Taming Casanova (3 page)

Chapter 4

Andi stretched her legs and groaned.  She hurt everywhere.  Blinking, she tried to see through the darkness.  Reaching for the lamp, she felt the tug on her arm.  “What the hell?”  She looked at the IV and followed the tubing to the bag of fluids being pumped into her body.

Voices drew her attention to the hall.  She strained to hear what they were saying but it was no use.  She threw her legs over the side of the bed and sat up.  Her stomach rumbled and her head pounded. 

“Kevin?” 
Andi’s voice was small.

The bedroom door opened and Kevin and Jena looked back at her.  “How are you feeling?”

“How long have I been out?”

Jena smiled at her as she felt her head.  “Two days, on and off.”

“Two days!”  Andi tried to stand but stumbled.  Strong arms wrapped around her waist.

“
Gotta walk before you can fly, doll.”  Kevin chuckled as she squirmed in his arms. 

She glanced down at her clothing.  Gone were her pajamas.  Instead, she was wearing one of Kevin’s white t-shirts and a pair of his boxer shorts.  Her eyes locked with Kevin’s, panic sweeping across her face.  “Where are my pajamas?”

“Lie back down and I’ll go start a bath.”  Kevin leaned onto the bed and pulled the covers over her. She could feel his breath on her face.  He brushed his lips across her jaw and whispered in her ear.  “That nipple ring is the hottest thing I have ever seen.  I’d like to see it again sometime when you aren’t unconscious.”

Andi pushed against him and he laughed. 
“Not ever gonna happen.”

“Never say never.  You said you’d never be in my bed and look where you’ve been the last forty-eight hours.  You’ve been burning up my sheets, baby.”

“Jena, please tell me I can come home.  He’s sucking the life out of my soul.”

“Speaking of sucking..”

“Kevin!” The girls yelled in unison and he laughed all the way to the bathroom. 

Jena capped the IV and pulled a fresh t-shirt and boxers from Kevin’s drawer.  She unwrapped a new toothbrush and then sat on the edge of the bed.  “You can come home tomorrow.  I want you to have some more fluids and I want to see you eat something.  Kevin bought some soup on his way home from work.  Andi, he’s been great.  He sent me a message asking me for help as soon as he knew you were sick.  He’s been taking care of you and he even slept on the couch last night. He almost seems…”

“Normal.”  Andi smiled when Jena laughed.  “Thanks for coming over and helping me. I know you and Caleb aren’t feeling great either.  This is miserable.”

“Let him take care of you.  If you are half as stubborn as your damn brother, Kevin deserves a medal.”  Jena hung another bag of fluids.  “
Just restart this when you’re finished in the bath.  I’m going to head home.  It was a long day at the hospital today and I want to spend some time with Caleb.  Call me in the morning.  Sooner if you need something.”

“Rub a dub
dub.”  Kevin stood in the bathroom door and smiled.  “Let’s do this.”

Andi stretched her sore muscles and sank deeper into the bubbles.  The bath was heaven, even if it had taken all her energy to get into it.
  She vowed to get a flu shot, the second it was available, every year, for the rest of her life.  She had known it was foolish not to get one.  Working in the hospital, she was surrounded by germs.  But it was so late in the flu season that it didn’t seem likely that it would happen.  She dunked her head under the warm water and held her breath.  Peace and quiet.  Water had always been her sanctuary.  The stillness of being under it, the silence of being alone with it, the pure joy found floating in it.  She had spent her high school years swimming, competing at state and getting a scholarship to college to swim.  She had given it up when she had declared her major.  Constant focus had been on her studies.  Long nights in the library, no fraternity parties, anxiety over chemistry experiments and calculus.  She wouldn’t go back.  But it had been an amazing time in her life.

Sensing she was being watched, she opened her eyes.  Kevin looked down int
o the water with a strange expression on his face.  She pushed to the surface and wiped her eyes.  “You alright there, deuce?”

“You were under
there awhile.  I got worried.  But you looked so peaceful.”  Kevin sat on the edge of the tub and grabbed the shampoo.  “Feeling any better?”

“I’m sorry I kept you
busy the whole weekend Lily was in town.  I know you were looking forward to pinning her up against a few more walls.”  She smiled a shy smile at him.  She wasn’t sorry at all.

