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Authors: Catherine Mann and Joanne Rock
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mean?” She felt his retreat, and it didn’t have anything to do with him heading for the door.
“Considering all the questions the team is fielding about us since the story broke, the Stars rescinded their permission for me to drive to Atlanta.” He retrieved his overnight bag and starting pitching in his belongings. “I need to be on the team plane so I can handle this with the press secretary in Atlanta tomorrow. We fly out at dawn.”
Chapter Six
‡
G rady had the hotel room packed in record time, even making room for Polly in the back seat in a pet carrier they’d gotten from the vet. He’d offered to call a cab so Melanie didn’t have to drive back to Orlando with him, but she’d insisted on going with him.
Not for a minute did he think that meant she’d decided to be his wife for real, however. He hadn’t forgotten the talk of annulments the night before and he wasn’t foolish enough to think that great sex would change her mind. Hell, they’d had great sex for a few weeks and she hadn’t taken his proposal seriously in the first place. Why would he think she’d want to attend a press conference with him as his bride just because they’d shared another night together?
“I’m sorry about this.” She sat in the passenger seat of the Honda, wearing jeans and a yellow tee that said “You are my Florida sunshine.”
Something about that made his mood all the blacker since it felt like false advertising. She wasn’t the easygoing, fun-loving woman he’d fallen for. By her own admission, she was more complicated than that. She’d hidden things from him. And she didn’t want to be a “part time” wife. So basically, screw him and his proposal.
Screw their whole short-lived marriage.
“You didn’t leak the photo.” He’d switched off his phone half an hour ago when he realized how big of a deal this marriage had become in social media.
“But if we’d had a regular marriage, all of this would be easier because we’d face this together.” She cleared her throat. “Like a couple.”
“Yeah. We would.” He drummed a beat on the steering wheel, not sure how much more he could risk his heart with this woman. She’d turned his life upside down in the last twenty-four hours.
Still, he wondered if he could have convinced her to stay with him if they’d had more time.
“I can take Polly though,” she offered. “I’ve got room for her at my old apartment. They allow pets.”
“How convenient. You can go right back to your old life now that I’m leaving.” He shook his head. “But no thanks. I’m taking Polly with me. I paid the vet bill. She’s in my name. She’s my dog. End of discussion.”
He felt her frown even though he stared straight ahead at the Florida Turnpike. He’d send someone to pick up his truck tomorrow. He’d be lucky to make it to the private airstrip for the plane at six a.m. For now, he just followed the red glow of taillights on the highway ahead and tried not to think about this season stretching out in front of him—one hundred and eighty some games that wouldn’t be any fun without her.
“You can’t care for a dog on the road.”
“Like hell I can’t.” He actually had no idea how he was going to take the puppy with him, but he wasn’t going to start this season alone. He might not have Melanie, but he would have his dog. “I’ll get a pet sitter when I need to.”
“A full time pet sitter. To travel with you.”
“If that’s what it takes. Yes.”
“Are you sure that’s fair to Polly?”
This time, he did turn to look at Melanie, illuminated by the dashboard lights. She toyed with the ribbon on the bridal bouquet he’d bought for her, curling the pink satin around one finger.
“You know how I knew you liked peonies?” he asked, ignoring the questions about the puppy since he hadn’t thought that through yet.
“ I didn’t even know I liked peonies.” She lowered her nose to the delicate petals and sniffed. “But they
“Considering all the questions the team is fielding about us since the story broke, the Stars rescinded their permission for me to drive to Atlanta.” He retrieved his overnight bag and starting pitching in his belongings. “I need to be on the team plane so I can handle this with the press secretary in Atlanta tomorrow. We fly out at dawn.”
Chapter Six
‡
G rady had the hotel room packed in record time, even making room for Polly in the back seat in a pet carrier they’d gotten from the vet. He’d offered to call a cab so Melanie didn’t have to drive back to Orlando with him, but she’d insisted on going with him.
Not for a minute did he think that meant she’d decided to be his wife for real, however. He hadn’t forgotten the talk of annulments the night before and he wasn’t foolish enough to think that great sex would change her mind. Hell, they’d had great sex for a few weeks and she hadn’t taken his proposal seriously in the first place. Why would he think she’d want to attend a press conference with him as his bride just because they’d shared another night together?
“I’m sorry about this.” She sat in the passenger seat of the Honda, wearing jeans and a yellow tee that said “You are my Florida sunshine.”
Something about that made his mood all the blacker since it felt like false advertising. She wasn’t the easygoing, fun-loving woman he’d fallen for. By her own admission, she was more complicated than that. She’d hidden things from him. And she didn’t want to be a “part time” wife. So basically, screw him and his proposal.
Screw their whole short-lived marriage.
“You didn’t leak the photo.” He’d switched off his phone half an hour ago when he realized how big of a deal this marriage had become in social media.
“But if we’d had a regular marriage, all of this would be easier because we’d face this together.” She cleared her throat. “Like a couple.”
“Yeah. We would.” He drummed a beat on the steering wheel, not sure how much more he could risk his heart with this woman. She’d turned his life upside down in the last twenty-four hours.
Still, he wondered if he could have convinced her to stay with him if they’d had more time.
“I can take Polly though,” she offered. “I’ve got room for her at my old apartment. They allow pets.”
“How convenient. You can go right back to your old life now that I’m leaving.” He shook his head. “But no thanks. I’m taking Polly with me. I paid the vet bill. She’s in my name. She’s my dog. End of discussion.”
He felt her frown even though he stared straight ahead at the Florida Turnpike. He’d send someone to pick up his truck tomorrow. He’d be lucky to make it to the private airstrip for the plane at six a.m. For now, he just followed the red glow of taillights on the highway ahead and tried not to think about this season stretching out in front of him—one hundred and eighty some games that wouldn’t be any fun without her.
“You can’t care for a dog on the road.”
“Like hell I can’t.” He actually had no idea how he was going to take the puppy with him, but he wasn’t going to start this season alone. He might not have Melanie, but he would have his dog. “I’ll get a pet sitter when I need to.”
“A full time pet sitter. To travel with you.”
“If that’s what it takes. Yes.”
“Are you sure that’s fair to Polly?”
This time, he did turn to look at Melanie, illuminated by the dashboard lights. She toyed with the ribbon on the bridal bouquet he’d bought for her, curling the pink satin around one finger.
“You know how I knew you liked peonies?” he asked, ignoring the questions about the puppy since he hadn’t thought that through yet.
“ I didn’t even know I liked peonies.” She lowered her nose to the delicate petals and sniffed. “But they
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