Sam felt his face get hot. Wexler must have heard some of his and Mariella’s most intimate moments.
He managed a grin. “You may be right, Wexler.”
* * *
“Did I hear right, Sam? You’re not coming back?”
“For the holidays, Niles.” Sam stretched out on the couch. “Don’t I even get a merry Christmas?”
He’d taken a cold shower, and gotten into his long flannel pajama pants. He crossed his bare feet at the ankles.
“Don’t change the subject,” his agent scolded.
“Why aren’t you wearing an ugly sweater and opening gifts today?”
“Because I have no children and no life. Listen to this... ‘Independent sources have confirmed Sam Kelly will be back in Brent for the holidays, and for good.’”
Sam chuckled as he brought up the front page of a popular London newspaper on his phone.
“You’re quite the story spinner.”
“I didn’t create this one, mate. The team is really missing you, Sam.”
His phone was on speaker. Sam was tempted to hit the off button, in his boldest bah-humbug move yet.
“So say the headlines.”
“This time it’s true.”
His agent’s voice sounded as if he was sitting across the table from him, not halfway around the world.
“Oh, yeah? How come I never hear from them and only from you?”
“Because they don’t want to persuade you into coming back. They know that’s my job.”
“Judging by the scores, Team Valor seems to be doing fine without me.”
“They’d be doing better with you and you know it.”
Sam shrugged. “I don’t know much of anything anymore.”
“What’s this? You sound like you’ve lost your best friend.”
“No, only the best woman I’ve ever known.”
“Uh-oh. What gives?”
“Why should I tell you? You’re part of the problem,” Sam complained, even though Niles was the most sought-after sports agent in soccer.
“I only put those stories out there to boost your playboy image. It got you tons of press.”
With only one or two months off, Niles knew Sam didn’t have the time for a serious relationship. Traveling allowed him to meet, and sometimes bed, women all over the world. Sam never wanted those trysts to last, nor could they. Not with his schedule.
He frowned. “I guess it served a purpose. But now that I’m over here, none of that matters. In fact, it’s only hurting me.”
And the woman I love.
The thought gave him pause.
Was he really truly ready to love Mariella?
“I may have gotten myself into some hot water over here.”
“Eh? What do you mean?”
“I got caught kissing the mom of one of my players, by another mom, in the school gym.”
Sam could almost hear the man rubbing his hands together and plotting.
“Sounds like headline material here in the UK. We appreciate a juicy scandal, especially when it involves a handsome, still single footballer, like you.”
Still single.
His agent’s words entered Sam’s brain and stuck there, taunting him with the possibilities.
“I’m told the same is true here in Bay Point, but the mom who caught us hasn’t done anything about what she saw. Yet.”
“Good news, right?”
“No. The woman I was kissing won’t see me again.”
“So? You don’t need to get tangled up in a relationship for more than one night anyway. It will only make it harder to leave.”
“And who says I’m leaving?” Sam demanded.
“I do. Your doctor says you’re recovered enough to play,” Niles replied in a mild tone. “It’s only a matter of time, and dollar signs.”
Sam was too angry to even speak for a moment. He didn’t want to even think that he was capable of leaving Mariella now, but deep down, he knew that he was.
“Forget the woman, whomever she is, and come back to England, Sam. If you won’t do it for me, will you do it for your country?”
“Way to turn up the guilt, Niles. You’re starting to sound exactly like my mother.”
Chapter 11
Mariella had some difficulty keeping a straight face as she walked through the revolving doors of the Horizon Intercontinental Hotel around noon on Christmas day. After all the worry and angst that she wouldn’t be able to see Sam during the holidays, she was on her way to his room.
The luxury hotel wasn’t scheduled to open to the public until New Year’s Eve. Most of the furniture was covered in drop cloths, but she didn’t have to see it to know it was expensive. She’d overheard a conversation with the owner of the hotel and Mayor Langston several weeks ago. Though Gregory had no stake in the property, he’d wanted to ensure that it was as opulent as possible because he knew it would be a huge draw for tourists and A-list clientele.
Her heels tapped on the white marble floors and echoed throughout the large lobby. She bit her lip and approached the front desk, hoping the attendant wouldn’t recognize her.
“I’m here to see Sam Kelly.”
The man smiled and she inwardly sighed with relief. She’d never seen him around town before, and figured he was new to the area. If he thought it was strange she was wearing a raincoat on a sunny day, it didn’t show on his face.
Mariella waited while he typed something in his computer. “He’s in the penthouse suite.”
He gave her a pass card and directions to the private elevator, and then picked up a phone call.
She made her way to the farthest corner of the lobby. As the doors closed, she tightened the belt of her raincoat, and her excitement grew as the elevator rose to the penthouse level.