“No worries, Doll.  There will always be walls.  There’s only one you.”  Kevin rinsed her hair and put conditioner in it.

Andi shivered.  His hands felt like heaven.  She closed her eyes and moaned.  His hands stilled.  Her eyes flew open and locked with his.  Kevin’s bright silver gray eyes were hooded, desire written all over his face.  She bit her bottom lip and her body flushed with want.

“I’m going to go… do something.”  Kevin stood and handed Andi the bottle of conditioner.  “I’ll make you some soup.”  And with that
, he walked out of the bathroom and shut the door.

Andi sighed as she slid under the water once more.  Four words echoed through her head. 
This cannot be happening
.

Kevin cleaned the dishes from dinner and walked back into the bedroom.  Andi was starting to fall asleep and he smiled.  Even sick, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.  Even sick, she was a huge pain in his ass.  She opened one eye and smiled at him.

“I need to hop in the shower.”  Kevin yanked his shirt off and tossed it into the hamper.  “Will you answer my phone if it rings?  We’re just days from Layla’s due date and I expect the call any time.”

Andi reached for his phone, her fingers brushing his.  “I’ll be happy to.” 

He winked and stepped into the bathroom.  The hot water felt amazing on his body.  He had debated a cold shower but thought better of it when he realized he was starting to feel a little chilled.  He tried to concentrate on anything other than the half naked woman in his bed.  Hearing the muffled sound of his phone ringing for at least the third time, he turned off the water and began to dry his hair with the bath towel. 

“Oh, I’l
l be sure to tell him that.  Yeah.  Bah bye.”  Andi rolled her eyes and threw the phone at Kevin as he stepped from the bathroom. 

In a panic to catch the phone, Kevin’s towel dropped from his hips.  “What the hell, Andi?”

She never even looked down.  “Let’s see.  Well, Ashley called.  She’d like to know when you can come over and do, and I quote, ‘that thing again’.  Melanie called.  She will be in town for a few days at the end of the month and wants to make sure she gets on your schedule.  She will have Holly with her this time.”  Andi turned the paper over and kept reading.  Her face was on fire.  “Sue called. She said that you once told her that as long as you had a face, she’d have a place to sit.  Apparently, she’s ready to sit down.”

Kevin couldn’t help but laugh
.  Angry or not, Andi was adorable.  Her hair still hung wet across her face, her white t-shirt hinting at the outline of that amazing piercing and her eyes on fire with madness.  When she looked at him dumbstruck, he laughed even harder.

“You’re an asshole.”  She wadded up the paper and threw
it at him.  “On the plus side, no call from Ryan so you have time to help Sue out.  Seems she’s lost her chair.  Poor girl.”

Kevin turned his back to h
er as he rummaged through his top drawer.  Let her sweat.  Green was a good color on her.  The more she fumed, the more he knew he was making a dent in that untouchable exterior.  It wouldn’t be long before she gave in.  And if she didn’t give in, he would die trying.  He wanted her more than he had ever wanted anyone.  He wanted to feel her tight body wrap around him.  He wanted to know what she sounded like when she was turned on, what she looked like when she came, how she felt when he was buried inside her. He felt himself getting aroused again.  Taking a deep breath, he shut his eyes and tried to think of anything else.

“
Not that it isn’t a good view, but could you please put something on?”  Andi curled onto her side with a huff. 

“Andi, cut the shit.”  He pulled his boxers on and marched to the bed.  Kneeling
on the floor so their faces were level, he continued.  “Those women all have one thing in common.”

“Loose morals?”

“Stop.”  He put his hand on her arm.  “They aren’t you.  It’s time to admit we have something.  Shit, Andi, at least admit it to yourself.”

“You are delusional, Deuce.  Completely insane.”

He grabbed her hand and pulled it to his boxers.  “You do this to me.  Not Sue, not Ashley, not anyone else these days.  You have me so fucked up.  I haven’t been with a woman since Lily.”

“Oh, the heartbreak.”  She tried to pull her hand away.  “How many days has that been?  Huh?  One?  Two?”

“Look me in the eye and tell me that you don’t feel something for me.”

She squeezed her hand around his erection.  “Oh I feel something.  But it isn’t something I want.”

