by Amy McKinley
Anger flashed in his dark-brown eyes, and his fists clenched at his sides. “I came to find you. This is my last year, and the NFL Combine is this February. You know what that means, right?”
Crap. I felt for him, I did. But we didn’t work together as a couple. “I do, and you’re going to get scouted by a fantastic team. I know it. Your skills are on point, and you’re one of the best defenders around. You’ve got nothing to worry about, and I’m looking forward to watching you play in the NFL after you graduate.”
His jaw hardened with determination. “I love you and need you by my side.”
“No, Tommy. You don’t.” I gave his wrist a squeeze then dropped my hand down by my side. “There is no us. We’ve been over this so many times. It was interesting running into you here but I’ve got to go.” I wanted to know why he was here, but if we kept talking, I knew precisely how Tommy would react. I needed to wrap up our dinner meeting and get back to the hotel, where Tommy wasn’t.
Chapter 13
Adeline
Tommy wouldn’t leave, so we decided to take our discussion elsewhere. The walk back, ten-minute water taxi, and subsequent elevator ride to our suite had left me shaken. The five of us were too close, the secrets too tangible.
When we arrived at our floor, Vince and Margaret turned to go in the opposite direction, saying they wanted to check on friends. I took in the confusion in their expressions and mentally cursed myself for blocking Tommy’s number.
I had to try to salvage what had happened before they left. “Margaret.” She turned, and I stepped close. “I’m mortified you both were pulled into my drama. Tommy and I grew up together, and he’s confused about how things ended between us.”
“Don’t worry about a thing,” Margaret said. “I’m sure you’ll get everything straightened out.”
Anxiety about what would happen to Stone’s deal churned in my stomach. “I hope this doesn’t have any reflection about how Stone or I would do business. This was…” There were no words.
“Nonsense.” Margaret flashed a small smile.
“We’re not making any rash judgments,” Vince answered. “We’ll continue our meeting when everything has calmed down.”
After a shaky smile, we parted ways, and I went with Stone to our hotel suite, Tommy following close behind. When the three of us were inside and with the door closed, I turned to face Tommy while Stone stood at my side. His larger-than-life presence was a comfort, but this was my problem to correct. One that I hoped wouldn’t shatter his business deal with Vince.
“Why don’t we sit down?” I had to try to fix this.
Stone’s face was granite, giving nothing away of his thoughts. His arm went around the back of the couch we sat on, and his hand rested on my shoulder. “What the hell is going on?”
Tommy sat on a chair across from us. I dove into my part to try to diffuse the tension radiating off Stone. “Tommy and I weren’t engaged. We dated, but I broke it off.”
“We’re still engaged, Addy,” Tommy said through gritted teeth.
Stone’s fingers tightened, and he pulled me closer to his side, but I spoke before he could. “No, Tommy, we aren’t. It wasn’t real, and I gave back your ring.” I held up my hand to stop his protest, pleading with my eyes for him to give me a few seconds. “I need to explain to Stone.”
I didn’t even know how to fix his misguided superstition. The beard tradition was typical. But the one time I wasn’t in the stands and they lost a game during playoffs, he viewed my lack of presence as the factor. After that incident in his freshman year, it was mandatory that I was present for all home games. I liked watching him play, but I should have worked to set him straight that my being there didn’t affect his playing one bit.
We were both stubborn and argued like siblings. It was a small miracle Tommy had agreed to come back here, to sit quietly, even though he stared at Stone like he was on the line, ready to decimate his opponents on the football field.
Things between Stone and me… I didn’t want to jeopardize our relationship, or what could be. I had to share why I put up with some of Tommy’s quirks, and why I hadn’t resolved things well enough before leaving the States. I met Stone’s gaze to explain my connection to Tommy, then I would move into where things got muddy. “Tommy was my neighbor while I lived with my parents.” I let myself smile at Tommy because even though things had gone to shit, they weren’t always like that.
