Bride Candidate #9. Susan Crosby

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СКАЧАТЬ him. Even through the fabric she’d felt the warmth of his body all the way down to her toes.

      They’d stayed like that a minute or two, awareness sizzling. It was then that he’d asked to see her again.

      She’d almost said yes. The truth was, she’d almost invited him to her cabin. Then someone walked by, calling his name, and she’d remembered his place in the world. Remembered the stack of Sports Illustrated magazines with him as the Super Bowl MVP on the cover that he’d autographed for the fans who’d donated big money just to be on the same cruise ship with him.

      She’d found the strength to turn him down because of it. He didn’t have a clue about how hard it had been for her to give up the chance to see him again, when, in fact, she’d found him charming, appealing, exciting and very, very tempting.

      Luke seemed to have all the determination this time around, however. He had no intention of being in San Francisco while his team played in the Super Bowl. The pain of not playing was more than he could bear.

      Oh, he hadn’t said so, but she knew it.

      The phone rang. She shoved herself up to answer it.

      “Hi. It’s me again. I know you’re probably ticked off at me.”

      “I won’t ask you again, Lucas. I promise. You’re not coming. I accept it.”

      “Actually, I changed my mind”

      “You did?”

      “Under one condition. If I do your event, you do mine.”

      “I don’t understand.”

      “I can’t seem to get the Dusters’ owner to take no for an answer. Everyone expects me in the box for the game. I’m asking you to go with me.”

      Ariel clutched the receiver closer. He didn’t know what he was asking of her, of course. Didn’t know that she shunned the spotlight—and why. Could she risk a public appearance with him?

      Sacrifice. The word bound them together. They would both be sacrificing something. Hers was greater—

      “Ariel? You there?”

      “I’m here.” She swallowed “And you’ve got yourself a deal. Where will you stay, though? I heard on the news that every hotel is booked.”

      “Darlin’, darlin’ You don’t really think I’d have any trouble linin’ up a room, do you? Celebrity has its perks.”

      The teasing tone didn’t completely cover some emotion she couldn’t quite name, but that she could hear, beneath the surface of the words. If he stayed in a hotel, he’d be hounded by the media. How many times could he answer the question of how it felt not being able to be part of history? She knew how intrusive the media could be.

      She sighed at the inevitability of what she was destined to ask him next. First, sacrifice, now risk. “If you don’t mind not having room service or the media camped outside your door, Lucas, why don’t you just stay with me at my apartment?”

      Unearthly silence followed. She filled it. “It’d sure make it easier all the way around. We’ve got to get to and from the Center, then the dinner-dance, and then the game. I think we know each other well enough to coexist for a few days. You have to leave the cigars at home, though.”

      “I wouldn’t smoke in your house. Any other rules I should know of?”

      “I don’t know if you would consider it a rule, but, just so that there’s no confusion, you will have a bedroom of your own. And this is a strictly platonic invitation.”

      “Naturally.”

      She swore she could hear him grinning. He had agreed to the stipulation way too fast.

      “Okay, Ariel. I’ll be there. Thanks for the offer.”

      “When will you arrive?”

      “Wednesday night. I’d like to check everything at the Center ahead of time myself. I’m kinda curious, though, why you’re makin’ rules before they become issues. If you’re afraid of something, why don’t you just tell me now, and we’ll settle it before we see each other.”

      “I’m not afraid of anything.”

      “Doesn’t sound like it to me, Ariel.”

      When they ended the conversation a few minutes later, she wondered the same thing. The answer was easy. She was afraid of him and his very public life. She was also drawn to the vulnerable side of him, the tough guy who she decided didn’t want the world to know how hard it was to leave his celebrity status behind, the identity of “football player,” a role he’d had since he was a boy.

      But something stronger had pushed and shoved its way past all that. The acknowledgment that she needed him, too. Needed to feel like a woman, cherished and valued for who she was, not because she was a quintessential volunteer and the ultimate hostess.

      She just wanted the fantasy for a little while.

      

      “This is stupid,” Marguerite shouted as she ducked her head against the driving wind and rain bombarding San Francisco. “Just tell her the truth, Luke.”

      He returned a quelling look, then climbed the next stair. And the next.

      “If she’s any kind of woman, she won’t care about your disability.”

      “I don’t want to be coddled. And I’m not disabled permanently. I just decided to put off the surgery until after this weekend. Keep your voice down now. We’re almost to the top. She’ll hear us.”

      “Men,” Marguerite muttered, hefting a rain-splattered bag.

      “Including me in that tone of voice, sweetheart?” Sam asked, adjusting Luke’s Pullman and suit bag as they ascended the stairs to Ariel’s second-floor apartment.

      “For the moment. Talk to him, Sam.”

      “It’s like talking to granite, and you know it. He’s—”

      “Shh.” Luke came to a stop at the landing. He resisted rubbing his aching knee. “Just set the bags down and scoot on back to the rental car. I’ll take it from he—”

      The door opened, spilling light on the three, who probably looked like five-year-olds caught playing doctor, Luke decided.

      “Brought your entourage, Lucas?” Ariel asked, opening the door wider. “A big, strong man like you can’t carry his own luggage?”

      “Hello to you, too, darlin’.” Lord, she looked good. He brushed past her, letting Sam and Marguerite follow. He got an impression of space and color and warmth as he glanced around her living room.

      Ariel tossed a towel at Marguerite, then disappeared into a room and returned with a couple more for the men.

      “Take off your jackets. I’ll fix something to warm you up.”

      “They’re СКАЧАТЬ