Until We Touch (Fool's Gold #15)(77)

“I don’t know anything about golf,” Percy admitted. “Larissa gave me a couple of articles to read last week. I got through them okay, and I understand the basics. But you have to pick clubs and stuff. I can’t help with that.”

Jack put his hand on the teen’s shoulder. “You want to be my caddy?”

“Yes, but—”

“No buts. You’ll have a great time.” He paused. “Melissa will be impressed.”

That had Percy grinning. “Anything I can do to impress her works for me.”

“Yeah? Why did I think you were going to say that?”

They were by the clubhouse at the Fool’s Gold golf course. The Pro-am was being played on a public course, which added to the logistics involved. Raoul Moreno was one of the key sponsors and a large portion of the proceeds would go to his organization, End Zone for Kids.

Jack thought it was interesting that he’d agreed to the event long before Percy had shown up. And that Percy had been brought to town by End Zone. Life was nothing if not coincidental.

He’d already met the other men in his foursome. There were two professional golfers, Jack and an action movie star named Jonny Blaze.

Jack watched as Jonny stood in a crowd of women. He signed autographs on paper, pictures of himself and—Jack cringed—one young woman’s cle**age.

Kenny walked up and saw the crowd.

“Don’t judge,” his friend told him. “He’s still in his twenties. It’ll get better as he gets older.”

“Not everyone matures,” Jack said.

“True enough. Sam and I are wagering on the game. We wondered if you wanted in on the bet.”

“Sure. A hundred bucks a stroke?”

“Done.” Kenny offered a fist for Jack to bump.

Jack knew that regardless of who won, the money would go to charity. Still, he wanted to be the one to walk away with the bragging rights.

Larissa hurried toward them. She had a large tote over one shoulder. She pointed at Kenny. “I’ve already seen you,” she said.

“You have and it was memorable.”

Larissa laughed, then turned to Jack and Percy. She set her tote on the grass and started pulling out the contents.

“Event hats,” she said, handing them each one. “Very stylish.”

“Nice,” Percy said, trying his on, then adjusting the sizing band for the baseball cap.

She straightened again and held out a tube of sunscreen. “Both of you,” she said firmly. “It’s a warm sunny day.”

Percy frowned. “You do know I’m black, right?”

“You can still get burned and sun damage. Don’t you want to still look hot when you’re forty?”

He grinned. “I’ll always look hot.”

“There’s the attitude. Now put on the sunscreen, young man.”

Jack was already applying his. He knew better than to argue.

“Stay hydrated,” Larissa added. “When the drink cart comes around, take water.” She pointed at Percy. “You can have soda when you’ve had two waters. Promise?”

The teen signed heavily. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Good.” She looked at Jack. “You, on the other hand, know the importance of hydration. Have you met the other guys in your foursome?”

“We have,” Percy told her. “We have Jonny Blaze.”

Larissa wrinkled her nose. “He was signing br**sts earlier. Women were actually pulling down their shirts and having him sign their cle**age. Don’t you think that’s a little skanky?”

“I don’t know,” Kenny began, then stopped talking when Larissa glared at him. The former receiver cleared his throat. “Yes, it’s very skanky. They should be ashamed.”

Jack nodded. “Appalling.”

“I don’t care that you’re humoring me,” Larissa told them both. “I appreciate it.”

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed Jack, then hugged Percy and Kenny.

“All right. Everyone do good. I’ll be cheering from the sidelines.”

With that, she waved and hurried off. No doubt to hunt down Sam, Jack thought, watching her go.

Her ponytail bounced with each step. She moved with purpose and grace. She was quite a woman, he thought happily. And later that night, he would have her naked in his bed. Life, he decided, was very, very good.

* * *

LIFE WENT TO HELL later that afternoon, Jack thought as he faced President Newham at the end of his first round. His team had done pretty well, considering Jonny Blaze was more interested in posing for pictures than playing golf. But when the action star focused, he had a decent swing and could get the ball on the green. But the women constantly lifting up their shirts and flashing their boobs was making it difficult for them all to keep their heads in the game.

With the eighteen holes finished, all he wanted was to have a beer, grab Larissa, eat dinner, then go to bed. He would take things in the opposite order, except he had Percy along with him.

But all that was put on hold when the university president asked if she could have a word.

“Now?” he asked.

“Yes.” She sounded very certain. “This will only take a minute.”

Percy didn’t know who President Newham was, but obviously recognized her innate authority. The teen took possession of Jack’s clubs and announced, “I’ll wait for you here.”