Secret Tutor: A Football Romance Story

by Amber Heart

  “I don’t have one,” she whispered as the last speaker stepped away.

  Francisco turned to her and smiled. His eyes were bright, but he’d managed not to shed a tear. “Mija, you brought the cups. Who could manage to do both?”

  Araceli laughed and fell into her grandfather’s arms. “I love you, abuelo.”

  “I love you too,” he said gruffly. “Now, tell me this. Why do you look so sad?”

  “Now isn’t the time,” she said, annoyed that she hadn’t managed to hide her emotions better.

  “It’s my party. I decide that. I’ve heard that someone is trying to buy Arturo’s firm. Is that the problem?”

  “No. Yes.” Araceli shook her head. “He’s not trying anymore.”

  “And you wish he would?”

  “No! I was never going to let that happen. It’s just...” She looked down at her shoes. After she’d walked out on Donovan, she’d cried the whole way home. To be fair, half of it was rage. But the other half was pure loss. She’d really thought that they might have had something. “I liked him. A lot. And I thought that he was beginning to understand me. But before he left he made me an offer that proved that he never had. I guess...I guess I was just hurt that what I thought we had wasn’t what we had.”

  “Is it possible that he didn’t know what he had?”

  Araceli blinked, remembering what Donovan had told her about his family. And about the way he’d felt about Oliver Ingram.

  “Maybe not,” she said slowly. “We’re pretty different.”

  “Then, no matter what comes of it, you have the knowledge that it wasn’t you he didn’t understand. It was himself.”

  She put her head back on her grandfather’s shoulder. It didn’t remove the ache in her heart from missing Donovan, but it helped.

  Chapter 9

  Donovan couldn’t believe that he’d had been back home for two weeks before Gail managed to get him on the phone with Eric Clark. The man had clearly been annoyed at being rescheduled twice and Donovan was more than ready to smooth his ruffled feathers by adding to the offer.

  “Hello, Mr. Sutton,” the CEO of San Ramon Accounting said. “I’m afraid that I don’t have long to give you today, but since you’ve been so insistent.” He let the sentence trail, letting Donovan understand clearly that he was still annoyed with him.

  He decided to get straight to the point. “I’d like to speak with you about rescheduling our talk, Mr. Clark. We only have a few details left to wrap up.”

  “I’m afraid that I’m no longer interested,” the man said coolly.

  “I understand that my having to reschedule was inconvenient--” Donovan began.

  “Yes, frankly it was. However, it turned out to be a blessing in disguise. Given the extra time, I decided that I’d prefer to keep my business in spite of the high payout you’ve offered.”

  “May I ask why?” Donovan asked, his jaw going tight.

  There was silence on the other end of the line for a long moment and then the other man said simply, “It’s the difference between working for myself and working for someone else, Mr. Sutton. Thank you for your interest, and have a good day.”

  The call disconnected. Donovan replaced the receiver in the cradle and rubbed his jaw. The man’s words had reminded him of Araceli. Hell, everything reminded him of Araceli.

  He’d missed her since he landed. He thought about her when he was working, when he was eating, and especially when he was sleeping. He wanted her underneath him again, wanted her taste in his mouth and his fingers in her hair.

  He pushed his hands back through his hair and leaned back. He had to stop. She’d made it more than clear that she didn’t want to speak to him. He wasn’t even really sure that the two of them could ever manage to get along. What was the big deal about working for herself, anyway?

  Donovan turned their final fight over in his mind for what felt like the hundredth time. She’d said that he hadn’t been listening, but he had. He’d listened to everything she’d said that she wanted over the two weeks they’d spent together. He’d be an idiot if he claimed to know everything she wanted in such a short amount of time, but he’d known some things.

  How to make her smile. How to make cry out his name with the sheets clenched in her fists. How to make her debate with him. How to infuriate her beyond all repair. He wasn’t proud of the last one.

  Damn it, he wanted to understand! In his frustration, Donovan gave in and did something that he’d never done with any woman he’d been interested in before. He pulled out his phone, opened up his Facebook app, and typed in her name. Relief filled him when he saw that her profile was set to public.

  Pictures filled her newsfeed. All of them were hashtagged Vasquez Family Reunion and Abuelo Francisco. So this was the reunion. He scrolled through the pictures eagerly. There were selfies with various family members and plenty of candid shots of Araceli dancing. In one, she was standing guard over a huge bowl of guacamole. In the next her sister Silvia was forcibly removing her from the food table.

  Donovan couldn’t hold back a smile. He’d never been with a woman like her. He had a feeling that he never would be again.

  A status appeared above the pictures and he read it eagerly.