Yesterday she’d waited until Josh went to bed to open Sam’s gift. The handwritten card with the invitation to the hotel was a surprise, but nothing prepared her for the shock of what was inside the box.
That morning, after opening their gifts and having breakfast, Josh wanted to go to Emily’s house to spend the day with her family. She was meeting him there that evening for dinner.
She stepped out of the elevator, which opened up directly in the hotel room, and looked around, feeling like a mysterious vixen in a classic film.
The place was enormous, as large as an apartment, and the furniture was plush and modern. The teak floors were polished to such a high gloss she took off her kitten heels for fear of slipping.
A slight breeze lifted her hair from where it fell softly around her shoulders. From her vantage point she could see a large balcony. The air was circulated in the room by several rustic-style ceiling fans.
Mariella stood in one place in her bare feet, not sure how far to proceed.
“Sam?”
There was only the faint sound of the ocean and then she remembered his note. He’d been very explicit in his instructions.
Before she lost her nerve, she unlooped the thick belt of her raincoat and undid the buttons. Just before she slipped out of it completely, Sam walked into the room from an unseen entrance with a bottle of champagne, wearing nothing but a pair of black silk boxers.
She momentarily forgot to speak or where she was as she openly admired him. She thought she knew every cut of every dark bronze muscle, but in the light of the midmorning, it was clear she had a lot more to explore.
“Hello, Sam.”
“I guess you read my note last night.”
He bowed and it made her tremble more as the raincoat slipped from her shoulders.
Sam walked toward her, whistling low. “And you opened my gift. I need to see it from all sides.”
He made a twirling motion with his fingers and she spun around.
“Baby, you look so sexy, I wish I
could do backflips.”
She laughed and tossed her hair. “Now, that would make for some interesting positions.”
“Don’t give me any wicked ideas.” He grinned and held up the bottle. “I was just getting ready to open this. Want some?”
“It’s never too early for bubbly.”
“Let’s have it out on the patio.”
Her eyes widened and she crossed her arms over her chest. “But, Sam, somebody will see us.”
He pulled her close for a slow, sweet kiss. “It’s completely private. Just like this suite.”
She bit her lip to taste him. “What about my raincoat?”
“You won’t be needing it.”
He grinned and led her outside. “This is the only penthouse suite at this hotel. It has two bedrooms, two baths and a full kitchen but the patio is my favorite.”
Enclosed on three sides by white stucco, with its yellow-striped canvas canopy and terra-cotta tile floor, it had a very Mediterranean feel. There was a hot tub and a small pool with crystal-blue water.
“How did you get this place?” she asked, marveling at the magnificent view of the Pacific Ocean.
“I heard through the grapevine that there were a few rooms available before the official grand opening next week, so I snagged the best one. Do you like it?”
“Sam, it’s gorgeous.”
She crossed her arms and pointed to the small fireplace recessed into the wall.
“That could come in handy.”
The temperatures were in the midsixties, under partly cloudy skies, and she was wearing next to nothing.
His gaze roamed her body. “Are you cold?”
Mariella cast her eyes downward to her black strapless leather bustier laced with grommets. She slid one of her fingers beneath her bikini underwear, the palest of pinks, in sheer chiffon. The contrast was striking and sensual.
“What do you think?” she asked with a saucy grin.
He set the bottle down on a small table next to a hammock built for two. Two glasses were already there.
“If you want me to warm you up, just say the word.”
“First, pour me some champagne. I want to talk.”
Mariella gingerly lay down on the hammock and accepted a glass. “We don’t have much time. I’m due for an early dinner at Josh’s girlfriend’s house and I obviously can’t go dressed in this.”
“Uh-huh,” he said. “That’s for my eyes only.”
She held a breath as Sam joined her. When she was sure the hammock could hold them both, she took a sip of champagne and rested her head back on the blue chintz pillow that stretched across the top.
“Two words. Why leather?”
He turned his head to face hers. “You look good in it. I loved that dress you wore to my apartment that night. I ordered it online and it looks like I was right about the size. Aren’t you proud of me?”
Mariella gave him a kiss on the nose. “Very. I love it. This is something I never would have bought for myself.”
“Get used to it. You deserve every good thing there is in this world.”
His comment should have made her feel warm inside, but she only felt a sense of dread.
Sam frowned. “What’s wrong?”
She drank the rest of her champagne, needing the temporary comfort it provided her.
“I’m not sure why I’m here, Sam. I was the one who wanted to end everything between us.”
“Do you still?”
Mariella looked up and saw that the awning was one of those types that could be retracted into the wall. It was cozy underneath, but talking about her feelings made her feel raw and exposed.
“I don’t know. I guess that’s what I’m here to find out. You already know I’ve fallen in love with you.”
“I’ve sensed that for a while. And I wanted to prove to you that I feel the same way, but even if I do, I’m guessing that’s not enough.”
