Always There

by Tiara Inserto

  “Mitch is very nice,” Natasha said when she and Liana were alone in the kitchen preparing tea and coffee. “Mark thinks he’s good for you.”

  “Mark said he liked Mitch?”

  “I didn’t say that, but he has never liked any of your previous boyfriends either, especially Sebastian.”

  Liana frowned. “They play tennis together.”

  Natasha smiled. “Oh, he likes the Earl well enough as a tennis partner but didn’t think much of him as a boyfriend for you.” Natasha lifted the tray full of cups and saucers, ready to move back to the living room. She paused. “You know, when I first started seeing Mark, I was really nervous about meeting you. Out of all his friends, it was your approval I wanted the most.”

  “It shouldn’t have mattered what I thought about you. Mark loves you.”

  Natasha nodded. “Yes, he does. But he would never give you up, and if you and I hadn’t become friends, it would have been a horrible burden on him. For Mitch to be able to accept Mark in your life—it’s a big step in the right direction. He must be a really good person to see the bigger picture.”

  “The bigger picture?”

  “Of course,” Natasha said. “What you two have isn’t something casual. You both must know it otherwise, he wouldn’t be here. Nor would you have introduced him to your family so early in your relationship. Mark was actually shocked when he learned you were bringing him home to Exeter. He kept saying ‘She’s bringing him home? She’s bringing him home?’ over and over again. Quite pathetic, really.”

  Liana smiled. “Will you ever say ‘yes’ to Mark?”

  The taller woman sighed, her eyes troubled. “I want to. I wish I were brave like you. I love him, but knowing that the whole world would be interested in our lives is what overwhelms me. He’s such a public figure. I value my privacy so much. That’s why I work with animals. They keep my secrets!”

  When the two women reentered the living room, Mark, Guy, and Mitch were nowhere to be found. Moira rolled her eyes and pointed upstairs. “PlayStation.”

  * * *

  The next morning, Liana asked Mitch if they could enter the airport separately and meet in the lounge before the flight. “We’ve been lucky. No one has said anything, nor have we been caught by the paparazzi.”

  “I don’t mind being photographed with you.” He cupped her cheek, his eyes studying her.

  “Really?”

  Mitch nodded, a small smile on his lips. “Whether it begins here or in a couple of weeks, Liana, it will happen eventually. Or are we only going to meet in the dark of the night?”

  “No, of course not. I’m just... well, I don’t know. It’s been nice to have a private relationship without the media all over it.”

  He wrapped his arms around her. “Our relationship will always be private. When the media gets wind of it, we’ll still live the way we do. You and I have been in front of the public eye for years. It’ll be fine. I don’t mind entering the airport separately from you to keep this quiet for just a little longer. But I don’t want us to hide what we have, especially when we go back to New Zealand.”

  Was she trying to hide their relationship? Liana thought about it on her way to the airport. Mark was driving her in his car, while Natasha said she was happy to drop off Mitch on her way home.

  “Stop it,” ordered Mark.

  “What?”

  “Stop trying to analyze what you have with Mitch. Just enjoy it. Anusha phoned me this morning to see how he was doing. Didn’t ask about you at all,” he added with a smile.

  “My grandmother called you to ask about Mitch?”

  “Yes. Stop trying to break it all down into bits and pieces. This isn’t a football match. Just go for it, Liana. You deserve to be happy.”

  “Do you like him?”

  “Would it matter?”

  Liana didn’t have to think twice. “No.”

  “I didn’t think so.”

  When Mark dropped Liana off at curbside, she spotted a few photographers waiting. She had thought a few had been following Mark’s car for the last few miles. Mark took her small suitcase out of the car and nodded to the photographers.

  “And for the love of all things great and beautiful, have some sex, will you?” he whispered as they hugged.

  Liana burst out laughing. “You’re slightly insane.”

  “Love you.”

  “Love you back. See you in a few weeks.”

  When she reached the first-class lounge, Mitch was seated at the bar, seemingly having a conversation with the bartender. She glanced at the people around them. No one was paying any attention to Mitch, so lost were they in their own worlds. Did they know that one of the biggest rugby stars was seated among them? She walked up to him. When she reached the bar, she put her arm around his shoulders and placed a kiss on his cheek.

  Mitch turned, startled. He looked at her, his eyes questioning. She touched his cheek with the palm on her hand and moved to kiss him: a slow, gentle, deliberate kiss that lingered.

  “Hello,” she said softly.

  “This is a fairly public place for a kiss like that, Miss Murphy.”

  She traced his bottom lip with her thumb. “I know. But, oh well.” Mitch kissed her thumb and smiled widely.

  They walked hand in hand to the gate.

  “Here’s my question of the day. Ready? If you lived in the world of Tolkien, what species would you be: elf, dwarf, wizard or hobbit?” Mitch asked.

  Liana didn’t hesitate in her response. “Easy: dwarf.”

  Mitch glanced at her. “Really? I thought you’d identify with an elven princess. Fast, graceful, beautiful.”

  “You’re thinking of Connor.” They laughed.

  Liana continued. “Yes, I think I’d be a dwarf. They’re hardworking. No pretensions.”

