Chapter 1

Darek

I’d always hated hospitals. Now, after being forced to stay in a rehab hospital for two weeks, I not only hated them more, but I was losing my mind.

My first time inside a hospital, aside from my birth, was when my mother had accidentally fallen in the shower. I wasn’t sure how she’d gotten a black eye and a broken rib from something like a little stumble, but apparently, it could happen. It wasn’t until I was older I’d found out the real cause.

My mother hid the abuse from me for years, but right around my tenth birthday, my father no longer cared if I was a witness; or a victim, for that matter. Mother had protected me as long as she could, but the older I got, I learned the ugly truth about my parents’ relationship, and that my father, who was one of the top car dealers in Atlanta, was also an abusive beast.

The old man was a penny-pinching tyrant who could have sold ice to Eskimos, and even though we might have been considered rich in some circles, I was raised lower middle-class at best.

One night on the way home from a dinner party, my father, who’d had way too much to drink, ran the family car off the road killing himself and my mother. I was fifteen at the time, and since I wasn’t old enough to be on my own, even though I was only weeks away from my sixteenth birthday, I was sent to live with my mother’s sister.

Aunt Paige was a party girl, and aside from having the same parents, my mother had been nothing like her. I had always thought she was pretty and fun, but after seeing the parade of men she had lining up, some who took my trust fund allowance, along with whatever else she had in the house, I took off. It was just before my seventeenth birthday, and with the help of my attorney, who was a good friend of my mother’s and, as I’d find out many years later, an old boyfriend of hers who never stopped loving her, I got access to my trust to set up my own apartment.

Living alone was tough, especially since I didn’t have plans to go to college, and not enough skills to really make it. All I had going for me was my father’s ability to save money, his ability to make a pitch, and my mother’s genes which gave me my unusual blue eyes and dark brown hair that had become almost a trademark.

My thoughts of the past were interrupted by a soft knock at my door which only came a few seconds before the nurse barged in. “Mr. Dillon, you have a few visitors.”

Behind her was Maya Benton, my sweet upstairs neighbor at The Avalon, and her billionaire fiancé, James Thomas, the cause of my injury.

“Hey, sweetie, I hope it’s not a bad time.” Maya approached my bed and gave me a hug. Over her shoulder, I spotted James as he rolled his eyes and shoved his hands in his pocket. The two of us had never been the best of friends, but because of Maya, we’d given it a try.

“No, it’s good. I’m going out of my fucking mind in this place. I don’t know why I allowed this to happen. This is what I get for being friends with my doctor.”

“You said he thought this was for the best, and with your busy lifestyle and the fact that you live alone, I tend to agree with him.” My doctor had suggested I stay in the rehab facility, not only for my privacy but so I didn’t overdo it.

“I didn’t think it would be so bad. There’s nothing to do, the TV has limited cable access, and I can’t get a decent cup of coffee to save my life.”

“Would you like James to go down to the corner?” Maya turned and took James by the hand and tugged him closer.

“Yeah, man, if you want some coffee, I’ll go down and grab you something, no problem.”

“As a matter of fact, yes, I’d like you to go.”

“Right now?” James shrugged. “I thought maybe on the way out?”

“Go now, honey, it’s just up the block.” Maya gave him a sideward glance.

“Yeah, it’s the least you could do considering you’re the one who put me here.” I flashed a wink to Maya and grinned. I loved to make James feel guilty, which he tried to play it off.

“You were standing in my backswing, man. Who the fuck does that? Besides, this was an old injury from what your pal, Dr. Johansen said.”

“Yeah, an old injury.” My aunt’s boyfriend had banged my knee up pretty badly when I’d tried to get him off of her, and I’d been so worried about getting away from that mess, I didn’t give my knee proper healing. The years since had caught up with me, and come to a head when James knee-capped me with his nine-iron.

I could almost see the guilt in his expression, and finally, the guy headed for the door. “Fine, but don’t hit on my girl while I’m gone.”

“No promises, buddy.”

“Asshole.” He shook his head and disappeared around the corner.

“I can’t believe you’re going to marry that guy. I’m not sure I approve after all.”

“You do approve, or you’d have never helped him stop me from going back to New Orleans.”

“I guess so. He just looked so pathetic.”

She giggled, and it was the most refreshing sound I’d heard in two weeks. The door opened, and Dr. Joshua Johansen came in. “Well, you didn’t tell me you had such a gorgeous girlfriend. She’s too pretty for you.”

“She’s too good for me too. But unfortunately, I couldn’t get so lucky. This is Maya, my upstairs neighbor. Maya, this is Dr. Joshua Johansen.”

“Good to meet you, Doctor.” Maya held out her hand, and he took it, giving it a kiss which, by her smile, she seemed impressed with.

“Watch it, Josh, her fiancé, is the brute who put me in here. He’s got a mean backswing.” We shared a laugh, and Josh cleared his throat.

“I heard you’re ready to leave us. I’m not sure it’s a good idea with your complications and the fact that you don’t have any help at home. I can send you some equipment, but I’m not sure you’ll be able to get yourself on and off of it without help.”

“I’ll hire a maid. Someone who can help me and do all of my chores and shopping and my manager is already canceling dates. I’m trying to be a good patient.” I glanced to Maya. “I’m a motivational speaker, but I can’t seem to motivate this guy to let me out of this place.”

Maya giggled. “Sounds like you’re losing your touch.”

Johansen laughed at my expense; then he stroked his chin. “If you’ll hire help, and if this beautiful lady promises to be a good neighbor and check in on you to make sure you’re behaving, I’ll allow it.”

“Thanks, Doc.”

We shook hands, and then he gave Maya a wink. “Make sure he hires a good nurse and not just a pretty one.” He walked to the door and nearly ran over James as he walked back in. “You must be the man with the wicked swing?”

“That’d be me. I don’t think he’s ever going to let me forget it either.” He approached the bed and handed me a plain Styrofoam cup with a lid.

“No, he’s not.” With that, Johansen turned and left.

“I’m also not going to let you live this down.” I held up the cup and gave him a dirty look.

“Hey, it’s great coffee, and it was a lot closer.”

“Only one way to find out.” I turned the cup up and took a sip. “Not bad. You’re forgiven.”

“So, what did I miss?” James gestured to the door where Johansen had made his escape.

“I can leave as long as I hire an assistant, and Maya has offered to come down and check in on me.”

He pulled his woman close to his side and kissed her face. “Get your own assistant.”

Maya rolled her eyes. “I’ll come down and help when I can, and James will too, of course. We’re taking cooking courses, and I wanted to bake you something.”

My mother used to love baking. “You, lucky bastard; your woman bakes.”

“Hey, I’m taking that course too. Maybe I’ll bake something.”

“I used to love homemade brownies. My mom and I would fight over the edges. They were always the best.” I could taste those brownies just thinking about them.

“I guess I’ll have to make some calls and do a couple of interviews. Too bad the best assistant already got away.” I gave Maya a wink, and James laughed.

“Yeah, too bad. I’m surprised you didn’t already have an assistant working for you.”

“Nah, the last time I tried that George caught her stealing my shit when I wasn’t home. She’d carted off three lamps and two vases before he was onto her. Not to mention, I’d already felt bad about some family tragedy she’d lied about and given her a couple of grand.”

“I’ll come down and check her out. Just do as your doctor said and hire someone fit for the job, not just easy on the eyes.” She gave me a scolding look.

“Yes, ma’am. Maybe I’ll be lucky and find one who’s both.” It could happen.

James huffed. “Don’t hold your breath.”