RISKY PLAY (RED CARD #1) BY RACHEL VAN DYKEN Page 0,82
his golden eyes were locked on me with such warmth I almost burst into tears.
“Yeah,” I said, voice shaky. “A plane.”
He made his way up to the stage. He stood next to me and held my hand. He squeezed it tight, and he leaned in and kissed my cheek in front of everyone, like he was claiming me.
And then he whispered just so I could hear, “Partners jump together.”
I hugged him.
I couldn’t help myself.
He held me so tight it was hard to breathe. “I love you.”
“I know.” He chuckled.
“No, I really, really love you. I think I fell in love with you the minute we jumped.”
“Really?” He grinned. “Because I fell in love with you the minute you lectured me on wine.”
The crowd laughed.
I pulled away from him and heat bloomed across my cheeks.
“As you were saying, Mack . . .” He winked.
I smiled so bright, on cloud nine as I explained. “The plane lost an engine. I was terrified I was going to die. I may have shaken Slade awake. I honestly had no idea who he was, just that he was nice to look at.”
“Gee, thanks.” He laughed, making me feel warm all over, it was so easy for him, wasn’t it? And yet, I realized at his side, it felt easy for me too.
Everyone in the crowd was grinning so wide it was almost comical.
“I asked him one thing . . .” I whispered.
Slade tucked my hair behind my ear. “She asked me what I would do differently, just one thing.”
“And then I kissed him.”
“I kissed her back.” He smiled. “And for the first time since my ex-fiancée cheated on me—I felt something other than anger.”
“And I felt something other than fear,” I added.
Slade turned to the cameras. “We spent the day together. Those memories are some of the best of my life, only to be topped when Mack came back to the States. I was a complete ass to her after my father’s death, blaming her presence for the reason I didn’t answer his phone call . . . and she just . . . supported me.”
A tear slid down my cheek, then another.
He continued. “She fought back, she told me what a jackass I was, she let me feel my pain, and she fed me . . .” Everyone burst out laughing. “I’m serious! She fed me casseroles, brought me coffee. She took care of my dog, but really, she was helping me heal bit by bit, until I finally pulled my head out of my ass and realized that this woman, this beautiful, talented, amazing woman was right in front of me . . . all I had to do was reach out.” He cupped my chin. “She was the partner my father always promised I’d find.”
“And Slade was the adventure I always wanted,” I said with a shaky breath.
He didn’t turn away from me. “There’s been a lot said about me, about Mack—but this is our truth. I love her. I love her so much that I would quit soccer if she asked, I’d walk away from my life’s greatest joy. Because without her, there is no joy. Because somehow I was lucky enough to get her, and she fulfills me in ways soccer never will. She’s everything.”
I wiped the tears from my cheeks.
“Mack . . .” He knelt down on one knee. “Marry me.”
“What!” I exploded.
“Marry me.” He smiled so bright, then dug into his pocket and pulled out a five-karat solitaire that looked like it had its own zip code. “Marry me in Mexico, let me take you back to the vacation we should have had together—marry me on our cliff. Be by my side . . . and forgive me for ever doubting your love and trust.”
It was too soon. Logic told me this. My own stupid rationale told me this.
But it felt right.
I’d known Alton my whole life. And it had been wrong.
I’d known Slade for weeks—and it was so right my heart came alive in my chest.
“YES!” I shouted as he jumped into the air and twirled me around, kissing me soundly in front of all the cameras as they snapped our picture.
Matt whistled from his spot in the room.
And right next to him. Holding Alfie.
Was Jagger.
With a smile on his face.
Epilogue
MACKENZIE
Waves crashed against the rocky cliff. The salty warm breeze wrapped itself around me and then strong arms were pulling me back against an even stronger chest. Slade’s mouth pressed kisses down my neck. “Was it everything