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She frowned at him. How did he know stuff she didn’t? She poked him in the ribs. “You tell me what you know.”
He grunted, twisting to get away from any further close range attacks. “You have a new sponsor.”
“Who?”
“Me.”
“Shut up.”
He gave her an ‘I own a derby team’ grin.
“No! You sponsored the Tricks? By yourself?”
“Yep. For two seasons. And I put up prize money for the final bout this season. It’s not much, but it’s better than nothing.”
“You? What? When?” She searched his face for any sign of sarcasm or fooling around. He wore his ‘love a good spreadsheet’ serious expression.
“Is it so hard to believe? I signed the paperwork and delivered a cheque Friday.”
“You must have money to burn.” She tried to tidy her hair. Tried to think. This made no sense. “There is no possible benefit to you.”
“I sold my old Alfa and the benefit is you still have a registered team.”
Bree felt her own eyes widen with amazement. “You sold your car to sponsor my derby team without knowing if I was ever going to talk to you again.”
He laughed. “Call me an idiot.”
“Wow. I thought you were a good analyst. That was a lousy decision.”
“I’ve always been a risk taker and a gambler. I thought you were a good bet. I still think so.”
“A good bet.” She pushed away from him and got to her knees. “That’s what you think I am—something to play with.”
He reached for her, but she got to her feet. Bonne Tyler was singing I Need a Hero and it was simply too cheesy. She had to shut it down. She didn’t need a hero, and a man who thought he could make a game of being with her wasn’t any kind of champion she recognised. She left him on the floor and went to shut the sound system down. Hopefully he’d get up and leave and take his poisoned sponsorship with him.
She never made it to the sound deck. He ploughed into the back of her, lifting her and wrapping her in his arms, managing somehow to stay upright. “You don’t get to be so fucking unfair to me.” She struggled to get free, kicking and thrashing, but he’d boxed her into his body. “Life is a gamble. You know it.” He released her and she skated away, turning to look at him. “Every time you put your skates on and come out on the track you bet against not getting hurt. You do it because you know the risks and prepare for them. You bet on yourself to stay safe and to come out a winner. You do it at work as well. It’s all a gamble. I don’t see what’s wrong with me wanting to bet on you too. They way I figure it I can’t lose.”
She couldn’t look at him anymore. She looked at Damo’s skates.
“Bree, look at me. I’m applying for the position of someone who loves you. Are you accepting applications?”
She lifted her head. She saw a man who’d pushed her buttons until she fought him for respect, until she made him think about the world a little differently and he thanked her for showing it to him.
And wanted to sign up for more.
“You sold your car.”
He nodded. “I’ve got a pretty cool loaner even if it’s a yank tank.”
“You sponsored the Tricks?”
“I am the proud sponsor of an all girl roller derby league team that kicks arse. Big Swinging Tricks forever.”
“Unbelievable.” Bree shook her head as the miracles stacked up. “You want to be with me?”
“Like a fish needs to swim.”
He said that too loud, too clear. Every seat in the empty stadium got the message, but it couldn’t be right. “You don’t care that I’m Miss Perfect at work and miscarriage of justice on the track?”
