play, but it worked.
He failed miserably to get the ball, but there was Cole faster than any guy his size ought to be. A quick pass to Mike and he shot.
Number four—done.
Thirty seconds left on the clock. Score tied.
Desperate to get the ball, he fouled a Raptor shot.
Oh shit. He’d forgotten that was his fourth. One more and he would foul out of the game. Those were the rules.
Twenty-two seconds left in the game.
The Raptors scored on their free throws. Of course they did. Bad guys up by two.
Then he got the ball, shot and—
Missed. By a mile.
He was too anxious. Too needy for that last shot. He had to be smart. Basketball wasn’t just about focus, it was about planning. About skills. And it was about finding a way no matter what—without being stupid.
But the clock was ticking down.
The Raptors weren’t going to give up the ball easily.
He glanced at Tori, an apology in his eyes. He wasn’t going to make it. There just wasn’t enough time. She was standing on top of the bench. No other way to see or be seen. And when he looked at her, she thrust out her jaw in the most stubborn expression he’d ever seen. Then she dropped her hands on her hips.
The message was clear: Do it or else.
Fine.
He loved her. She loved him.
And he was a badass NBA basketball star. He was going to find a way. But the Raptors were too smart. They didn’t let anyone get the ball.
Eleven seconds.
Eight seconds.
And then a stupidity happened. He’d seen it before, but not since high school. Players got so caught up in watching the other guys on the court—not to mention the fans, the coaches, the media, and the love drama playing out before them—that they forgot their own feet.
The Toronto point guard stumbled.
Cole and Mike both lunged for the ball.
The Raptor danced away, but not before tripping himself up. Not bad, but that was the opening they needed.
JR got the ball and started flying down the court. He was a good player and could have done it. He had a solid three-pointer himself. But in a move that surprised everyone, he bounced the ball backward to Mike who had just recovered from his lunge.
Two seconds.
Mike grabbed the ball.
Took two steps.
And shot…
Chapter Twenty
Go in.
Tori held her breath—as did everyone else in the stadium.
Go in.
Mike’s shot had to make it. Sure she wanted to marry him either way, but this was about proving to him that he could do it. That he was stronger in love than out of it.
Go in.
Buzzer! The game was over, but not the shot. If it went in, then they won. Mike won.
Please go in the fucking basket.
Swish.
It was so perfect it took her a second to process it.
He scored! The fifth three-point shot and the game.
Holy shit, he did it!
People swarmed the court, but Tori had eyes for only one man and he apparently for her.
She didn’t know if he shouldered everyone aside or if they parted for him. Either way, two seconds after the buzzer, he was lifting her up in his arms.
A split second later, they were kissing.
And kissing.
And drenched in something wet.
They both came up sputtering. Someone had dumped the water tub on them. But she didn’t care.
He’d done it.
“Say it again, Tori. God, say it—”
“I love you. I want to marry you. You’re done with your stupid system. Now we’re doing mine.”
He lifted his head, blinking the water out of his eyes. “Anything. Just marry me.”
Coach came over, an evil grin on the man’s face. “From now on, Giamaria, she’s giving you incentive. And I’m going to tell her what it is.”
He reared back. “Hell no, Coach. Her incentive is between us.”
“Not that shit,” Coach answered. “I’m giving you the goal. She handles the reward.”
He could do that. He could… “So I’m not fired?”
Coach shrugged. “There might be a fine. Up to the boss. But if you two play the media right, you’ll boost ticket sales. And that’s always good.”
Mike looked back at her. “That okay with you?”
“Okay? It was my idea.”
That same media was even now pushing forward, cameras trained on them, questions drowning out everyone else.
He looked at her. “Answer with the truth, Tori, because it’s going out to the whole world. You’ll marry me?”
She grinned at him. “Yes, I will.”
“What about the rest? Your job? Your house? Your life? I don’t know that I can get traded to the Bulls.”
She blinked. “Oh. Didn’t I tell you? I stayed last