  “They store all the gold and hide in the mountains.”

  “They’re loyal, love their food, are brave, and have a good time when work is done,” Liana replied instantly.

  “You can’t tell the women from the men.”

  “Androgyny is making a comeback. And you?”

  “I fancy being a wizard, specifically Gandalf.”

  “It’s the hat isn’t it?”

  “It is.”

  * * *

  Liana spent the first half of the flight reviewing her notes and the schedule she had set for herself. Mitch settled down to a book, something Felicity had recommended early in the year but never had the time to pick up until now. When he next looked up, he realized Liana had fallen asleep. He put his book down to study the gentle planes of her face, her near-flawless skin, and her dark lashes. He carefully put her notes away and switched off the laptop, then reclined the seat as far he could. She stirred but otherwise remained asleep. He smiled at how peaceful she looked. He pulled the covers over her, then gently kissed her cheek.

  He had known her for a good five months now, but she could still take his breath away. At that moment, he knew... he knew she was meant for him.

  He loved her.

  He didn’t know when he’d fallen in love with her, but he had. His heart belonged to her.

  The knowledge didn’t scare him. It strengthened his resolve to have her in his life, in any manner possible. Whether she felt the same depth of emotion for him, he didn’t know. It was enough, right now, that she wanted him to be with her.

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  Liana had warned Mitch that she was going to be on an intense work schedule in America. They were flying into San Francisco but would immediately head out on a shuttle flight to Seattle. She had scheduled meetings at four universities and would be scouting their practices and matches. And that was in the first week. Liana suggested to Mitch that he should take a few days to himself. “Use the time to explore the Sierras or one of their fantastic National Parks,” she said. “I’m going to be on the road a lot, and there won’t be much for you to do.”

  Mitch dismissed that idea immediately. He argued that the reason for his coming along wa
s to be with her. If that meant waiting in the car, listening to music, or finishing his book, he’d do that.

  And he did. Mitch went through his first book in two days, initially reading it in the car, then graduating to nearby coffee shops. By day three, he knew he had to do more than wait for Liana to be finished with work. On day four, he remembered hardly anyone in the country knew who he was.

  In the week following the Championship, he couldn’t take five steps without a request for a photo or a handshake. But here—a month later—he was truly anonymous. He could sit outside a café and drink his coffee while it was hot. For two whole hours, he didn’t say a word to anyone. No one was taking pictures. No one was interested.

  He wasn’t used to it, but he liked it.

  While Mitch walked unrecognized among the populations of Seattle and Portland, Liana met with university athletic directors and potential recruits. She kept her days packed with little time for him. However, once Liana’s workday was over, he insisted she switch off her phone and computer to spend time with him “properly.” Having lived with her, he knew she could work into the night, given the opportunity.

  “We need to do normal stuff. Couple stuff,” he said.

  Liana raised her eyebrows. “Normal stuff?”

  “Yes, so tonight we are going to the movies. I’ll pay for the tickets, and you pay for the popcorn.”

  He bought a travel chess set, and after dinner, they would play. They started working out in the hotel gym first thing in the morning followed by breakfast before splitting up for the day. He took her to an open mic concert at a small bar one night; on a free morning, she suggested they go to an art museum. When she had to work late to finish reports or have meetings with Phil over the internet, Mitch would stay up to keep her company, content to read in the background. And he never forgot to ask his question for the day. Sometimes they were simple (“Chocolate or vanilla?”) while other times the question would lead to conversations that would go on for a couple of hours.

  It was normal, but so unlike what they were used to.

  Mitch joined Liana at a couple of the intercollegiate matches where she was scouting. He had never been on an American university campus before and was impressed by the sporting facilities and resources. He was also surprised by the high level of play. He could see why Liana was putting so much energy into trying to bring a few of the younger players into the system. It’d be another challenge for her, given the competition for those spots at the various universities. But if she succeeded, she’d be able to take advantage of training systems still uncommon in New Zealand. An added bonus: their boys would get a good education while in training.

  Their next stop was the San Francisco Bay Area. Liana had secured meetings at three universities, but after that, the work part of her trip was over. She had added a few days in Los Angeles to visit a friend she hadn’t seen in almost a year.

  “What are your plans for today?” Liana asked, passing the toast to Mitch. They were staying at a boutique hotel close to Golden Gate Park.

  “Not sure. Feel spoilt for choice,” said Mitch, refilling Liana’s mug with tea. “The Academy of Sciences seems interesting, and it’s not too far from here. The internet says they have a really good aquarium. I love fish. Are you going to finish that? If not, I’ll take it.”

  Liana pushed her bowl of fruit to Mitch. She was looking over some notes before her meeting. “Well, I shouldn’t be later than four. The concierge says there’s a good Thai restaurant not too far from here. What you reckon? Yeah? Then tomorrow, we’ll do this.” Liana placed a printout in front of Mitch.

  “Ice hockey?”

  “Yes. I’ve never been. It’s in San Jose, which is about an hour south of here. Interested in seeing a sport more violent than yours?”

