“I’m sorry. I can leave if you want.” He took a step back.
The thought of him leaving caused her heart to squeeze. She didn’t want to admit it, but him leaving was the last thing she wanted. But he’d broken her heart. How could she trust that he wouldn’t do it again?
“So, things are over with Daisy?”
Michael glanced over at her and she saw hope in his gaze. “It never was really on with Daisy. I got drunk at a party and proposed to her. I tried to break it off, but couldn’t because she went out of town. Then I got scared and left.” He ran a hand through his hair. “Not my proudest moment.”
Anna wasn’t surprised. That did sound like Michael. “So, kind of like the time you broke Mrs. Transke’s gnome, and then ran away instead of telling her? How long were you in the woods for before you parents found you?” She folded her arms. The sweet breeze surrounded her, carrying salty air with it.
Michael laughed and nodded. “Yeah. To say I run from my feelings is probably a bit of an understatement.”
“I have so many examples that it would take all night to list.”
“Yeah. I bet you do. You know me so well. That’s what I love about you.” He hesitated before he glanced over at her.
She wasn’t sure what to say to that. Did he just confess that he loved her? She rubbed her arms as she glanced around. “Where’s Javier? You didn’t beat him up, did you?”
Michael pinched his lips and shook his head.
“You know, it wouldn’t be the first time.”
He shrugged. “Hey, some of the guys deserved it.”
She couldn’t help herself. She laughed at the memories that they’d shared together. What had happened between them? “When did things get so complicated?” she asked, turning to study the ocean. She’d be lying if she said she didn’t wanted to go back to a time when things were easier.
Michael appeared next to her. His gaze was toward the ocean as well. “Anna, I remember our kiss.” His voice was low, and she had to lean over to hear him.
“I would hope so. It’s only been twenty-four hours.”
He shook his head. “No. The one from McKenna’s wedding. I remember that kiss. I pretended I didn’t and that I was too drunk to know that it was with you, but I remember. It was probably the first real thing I’d ever experienced, and that scared me.” He turned to look at her.
“So, all this time, you had me believing that I was the only one who remembered?” Her stomach twisted. Why hadn’t he told her the truth? She felt like such an idiot.
“I was stupid, and then I didn’t know how to tell you that I realized I’d loved you since we were kids and that kiss meant everything to me. I wasn’t sure you even liked me. So, I ran.”
Anna turned to study him. “What?”
He studied her. “I ran.”
“No, not that. What did you say before that?”
He turned, causing him to be inches from her. “That I’ve loved you since we were kids?”
Warmth started in her toes and ran across every nerve in her body. She raised her gaze to meet his. “You love me?”
He stepped closer to her. “Anna Short, I’ve loved you for so long. You’re a part of me. Even though I ran, I couldn’t hide the fact that you’re the one for me. You are the sweetest, kindest”—he lowered his voice—“sexiest girl I’ve ever met.”
She let out a laugh as she studied him. Was he really saying these things to her?
“And only an idiot would let you go.”
He reached out and tucked an escaped curl behind her ear, leaving his fingers to linger on her cheek. “Do you forgive me?”
Anna turned her face toward his hand, kissing his palm. “I’ll do you one even better.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Yeah?”
“How about I say I love you as well?”
She giggled as he wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close.
“Then you’d make me the happiest guy in the entire world.” He leaned down to brush his lips against hers.
When he pulled back, he glanced down at her. “Do you really mean it?”
Anna ran her hands up his arms, to his shoulders and then wrapped her fingers up in his hair. She reveled in the feeling of him next to her. The familiarity of being with Michael.
“I love you, Michael Jones. I always have. Ever since I was a dorky teenager with braces, I knew you were the one for me.”
He shot her a half-smile as he dipped down and pressed his lips to hers. Fireworks exploded throughout her body as she allowed his lips to move against her own. He pressed her so close to him that she could feel his heart pounding in his chest.
He pulled back again, and a groan escaped her lips. Why did he keep doing that? When he glanced down at her, he smiled.
“Say it again.”
She rolled her eyes. “What?”
“That you love me.”
She pulled away. “I said it once. I’m not going to again.”
He grabbed onto her and crushed her to his chest, picking her up and spinning her. She shrieked and giggled as the world spun around her. When he finally set her down, he put up his hands as if he wanted her to stay put.
She took a deep breath and watched as he knelt in front of her. He took her left hand and pulled out the ring he’d given her. The one she’d given him back earlier that afternoon.
“Anna Short, will you make me the happiest guy in the world and really marry me?” He glanced up at her.
Anna took a breath. She didn’t want to ever forget this. Everything in her life had led up to this moment. Michael loving her back. Wanting to spend the rest of his life with her.
“You sure?” she asked. “No more running away from me?”
He shook his head. “No more running away. I’m here. Forever.”
She smiled and nodded. “Then of course I’ll marry you.”
