn’t want to know what’s going on.”

Cory cocked his head in Isaiah’s direction. “We?” He sounded confused.

“Me and your aunt. You were giving her a hard time earlier today.”

Cory went back to pulling his shoestring. “I didn’t mean to.”

Isaiah tapped the boy’s side so that he’d look at him. “Then why were you?”

Cory dropped the shoestring and sat up. “She’s trying too hard,” he said in a rush.

“Trying too hard?”

Cory pulled on his fingers in a frustrated motion. “To act like I’m not a problem for her when I know I am. She’s treating me like I’m a little kid. Like she can’t be real with me. She just acts like everything is okay and when I offer to help she tells me to go play video games or something.”

“And that hit you this morning so you had to be rude to her?” Isaiah didn’t buy it. Something else had to be going on.

Cory frowned. “The other night I asked her if I could stay home by myself while she worked. I’m thirteen now. Most thirteen-year-olds stay home. Instead, she gets her friend Nate to babysit me every night she works late.” Cory said babysit as if it was an act of the highest treason.

A knot formed in Isaiah’s stomach. “Nate? Is that her boyfriend?”

Cory shook his head. “No, he lives next door and they’re friends. You don’t have to worry.”

“Why would I worry?”

Cory just gave Isaiah a look that said whatever. “Anyway, I know I’m a burden, but she’s trying too hard to make me think I’m not.”

Isaiah forced away thoughts of the nonboyfriend Nate and focused on Cory’s problem. “Maybe Angela doesn’t want to burden you with her problems. She’s the adult, you’re the kid.” When Cory glared, Isaiah held up a hand. “Last time I checked thirteen was still a minor. There’s nothing wrong with her not wanting to upset you.”

“But I know me being there is a problem. She dropped out of school for the summer because of me. She can’t work her extra job because of me. She had to accept the charity that sent me to this camp. Add to that, she’s always trying to act like everything is cool. Like taking me to a movie or a trampoline park.”

“What’s wrong with making you happy?” Isaiah leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. He turned his head to look at Cory. The boy seemed so downcast he wasn’t sure if anything he said would make him feel better, but he had to try. “If your aunt didn’t want you there, I’m pretty sure you would know it. If she’s trying to make you feel comfortable, that’s a good thing. It means she loves you and she wants you to be happy. I’m pretty sure this is her first crack at taking care of a teenager. She’s got to get used to you just like you have to get used to her. Maybe think about that whenever you’re feeling frustrated. And don’t freak out over the babysitter thing. Once she feels confident you can take care of yourself, I’m sure she’ll let you stay home alone while she works.”

Cory’s lips pursed and his brow furrowed while he thought about that. Finally he said, “I just don’t want her to decide I’m not worth it and kick me out.”

“Then you may want to cut back on the attitude and not get angry when she’s trying.” Cory looked a little sick, so Isaiah reached over and playfully hit his shoulders. “Don’t worry. I doubt your aunt will kick you out. Seems like she kinda likes you.”

Cory relaxed and smiled. “Yeah...she’s cool. When she’s not trying to not make me feel like a baby.”

“So, take it easy on her. Just a little.”

“I will.” Cory looked across the gym. His body stiffened.

Isaiah followed his gaze. Another kid in camp, a boy named Kirk, had walked over to talk with Denise and her friends. Kirk was more outspoken than Cory and that had made him one of the instantly popular kids in the camp.

“You know,” Isaiah said slowly, “when I was your age, I was afraid to talk to a girl I liked.”

Cory glanced at Isaiah out of the corner of his eye. “Really?”

Isaiah nodded and felt a little flattered by the disbelief in the boy’s tone. He guessed he really didn’t resemble the awkward kid he used to be, even if he still felt that way at times. “Yes.”

“When did it get easier for you to talk to girls?”

“Who said it got easier?” Isaiah said. “I just had to learn that nine times out of ten, if I was respectful and just approached her with no hidden agenda, she would at least listen to what I had to say.”

“You mean she didn’t laugh at you? Because, girls will laugh at you now if they think you’re being corny. Things are different from the way they were back in your day.”

Isaiah winced and put a hand over his chest as if wounded. “My day wasn’t that long ago.” Cory rolled his eyes, a gesture Isaiah decided to ignore. Everyone over twenty seemed old when you were thirteen. “All I’m saying is, if you like a girl, just talk to her. You don’t have ask her to be your girlfriend or anything like that. If she likes basketball...talk to her about that.”

Cory sat up straighter and watched Denise and Kirk. Denise had just turned her back to the other boy, which meant Cory probably didn’t have to worry about him as a potential rival. “What should I say about basketball?”