Kevin stood up and stormed out of the room, slamming the door as he went.  “Frustrating fucking woman.”  He dialed his phone as he threw his sweatshirt over his head.  “Liz, I’m on my way.  Unlock the door.  I’ll be on the bike and I’m not bringing my keys.”

Chapter 5

“Thank you so much for last night.”  Liz stretched her legs before stepping on the treadmill.  “Dinner was amazing.”

“Any time
Lizzy.”  Kevin threw his water bottle into the trash and hopped on the treadmill next to hers.  “I think Lil will be a great addition to your program.  She’s really good with kids and I couldn’t imagine not having her here.”

“Well, that explains it.”  She wiped her forehead.  “Last week when you told me you were coming over, I actually thought you had seen the light and you were ready to jump into my bed.  Now I know you
hold a torch for Lily.  And good for you.  She’s gorgeous.”

Kevin chuckled.  “Nothing like that.  Lil’s a good friend.  She’s friends
with Moretti and his wife. She’s been looking for a position in LA for a few months now and I know she’ll be good for you.”  He leaned in and kissed Liz on the cheek.  “And thank you for the invite.  I may just take you up on that someday.”

Liz smiled.  “You are so sweet and so full of shit.”  She laughed when Kevin dipped her and kissed her on the mouth. 

Liz had been involved with Kevin’s best friend when they were in college.  Spending every weekend with the legendary Kevin Merck had solidified her desire to be exclusive.  Daniel died in a car accident a few months after Kevin’s sister had been killed.  They had turned to each other for comfort and had been exactly what the other needed.  She had helped Kevin heal, finding him help through the guidance counselor at the university.  After months of joint meetings, Liz had graduated and taken a job at an elementary school for children with special needs.  On her first day, she had met Scott Hilton and married him a year later.

Andi ran through the front door of the gym looking flustered and out of breath. 
Still mid dip, Kevin’s eyes met hers and the look on her face stopped him in his tracks.

“Where the hell is your cell phone?”  Andi threw him a towel and jogged toward the office.   “Why have one if people can’t reach you
?  Let’s go.”  She ripped the phone from the charger and stopped to stare at the treadmills.

“What the hell’s going on?
  Why didn’t you call the gym?”

“Would it have mattered?  You have your hands full.  Where’s your car?”  Andi glared at Liz.

“I have the bike.  What’s up?  Andi?  Hey?”

Andi pushed past him.  “
Layla’s in labor.  Let’s go.”

Kevin threw the keys to Liz.  “
Lizzy, lock up for me.  I’ll come by tonight and pick them up.  I’ll bring Lil.”

“Shocking.”  Andi mumbled under her breath.

“Just get on the bike, Allen.  I don’t need your mouth today.”  Kevin threw her a helmet. 

“I can’t ride on this.” 
Andi’s face went pale.  “You go.  I’ll meet you there.”

Kevin took
Andi’s face in his hands.  “Trust me.  For once in your life, just trust me.  I would never hurt you.  Hold onto me.”

She wrapped her arms around his waist and took a few deep breaths.  She buried her head against him as tears ran down her cheeks.  “You hurt me every single day.”  She whispered.

“Right back at ya, slick.”

She tensed.  “How did you hear me?”

“Skull candy, doll.  You can talk to me the whole way there if you need to.  Now, hold on, I’m not missing this.”

Andi
threw on her cap and mask and scrubbed her hands.  Her rotation in labor and delivery was new but she had been in three deliveries in her first week.  She took a deep breath as she stepped into the room that she knew would change her life.

Layla
was quiet, breathing deeply as Ryan paced the room.  She smiled as she placed her hand on Ryan’s arm.  “Deep breaths, West.  It won’t be long until you’re holding that beautiful baby.”

Ryan’s head snapped up and locked eyes with Andi.  “Thank God you’
re here. I’m freaking out.”

Andi giggled.  “Go sit down with Lay.  Rub her back.  Do
whatever it takes to get you both to relax.  I need to check and see how far along she is.”

Layla
winked as Andi looked up at her.  “Well, doc?  What’s the verdict?”

“You’re at ten centimeters.  Let me go get the doctor so we can have a baby.”  Andi stood up and ran right into Kevin coming into the delivery room.

“I’m sorry.”  Kevin pushed past her and sat down next to the bed.  His eyes never left Layla’s face as he whispered how proud he was of her. 

