“I kind of feel bad for her.”
“Me too. I don’t know what she’s going to do now, but I told her I didn’t want to see her any more. I shared the same news with my parents. They were my first stop. I will not take over my father’s company either. I never wanted that, but he thought I’d give in. My life is here with the kids at the center, not at stuffy dinners with a bunch of worthless rich people.”
“You realize you are a rich person.”
“So are you, but is it going to change who you are?”
“No, I guess not.”
“Then you have to believe me when I say that money or not, what you see is what you get with me.”
“So now what happens?”
“My parents have cut me off, effective immediately, which is fine. They were more bent out of shape over me not wanting their money than they were about me not wanting to marry Monica.”
“But what about the center? Isn’t that how you pay for everything?”
“It is, but I have more than enough money to keep things going. My trust fund payments were substantial, and I made some smart investment choices over the years. Income from my investments actually pays for this place.”
They reached the park and went through the gated section specifically for dogs. Ozzie undid Samson’s leash and let him run off while Sofia found a seat on a nearby bench. He had no idea what she was thinking. She had been quiet while they talked, but he was okay with that because he wanted her to know everything he was doing to ensure things between them would work. After Samson made his rounds, he picked up a ball someone left behind and carried it to Sofia, dropping it in her lap. She smiled at him and gave him some firm scratches behind her his ears before throwing the ball.
“I think he likes you,” Ozzie said as he took a seat next to her.
“Something tells me he likes anyone who throws a ball for him.”
“That’s true, but it’s rare he brings a ball to someone asking to play. He’s spoiled rotten by me and the kids, but he picks his people, and I think you’re one of them.”
Sofia turned to look up at him, and he couldn’t hold back any longer. His hand reached behind her head and he pulled her slowly to him. When she didn’t resist, he closed the space and covered her mouth with his in a gentle kiss that almost begged for forgiveness. He inhaled her scent as it swirled around him in the breeze. Everything about the woman in front of him drove him crazy. The heat in her eyes when he pulled back stroked his ego in more ways than one. She still wanted this thing between them. She still wanted him. He went in for another kiss, this time more aggressive than before. His lips molded with hers and when they parted, his tongue darted in, teasing and tasting her as she began opening up to him again. It was better than he ever imagined, more than he had hoped for, and completely interrupted when Sammy dropped his slimy ball back in her lap with a bark.
They couldn’t help but laugh. “Someone needs attention.”
“Someone doesn’t understand how bad Daddy needs a moment of privacy,” Ozzie said, taking the ball and chucking it as far as he could.
“Now what?”
“Now you tell me if you can forgive me. I don’t want this to end before it even started, Sofia. I’m not ready to let you go.”
“This was really hard for me, Ozzie. I won’t lie and say it wasn’t. But I’ve realized that you didn’t mean any harm by your decisions and that it’s likely some of my past has caused me to have some trust issues. I’m willing to work it all out if you will be patient with me.”
“If patience is what you need, then that is what you will get. One thing I adored about you since we met was how transparent you are. Promise me we don’t lose that. If you need something from me, then I want you to tell me. I’m not very good at guessing.”
“Okay, I can do that.”
“Now I told you what happened with my family... what about yours? Do they hate me?”
“Ummm... hate seems like a pretty strong word.”
Ozzie leaned forward and ran his hands through his hair. “I was worried about that.”
“It’s nothing they won’t get over.”
“Are you sure? Because I’m positive Nico wanted to kill me.”
Sofia laughed, “Oh sweet Ozzie, you don’t even know the half of it.”
They spent the rest of the afternoon together. Once Samson was tired out from playing catch, they walked back to the youth center where Ozzie showed Sofia around the complex and introduced her to a bunch of the kids who were there that afternoon. Not long after they finished, some of the girls asked her if she wanted to make jewelry with them. He had invested in some bead spinners and the girls had become masters at making beaded bracelets. One of the older girls was selling them online, and they had become pretty successful in a short period of time. He left her with them and made his way back to his office to finish up the day. Even after checking on her two different times, she wasn’t ready to leave. At seven o’clock the center closed, so after he sent the boys on their way he went back to find Sofia cleaning up the girls’ room.
“Where did everyone go?”