Michael slipped the ring onto her finger and was up next to her faster than she could blink. He pulled her to his chest, dipping down to press his lips to hers.
As the sound of the lapping water filled the air, Anna lost herself in the feeling of Michael holding her. It was everything she’d ever wanted. In this moment, she was complete. And she never wanted him to let her go.
Epilogue
Michael pulled into the parking garage and turned off his car. He took a deep breath. He couldn’t believe this was happening. It was what he wanted for so long, and today, it was finally happening.
Anna turned around and smiled at him. When her gaze met his, she gave him an understanding look. She reached out and patted his hand. “It’ll be okay. McKenna’s a fighter. Besides, a C-section isn’t the end of the world.”
Michael just nodded. This wasn’t how he’d imagined the birth of his niece going, but they were both doing well, so that was all the mattered.
Michael leaned over, and Anna met his kiss. They’d been married for three months now, and he’d be lying if he said he hadn’t thought about tiny Michaels or Annas running around.
When Anna pulled back, she shot him a suspicious look. “Michael?” she asked, raising her eyebrows.
“What?” he asked, reaching over and pulling the door handle.
“You have a look.”
He shrugged as he stepped out of the car and Anna followed him. “Remember when we told Sefina the reason why we weren’t having sex at the Rekindle Resort?”
Anna nodded. “Something to do with only for procreation. Why?”
“Well, thank goodness you don’t only feel that way.” He wiggled his eyebrows at her.
“Was there a reason why you brought this up?”
He tried to seem nonchalant as he threw his keys into the air. “Is it so bad that I want to have babies with the woman I love?” He smiled to himself as he pulled open the back door of his car and grabbed out the giant teddy bear he’d shoved back there.
“What?” she asked.
“I want to have babies with the woman I love.” He stood and met
her gaze. Her lips were parted as she studied him.
“You’re ready?”
He shrugged. “Are you?”
She squealed and raced around the car, throwing herself into his arms. “Yes!” She pressed her lips against his.
He grabbed her with his free arm and pulled her close, deepening the kiss. When they broke apart, he glanced down at her. “Not here, Mrs. Jones. We can start tonight.”
He winked at her, and she swatted him. She disappeared in the backseat and then emerged with a handful of balloons. Once they were free of the door, he pushed it closed and slung the teddy bear over his shoulders.
“You had to go with the biggest one the store carried?” she asked as she followed him.
He shrugged. “It’s for my first niece. I need to establish myself as the favorite.”
She laughed. “Well, you’re not spoiling our kids.”
Michael fell silent as he reveled in the feeling that hearing her say our kids brought him. He was married and talking about a family with Anna. He was pretty sure his life couldn’t get more perfect than this.
He turned, halting her in her tracks. “I love it when you say that.”
She glanced up at him. “Our kids?”
He nodded and then bent down to meet her lips. She giggled as she returned the kiss. If his hands were free, he would have wrapped them around her and never let her go.
“Michael, McKenna’s expecting us.”
He groaned, but then took a step back. “Tonight?”
She nodded. “Tonight.”
Happiness rushed through his body as he smiled down at his wife. It’d taken years to get to this point, but he wouldn’t have had it any other way. Anna was his and that was all he’d ever need. And this time, he wasn’t going to screw it up.
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Acknowledgments
Thank you to my wonderful husband who puts up with a wife who took on so many projects this year but made sure she didn’t lose focus on her goals.
Thank you to my five wonderful children. Your enthusiasm is contagious even though you drive me crazy sometimes.
Thank you to Victorine Lieske who created my fabulous covers! I’m so lucky to have such a talented writer friend!
Thank you to my writing group buddies, Michelle Pennington, Judy Corry, and Victorine Lieske. You helped whip my characters into shape!
Thank you to all of my beta readers. You’re never scared to tell me when something’s not working.
Thank you to my editors Hanni Cluny and Brooke Lewis. You two ladies are a dream to work with!
Other Books by Anne-Marie Meyer
See the other books by her:
Forgetting the Billionaire
Book 1 of the Clean Billionaire Romance series
Forgiving the Billionaire
Book 2 of the Clean Billionaire Romance series
Finding Love with the Billionaire
Book 3 of the Clean Billionaire Romance series
Falling for the Billionaire
Book 4 of the Clean Billionaire Romance series
Fixing the Billionaire
Book 5 of the Clean Billionaire Romance series
Marrying a Cowboy
Book 1 of the Fake Marriage series
Fighting Love for the Cowboy
Book 1 of A Moose Falls Romance series
About the Author
Anne-Marie Meyer lives in MN with her husband, four boys, and baby girl. She loves romantic movies and believes that there is a FRIENDS quote for just about every aspect of life.
Connect with Anne-Marie on these platforms!
anne-mariemeyer.com
Marrying an Athlete Page 16