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The muscles in his throat worked as he swallowed hard. "Don't do this, Phoebe. Don't start saying all kinds of things that can't be taken back. I told you how screwed-up my own family was. For a long time I've been wanting to settle down to a real marriage—not just an ongoing orgy like I had with Valerie. I want kids."
"So you held auditions for your future children's mother, and Sharon won the baby ribbon."
"It's not hard to figure out why she appealed to me. I wanted somebody who liked kids, who wasn't going to be slapping them around whenever my back was turned."
"I see. Exactly whose mother was she supposed to be? Your children's or yours?"
He flinched, but she felt no satisfaction in knowing she'd hurt him. She didn't want that. She just wanted him
to go away before she fell apart.
"That's a rotten thing to say."
"I guess it is. But I also suspect it's true."
His voice sounded hoarse. "Do you know that when I saw you with those kids downstairs, I was just about the happiest man in the world. For a few minutes today, I thought everything was coming together for us."
He hesitated, and she suddenly knew what was coming. It was as if he'd already spoken the words, and although the room was warm, she felt chilled. Don't say it! Tell me you love me instead. Tell me love is what you want from me, not just children.
He jammed his hands in his pockets. "I'd never seen you with kids. For all I knew, you felt the same way about them as Valerie. But I saw how you acted with those boys, and it wasn't hard to tell they're as crazy about you as you are about them."
Her whole body was aching. "Does this mean that I'm in the running now that Sharon's out of the picture?"
"I don't know why you're putting it like that, but, yes, I think you'd make a terrific mother."
She swallowed. "Am I in first place now or are there other women standing in line in front of me?"
He gritted his teeth. "There aren't any other women."
"So I'm the only candidate at the moment."
"I haven't had more than two hours of sleep a night for longer than I can remember," he said tightly. "I'm running on junk food and adrenaline, and I'm not going to apologize for wanting to marry you."
Of course he wanted to marry her. They were great together in bed, he knew she wouldn't abuse his children, and there was a possibility she'd give him the Stars as her dowry.
Until that moment, she had forgotten about Reed's sly insinuation, but now it came rushing back. The room began to spin. She struggled to speak. "This sudden desire of yours to marry me…" She cleared her throat. "Is it just because you saw me with the twins or does it have anything to do with the fact that I'm only one game away from owning the Stars?"
He went completely still, his face going pale. "Exactly what are you suggesting?"
"We've known each other for months, but this is the first time you've indicated that you want anything more than sex from me. Is that what today's all about? Are you laying the groundwork for a real marriage proposal in case the team wins on Sunday?"
"I can't believe you're saying this."
She gave a choked laugh. "I guess I hadn't really thought about what a catch I'd be. If the Stars win, whoever marries me will be getting big breasts and a great football team. I'm every man's fantasy."
His face was rigid. "Don't say another word."
"You'd be the envy of all the coaches in the league."
"I'm warning you…"
"Will you still be this anxious to marry me if the Stars lose?"
A muscle jumped in his jaw. "What happens in that game on Sunday doesn't have anything to do with the two of us."
"But if you win, I'll never be sure of that, will I? The only way I'll know you're sincere is if you lose and you still want to marry me." Say you love me, Dan. Say you want to marry me because you love me—not because I excite you in bed or you want me to have your children or you covet my football team. Say you love me, and push all this ugliness away.
"I'm winning this football game."
