“So didyou get everything you needed on the computer?”
Herbody seemed to tighten; she cast her eyes to the window and worried afingernail between her teeth. “I didn’t really use it after I touched base withKatie. I guess you didn’t need to go for the landline, but thanks for that.”Her tone was off. Weird.
.~ * * * ~.
For the next two nights and days, Beckett had Andie all tohimself in their insulated cocoon. First he thanked the snow gods; then hecursed them when the storm lit out and turned the skies over to the meltingpower of the high-altitude sun.
Theycooked together, danced, watched movies or read, cuddling on the couch likenormal people, and christened every damn bedroom in that house—and a few otherinteresting places too. A secret smile spread inside him. Beneath her demureexterior beat the heart of an adventuresome tigress—her smoldering “innergoddess”—with an appetite that rivaled his. And damn, did that make him onelucky bastard.
As morereports of passable roads rolled in, he resolved to return to Denver with her.He just needed a plausible reason so she didn’t think he was followingher—which, of course, he was. But he wasn’t only chasing the best sex he’d everhad. No, it went way beyond that. It was falling asleep with her, breathing herin. It was having his clothes and sheets steeped in her fragrance. It waswatching her while she slept and waking up with her. It was talking to her—ornot. It was holding her hand. It was the look she gave him when he playedpiano—like he was some kind of rock star, even though his ability was passableat best—and it was the way she made him want to beat his chest like a mightygorilla. It was how his heart filled to near-bursting when he looked at her.
She washis new drug, and he knew no way to break this addiction. Nor did he want to.
In bedon their last night, Andie was propped on her elbow, facing him as he lay onhis back. She traced figure eights on his chest while he fingered her hair.
“Younever did tell me what scares you most, pixie.”
Hereyes flicked to his, and she drew her lower lip between her teeth. With alittle sigh, she said, “I’d like a family one day. But I chose so poorly withAdrian that I seriously question my judgment. And there’s my own dysfunctionalrole models: an anonymous dad, an absentee, ‘good-time’ mom. The odds areagainst me.”
“Idon’t believe that for a minute. And even if the odds are stacked, you canovercome them. You’re made of tough stuff. Just look at everything you’vebuilt.”
“Yeah,but …”
“No‘yeah buts.’ Let’s look at one piece of the Andie Empire. How many people doyou know who talk about flipping houses?”
Shefrowned. “Um …”
“I hearall these ads on the radio all the time. ‘Take my class and do five houses yourfirst week.’ And those asshats get people to sign up—by the thousands. Of thosethousands, 99% never do a damn thing. But you’re the real deal. Hell, youcould teach the asshats teaching the suckers.”
Shescrunched her nose. “So you’re telling me I should teach classes?”
Heshook his head. “No. My point is this. When you put your mind tosomething, you do it. Might not be easy, but you put your nose to the millstoneand plow away.”
Herlips quirked. “Grindstone?”
“Yeah,that. But everyone else? They talk about it—blah, blah, blah—while youflip circles around them. You’re like one percent of one percent. Talk aboutodds.”
Shegave him a look that nearly turned his heart to goo, then kissed his shoulder.A few beats later, she said, “I’d like to ask you something.”
“Askaway. Whatever you want to know. Except the combination to my safe. I can’ttell you that.”
“Ididn’t know you had a safe.”
“Idon’t. That’s why I can’t tell you.”
Shegave him a playful smack. “All right. I promise not to ask for the combinationto your safe.” Pausing, she pursed her lips as though gathering her thoughts.“Do you ever get stalkers?”
Hewasn’t sure what question he’d expected, but it wasn’t this one, and it musthave shown on his face because she rushed on. “I mean, like crazy fans, orwomen you’ve met and … well, past encounters. People like that.”
“Sometimes.Any pro athlete does, or anyone who’s in the limelight.”
“Iremember watching you play on TV once,” she said. “You were serving a penalty,and a pair of lace panties landed in the penalty box. Do you remember that?”
Hechuffed. “No. People do all kinds of crazy things to get your attention, andshit like that goes on all the time.”
Shelooked astonished. “Women’s panties in the penalty box?”
“Oh,that’s mild. I learned long ago to tune it out.”
Herlips compressed together, and her hand slid off his chest. “So have you everhad to, you know, call the cops? Get a restraining order?” Her bright eyes wereround.
“Nope.”
“Do youthink you ever will?”
Wherewas she going with this? He shrugged. “I hope not. Less likely now that I’m notpro. For the most part, people are pretty good, and some places are better thanothers. Take Denver, for instance. Way more low-key than other cities. Peoplethere tend to leave you alone. The fans are into it, but they don’t pushthemselves in your face like in other towns.”
“Youmean, like women throwing themselves at you?”
He satup, tucking her hair behind her ear. “What’s this about, pixie?”
“N-nothing,”she stammered. “Just curious about … about the lifestyle and—”
Heflopped backward and flung an arm over his head. “Oh shit. This is about thatgod-awful crap I vomited out that day in Marty’s office, isn’t it? God, I wishI could take it back. I cringe whenever I think about it.”
“Youweren’t lying, though, were you?” Her voice was so low he barely heard her.
Hecaressed her arm. Her skin was so soft, and he couldn’t get enough of it. “Iwish I could say I was, Andie. You have no idea how much. But I can’t changethe past, just the future and the here and now. What if I said I don’t do thatanymore? That I haven’t for a long time?”
“Butwhat if you get signed by another team and you’re back in the spotlight? Thetemptation is there, ‘pushing itself in your face.’ It must be
