Cohen

Two years ago my life was very different. I was sleeping around with any woman who caught my eye, managing my best friend’s swimming career, and never thinking about the future. Now, I have a two-year-old son, I’m giving swimming lessons to kids, and the future is always on my mind. I still have sex with women, but I’m more discreet than I once was, and I always make sure to suit up—with my own condoms. I love my boy, but I’m not ready to be responsible for two kids in the near future.

“Excuse me, but are you Colin?”

I turn from the deck I was spraying down, forgetting the water’s still on as I douse the woman before me. The scrubs she’s wearing are now plastered to her slim curves, and while I’m sorry for soaking her, I appreciate the view.

“Shit!”

“I cannot believe you just did that. I have to go to work after this!”

“It was an accident,” I tell her, taking in dark black hair, sexy lips, and grey eyes that are looking like storms as she glares at me.

“Just like moving my daughter down a class without talking to me—or her—was an accident too?”

“Huh?”

“Listen, Coby. I’m going to talk slowly so you understand what I’m saying.”

“Cohen. My name is Cohen.”

“Whatever. It doesn’t matter to me anyway. What matters is that you moved my daughter down a class without talking to me about it. I’m not sure what kind of work background you have, or if you’ve ever been around kids before, but what you did was shitty.”

Fuck. I’ve made my brain stop looking at women unless I plan to fuck them in a few minutes, since I’m where I am right now because of a psycho one. Now, I recognize this woman—mom—and I know I deserve her ire. I don’t deserve the condescending tone, but yeah, I get her being a bitch right now.

“She isn’t ready for my class.”

“Then you should’ve discussed it with me.”

“This isn’t Harvard, it’s swim class. I made the choice I needed to.”

“You embarrassed her. When someone else told her she’d been moved, she was mortified. Who does that to a little girl?”

Me, apparently. Yep, I’m that ass who hurt a kid’s feelings. I relax my stance, and soften my voice. Maybe this chick wants to go to war, but I was wrong and I’m man enough to admit it.

“I’m sorry. I wasn’t trying to embarrass her.”

“Well, you did, and it’s not okay.”

“I should’ve talked to you both, but I’ve already apologized. I don’t know what else you want from me.”

“I want you to say it like you mean it. I feel like you’re just saying what I want to hear, but you should really understand what I’m saying. You’re teaching children here, and they need more from you than just to go through the motions.”

“I never go through the motions,” I tell her with a smirk, and whoa, where did that come from? I don’t flirt like this anymore. Especially not with one of the swim moms.

“Are you seriously hitting on me while I’m fighting with you?” she asks, her eyes getting even stormier as her chest heaves. I can see her small breasts rising and falling, and yeah, I’m liking what I see.

“Maybe? I truly am sorry, though. I mean it.”

Before I can even react, I’m being pushed into the pool next to us. Damn, even that was hot. I surface to see her stomping away, a perfect ass outlined by the scrubs. If I wasn’t sure her daughter didn’t belong in my class, I would totally move her back, just so I could see her mom up close again.

* * *

Quincy

I cannot believe what an ass Cohen is. Granted, I was a bit of a bitch, but not one messes with Bianca. Especially not some hot beach dude, who thinks he’s God’s gift to the world. Yes, I know who he is and what his name is, but I’ve also seen and heard about how large his ego is, and I wanted to take him down a bit.

I drive to the hospital, thankful I keep the spare set of scrubs in my locker. Slamming open the locker room door, I run into the one person I don’t ever want to see again.

“Rough day already, Quincy?” Mika asks, looking me over. She looks perfect, because of course she does. Lots of money and a douchebag husband will do that to you.

“Just a run-in with a sprinkler,” I lie.

She smirks, and I want to punch her. “Well, I suppose that’s par for the course with you.”

Bitch. “If you’ll excuse me, I need to change,” I tell her, pulling out the scrubs I keep in there.

“Bye.”

She saunters out the door like she owns this place, probably because she practically does. It’s not bad enough she stole my husband, but her family has donated enough wings to the place that everyone seems to forget about it. “Friends” no longer speak to me, and if I wasn’t so damn good at my job, I know I’d have been fired by now.

My phone rings as I come back out of the bathroom and I smile when I see the name on the screen. “How are you, Ken?”

“I’m well. I’m calling with a proposition for you.”

“Does your girlfriend know about this?”

I can almost hear him rolling his eyes as he sighs. “I need more help here in Las Vegas and I’ve been authorized to hire someone of my choosing.”

“Corrigan & Co. has that much need for a second doctor?”

“I primarily work with the C&C Foundation, and yes.”

“I’d love to say yes, but I don’t know if Rick will let me move Bianca.”

“Waverly said you told her he cancels almost every weekend he’s supposed to have with her.”

“He does, unless it’s something he’s doing publicly. Heaven forbid he be seen as neglectful when the press is around.”

“Moving won’t be a problem if you’re interested.”

“How do you know?”

“I can’t explain until you’re here and agree to work with me, but you can trust me on this.”

“I do trust you. You and Wave were my best friends back in Boston, and I was so happy when she reached out last year. I miss you both, and I’d love to have B get to know her Godparents better.”

“Is that a yes?”

“Yes. I’d love to quit this job, and come work for you.”

It’s the truth. I don’t even know what the pay is, but from everything I’ve read, Matt and Reina Corrigan keep their employees happy. I’m ready to leave this place and make a new start for myself—and my little girl. No more asshole swim instructors, and no more bastard fathers. It’s just what we both need.