“We grew up together, climbing trees and racing around the neighborhood. We share history. When he got into football, I would spend hours throwing the ball with him or creating obstacles we could run through to improve his speed and agility. And I liked them too. When Mom died, Tommy was there for me.” My eyes misted, and I swallowed hard, fighting the emotion.
“Even when we’d grown apart, he would make me come outside and toss a ball around with him to help get my mind off things. I’ll always be grateful for our friendship.” I turned to Tommy, swiping a tear from the corner of my eye. “For what you did for me.”
“Nothing’s changed, Addy.” His large hand enveloped mine across the coffee table in a gentle grip as he pulled me forward a little, creating space between Stone and me.
He thought he had me there, but he didn’t. We weren’t right for each other. Stone appeared relaxed by my side, but his thigh that was pressed against mine was solid and told me another story. I had to keep a lid on the testosterone-inducing words. “We didn’t date until college. But it became clear we were better as friends, and I ended the relationship.” I held up my hand once more to stop Tommy from denying it.
“You know I did. It wasn’t until my dad got sick that I leaned on you again.” My voice cracked, but I pushed myself to give him closure. “It wasn’t fair to you. I thought you understood that I didn’t want to get back together, that I just needed a friend who knew my family too.”
The tears were unstoppable as they rolled down my cheeks. Stone clasped one of my hands in his and squeezed. I wanted to press into him, but with Tommy here, that wasn’t a good idea. Not yet.
“I cared about them too.” Tommy’s fists were clenched and resting on the top of his tree-trunk thighs. “Your dad wanted us to be together. I made that happen, Addy.”
“He did say that, but it was because he was scared to leave me all alone when he passed.” How was I supposed to make him understand we weren’t going to be together without tearing his heart out?
“I fixed everything. I proposed right there, even put the ring on your finger.”
“I never said yes, Tommy.” I had to work hard to keep my voice calm.
“You didn’t say no.”
“I did too!” Shit. I took a deep breath and reset. “I told you I didn’t want to get married, that we were better as friends.”
“Then why didn’t you tell your dad? You wore my ring. That meant something.”
“It meant—”
“—That’s enough,” Stone interjected, his gaze burning into Tommy’s. He stood, blocking the view between Tommy and me. “You and I need to have a conversation.”
“I guess we do,” Tommy snapped as he stood to follow Stone. As they made their way past the kitchen, Tommy did what he did best, he poked the bear. “Then I’ll be leaving with my fiancée.”
“You won’t, and she’s my fiancée,” Stone growled.
I remained on the couch while they headed to the door. The sound of the latch clicked into place after they stepped into the hallway and the door shut behind them. Their voices faded, and I figured they had moved farther down the corridor, possibly near the elevator. A few seconds later, I lost it. God, I missed Mom so much.
I had to pull myself together, and with effort, I did. With a wad of Kleenex, I cleaned up my face as much as I could. Seeing Tommy and having him bring up the stupid engagement stunt he’d pulled brought back too many memories. This situation was… intense.
It was time to gather myself and put an end to this mess. When this was over, I really wanted to put
on a T-shirt, yoga pants, and binge-watch some Netflix on the couch with Stone. I needed some downtime.
This wasn’t his problem. I needed to deal with Tommy. I dragged myself off the couch to face them. With a turn of the doorknob, I left behind the beautiful room with hand-painted ceiling frescos by artists in the eighteen hundreds and entered the softly lit hallway. I could hear the guys’ voices near the elevator, but Vince and Margaret rounded the corner at the same time as I stepped outside our suite, and my step waivered. Stone and Tommy were near the elevator, and their conversation looked heated.
“How are you, dear?” Margaret made the decision for me, and I shifted my direction to them instead of the guys.
I blew out a breath. There were things I wanted to share. They were good people, and after so many years, it was obvious how in love they were. They watched me now with concern, not condemnation. But I understood that while they may like me on a personal level, the scene with Tommy and our fake engagement could impact the business one. I gathered myself to tell them what was going on between Stone and me. “I need to tell you something, and I hope you’ll allow me the opportunity to do so.”
