He feigned panic. ‘Where are you going?’

Her smile grew. ‘Back to bed.’

‘Please, no.’ He held up his hand to ward her off. ‘You’re going to put me in the hospital.’

She kept walking.

‘Vitamin E,’ David pleaded. ‘Please.’

She did not stop.

‘I’m going to scream rape.’

‘Scream.’

His voice was barely audible. ‘Help.’

‘Relax, Baskin. I’m not going to attack you.’

His face registered disappointment. ‘You’re not?’

She shook her head, turned, and began to walk away.

‘Wait,’ he called after her. ‘Where are you going?’

‘To the Jacuzzi. I’d invite you to join me but I know how tired you are.’

‘I feel a second wind coming on.’

‘Your powers of recuperation are truly incredible.’

‘Thank you, Mrs B.’

‘But you’re still out of shape.’

‘Out of shape?’ David repeated. ‘Playing against the Lakers isn’t this exhausting.’

‘You need to work out.’

‘I’ll try harder, Coach, really I will. You just tell me what to do.’

‘To the Jacuzzi,’ Laura commanded.

She threw a silk robe over her shoulders, partially covering the gorgeous figure that had made her the world’s highest paid fashion model up until her early retirement four years ago at the tender age of twenty-three. David slid out from under the satin sheets. He was tall, a shade under six-five, which was on the short side for a pro basketball player.

Laura eyed his naked physique admiringly. ‘No wonder they say you’ve revolutionized the game.’

‘Meaning?’

‘Your ass, White Lightning. Women come to the game just to watch it wiggle down court.’

‘You make me feel so cheap.’