It Had to Be You (Chicago Stars #1)(113)

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.”

“Then we don’t have a chance,” she whispered.

“What are you trying to say?”

She was bleeding inside and she wanted the pain to stop. Her throat had squeezed so tightly shut she could no longer speak.

He regarded her with a flat, cold stare. “I’m not throwing the game.”

At first she didn’t understand what he meant. But as she took in the bleak expression on his face, she felt sick inside.

His voice was hard and furious, and she remembered that he hid all his stronger emotions behind anger. “I’ve played hard all my life, but I’ve always played clean, no matter how much temptation I faced. I’ve been offered money. I’ve been offered drugs and women. But I don’t throw games. Not for anybody. Not even for you.”

“I didn’t mean . . .”

His eyes flicked over her with contempt. Then he stalked out of the room.



She was only dimly aware of the passage of time as she sat on the edge of the bed with her hands clasped in her lap. She heard voices in the hallway when Molly took the twins home and then she heard her return a short time later. Pooh scratched at the door, but went away when she didn’t open it. She sat in the room and tried to put the pieces of herself back together.

At ten o’clock, she heard water running in Molly’s bathroom. She listlessly pulled off her own clothes, then slipped into her oldest bathrobe, finding comfort in its soft, worn fabric. There was a knock at her door.

“Are you all right, Phoebe?”

Under other circumstances, she would have been pleased that Molly had thought to inquire about her welfare, but now she merely felt empty. “I’ve got a headache. I’ll see you tomorrow before you leave for school.”

She wandered over to the window and pushed back the curtains to look down into the woods that ran behind the house. Tears clouded her eyes.

“Phoebe?”

She hadn’t heard Molly come in, and she didn’t want her here. Sooner or later she would have to tell her sister they were leaving Chicago, but she couldn’t do it tonight. “The door was closed.”

“I know. But—Are you sure you’re all right.” The light in the room went on.