“Of course,” Margaret said. Vince stood at her side, his arm wrapped around his wife’s waist.
“Tommy and I are friends. That’s all. The engagement between us was something he did for my dad’s benefit before he passed away six months ago. He doesn’t feel what he should for me, not the way you should for the person you want to marry, to spend the rest of your life with. He’s wrapped up in football, and worries about not doing well or getting drafted into the NFL. Stone and I—”
“Are different.” Margaret winked, a knowing smile curving her lips.
“Yes.” I wanted to share parts of our story. Maybe that would help them see that this drama was a bump along the way but Stone wasn’t involved with a crazy person. “The first time I met Stone, we literally slammed into each other. At the time, I probably had jet lag, and he was preoccupied. But when we collided, it was the oddest thing, and to this day, I wonder if I hit my head.” I told them of the flashback, of losing consciousness for a few seconds and seeing what seemed like another time in history, one where I was Francesca, and he was Cristiano. About how we’d grown closer while working together. Then the dreams Stone and I had, his dislike for the Verona hotel, and about finding the letters.
Margaret had Vince’s hand clasped tightly in hers. “That is one of the most romantic stories I’ve heard. Venice has our fair share too.”
A small smile curved my lips, and I let my worry about them go because she was right, it was romantic, and it was ours.
“Adeline,” Stone interrupted, anger radiating from his tense posture.
Shoot, did I do the right thing? Judging from his expression, I wasn’t sure. “Did Tommy leave?”
“He will be.”
I moved around him and spotted Tommy by the elevator. “I’ll go say goodbye then.”
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
I patted his bicep. “I’ll be fine.”
Stone
* * *
Goddamn. I ran my hands through my disheveled hair. After clearing my throat, I thought about what I wanted to say to them, unsure of what Adeline had told them. Vince’s expression gave nothing away. “I owe you both an apology.”
“That’s not necessary.” Vince waved away my words. “Adeline already explained everything.”
They were good people, and lying to them didn’t sit right with me anymore, but they didn’t need to know about our fake engagement too. “This won’t change things between the two of us. The mix-up with Tommy will get sorted.” I strained to hear Adeline’s voice, making sure they were there.
I couldn’t stop glancing over my shoulder at the large frame of Tommy’s oversized body. Why was he still here? I didn’t like Adeline with him. Alone.
“The dreams—” Margaret said.
“—all true,” I interrupted. The hairs on the back of my neck rose, and I couldn’t shake the feeling that Adeline was in danger. The anxiety, the sheer panic from my last dream, the one I wanted to tell her about, slammed into me with the brutality of an avalanche.
In the vision, my padre had told me Francesca was leaving within the hour with her family. I’d never see her again. Why this was happening to us, tore my heart from my chest. I’d raced up the back stairs of the hotel.
When I’d found her, we had only a handful of stolen moments before she was ripped from my life forever.
That wasn’t our fate. This is. This time, I wouldn’t let her go.
Vince was saying something about the contract when the silence registered. Whirling around, I took a few steps down the hallway until the closed elevator door was in sight. She was gone.
“Where are you going?” Vince’s asked.
The thud of my feet matched the pounding of my heart as I raced to where they had been. A glance at the elevator showed the numbers going down. The stairs would be the best way to stop Tommy and to help Adeline. They couldn’t have gone far. My fingers curled around the door handle, and I yanked it open. Vince appeared in my peripheral vision. I didn’t have time for him. “I have to find Adeline; she’s all that matters.”
Chapter 14
Adeline
“Put me down now!” An explosive combination of anger and mortification churned in my blood. Tommy’s arms pinned mine against my side, our chests flush, and my feet dangled from the ground as he carried me out of the elevator.
