Page 86 of Once Upon A Player
“There’s no pressure. If you need to finish your degree first, I’ll always be there for you.”
Even in a hospital reception room, this moment is perfection. “It’s an online degree. I can do it anywhere. And I’m sure I’ll find a casual job somewhere. If not, I’ll take on more hours of my virtual assistant job.”
“Sounds good.”
I take a deep breath. Mum’s words echo in my head.It’s time you spread your wings.And the time is now. “As soon as Mum’s given the all clear, I’ll move in with you.”
It’s like a huge weight lifts from my heart, and when he grins at me, I know everything’s going to work out.
“For real?” It’s like he needs me to confirm it before he’ll truly believe it.
I kiss him. God, I’ve missed him so much. “For real.”
“I love you, Violet.” His words are so low, I think I imagine them. I pull back, heart racing, and drown in the perfect blue of his eyes.
“Do you?”Seriously, Violet…
“I do.” There’s a ghost of a smile on his lips, which slays me. “You’ll never let my ego get away with anything.”
“I love your ego. I loveyou.”
We kiss again, a totally inappropriate kiss for where we are, but no one else is in the room. When we pull back, he tucks my hair behind my ear and then cradles my face.
“I’ve never been a real player. Not when it matters.”
Whatever’s left of my heart melts. “I know. You’ve always been so much more than your rep. It didn’t take me long to find that out for myself.”
“You’re such a sweet talker.”
“I had a great teacher.”
His smile is the one he saves especially for me. “So did I.”
Epilogue
Violet
Six weeks later
The flight to Madrid is uneventful, unless you count the butterflies multiplying in my stomach.New chapter of my life, here I come.
I catch sight of Lucas as soon as I walk into Arrivals, and it’s got nothing to do with his collar-length hair, the fact he’s wearing a T-shirt that shows off his spectacular muscles, or the interested stir he’s causing among other travelers, who make no secret of snapping pics with their phones.
It’s because he’s the only one I see.
My heart.
He strides toward me, and before I can catch my breath, I’m in a bear hug as he swings me around, heedless of our audience. “God, I’ve missed you,” he growls in my ear, and I laugh, breathless.
“We saw each other a couple of weeks ago.” He’s been over to England twice in the last six weeks, although they were only brief stopovers, as his new club is keeping him busy. Since his penthouse is now rented, he stayed with his dad, which I think is adorable.
“Yeah. What’s your point?” He sets me back on my feet and grasps my hand as if I might vanish if he isn’t touching me.
Not that I’m complaining. Every time he left England, I missed him more than before. It was more proof, as if I needed any, that we belong together.
“I can’t believe I’m really here.” It’s been a whirlwind over the last six weeks. Mum’s improved even more than her specialist anticipated, and she says she feels better than she has for years. And I’ve taken a crash course in Spanish. I suck, but at least I’m no longer clueless in the language.
“Believe it.” There’s a possessive note in his voice that’s so arousing I snuggle against him, desperate to be home alone with him.
