The All-Star Antes Up (Wager of Hearts #2)

by Nancy Herkness

  “Well, then, let’s see the ring,” Frankie said.

  Luke lifted their joined hands, turning them so that her engagement ring with its large marquise diamond and its frame of smaller blue and white diamonds scintillated in the light. She loved the shape of the central diamond because it reminded her of a football. Luke claimed it hadn’t crossed his mind when he chose it, but she didn’t believe him for a second.

  “Wait a minute,” Frankie said, moving closer and narrowing her eyes. “Is that another ring underneath it?”

  Luke’s dimple showed, but he didn’t answer.

  “You son of a gun, Archer. I like your style.” Frankie turned to a large cupboard and typed a code into a keypad. The door clicked open and she pushed it farther ajar to reveal an industrial-looking safe. “A different sort of congratulations is in order, as well. I watched you win your fifth Super Bowl. That’s damned impressive, even for a member of the Bellwether Club.”

  “I didn’t win it alone. It takes the whole team.”

  “Spoken like a champion.” Frankie chuckled as she swung open the massive door and pulled out a leather portfolio. “However, the whole team doesn’t wear a target on their chests.”

  Miranda silently agreed as she thought of the many times Luke’s body looked like a painting of pain with its multicolored bruises. That was the hardest part for her, knowing how battered he was as he jogged onto the field to be slammed into all over again. After the Super Bowl victory, he’d gone out to celebrate with his teammates and then come home to crawl into bed, where she’d covered him with a blanket of cold packs. No one except she and his trainer Stan knew how much he had to endure to win game after game. He said that being able to admit to her how much he was hurting eased the pain. She hoped it was true.

  “Here’s your stake.” Frankie held up a cream vellum envelope with Luke’s name slashed across it. She flipped it to show him the back. “Still sealed.” She picked up a pen. “As I did with Trainor’s, I will mark this ‘wager satisfied’ and initial it.” She did so with a flourish before sliding it back into the portfolio. “One forfeit is left, and judging by his mood, I don’t see Miller getting any closer to canceling it.”

  “He has time,” Luke said, but Miranda knew he worried about his friend, who still couldn’t write, much less open his heart to a woman. They owed Gavin Miller a debt of gratitude, and Luke felt that keenly.

  “Not everyone moves as fast as you do.” Frankie’s gaze touched Miranda’s beringed hand again. “I wish you both joy.”

  “Much obliged.” Luke shook Frankie’s hand. His new Super Bowl ring gleamed large on his finger.

  Miranda gave in to an impulse and hugged the club’s owner. Frankie hesitated a moment but gave her a quick squeeze in return.

  “Your fellow gamblers are waiting in the bar where this all started,” Frankie said, shooing them out of her office.

  Luke walked sedately beside Miranda down the hallway until they passed an open door. Before she knew what was happening, he had pulled her inside the room and bent down to give her a long, hard kiss.

  “What brought that on?” she asked when he gave her a chance to catch her breath.

  He framed her face in his big hands, his expression solemn. “The envelope reminded me of where I was five months ago and where I am now, and what a difference there is between those places. The night I made that bet, the future looked so grim I was willing to do anything to change it. Now I look forward to all the years I get to spend with you.”

  She blinked hard to keep her tears away from her mascara.

  “That’s the power loving you has given me.” He shifted his grip to her shoulders. “When I think of how close I came to letting you go . . .” She felt his hands tighten. “That will never happen again.”

  “I wasn’t giving up, either. Gavin wouldn’t let me.” She put her hand over his heart, savoring the strong beat under the fine cashmere of his navy blazer. “Speaking of Gavin, we’d better get upstairs.”

  He let his palms glide down over her back to cup her behind through the silk chiffon of her cocktail dress. A shimmer of arousal ran through her, awakening an answering heat in his eyes. “I was thinking of letting them wait,” he said. “I can wedge a chair under the door handle, and this couch looks pretty comfortable.” He tugged her zipper down and flicked open the hooks of her bra.