“No. Not until you see reason.” His face scrunched, and a flash of hurt brightened his dark eyes. “How could you leave for Italy like that? You didn’t even come talk to me. You ghosted me.”
“Are you kidding?” He was exasperating. I loved him, but more like an idiot brother, not in the way he envisioned us. And this… he’d gone too far this time. “I broke up with you. Several times, I made it clear we are only friends. The stunt you pulled by Dad’s bedside was sneaky, and you know it.”
“You know the pressure I’m under. This is my future. I need you there with me, watching from the stands. What’s that gonna look like to the scouts, agents, teams, when my fiancée is in another country, wearing another man’s ring?”
“You and I were fake engaged, and it was you who put us in that position.” There was no reasoning with him. He thought of me like a good luck charm to be by his side while he waited to find out if he got drafted. Once he was on a team and playing in the NFL, I doubted he would need me. That is, when he figured out his talent didn’t depend on rituals and superstitions.
When he got this muleheaded, he wouldn’t listen, and we were closing in on the hotel’s exit. I wasn’t going to leave. The sound of a door banged against a wall somewhere behind us. I hoped it was Stone, but regardless, I needed to do something to get free.
Like when we were kids and he pulled a stunt like this, I leaned my head back, and then whipped it forward. My forehead slammed into Tommy’s nose. Pain exploded, radiating to my eyes. The room spun. His yell snapped me out of it. People were running. The sound of their shoes hitting the tile matched the throbbing in my head. Shouts pierced my skull. Tommy’s arms loosened, and I wiggled free. As soon as my feet found purchase, I backed away.
Strong arms lifted me. A familiar sizzle at his touch calmed the fight that coursed through me, and I let Stone place me behind his back.
My forehead throbbed. I’d forgotten how much it hurt to head-butt someone. My fingers tangled in Stone’s shirt, and I took a few measured breaths while angry male voices filtered in.
“We’ll be pressing charges,” Stone growled. He took a step toward Tommy.
I melted more for his defense of me, even if it was unwarranted. Tommy would never hurt me. He was a bit much at times and reacted before thinking, but harmless. This was such a mess. I had to straighten it out. Tommy would see reason, eventually.
I stepped around Stone, so I was at his side, crossed my arms over my chest, and glared at Tommy. Stone�
�s hand gripped my hip, anchoring me to him. Several security guards had circled Tommy. A crowd had formed. I wanted to roll my eyes at the scene, but that would’ve hurt, so I amped up my glare instead. “What were you thinking?”
“I need you, Addy.” His hand dropped from his nose. My blow to it had caused a small cut on the bridge where blood bloomed. It was broken, no doubt about it. I’d heard the snap when I’d made impact.
“Stop being a knuckle dragger. You don’t need me, Tommy.” I sighed, needing to get through to him. “You’re a gifted athlete. I know you’ll get snapped up by the team of your dreams. I don’t have anything to do with your skill, and we’re friends. That’s all. But if you don’t get it through your thick skull that that’s the only thing we’ll ever be, then we’re going to have problems, and that won’t look good to any potential NFL affiliates if they get wind of this little scenario.”
“He won’t be playing at all after what he did to you.” Anger radiated from Stone, and his grip tightened.
I had to get control of the situation. If Stone heard where Tommy’s misguided ideas originated, maybe he’d see reason too. And my guess was that this was due to Celia spying on my incoming texts. Somehow, she had tracked him down. “What did Celia say to you, Tommy?”
Beside me, Stone stiffened and inhaled sharply through his nose. I knew this was the final straw for him.
“That chick called me out of nowhere and told me that this guy was taking advantage of you. I couldn’t let anything happen to you, Addy.”
Stone felt like granite. “Celia?”
I kept focused on Tommy. Stone would figure everything out. “She lied.” My tone softened because this wasn’t entirely his fault, and I was feeling guilty about messing up his nose. “While I appreciate you thinking you had to come to my rescue, you should have called, not tried to kidnap me.”
