Here Comes Trouble (3 page)

He shook his head and put up a hand to stop her. Lorena looked worriedly at him. He seemed to be in so much pain she felt terrible. “Can I get you anything?”

“How about we have this conversation when I’m fully conscious? I’ll be better able to talk then.”

She ignored his sarcastic comments. “You must need something. How about some water?” She felt like an idiot as soon as she said it, but she didn’t know what else to do.

“How about an ice pack?” Matthew said between clenched teeth.

“Ice? Okay.”

He grabbed her wrist before she could run off. “No. No. I’ll be fine.” He let her go and slowly straightened with a heavy groan. “That was low.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know what else to do. I wanted you to stop.”

“The word ‘stop’ works really well.” Pain contorted his face, and he closed his eyes and clenched his fist. His cheeks puffed out before he let out a heavy stream of air from his lips. “Give me a minute.”

All of a sudden, the situation seemed very funny. He’d been a star football player at Georgia Tech University, leading the team in tackles and blocks. Yet as big and imposing as he was, she’d leveled him with a well-placed knee, and his reaction was downright comical.

Laughter tickled her throat. Before she could stop herself, it came out.

Matthew’s eyes flew open. “I know you’re not laughing.”

“I’m sorry. I can’t help it,” she said. “I know it’s not funny, but—”

“I can’t believe you’re
laughing
. You know I may never have children now thanks to you?” 

“How many times do I have to say I’m sorry?” She giggled even harder at his dark look because he’d said similar words a few minutes earlier. She took a deep breath. “Okay, I’m better. Really, I’ll stop now.” She forced down another eruption of giggles.

Matthew cut his eyes at her. Then he paced toward the wall, turned, and headed back toward the opposite one.

“What are you doing?”

“Walking it off.”

She remained quiet for a minute. “I didn’t know it would hurt so much if I hit you in the you-know-what.”

Matthew halted in the middle of the room. “They’re called nuts. Or balls, testicles. At least have the decency to call them by their name instead of ‘you-know-what.’” He looked down at his crotch. “It’s going to be all right, fellas. Everything will be back to normal by tomorrow.”

“It takes that long to recover?”

“Yes,” he bit out. “Sometimes longer.”

Lorena bit the inside of her cheek to keep from laughing again.

“Are we even now?” he demanded.

“Even?”

“Yes, I hurt you and behaved like a jerk. And you just did the same thing. Are we even now?”

Lorena averted her eyes and refused to answer. If she could knee him in the groin every day for the next few months, maybe then they’d be close to being even.

She sat down and shifted some papers out of the way so she could clasp her hands on the desk. “I wasn’t trying to hurt you. It was a reflex action.”

“Yeah, right.”

“It’s true. It’s your fault this happened.”

“Blame the victim,” he said. “I wanted to kiss you, not rape you.”

“I didn’t want you to kiss me.”

“So you say.”

“I didn’t.” She inhaled deeply. He was impossible. “The fact is, if you want to talk, we can talk, but you need to keep your hands to yourself.” Clearly he thought that in addition to hiring her for her grant-writing services, he’d get additional servicing as well. If that’s what he thought, he had another think coming. He didn’t react, as if she hadn’t spoken. “Matt, did you hear me?”

“I heard you,” he muttered. He started pacing again.

“How long are you going to keep walking back and forth?” she asked.

“Until the pain in my back and gut subsides,” he snapped.

Lorena fell silent. He got what he deserved—something she wished she’d been able to do a long time ago. So why did she feel so bad about it? 

“Maybe we should start over,” she said. He paused and looked at her. She knew she’d regret having anything to do with him, yet she heard herself saying, “Tell me about the grant.”

“Yeah?”

“I said yes, didn’t I? Hurry up before I change my mind.”

Matthew launched into an explanation of the plans for the Harriet Tubman Community Center, where he volunteered, and she concentrated on treating him like any other client.

He performed various roles at the center all year round, but he spent most of his time coaching in the summer, fall, and spring. In the summer, he coached the boys’ football summer camp, and in the fall, he coached their recreational games. He also worked with the basketball team in the spring. Most of the kids who came to the center were at-risk youths. Without funding, the center could close, leaving those young people with idle time on their hands and therefore increasing their chances of getting into trouble.

The after-school program at the center enabled parents who couldn’t afford day care to have a safe place for their kids to stay until they could pick them up after work. Volunteers helped children with their homework. In addition to the basketball, football, and softball teams, the center had art classes and a very active chess club. He told her which grant they wanted to apply for and gave her a quick rundown of funding needs.

Lorena looked up from her notebook, where she’d been taking notes as he spoke. “It sounds like the center’s really strapped for cash. How can they afford to pay me? I can’t roll my fees into the grant proposal.”

