AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Catarina, if you can find it in your heart to forgive me, I’ll serenade you every night for the rest of our lives. And we’ll do wake and shake every morning.”
My cheeks prickle, the burn of embarrassment infusing them with warmth.
“What’s ‘wake and shake’?” Nanci asks, sweeping her iPhone from the television to Barrett and me.
“Sounds intriguing,” Mia purrs.
Barrett grins. I’m tempted to slap him but he’s holding my dominant hand.
“You did not just say that on national television,” I whisper.
“Bad boy comes with the package, honey.” A second later he drops the cocky smile. “I’m lost without you in my life. I’m lonely. I’m sad. And I’m tired of sitting around feeling like shit because I lost the best thing that ever happened to me. You have a right to be angry. What I did was unforgivable. I’m begging, Kitty Cat.” He gently squeezes my hand. “Forgive me even though you shouldn’t. Give me a second chance even though I don’t deserve it. You’re the toughest woman I know. The most independent woman I’ve ever met. I don’t want to lose out on the love of a lifetime because you’re trying to prove to yourself that you’re okay. Gimme a chance to show you that you’re not okay without me. I’m a hard worker. I’ve overcome several hurdles in my professional career to stand here in front of you. Give me a chance to leap a personal one, too. Please?”
I hear a tearful sniff from behind me, and then another. Mine rounds out a trio.
“That”—I clear my throat—“was a good speech.”
“I’ve been writing it for a week-plus.”
I let out a watery laugh.
“What else can I say? What can I do? I’m quick on my feet on the field, Catarina, but I’m at sea when it comes to you. I’ve already screwed up, and I don’t want to do it again.”
“What’s the song you and Burke sang on stage at the festival?”
“‘More Than Words’? Want me to sing it?” He casts a quick look around at our audience. “I will.”
“No. I want you to follow the advice. If you want to win me back it’s going to take more than words to win me. You have to show me.”
“I can do that.” He pulls me against his body. My breasts press his chest as he bends, his lips hovering over mine. “I need to know one thing first.”
“There’s a caveat?”
“Afraid so. You said you were falling. Did you hit the ground yet?”
I feel the tear trickle from the corner of my eye. My voice cracks when I admit, “So hard. Broken-bones hard.”
He winces. “Can I fix it?”
“Fox”—I bat my eyelashes, but it’s no use. I’m a sniffling mess—“You’re the only one who can.”
He lays his lips on mine. Drinking in his kiss is like breathing after being underwater for a very long time. My lungs burn, my heart ratchets up a few notches, and my brain races to process everything that’s just happened.
Everything that’s still happening.
He drops his forehead on mine, his breathing uneven, his arms still holding me tight. “Can I follow you home?”
“You mean like a puppy?”
“Like gum stuck to your shoe. The really nasty kind you find at a fair with a cigarette butt in it.”
I laugh. Only he could say something like that in the middle of a romantic gesture and remain completely likable.
“Holy crap! Quarterback Joe Noll just commented!” Nanci exclaims. She offers a sheepish smile. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“Commented on what?” I ask.
“You’re live, kids.” Mia, who’s standing behind Nanci with the rest of our co-workers, waggles her fingers in a wave.
