Chapter 14

Rock woke the next morning with a painful erection, after dreaming the entire night about Vivian and their explosive kisses. She’d clawed her way deep into his heart without even trying.

An invigorating swim would not only cool his blood, but also work off some excess energy. He made his way to the pool house to don swimming shorts, when reality came roaring back.

Rock stared with disdain at the cast on his left ankle. How could he have forgotten that this stupid thing wasn’t supposed to get wet? Maybe because all your brain cells are occupied daydreaming about an auburn vixen.

He sank down onto one of the loungers and thought about the day before. Vivian seemed to be an honest woman. He truly wanted to believe that her running into him had been an unfortunate accident, but he had to be careful and couldn’t be too trusting. She’d admitted herself that she wanted to come out with a big story. He was still pondering the question when his cell phone rang.

“Hello?”

“Rock! Good, you’re awake. I’m calling to remind you that you’re set to meet with Carla Dawson for lunch.”

“Shit!” Rock cursed low,

“Something wrong?”

“No. But I totally forgot all about meeting her.” And I don’t want to go.

“Guess it’s a good thing you have me to remind you,” Tommy said, chuckling into the phone.

“If that’s true, why does this whole thing feel so wrong?” Rock scratched his tightly cropped beard.

“Come one. Since when do you refuse getting up and close with a hot babe? You’re a lucky guy; half the city wants to bang her.”

“No interested. This is just a business meeting.” Rock shook his head. It felt so wrong. The press would assume they were a couple. If he’d slept with only half of the women the press had attached him to, he’d rival the performance of a porno star.

“Whatever. Just tell me you’ll be there on time,” his friend said.

A thought attacked Rock like lightning and he almost dropped his phone at the impact. I have to tell Vivian.  He knew Tommy and was one hundred percent sure that he’d leaked information to the press, about a possible romance between Rock and the actress. Normally he didn’t mind. He’d been coupled up with women he’d never seen in his life and every time he talked to one for longer than five minutes, rumors of marriage made the rounds. This was just the way it was in Hollywood.

But Vivian. If she saw the news, she’d jump to the wrong conclusions – and be pissed. And rightfully so. Rock’s heart constricted at the chance that she might never talk to him again due to a publicity induced misunderstanding.

“Rock?” Tommy questioned, reminding him he was still on the line.

“Yeah, I’ve got it. I’ll be there with a smile on my face.”

“That’s my man. Call me later.” Rock hung up and called Vivian. It went straight to voicemail. He didn’t leave a message. That kind of news was better told in person.

Carla Dawson’s agent had chosen the venue, and as Rock arrived at the posh Beverly Hills restaurant, he already regretted this stupid idea. But there wasn’t any other way to get the needed publicity for the fundraiser.

Rock was ushered to the reserved table front and center in the restaurant and had just taken a seat when a gorgeous blonde who must be Carla waved at him and walked over.

He put on a good face, but didn’t get up to meet her.

“Hello, Rock. Isn’t it great we finally get to meet? I’ve been a fan for such a long time,” she said, her voice dripping honey as she batted her eyelashes at him.

“Hello, Carla.”

She bent down to kiss his cheeks and lingered long enough to allow him a good view into her generous décolleté. He’d never been picky with his women and appreciated bare, braless skin like any guy would, but today it turned him off. What’s wrong with me?

When he didn’t make any attempt to stand up, she furrowed her brows and took a chair in a ninety-degree angle from him. Then she put her small, perfectly manicured hand on his.

“Much better, isn’t it?” The eyelash-batting transformed into a baffled expression as she noticed the crutches he’d leaned by his side. “What’s that?”

What does it look like? “They’re crutches.” He answered after swallowing down his snide remark. He wanted to keep up appearances.

“How can you run with them? I thought you were a big sports star?” Her eyes widened with surprise. It was almost cute. Almost.

“I had an accident and I can’t run with them. That’s the exact reason why we’re here. My foundation needs a star attraction for the upcoming triathlon.” Rock sighed, wishing he could beam Tommy up just so he could strangle him.

Carla’s eyes lit up at the mention of star attraction. “You’ve come to the right person; I totally can do that. Did you know that my popularity index…”

Rock stopped listening.

“… and the way I see it we can have a lot of fun together during the next weeks.”  Her hand squeezed his knee and moved up from there.

“Carla. Stop that.” He continued to smile for the onlookers, and lowered his voice so only she could hear him. “I’d like to make sure we’re both on the same page. I’m not looking for a girlfriend, pretend or otherwise. I’m sure my agent spoke with yours about the details, but this is purely business. You help me with the fundraiser and I help you clean up your reputation.”

Carla rolled her eyes and pouted. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. Do you have any idea how much more publicity your little race would get if the press photographed us in a slightly risqué situation?”

“Look I’ve worked hard all my life to become who I am and I’m not going to throw it away for the wrong kind of publicity.  Better you take your charms elsewhere, because nothing is gonna happen between you and me. Understood?”

She nodded.

“I want to increase awareness about my charity and to gain donors,” he said in a mollified tone. “Nothing more and nothing less.”

“Your charity? I don’t give a damn about your charity, or your triathlon. Or even that stupid retirement home.  I’m doing this because my agent demanded I clean up my act or I’m out of the industry. I just thought this could be fun,” she said, spearing him with a glare that bounced off his body as if he’d been clad in armor.

It’s not a retirement home, you stupid bitch! Rock captured her hand, the one lingering on his thigh and put it on the table. Even though he hadn’t noticed any reporters, he knew they were somewhere. Probably outside peeking in through the windows with their telephoto lenses. Whether he liked it or not, he had to play the game.

He hid his anger and smiled at her, changing the subject and spending the rest of their luncheon discussing things like the weather and her favorite fashion designers. Not a topic he was well-versed in, but Carla didn’t seem to mind. She talked incessantly and Rock sighed a breath of relief when they finished eating and could leave.

“Let’s not make the paparazzi wait any longer,” he said and waved at the waiter for the bill. Then they left the restaurant side by side.

Just as he wanted to say goodbye, she turned around, slung her arms around his neck and kissed him with the passion of a woman newly-in-love.

“Good-by, tiger!” she said, her sexy voice carrying throughout the classy restaurant, and then left with a bounce in her step.

Rock slipped behind the wheel of his vehicle, burying his head in his hands. What would Vivian feel when she saw pictures of him and Carla kissing like lovebirds?