Let Me Love You (Australian Sports Star Series Book 2)
Page 16
“You had to have sex to move on?” her father asked.
“Daaaad.”
He shrugged. “That’s how it sounded to me.”
“No.” She met his gaze and noticed his struggle with a smile. “You’re teasing me, right?”
“Yup.”
They ate for a moment before Tamara said, “I don’t know how to explain it. Everyone’s told me to move on, to move past the guilt that Jason’s gone, and I’m still here. I know Erik is worried, because he thinks Oliver is a charmer, but not worth keeping. If that’s really so, at least I have him to thank for starting this whole moving on business.” Lifting her shoulder in a shrug as she met her mother’s gaze, she said, “But somehow I think there’s more to him than just charm.”
Britt placed her hand on Tamara’s. “And most of the time it’s our gut instinct that is right.”
They ate in silence until Britt nodded towards someone behind Tamara. “Isn’t that…”
Tamara turned and spotted Oliver straight away in the crowd. “What on earth?”
Her dad turned as well. “Is that him?”
Tamara nodded and slowly stood. “Excuse me for a minute.”
Not waiting for a reply from her parents, she walked towards Oliver. Happy to see him, but nervous at the same time she stopped in front of him.
“Hi. Fancy seeing you here.”
Oliver took her hand and, without saying a word, led her through the crowd towards the toilets. Stunned, she just followed him, not really knowing what to say or think.
She trusted him.
That simple realisation that she was able to trust someone to follow a person blindly gave her a rush of peace within.
Although, for some odd reason, that was to the toilets at that moment.
He gently shoved her inside before he closed the door behind them. Placing his hand around her waist, he pulled her closer, brought his free hand to the side of her face, and kissed her. Not just a kiss, but a kiss so intense it spread warmth all the way to her toes and other vital parts of her body.
He slowly broke the kiss. “Christ, I'm glad I found you.”
Still stunned by what just had happened, she simply smiled.
Looking around before he met her gaze again, he said, “I know this isn’t the perfect place to do this, but considering what happened last night—” He shrugged.
“Oliver?”
Instead of a reply, he gave her another kiss that left her breathless and melting against his body.
She reluctantly withdrew from his kiss. “Not that I would complain, but I have a flight to catch.”
“Right.” He grinned as he pulled out a little box from his jeans pocket. Everything inside her stilled.
“I need you to know that I’ll be waiting. But I need you to also know that I’m yours. And only yours. My days of trying to forget with the help of women are over. I want you to be able to dream again, and I will wait until you get to that point. To dream about all the things you wanted in life. Including me, that is.”
Tears welled behind Tamara’s eyes as she tried to figure out what he was saying.
“Will you marry me?”
Her lips worked, but no sound came out. She simply stared at him as if he was someone from out of this world.
“Cupcake, this is where you say yes.” He cringed. “At least hopefully.”
“You want to marry me?”
He nodded. “That’s the plan.”
There was a knock at the door, and Tamara let out a small chuckle. What bad timing! With a frown, he indicated to her to keep quiet.
“Tammy, darling, are you in here?”
It was Tamara’s mother, and Oliver shook his head with a big grin on his face.
“Yes, I’m in here. How did you know?”
“I saw you walking in here with Oliver. What are you doing?”
Oliver stepped aside and slowly opened the door.
“Give me another five minutes,” he said. “We’re in the middle of getting engaged.”
Britt’s eyes shot wide open before a smile spread across her face. “Has she said yes, yet?”
“We kind of got interrupted.”
“Oh,” she said and grabbed the door handle, quietly closing the door again.
Oliver turned back to her and let out a long breath. “This is going well.”
Tamara cupped his face and touched his lips with hers. “Oliver—”
“Cupcake,” he whispered. “I’m not saying let’s get married tomorrow, but I am promising you that I intend to marry you when the time is right.”
His breath was so close it sent a shiver down Tamara’s spine.
Leaning his forehead against hers, he continued. “I love you, Tam. I know there will always be a place in your heart for Jason, and I can live with that. But you asked me to give you a reason for another move to Melbourne. This is it. I want you. And only you.”
He brushed a strand of hair from her face.
“I’m scared, Oliver.”
“Again?” he asked with a grin.
Tamara gently slapped him on his arm.
“We’ll do that one step after the other until you’re not scared anymore.” Then he opened the box, revealing the most beautiful diamond ring. It sparkled, even in the dim lighting. It was breathtaking.
“I love you, Tam.”
After a few long moments, she abandoned all reason and whispered a breathless, “Yes.”
Acknowledgements
Thank you Trevor, Carleigh and Tara, for your support, patience, and kicking me out of bed every morning. But mostly for the joy you give me.
Big thanks to Kingsley Collins from the Ballarat City Brewers Baseball Club for his help and patience. Anything I didn't get right is my own fault, and thanks to Sharlene.
My appreciation to the team at Limitless Publishing to make my story shine.
My family, my friends, and collegues—Yes, I've done it again.
About the Author
Iris Blobel was born and raised in Germany and only immigrated to Australia in the late 1990s. Having had the travel bug most of her life, Iris spent quite some time living in Scotland, London, as well as Canada where she met her husband. Her love for putting her stories onto paper only emerged a few years back, but now her laptop is a constant companion. Iris resides west of Melbourne with her husband and her beautiful two daughters as well as their dog. Next to her job at a private school, she also presents a German Program at the local Community Radio.
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