Page 39 of Marring an Athlete

“So why the stony exterior?”

Michael dipped down until the water rose above his shoulders. Then he straightened. “Honestly?”

Anna tried to keep her gaze from slipping down to his chest. Instead, she focused on the water below her feet, digging her toes in the sand. “Sure.”

“I think he’s struggling with the whole infertility thing. My guess, he feels like less of a man.”

Anna swished her hands in the water as she thought. “Hmm, not really sure how to help a guy feel more like a man.”

Michael snorted, and she raised her gaze to meet his. When she saw his raised eyebrows and incredulous expression, heat burned her cheeks.

“Oh my goodness, Michael Jones.” She turned and started walking toward shore.

“Hey wait.” She heard him call from behind her.

“I’m getting out of the water,” she called over her shoulder.

“Come back,” he said. The sound of splashing water followed his words.

Suddenly, two hands wrapped around her waist, halting her. She hesitated before turning around.

“I’m sorry, I really didn’t mean to,” he said. His voice was deep and sent shivers down her skin.

She sighed as she turned, breaking the contact he had with her. She had to stop putting herself in these situations. Michael was off-limits. He always was going to be. And besides, even if she wanted a relationship with him, he’d never see her as anyone besides his kid sister’s best friend.

“We should get back,” she said, taking a step forward.

Searing pain shot up through her foot. Yelping, she stumbled and fell toward the water. She reached out, not sure how she was going to brace herself.

But she never fell. Instead, she felt Michael grab onto her and pull her toward him.

“You okay?” he asked.

She nodded, trying to seem strong. But as she began to walk, the pain radiated up her leg. She stumbled, and Michael tightened his grip.

“I think I stepped on something,” she said as she took a deep breath, hoping to lessen the intensity that being held by Michael brought.

He kept her close as they began walking toward the shore. When they got knee deep, he bent down and swept his arm under her knees and pulled her to his chest. The sound of water splashing around him filled the air as he made his way to the sand.

Anna’s heart pounded in her chest, and she feared that he could feel it, too. Being this close to him was exposing. And she wasn’t sure how much of herself she wanted him to know.

When they got to the white sand, he set her down onto it and then stood. Anna sat there with her arms wrapped around her waist.

Michael knelt next to her foot and pulled it up. He sucked in his breath as he leaned closer.

“What? What is it?”

Michael glanced over at her with a solemn expression. “I think we might have to amputate.”

She rolled her eyes as she nudged him with her other foot. “It hurts.” She wasn’t normally a baby about injuries but this one stung.

He smiled. “I don’t doubt it.” He raised his hand and pulled something from her foot. He held it up triumphantly. “Looks like a piece of a shell.”

He held it out and she let him drop it in her hand. It was the size of a sliver. She glared at it.

“If only you could shoot lasers from your eyes, that would be obliterated,” he said as he wiped his hands on his trunks and stood. He held out his hand.

Anna buried the piece deep into the sand and then grabbed his fingers. He pulled her up.

---