Page 52 of Marring an Athlete

“You’re not dating anyone. You know, back in New York?”

He pulled back to stare down at her. “What?”

She waved to the very tiny amount of space between the two of them. “If you were dating someone, this would be cheating.”

Michael backed up and the cool ocean air surrounded her. It took all her strength not to reach out and pull him back.

“I’m not—I mean, there really isn’t anyone,” he said. But the tone of his voice had changed and for a moment, Anna wasn’t sure if she believed him.

“Really?”

He laughed and shrugged. “Why would you ask that?”

Anna studied him. “Well, you are a notorious playboy.”

He feigned shock as he stepped back. “I’m a saint.”

Anna raised her eyebrows. “Saint may be pushing it.”

He laughed, but it didn’t sound like his normal carefree one. This was more like an uncomfortable one—like she’d struck a nerve.

She hadn’t meant to make him upset. It probably wasn’t the most flattering thing to be called a playboy even if he was. She leaned closer to him, but as she did he moved away. Like the wrong sides of two magnets. When she glanced up at him, his lips were pursed.

“Did I say something wrong? I didn’t mean to call you a player. I just meant you date a lot of women.” Gah, why was she sounding like an idiot? She blamed it on his kisses. They confused her.

He smiled at her. “It’s okay. I think maybe it’s a good idea that we not push this. After all, it might be the romance of being on an island. When we get back to the states, you just might realize what a jerk I am and never talk to me again.” His laugh seemed forced as he turned and started making his way toward the boardwalk that led to their hut.

Anna stared at his retreating frame. What the heck had that been? One moment, they were kissing and she thought she might never ever be the same, and the next, he was walking away telling her they needed to slow down. It was McKenna’s wedding all over again.

“Hang on,” Anna said as she raced after him. “What are you doing?”

His body tensed when she touched him. He kept his gaze toward the ground when she moved to stand in front of him.

“Anna, I can’t. You shouldn’t care about me. I hurt people.” His shoulders hunched as he avoided her gaze.

“Hurt people? What are you talking about?”

He rubbed his face with his hands, straightening to look over her head. Why wasn’t he meeting her gaze? What secrets was he keeping hidden?

“What you said about me, back there.” He nodded toward the spot that they had stopped to kiss. “Was slightly true. I do date a lot of women. I can’t seem to settle down. I make promises that I can’t keep.” He flicked his gaze down toward her. “And I can’t do that with you. I need to protect you from me.” He stepped around her and kept walking.

Anna stayed rooted to her spot. All she could do was watch him leave. Once he disappeared into the hut, she found a nearby bench and collapsed on it. What was she supposed to do now? How was she supposed to fake a marriage with Michael when he’d broken her heart?

She wasn’t going to be able to smile and fake it like she hadn’t just had her heart handed to her on a silver platter. She’d allowed herself to feel things for Michael, and he’d rejected her. Again.

Anna buried her face in her hands and let the tears fall. She’d cry about him tonight, but tomorrow, she’d put on her big girl pants and move on. She was done with Michael, once and for all.

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