She nodded. “Everybody knows that.”
“But I’m not so good with people.”
Her eyebrows fell.
“Most people,” he clarified. “I’m good with you. You make it easy for me to be me.”
“Okay…”
“So we can’t be together in Miami.” Because he wouldn’t be there. Which meant there wouldn’t be a them there.
“I got that. Last time we talked.” She crossed her arms, her throat working, tears edging the rim of her eyelids.
Unfortunately, he was really fucking this up.
He rubbed at the ache forming in his skull between his eyebrows. “I’m not going to be there anymore. You can’t move there because I won’t be there.”
The dawn of understanding rose along with the magnitude of the situation. Her lips formed a circle. “They’re ditching you?”
That was certainly one way of saying it.
“Retirement is the word they insist on using.”
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.
“I’m sure it’s just a jammed doorknob,” Drake concluded. “I’ll just deal with whoever buys me when we get out of here.”
Anna dropped her forehead against his chest, nuzzling her cheek against him.
That was more like it.
She toyed with the buttons on his shirt. Each stroke made his blood pressure rise and made him wish they were somewhere alone that wasn’t technically public.
He trailed a fingertip along the length of her neck.
She shivered and her breath caught. Her lips parted slightly, and he pressed another kiss against them. Anna didn’t hesitate, inviting him deeper into the kiss and wrapping her arms around his neck so his mouth met hers with more desire.
He could conquer anything with Anna beside him. Or, in this case, pressed against the front of him.
“I love you, Anna,” he said for the first time.
“Me, too.” She pecked small kisses against the column of his throat.
“How are we going to get out of here?” he asked, realizing that although he didn’t particularly mind being locked alone with Anna, he needed to use this opening to talk to Medford and ensure he wasn’t purchased by the wrong person.
“Don’t know,” she mumbled as she continued pressing small kisses against his skin. “I’m thinking.”
“I do like the way you think.” His mouth met hers, his heart thudding in his chest as she practically climbed him like she was headed to a treehouse. The heat between her legs pressed against his thigh.
Warmth and passion sizzled in the air as days of pent-up frustration poured into the heat of their kiss.
The door flew open and Anna’s grandmother stood on the other side, her brows furrowed. She tsked loudly. “Vhat are you doing? This is not playtime.”
Drake pulled himself away from Anna, carefully setting her back on the ground. He held her against his side to ensure she had her bearings before slipping his hand down to meet hers.
“The jig is up, Babushka.” Anna pulled Drake closer beside her. “We’re together. You can cancel the auction.”
“Vhat?” The woman scowled deeper. “Vhat is a jig? A dance?”
Anna studied her grandmother. “Also, locking us in here is a little juvenile. Frankly, I would expect something more from you.”
“I did no such thing.” Babushka huffed.
“Uh-huh.” Anna pressed her lips together. “Sure.”
“I did not do this thing you tell me.” Babushka threw her arms wide.
“But you put Drake in the bachelor auction?” Anna asked like she already knew the answer to that and the locked door.
“Now that…vas me.” Babushka grinned a toothy grin. “But it vas Roman’s idea. I buy this man for you.” She gestured toward Drake. “You fall in love. I get more great-grandbabies. Roman is smart boy.”
Drake couldn’t help but grin at the thought of mini-Annas running around. He could definitely handle that kind of future.. “Hypothetically, if it wasn’t you, how’d we get locked in here?”