  “Rugby is not violent if you know what you’re doing. But, yeah, I think that’d be fun. I didn’t think I’d ever meet anyone who was more interested in sports than me.”

  “You’ve met your match then,” Liana teased.

  Mitch smiled. “I know I have.”

  Liana returned his smile, aware that the warmth that swept through her body was because of Mitch’s words. She was pleased that he took all her work commitments in stride. Other than ensuring they spend a few hours together in the evenings, he hadn’t complained once about being left alone so much. He understood why she was so dedicated.

  She didn’t like to think of herself as married to her work, but the reality of what her job demanded meant most things needed to take a backseat, including personal relationships. There was always work to tackle. There were always people to talk to. There was always something that needed to be done yesterday. She wondered how long Mitch would be willing to go along for the ride.

  “Liana, it’s nearly eight. Isn’t your meeting in half an hour?”

  “Oh yes.” Liana finished her tea and got up to leave. She kissed Mitch on the cheek and turned to walk away, but he grabbed her hand quickly.

  “Try again,” he said in a low voice, his eyes suggestive.

  Memories of their kiss last night came back in a rush.

  Liana put her bag down, placed her hands on either side of Mitch’s face, leaned in suggestively, parted her lips... then kissed his nose. Moving swiftly to avoid getting caught, she laughed as he slapped his napkin on the behind he’d told her kept him awake at nights.

  On their last evening in San Francisco, they stopped by Ocean Beach to enjoy the sunset. The sea was unusually calm, and a crowd had been drawn to the water on a warm evening. A family had a portable grill, and the smell of summer reminded Mitch of what November was usually like for him at home.

  As they sat on the hood of their car, Liana offered an apple to Mitch, who wondered how she could eat anything so healthy when “real food” was nearby. She leaned back on the windshield, looking up.

  “Do you miss it? Being on the field?” Mitch asked as he settled his body next to hers.

  “You mean as a player? Is that your question for the day?”

  “Yes.”

  “Yes and no. I miss playing for England. There’s a bit of magic when you put on your country’s shirt. You know that. I still like to play, to kick the ball around. But other than that? No, I don’t miss it. At one point, I thought it was all I ever needed to feel alive. But after the accident, I didn’t have the heart to train at that level anymore.”

  “You were injured as well. Badly, from what Guy said.”

  Liana nodded. “It took a good year to get my mobility back. I know I could have worked my way back up to my previous form. There was no physical reason why I couldn’t have continued to play for England. But you know, once you lose that desire, that thirst to compete, you’re no longer effective.”

  Liana took another bite of her apple as she remembered what life was like for her at nineteen. “To be a professional athlete, you have to be a little selfish. It’s a self-centered lifestyle. It’s all about your schedule, and your priorities—whatever it takes to be the best. Looking back, Adam was a saint not to have been jealous of all the attention that was paid to me and to my football. Our lives, as a family, revolved around it. But once Mum and Adam died, all I wanted was to be with my Da. Nothing else mattered.”

  “You could have been great. You were already playing at such a high level at such a young age.”

  “Maybe, but I have no regrets. It was the right decision to walk away when I did. I only had ten more years with Da.”

  “He was young.”

  Liana sighed softly. “You know, I had a post-mortem done on him. There was nothing wrong with his body. Everything was fine. He just went to sleep and died. My grandmother said his heart had never fully recovered from Mum’s death. I often wonder what it’d be like to love someone so deeply that you could never recover from that loss. And whether I would ever feel that. Or would I want to?”

  * * *

  Mitch studied Liana’s face as she spoke. She was far away in the past. He wanted her back with him, i
n the present, where he could share her pain and help ease the sadness. He started to speak but swallowed his words. What would you say if I told you I could feel that way about you? But it was too early in their relationship to admit it. Instead, he put his hand on top of hers, wondering if she could feel his love for her.

  The sky was turning different hues of blue, orange, and pink. Every so often, a few birds broke the uniformity of the cloudless horizon while the crashing waves accompanied the laughter and anonymous voices around them. Though they were among a crowd of strangers, he never felt a more intimate moment than when Liana rested her head on his shoulder.

  He pulled her onto his lap and felt her arms reach around him. He kissed the top of her head, inhaling the indistinguishable scent that was her.

  “I would very much like to make love to you, Liana,” he whispered.

  “Mitch...”

  “You decide when. I’m okay with that. I wanted to let you know that I’m ready when you are.”

  “Oh, Mitch.” Liana hid her face in his chest. “I’m desperately attracted to you. I want to be ready, but...”

  “Hey, look at me,” Mitch searched her eyes. “There’ll be no buts when the time is right. When we do make love, and I know we will, there’ll be no regrets.”

  * * *

  Late into the night, alone in her hotel room, Liana lay on her bed and thought about when they would move their relationship to the next stage.

  They’d technically only been together for three weeks, but their bond had begun months ago at the End of Winter Ball. They had an immediate connection, even then. She thought about how he had waited until after the Championship to make his move. He wanted her to be his priority, and she couldn’t be until he fulfilled his commitment to his teammates and to his country.

  That was just Mitch’s way, Liana realized. It was a hundred percent commitment to everything—and everyone.