  “I’m not much of a public speaker so I didn’t make a speech today. But I wanted to thank my abuelo for taking time out from his party to say exactly what I needed to hear. It’s a talent of his to notice everything. To him, and to everyone who turned up today, thank you. Thank you for being there. For being my past, present, and future. We’re all tangled up with each other and I wouldn’t have it any other way. You all mean everything to me.”

  There were already likes and comments. He recognized some of the relatives names from her “introductions” a few weeks ago.

  “We need to do this more often!”

  “You owe me a dance, party girl!”

  “You’re still going to do my taxes in a few months, right?”

  “Thanks for the cups!”

  That one was from Silvia. Araceli’s response was underneath it.

  “They were perfect and you know it.”

  He realized that he was smiling. There had to be a way for them to move forward. He’d spent his professional life closing deals, figuring out ways around problems, getting what he wanted. He wanted her. So that made it simple.

  Donovan thought back over what he knew about her. She loved her job. She loved her family. He still didn’t see why she couldn’t do the job under his company though.

  There were more comments now.

  “Tell your grandfather happy birthday from all of us!” That one was from Miguel’s Deli’s Facebook page.

  “Looks like an amazing celebration!” From Jones Plumbing.

  “Invite some clients to the next one, it looks fantastic!” From King’s Hair Salon.

  “It’s the difference between working for myself and working for you, Mr. Sutton.”

  The CEO’s voice came back to him. So was that it? He went to the Vasquez Accounting Services site and clicked through the tabs. History.

  Vasquez Accounting Services has been family owned and operated for over one hundred years. We specialize in helping Spanish language clients and have made it our mission to make our community a better place through charitable donations of both time and funds. At Vasquez, we consider the community our extended family.

  From anywhere else, it might have sounded cheesy. For Araceli, he knew it was the simple truth. And there it was. He’d essentially tried to tell her that he could manage her family better than she could. And that money was more important anyway. No wonder she’d been so angry with him.

  Donovan stood up. It was the weekend. He didn’t have anything pressing going on. It would be worth a shot. He was a man who liked to know.

  Chapter 10

  Araceli sighed and refocused her eyes on the page once more. Her mind kept wandering and she couldn’t pay the mystery the attention it deserved. She was halfway tempted to go
to bed, but it was barely 8 in the evening and she wasn’t prepared to admit defeat.

  When there was a knock at the door, she practically ran to it. The last thing she expected to see when she flung it open was Donovan Sutton. Her heart suddenly beat too quickly and she felt her skin heat up.

  “What...what are you doing here?”

  “I came to tell you that I understand,” Donovan said simply.

  “You said that before and then you tried to hire me.”

  “Fair enough.” Donovan sighed. “I was wrong, Araceli.”

  She wanted to soften, she really did. But if softening meant being hurt again, she was out. “Wrong about what?” she demanded.

  “Can’t I come in and talk to you?” he asked, glancing down the hallway.

  She leaned on the doorframe and crossed her arms. “No. If you can’t tell me out here then it must not be that important.”

  He sighed, pushing his hand back through that thick, dark hair that she loved so much. “I was wrong about...” He sighed again, hating to admit it. “Pretty much everything.”

  Araceli scoffed. “You know what, Donovan? I’m not interested in your clichés, okay? I don’t want you trying to soothe my ego by pretending to be broken hearted and I don’t want any bullshit half assed apologies!”

  “It’s not bullshit!” he said when she started to close the door. He caught it with one hand. “And I don’t have to pretend to be broken hearted, Araceli. I haven’t stopped thinking about you since the day you left!”

  Her eyes were bright with tears when she looked up at him again. “Then tell me something that makes me believe you actually gave a damn about me, Donovan. That you weren’t just using me to get the firm.”

  He stepped toward her, but she stepped back, crossing her arms over her chest, drawing into herself. For the first time, he realized exactly how much he’d hurt her.

  “I saw the pictures of the family reunion,” he said.

  Ara wiped tears off of her cheeks and shook her head. “What?”

  “Your customers were commenting on it,” Donovan went on.

  “Yeah, they do that.” She was still staring at him in complete confusion.

  “Not at Ingram Norman. I went to our Facebook page to compare. Our customers like us, but we’re not family. You and your community are.” He made a slightly helpless gesture. “I don’t know how to say it, okay? I just know that Vasquez gives the community something that Ingram Norman couldn’t and working for me would be a complete waste of your skills.”

  “Are you serious?” she asked, her voice cool.

  Had he lost her? If he had, he knew there’d be nothing more that he could do. And he’d have to face the future without her, which he really didn’t want.

  “Yes,” Donovan said. “I am. Araceli, I--”

  She flung herself at him, wrapping her arms around his shoulders and burying her face against his neck. “I’m so glad you finally got it!”