“I figured as much. I’m covering your fees.”

Lorena stared at him. “The full amount? I didn’t know you meant it literally when you said ‘my money.’ I assumed the center would cover my fees. Based on the quick turnaround you need, I really will have to charge you a little bit extra. We’re cutting it close on the deadline.”  

“This is really important to me. I’ve grown attached to those kids, and I want to see the center stay open. This is my small way of making sure it does.”

“Matthew, there are no guarantees I can win the grant.”

“I know, but I’m not asking for guarantees. You have an eighty-five percent success rate. I only need you to do your best.”

Lorena tried to wrap her head around the fact that Matthew was willing to front the cost. She wasn’t the most expensive grant writer, but her fees would still be substantial. She shouldn’t be surprised by his actions, though. Despite his playboy ways, he had a big heart. She’d seen him at the center, and the kids loved him as much as he did them.

“Of course I’ll do my best. I’ll need the names of my points of contact to get any information I need to put together the proposal. Every single thing the funder requires has to be provided, or they’ll toss the application.”

“We’re ready.” Matthew confirmed it by nodding his head. “I’ll be your point of contact.”

Lorena’s head jerked up. “What about the director?”

“You can talk to him if you need to, but as you know, I know everything you need to know, and if I don’t, I can find out.”

She admired his dedication to the center. He didn’t only coach; he mentored the young men. His strong desire to help was an admirable trait, and one few people—except those close to him—ever saw.

“Fine,” Lorena said, although she didn’t really feel that way. Too much contact with Matthew could be detrimental to her sanity. “At some point I still need to speak to the director to ask about his vision for the center and some other questions. I could use the information in the proposal. As long as you get me what I need in a timely fashion, we’ll be fine.”

“No problem.” He pulled out a card from his pocket. “Here’s the director’s info. I already told him I’ll get them the best person for the job, so whatever you need.”

“You don’t have to flatter me.”

“It’s not flattery. I know you’re good.”

Lorena hit a key on her keyboard to bring the laptop back to life and plugged Matthew’s and the director’s contact information into her database. She couldn’t believe she was doing this, but the truth was, she’d be foolish to turn away anyone when her business was still so young.

“Okay, we’re all set. Let me finish up what I’m working on now, and I’ll touch base with you in a day or two about what I need.”

“Thanks for doing this,” he said in a low tone.

“You’re welcome.” Lorena lowered her gaze to her notepad and pretended to review what she’d written. “You’re paying me, and like you said, your money spends the same as everyone else’s.”

An awkward silence filled the room. “I guess I better get out of here,” he said. He acted as if he didn’t want to leave.

Lorena glanced at the clock on her desk. “I’d better go, too. I’m having an early dinner.”

“How about I take you to dinner?” he asked.

“Not necessary.”

“Lorena, we used to be friends.”

How could he mention that, when he knew the reason they were no longer friends? Because they’d had a sexual relationship, which had ended badly, and now they couldn’t go back.  At least she couldn’t. She couldn’t pretend.

She rose to her feet. “I don’t want to have dinner with you.”

“Was it the almost kiss?” he asked. “I shouldn’t have tried to kiss you. I was wrong. But I really miss our friendship, and I hate you’re avoiding coming to family functions because of me.”

He sounded so sincere she almost believed him.

“I have to go. I’m meeting someone.” She picked up her purse from the credenza behind her desk.

“I’ll walk you out.”

“No!” Her vehement response startled them both. She didn’t want to spend any more time with him than necessary. In fact, she planned to limit their contact as much as possible. “I’m going to stop at the restroom before I head out. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“All right.” He nodded, and she watched him leave.

After he left, Lorena stood uncertainly in her office, gnawing her bottom lip. She hoped she hadn’t made a mistake.

****

The one who almost got away.

That’s what Matthew thought of Lorena Vega. He missed her. Life hadn’t been the same without her in it.

Even though he needed her help, he’d been looking forward to seeing her, too. Seeing her again made him realize what he’d been thinking for the past few months was correct. He’d made a big mistake ending their relationship, but he planned to rectify his bad decision. She’d cared about him once, and he knew it could happen again.

She was still upset with him, and understandably so. He’d have to take it slow and woo her—ease her back into feeling comfortable with him. He needed to show her how special she was to him and how much he regretted what he’d done. He was up for the challenge. Next time he stopped by, he’d bring her some flowers, or maybe a box of those truffles she loved from the chocolate shop nearby. He smiled to himself.

“Good-bye, Mr. Hawthorne.”

At the large U-shaped front desk, Rahab smiled at Matthew. She didn’t act surprised to see him still in the building. Her dark brown eyes traveled over him in open admiration, a nice ego stroke after his encounter with Lorena.

He grinned back. “Bye,” he said with a lift of his hand.