A
ndi couldn’t tear her eyes away from him.  The doctor rushed into the room to deliver the baby and Andi was frozen in her tracks.  Kevin and Ryan held hands across Layla and the love in their eyes was heartwarming.  Layla smiled between the two, tears streaming down her face.  Kevin leaned in to kiss her cheek and rubbed her belly one last time.  Tears fell freely from his eyes and he made no attempt to disguise them or wipe them away.  His love for his two friends was something amazing to see.  In that moment, Andi ‘saw’ Kevin Merck for the first time.

“Let’s deliver this baby.”  Dr. Folsom patted
Layla’s leg.  He waved Andi toward him and she smiled up at Layla and Ryan.  “I have several interns helping me and if it is ok with you..”

Ryan interrupted.  “
We would love it if Ms. Allen could deliver.  She’s family.”

Kevin’s eyes went wide, searching the room for Andi.  “What?”

Ryan leaned over and whispered.  “Watch out, Merck.  Your heart is showing.”

Andi took a seat on the stool to begin the delivery.  She
turned toward the nurse so she could wipe the tears from her eyes.  “Thank you, Ryan.  This is a huge honor.”  She took a deep breath.  “Are you ready, Lay?”

Her eyes locked with Kevin’s and her heart beat
sped. In that one moment, everything was different.  His bright eyes looked right through her, seeing everything she never let anyone see.  He smiled a genuine smile, not the snarky smile that he saved for their fights.  She shivered.

“When you feel your next contraction, I want you to push.  Kevin, come down and hold her right leg.  Ryan, I want you on the left. 
Layla, I need you to take a deep breath and blow it out while you push.  You ready?”

Layla
shook her head and took a deep breath.

“And push, push, push, push, push, push.  You’re doing great honey.  And relax.  Good.  We are going to do it all again.  Deep breath in and push, push, push, push, push.”

“Oh my God.”  Ryan’s eyes met Layla’s.  “I can see the head.  Oh my God this is amazing.  I love you so much.”

Kevin looked down and stumbled on his feet a little.  “Merck, eyes on me.” 
Andi’s voice was stern.  “Take a deep breath in through your nose and don’t lock your legs.”  Kevin did what she said.  “Now I want you to focus on Layla’s face.  Let her look at you.  She needs a focal point to stare at.  Let her be that for you as well.” 

Kevin nodded and looked at
Layla.  They stared at each other as the next contraction hit.  “Ok, Layla, big push.  Take a deep breath in and push, Layla, push push push.  You can do this.”

Tears fell down Ryan’s face as he watched Andi suction the baby’s mouth and nose. “This should be the last push.  I want you to bear down hard.  I know you are exhausted but you can do this.  Give me everything you have, Lay.  Ready?  And push…..”

Ryan gasped as he watched Andi work quickly, removing his shoulders and wrapping him in a blanket.  The most beautiful sound he had ever heard echoed through the room.  The baby’s cry brought everyone to tears.

Andi smiled.  “Congratulations you two.  You have a beautiful baby boy.  Dad, would you like to cut the cord?”

After Ryan cut the cord and Andi placed the baby on Layla’s chest, her eyes met Kevin’s.  “Great job, Deuce.  I was worried that you might hit the floor there for a minute.”  She giggled when he smiled.

“That was intense.”  Kevin wiped the sweat from his hands.  “You were amazing, Andi.
I’m serious.”

She laughed and stepped in to hug him.  “
You were too.  I’m going to go clean up.”

“Wait,” Ryan reached out and pulled her into his arms.  “
Thank you for everything.  It’s hard to believe little Andi Allen just delivered my son.”

Layla
giggled.  “We have a son.”  She looked over at Kevin’s stunned face. “You want to hold him?”

He shook his head. 
“Can I?”

Ryan lifted his son off
Layla’s chest and motioned for Kevin to sit down.  “If it hadn’t been for you, I wouldn’t be here.  You are the reason this is all possible.”  He looked at his son and smiled at his perfect face.  “Merck, we’d like you to meet Kevin Samuel West.”

Kevin stared at his god son in awe.  He had a head full of dark hair and sleepy blue eyes.  He counted his tiny fingers and sighed.  “Hi Kevin.  I love you so much already. You
’re going to make one hell of a wing man.”

They all laughed as Kevin snuggled the one person that would forever mean the world to him.