  She twisted in his arms, trying to grab his wrists, but he was too strong and quick. “When those announcers talk about what good hands you have, they don’t know the half of it. You have to stop.”

  He caught her hands behind her and pushed the bodice of her chiffon cocktail dress down to her waist. Then he bent to suck one nipple into his mouth.

  He flicked her with his tongue, and she gasped and shuddered as heat spread through her to focus between her thighs. “Luke! Stop!”

  He lifted his head and gave her a wicked grin. “I just wanted a taste.”

  He loved to do this, get her flushed and disheveled and wanting. He said he needed her to think about him as much as he thought about her. He still didn’t believe that he was never out of her mind or her heart.

  “How did you get this undone?” she asked, struggling to get her bra fastened again.

  “Allow me.” He had her hooked and zipped in two seconds flat.

  Miranda sighed and checked her appearance in the ornamental mirror hanging over the small fireplace. A swipe of lipstick and she looked respectable in her floating black dress with its dusting of beading. The diamond earrings Luke had given her for Christmas flashed on her earlobes.

  He came up behind her and put his arms around her waist and his chin on her shoulder so his gilded hair glowed beside her dark waves. She let her gaze rove over the perfect planes of his face: the slashing cheekbones, the hard line of his jaw, the arch of his eyebrows, and the pale, blazing blue of his eyes.

  “You’re so beautiful,” he said.

  She burst out laughing. “You’re much prettier than I am.”

  He straightened and patted her on the butt. “You’re going to give me a complex.”

  She took his hand and headed toward the door. She loved the way he moved beside her, the thigh muscles under his perfectly fitted gray trousers turning his stride into a visual feast.

  “I still can’t believe you bet all of your Super Bowl rings on finding the right woman,” she said in a low voice. He’d told her on the way to the Bellwether Club what his wager had been.

  “I felt like I wouldn’t want any reminders of football once I retired.” He lifted their joined hands and kissed the back of hers. “I wasn’t in a good place.”

  She hadn’t understood until tonight just how dark his mood had been when he’d made the wager. Now she felt both the giddy delight and the weighty responsibility of being the one who had snapped him out of it.

  They climbed the carpeted stairs and walked into the famous bar where the three gamblers had first met. Gavin beckoned to them from a table set by one of the tall windows. He was dressed in an open-necked black shirt, black blazer, and dark gray trousers. Miranda feared that the color of his clothes reflected his emotional state.

  “And here we are,” Gavin said as they approached. “Our original number increased by two. Miranda, you look lovely tonight.” He kissed her on the cheek before he held out his hand to Luke. “Archer, you look like a football player.”

  “Miranda, I’m so happy for you and Luke.” Chloe Russell, Nathan’s fiancée, swooped in for a hug, her rose taffeta skirt rustling. Miranda had met them both at a Christmas party at Nathan’s penthouse, and she and the no-nonsense Chloe were on the road to a close friendship.

  “Best wishes, Miranda.” The tall CEO in his custom-tailored suit bent to kiss her cheek. “Congratulations, Archer. You fooled us into thinking you weren’t even in the game until after the football season.”

  Luke gave Miranda a secret smile. “Life happens when you’re making other plans.”

  “Oh, for God’s sake!” Gavin said. “
If you’re going to spout nauseating clichés, I’m headed for the door.”

  “Without drinking the 1928 Dom Pérignon?” Nathan said. He picked up the bottle and turned to Miranda. “Vintage Dom has become a tradition at this particular celebration.” He filled the sparkling flutes arrayed on the table.

  “The ring. We must see the ring,” Gavin said, as everyone picked up their glasses. “And I don’t mean your Super Bowl monstrosity, Archer. We’ve already admired that.” In fact, Gavin had surprised Luke by hosting a celebratory party at his New York City home. The writer claimed not to be a sports fan, but he had put on quite a gala event.

  Feeling strangely shy, Miranda held up her left hand and tilted it so the diamond glittered.

  “It’s gorgeous!” Chloe said. “May I take a closer look?”

  Miranda held her hand out to her new friend, knowing what was coming next.