She threw one arm over her eyes and peeked at him from under it. “You do realize that we don’t know that much about each other, right?”
“Yes. We don’t have to hide anything from each other.” Sam picked up her arm and placed it on her chest. “Ask me anything.”
She turned to face him. “Do you miss playing soccer professionally?”
“There are some parts I miss, others I don’t.”
“I want to hear all the juicy details.”
He looked at her pointedly. “No, you don’t.”
She smiled, caught. “You’re right, I don’t.”
“I got tired of the high expectations, the paparazzi and, believe it or not, the constant chase of women.” He paused to take a sip of his drink. “I wanted a break, so I took it.”
“Would you have stopped playing if you hadn’t gotten injured?”
She waited while he considered the question.
“Honestly, probably not. My priorities would have stayed the same—money, fame and everything that comes with it. The injury was literally the kick that I needed to jolt my thinking and my lifestyle.”
She paused, not sure if she should ask again a question they’d already hashed out. “And are you going back?”
“To England?” At her nod, he said, “Nothing has changed. I just haven’t decided whether I’ll continue to play professionally or just coach.”
Mariella kept her face impassive, even though inside, she felt defeated at his decisive tone.
She watched the edges of the canopy snap in the ocean breeze. There was truly no chance for her and Sam to be together, but she didn’t want to leave him. Not yet anyway.
He turned to face her. “I’m sorry if that upsets you.”
She searched his eyes and got the sense that he wished things could be different. “It doesn’t because I know it’s the truth.”
She took a deep breath. “I never wanted anything from you. Maybe you thought I did because of who you are, but I didn’t.”
Though she was careful to keep her tone light, he hitched in a breath as if he’d been punched.
“I never thought that about you.”
“Regardless, it’s something I’ve always worried about with any man. I married young, and my former husband died very young.”
“I’m sorry,” he frowned, stroking her arm. “I’m sure that was difficult.”
She inhaled the salty air and adjusted her body more comfortably in the hammock.
“Sometimes I wonder if it was harder for me or for my son. Raising him by myself hasn’t been easy.”
He squeezed her hand. “You did a fine job.”
“I’m not fishing for compliments, just like I’m not in the market for a dad for my son. Josh was crushed when the few relationships I have had didn’t work out.”
Mariella closed her eyes, remembering all the questions Josh asked her when a man she was seeing suddenly wasn’t around anymore. She’d answered as honestly as his maturity at the time could withstand, but always felt bad she couldn’t give him the whole picture.
“You missed having someone in your life, haven’t you?”
She shook her head fiercely against what she knew was true in her heart. “A woman gets lonely, and when that happens, she can make unwise decisions. I can’t let that happen again. Anyway, I think Josh has lost faith that I can ever find a man.”
He laid his hand on one side of her face, and now his eyes were as tender as his touch.
“Tell him you’ve found one.”
For now.
“Merry Christmas, Sam.”
Her voice caught in her throat and she fought back tears, but not her desire, as he pulled her on top of him and kissed her.
Chapter 12
Sam jiggled his car keys in the pocket of his navy blue track pants, eager to end the day. When practice was over, he was heading straight f
or the gym. He glanced back at the bleachers, hoping to see Mariella, but she wasn’t among the few parents who’d stopped by to watch their sons play soccer.
An old year had rolled into a new one. Today was the first day back to school and everyone seemed to have the post-holiday blues, including him.
After that day at the Horizon, he’d contacted her a few times over the holidays, but she never returned his calls.
He didn’t believe in resolutions, but he’d made up his mind about one thing. If Mariella could let him go so easily, then he could do the same thing.
Or at least he could try.
He’d had plenty of practice over the years, of sleeping with a woman one night, and not calling her the next.
But he thought he and Mariella had something special together, besides mind-blowing sex. When they’d made love, she’d clung to him like a grape on a vine. He’d done the same to her.
His desire had blinded him to her fear. Normally, he wouldn’t have a problem with that, but for the first time in a long time, he was in love.
Whether she was afraid of moving away from Bay Point, or moving on with him or something else, he didn’t know, but she couldn’t avoid him forever.
They had a meeting tomorrow with three vendors for the artificial turf project. Though he would have no part of the final selection, the athletic director and the principal wanted him there to view the presentation and ask questions. He agreed, and was glad for something to help keep his mind off Mariella and the disaster he’d made of their relationship.
Then Brian reminded him that because Mariella was working on the grant, she would be attending, too.
He checked his watch and blew his whistle three times. “That’s all for today, guys. See you tomorrow.”
Sam still hadn’t heard anything from Leslie or anyone else at the school. He figured if he hadn’t heard anything by now, he never would, so he let it pass. If he worried about every scandal he’d been involved in, real or imagined, he’d have an ongoing need for prescription anxiety pills and an attorney.
Winning Her Holiday Love Page 15