  Donovan laughed and swung her around in the middle of the hallway. He didn’t give a fuck if her neighbors saw, or what they thought.

  “Me too,” he admitted.

  Bonus Chapter

  “You’ve been staring at yourself in the mirror for the past twenty minutes,” Donovan said. “I’m starting to think that you’re getting a little vain.”

  Araceli turned to face him, her hands on her hips. “Why did you let me buy this dress?” she demanded. “It’s clearly hideous.”

  “And you’re clearly nervous,” he said, stepping up beside her. “Or blind.” She was wearing a vintage inspired dress in black. It was sleeveless with a lace overlay and she looked so good in it that he had to work to not take her into his arms right then and there.

  He’d done her makeup in an old Hollywood style, with red lips and sharply winged coal black eyeliner. He straightened his suit jacket and put on an imperious look, trying to break the ice a little. “We’re going to be the best looking couple there.”

  “Maybe I shouldn’t go,” she muttered. “I really, really, think that I shouldn’t go.”

  “I’m pretty sure that’s not an option, baby.”

  “Of course it is! I mean, I think I’m getting a stomach ache. It’s probably for the best if I call Arturo and let him know. I don’t want to get anyone else sick or anything.” Ara turned away from the mirror and reached for her cell phone quickly.

  Donovan caught her hands in his and noticed that they were as cold as ice. He rubbed them briskly, trying to get some warmth back into her slender fingers. Her eyes were wide and slightly panicked and her breathing was rapid.

  “Come on,” he said briskly. “It’s time to go. We’re already late.”

  “Are you not listening to me?” she demanded, her voice shrill. “I can’t do this! And you can’t make me.”

  “Of course you can,” Donovan said, knowing better than to smile. “And of course I can.”

  “No, I can’t! And neither can you!” She frowned fiercely. “And don’t you laugh at me, Donovan Sutton!”

  He held his hands up. “I’m not laughing at you, baby.”

  “You want to though!”

  Araceli grabbed her wrap and stomped out of the room. He followed her at a safe distance, grinning only when her back was turned and he knew that it wouldn’t get him a smack to the chest. At least he’d managed to get her moving.

  The drive to the office was completely silent. Araceli had chewed all the lipstick off of her lower lip and she kept repeating, “Oh God, oh God, oh God.” under her breath. Donovan would have been lying if he’d said he wasn’t surprised that she was freaking out, but he’d also have been lying if he said it wasn’t a little funny. Ara was usually so confident. And she had every reason to be confident about what they were going to do.

  He pulled up to the office and got out, walking around to open her car door for her. She didn’t make a move to get out. She looked frozen to the seat. “Come on. Put on a brave face,” he said. “What happened to not letting them see you sweat?”

  “That’s why I wore black,” she informed him, taking a deep breath. “Donovan, do you think I’m doing the right thing?”

  “Yes.”

  “You didn’t even think about it!” she burst out.

  He reached into the car and took her hand, pulling her to her feet. “Because I don’t need to. I know that you’re doing the right thing, Araceli. There’s never been a doubt in my mind. Now, touch up the lipstick and let’s get in there.”

  Araceli frowned. “My lip...” She glanced in the side mirror. “Oh crap.”

  A minute later, with her lipstick fixed and her grip tight on Donovan’s hand, she walked into her office.

  “There she is!” Arturo said. “The lady of the hour has arrived!”

  Her family cheered and clapped. Araceli buried her face against Donovan’s shoulder.

  “Are you sure you think I can do this?” she asked.

  He cupped her face in his hands and looked down at her. Her whole body went warm from the affection in his eyes.

  “Yes,” Donovan said firmly. “And you think you can too. You’re just scared to make it official. Come on. Your poor uncle just wants to retire. Run this business and give him some peace for God’s sake!”

  Araceli squared her shoulders and took a deep breath. Then she turned to face her family. “Let’s sign these papers!” she shouted happily. “You’re looking at the new owner of Vasquez Accounting Services!”

  Epilogue

  Araceli squealed and threw herself into Donovan’s arms the minute his key turned in the lock. “You’re on time!”

  He didn’t reply. He’d missed the taste of her too much. Donovan cupped the back of her neck and took her mouth eagerly. They’d been apart for nearly a month this time and it was too long. A week was too long.

  Araceli twined her fingers into his hair and returned the kiss, giving as good as she got. “I missed you,” she whispered against his lips.

  “Do we have to go out?” Donovan
asked, pressing her back to the wall and rocking against her when she wrapped her legs around him.

  His lips moved down her neck and her head fell back. “Oh...” She bit her lip when he nipped at her earlobe. “Yes.”

  Donovan groaned. “Can’t be reschedule?”

  “Everyone’s waiting for us.”