  “Um, Nathan, I think we’ve been beaten to the altar.” Chloe looked at her fiancé with laughter in her warm brown eyes.

  “Is that so?” Nathan turned to Luke.

  “The clock was running, so I went to a no-huddle offense and called an audible,” Luke said.

  “We had a family-only service in my hometown church,” Miranda said, remembering how intimate and beautiful the ceremony had been in the simple Victorian-era clapboard chapel. Trevor had stood as Luke’s best man while Patty had been her matron of honor. Theo carried the ring on a blue-and-gold pillow. “We’re planning a big reception here in the city now that football season is over. Of course, we hope you’ll all come.”

  There was another round of congratulations, even warmer this time.

  Chloe was examining the rings again. “So, tell me about the wedding band. I sense there’s a story there.”

  The band was platinum, smooth and simple except for the five small stones set in it, alternating diamonds and sapphires. “Luke took one stone out of each of his Super Bowl rings and set them in the wedding band.” He’d told her that winning her love was better than all his Super Bowl victories put together.

  Chloe guessed something of his feelings. “What an incredibly romantic gesture!”

  “You are so damned competitive, Archer,” Gavin said. “Trainor beat you to the engagement, so you had to up the ante by beating him to the wedding.”

  “Since we’re discussing weddings, we’d like to invite all of you to ours in October. It will be at the chapel at Camp Lejeune,” Nathan said. He smiled down at his fiancée, his whole face softening. “Chloe has taken a liking to Marines.”

  “I just like the uniforms,” Chloe said with a glint in her eye. She turned to Miranda and Luke. “We picked a weekend when the Empire have a bye, so we hope you’ll be able to come.”

  “I appreciate your thoughtfulness, but you don’t have to worry about that,” Luke said. “I’m announcing my retirement tomorrow.” He snuggled Miranda against his side and smiled down at her. “I’ve got better things to do than toss around a ball.”

  “I see a white picket fence looming large in your future.” Gavin knocked back the rest of his champagne and signaled the waiter for another bottle.

  “Going out on top.” Nathan nodded. “Smart move.”

  “Miranda has her own concierge and travel business, which is growing. I’m interested in finance, so I’ll be moving in that direction.” He broke into a grin. “It will be nice to come home from work without bruises.”

  “Amen to that,” Miranda said.

  The incredible thing was that Luke had made the decision to retire without any obvious hesitation. He was eager to do something new, something that challenged him in a different way.

  “Got any more surprises for us?” Gavin asked as the waiter refilled everyone’s champagne glasses. “No one’s pregnant?” He glanced between Chloe and Miranda. “I guess not, since you’re both drinking.”

  “I’d like to propose a toast,” Miranda said. “To Gavin. He gave us good advice when we most needed it.”

  “Gavin?” Nathan said, his eyebrows lifted in surprise.

  Gavin waved off the credit. “I simply stated the obvious. Any idiot could see that you wanted each other.”

  “You told me I was the idiot,” Luke said. He raised his glass to the writer. “And you were right.”

  After they drank to Gavin, Luke took Miranda’s glass and put it down alongside his own. “We’re still on our honeymoon, so I’m taking my wife home now.”

  He looked down at her, his blue eyes lit with such tenderness that Miranda thought her heart would dissolve. “My wife. Only three other words are better.” He lowered his head so his lips were a mere breath away from hers as he said, “I love you.”

  DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

  Both Luke and Miranda are shaped by family relationships. Their parents didn’t understand their life choices, and their brothers have become responsibilities, financially and emotionally. Why do our families influence us so strongly, even when the influence might be negative? What positive or negative effects has your family had on you?

  Luke’s celebrity status leads Miranda to assume that he will behave in certain ways, so she’s surprised when he defies those expectations. Are certain personalities drawn to the limelight, or does fame itself change people? Why do we assume it is acceptable for celebrities to act differently from normal people? Do you think you would enjoy being famous?

