Page 11 of One Night with the Player

Walking into the high school gym with Olivia on my arm would be making a statement. Nothing happened in Broken Bend without the whole town knowing about it. Mama Mae would be thrilled, but I didn’t know how Ethan would handle it. Even though I’d become successful since I’d left, I still felt like I didn’t belong, like I didn’t deserve her.

“I just have one question for you, Leo.” Olivia tilted her head.

I resisted the urge to run my thumb over her full lower lip. There would be time for that later. Time for everything I wanted to do to her, and with her, if everything went according to my plan.

“What’s that, Luscious?”

She smiled slightly at the reference to her dancing name. “What’s your end game?”

“What do you mean?”

“I don’t have plans to leave Broken Bend.” Tears filled her lower lids. “You live in Chicago now. Is this just a weekend thing? Wrapping up unfinished business?”

Realization finally dawned. She had no idea how deeply in love with her I’d fallen. How deeply in love with her I’d always been.

“Olivia,”—I got down on my knee—“I love you. It’s always been you. Only you. If you want to live in Broken Bend, I’ll move here in a heartbeat. All I want is you.”

Her hands funneled through my hair as she cradled my head against her stomach. “Why now?”

“I tried to stay away. At first, I knew I wasn’t good enough for you. I had nothing to offer. Plus, I convinced myself that I needed Ethan’s support to have any chance at success. I didn’t want to risk our friendship, so I shut down my heart and tried to find comfort where I thought I could.” Guilt raced through my veins for my past mistakes.

“I heard stories, Ethan. Saw pictures of you online as one of the most eligible bachelors in Chicago. Do you have any idea how much it hurt to see you pictured with a different woman every single time?”

The last thing I wanted to do was cause her any pain. “I’m so sorry that hurt you. I was trying to outrun my heart. To stay a few steps ahead so it didn’t catch up with me. I learned a long time ago it wasn’t possible. It’s only ever been you.”

She took in a deep breath. “It’s only ever been you for me, too.”

“I’ve wasted so much time. Even with the reunion, I thought if I could make sure you wouldn’t be here, it would be safe to come back.”

Her eyes widened. “The cruise? That was you?”

“Guilty.”

“So what about now?”

“Now I want to walk into the gym with you on my arm and let everyone know that we’re together.” I stared deep into eyes I’d seen every night in my dreams. The eyes that looked back at me with more love than I deserved. “I love you, Olivia. For better or for worse. In sickness and in health. For richer or for poorer. Marry me.”

She got down on her knees in front of me. The sparkly bustier brushed against my suit and left a swipe of silver glitter on my lapel. I didn’t give a fuck about anything except hearing her answer.

“I’ll marry you, Leo Steele.”

A huge sigh whooshed from my lungs.

“Not so fast.” She held up a finger and touched it to my lips. “First, I need you to make love to me. I don’t want to walk into that reunion as a shy, quiet, thirty-year-old virgin. I want to walk in there as your woman.”

“Your wish is my command.” I slanted my mouth over hers and sealed my promise with a scorching kiss. If we both lived to be one-hundred years old, the rest of our lives wouldn’t be long enough to spend with this woman.

10

OLIVIA

“Will this do, my love?” Leo opened the door to a suite that covered the entire top floor of the swanky downtown Austin hotel. When I said I wanted him to make love to me, I hadn’t had a specific location in mind. I figured we’d go back to my apartment and do the deed, then I’d get ready for the reunion and we’d head over to be there in time for the under the sea buffet.

My man had other plans.

The suite was breathtaking, with floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a panoramic view of the city. Soft music played in the background. The air was filled with the aroma of scented candles, and the room was adorned with rose petals and flickering candles.

“Leo, this is amazing.” I breathed in the heady scent of fresh flowers as I turned to face him. He was already pulling me into his arms, his lips capturing mine in a searing kiss. I melted into him, my body responding to his touch with an intensity that took my breath away.

---