She got quiet, staring at him for a long moment. She seemed to be processing the weight of his words.
“Anna…”
She huffed and shoved her hands against her waist, the movement lifting her breasts up higher. “That’s bullshit. You’ve got more time.”
“That’s what I tried to explain to them.” With backup from three leading sports doctors.
“This is totally unacceptable. How can they get away with this? The fans will never be okay with this.” She spoke quickly, pointing at him with an intense index finger.
He appreciated her vehement support of his ability to still play.
“I’m aging out of the game, but I’m not done yet.” He hoped. “We’re in talks with Medford here in Denver. Hoping he’ll bring me on.”
Her eyes bulged. “You’re coming to Denver?”
“Which is why you can’t go to Miami. Because—” if everything went well “—I hope I’ll be here.”
“Oh.” She laced her hands in front of her, wringing them back and forth. “So that’s why—”
“I had about twenty non-disclosures in play when you offered to come to Miami.” That wasn’t much of an exaggeration.
He swallowed hard. “You’re it for me.”
She shifted her gaze away from his.
“I couldn’t say anything to anyone until ink was on paper and signatures dry,” he said.
“And then you tried to call me.” She spoke to the wall, not looking back at him.
He nodded. “A lot.”
“When I wouldn’t answer…” She glanced back at him, the expression in her eyes one of hurt and hope.
“I stopped by the shop,” he said. “But you were never there.” He chewed his bottom lip. “A lot. I stopped at your shop a lot.”
“Then you got tangled up with Roman and Babushka?”
He nodded. “I want to be with you. You’re my future.” He paused. Drew in a deep breath. “At least I hope you’re my future.”
She stepped toward him, placing her palms on his cheeks. Then she lifted on her toes and pressed a light kiss against his lips. “I want to be your future.”
The fire in his belly burned brighter as he deepened the kiss, tilting his head to the side and rubbing his palm against her back as she plastered herself against his chest.
Even facing early retirement, if Anna was his future, it did not suck.
Her gaze slid to the locked door. “There’s one thing I don’t get…”
“What’s that?”
“Babushka obviously worked her Russian magic to get you in the bachelor auction, but why did they lock us in here then? Is she planning on buying you so I can’t? That doesn’t make sense.”
He jerked his chin toward the door. “It’s just jammed. No one locked us in here.”
Anna gave him a look that clearly indicated her disbelief that their current situation was not premeditated.
“It’s not her style though. She’s more of the put-you-in-a-public-bachelor-auction-without-your-knowledge kind of matchmaker.”
Sounded like his life was about to get very interesting with a woman like Babushka involved.