“Start with ‘hey,’ then ask her who her favorite ballplayer is.”

Cory looked at Isaiah. “Why would I ask a girl that?”

“Because you like Denise and if she’s in a basketball camp, then she probably has a favorite basketball player. Don’t worry. She sneaks looks at you, too.”

Cory’s face brightened up. “She does?” His deepening voice momentarily returned to the squeak of childhood.

Isaiah fought back a smile. He didn’t want Cory to think he was teasing him. “She does. Just walk over and say ‘hey.’”

“Even with Kirk and her friends over there?”

“Especially with Kirk over there. Don’t show her you’re intimidated by another man. Girls don’t like that.”

Cory nodded and watched Denise and Kirk. “Don’t be intimidated.” He took a deep breath and stood. He shook out his hands and shoulders, then jumped down the bleachers. He looked back at Isaiah over his shoulders. “Oh, and Mr. Isaiah?”

“Yeah.”

“Auntie looks at you, too. So, you know, if you like her, you can just talk to her.” Cory smiled, then strode across the room with a show of confidence that impressed Isaiah.

Isaiah leaned back on the bleachers. So Auntie Angel looks at me. A smile broke across his face. He shouldn’t care. Bridget was coming. That’s who should be on his mind, but that wasn’t what kept his mood up for the rest of the day.

Chapter 6

Angela arrived at the center well before five thirty. Everything had worked out for her at the end of the day. No issues with volunteers, but her boss had called a meeting to talk about possible late hours due to a group coming in to cross-train from another state. The idea of another change to her already packed schedule made her cringe, but until the change actually happened, she wouldn’t worry.

Angela entered the center and found Keri at the front desk. “Hey, what are you doing up here?” Keri was usually running around handling more important things while the teenage workers and volunteers handled signing the kids in and out for the day.

“Just covering for one of my guys while he cleans up something in one of the classrooms.” Keri said with a smile.

Angela was happy to see her wary expression from earlier today, when she’d interrupted Angela’s conversation with Isaiah, was gone. She didn’t want Keri to have a reason to question Cory’s participation in the camp.

“How did Cory do today?” Angela asked as she signed her name and the pickup time beside Cory’s name in the notebook. “He was in kind of a mood this morning.”

Keri shook her head. “No problems at all. All of the players think he’s doing a really great job.”

Relief washed over her. She’s spent the day worrying about Cory. She still had no idea what had put him in such a bad mood earlier that day. She didn’t know the best way to get him to confess without sounding like a nag. Was she supposed to nag? This entire parenting thing was so new to her. She wanted to do the right thing, but knowing what was the right thing was harder than she’d expected. “Good to hear. Well, I’ll go get him.”

Keri nodded and Angela walked to the gym. She took Keri’s statement that Cory had a good day to mean whatever had been bothering him was no longer a factor—unless she was the problem. Sure, she’d argued with him about staying home alone, but that was because she’d never forgive herself if something happened to Cory while she worked nights at the club. Eventually she’d have to trust him. He would be fourteen later this summer. Nate couldn’t always babysit and she’d be damned if she called her aunt to help. As much as she worried, she had to face the fact that she was playing single parent right now and would have to trust Cory alone no matter how much the idea scared her.

Cory wasn’t in the gym. She asked one of the camp volunteers and was directed down a hallway, where Cory was apparently helping to put away the basketballs. When she found the storage room, another counselor told her Cory had gone to the locker room with another kid. To that point, she would’ve waited for him in the lobby, but she didn’t doubt Cory would take his time talking in the locker room and she’d be twiddling her thumbs forever.

She stopped outside the boys’ locker room and pushed the door slightly open. “Cory, you in there?” she called without going in. The last thing she wanted was to freak out a bunch of boys by entering their domain.

The sound of a locker slamming shut and the echo of music was her only answer. The song was one Cory listened to constantly. Something about a girl being a crowd pleaser. There weren’t a bunch of voices raised in conversation. Which meant if Cory was in there, he wasn’t with a group of kids and probably hadn’t heard her over the music.

Angela glanced down the hall, took a deep breath and shielded her eyes as she stepped into the locker room. “Come on, Cory, we’ve got to go.”

She rounded the corner and stopped just short of bumping into Isaiah yet again. He held out a hand to stop her from colliding with him. He was in the same athletic shirt and basketball shorts from earlier and had a duffel bag over one shoulder. Almost running into him had brought her dangerously close to his body. She was so close her knees turned to Vaseline and her heart decided now was a damn good time to flutter.

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