  What determines a person’s worth? Luke is a famous football player, but he struggles with the stereotype that he’s just a dumb jock. Miranda is insightful and excellent at her job, but she assumes she’s too average for someone like Luke to consider romantically. Their talents are different but equally important, so why do they both feel lacking at the beginning of the novel? Why do they need each other to comprehend their own self-worth? Do we all seek outside validation?

  Luke dedicated his entire life to football, forcing his personal life to take a backseat to his career. Can you find true happiness through a job? Are personal relationships more or less important than career success? Can you balance both equally, or does one always take precedence?

  Miranda and Luke have a “play through the pain” attitude on both a physical and mental level. Is this always a good thing? What are some of the pros and cons of never showing weakness to those around you?

  Orin Spindle is an unprofessional, spiteful boss, but Miranda is forced to put up with him to retain her job. Have you ever been in a similar situation? How do you handle those who abuse their power over others?

  If you were in Miranda’s shoes, would you have accepted Luke’s offer to write a letter of recommendation? She is highly competent at her job and would be an asset to any company that hired her, but she still feels like it would be cheating. Do you agree?

  Luke is surprised when the curator at the Morgan Library wants a document from him, because he believes football is not cultured enough to fit in with the highbrow collection there. What do you consider “culture”? Is it possible to predict what will have a lasting impact on cultural history? Is Luke’s athletic fame too fleeting to merit inclusion?

  At first glance, Miranda and Luke seem to have very dissimilar careers and personalities. Do opposites truly attract, or are our hero and heroine more alike than they appear?

  Gavin Miller is still seeking to win his part of the Wager of Hearts. What kind of woman do you think he will find? Will she be smart and sassy like Chloe, or kind and perceptive like Miranda? What kind of life mate would you match up with the blocked writer?

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Writers create their stories in solitude, but it takes an incredible team to turn the story into a book. Many thanks to all of those who have contributed knowledge, effort, and support to this project, most especially:

  Maria Gomez, my super editor, whose spirit and enthusiasm make it a joy to work with her.

  Jessica Poore, Marlene Kelly, and the Montlake Author Relations team, all of whom are all-stars in my eyes.

  Jane Dystel and Miriam Goderich, my mar
velously supportive agents, who have helped my career take flight.

  Andrea Hurst, my thoughtful, perceptive developmental editor, who knows how to make a book infinitely stronger without ripping it apart.

  Sara Brady and Lea Ann Schafer, my capable, conscientious (and entertaining!) copy editors, who catch my mistakes both grammatical and logistical to polish my prose to a high shine.

  Jill Kramer, my keen-eyed proofreader, whose painstaking focus and profound knowledge of grammar and punctuation make my book as perfect as possible.

  Eileen Carey, the gifted graphic designer who seamlessly combined exactly the right model with exactly the right setting to bring Luke’s story to vibrant visual life.

  Jeff Theodorou, my brilliant resident football expert, who helped me with terminology, plays, and other details of the gridiron. Any mistakes are entirely my own.

  Lawrence Jenkens, professor of art history extraordinaire, who explained the ins and outs of tenure to me.

  Rebecca Theodorou, English major turned vet student, who developed the provocative, insightful discussion questions for this book.

  Miriam Allenson, Lisa Verge Higgins, and Jennifer Wilck, my critique partners, whose editorial genius keeps me on the right track and pushes me to be a better writer.

  Pie, my little gray cat, who warms my writer’s garret with her furry, comforting presence.

  Jeff, Rebecca, and Loukas, who both anchor me and give me wings. Love you all so much!

  ABOUT NANCY HERKNESS

  Photo © 2015 Lisa Kollberg

  Nancy Herkness is the author of the award-winning Whisper Horse series, as well as several other contemporary romance novels. She has received many honors for her work, including the Book Buyers Best Award, the Maggie Award in Contemporary Romance, and the National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award, and she is a two-time nominee for the Romance Writers of America’s RITA Award. She graduated from Princeton University with a degree in English literature and creative writing. A native of West Virginia, Nancy now lives in a Victorian house twelve miles west of the Lincoln Tunnel in New Jersey with her husband, two mismatched dogs, and an elderly cat.