CHAPTER FOUR
Always earned, never given.
Ana stood by the fountain and watched people as they milled around and once again was grateful that she avoided becoming a medical doctor. All the residents looked like they hadn’t slept in days and wore the panicked look of someone who might be called in for a pop quiz at any moment.
Life in research suited her perfectly, and she was lucky to be exactly where she needed to be. Seeing a group at the far end of the patio whispering furiously amongst themselves, she turned and caught sight of what held their interest and laughed. Seemed even medical students were not immune to seeing a sports superstar in their midst.
“Ana Banana!” Jack called out as he got close. “This place is a maze; sorry it took me so long to find you.” Dropping the bag he had in his hand, he swept her up in a hug. “Missed you,” he said quietly against her ear.
“I sensed that when you used desolate to describe your mood in the text that you sent earlier.”
Setting her down, he kissed her head. “I sometimes think Merriam-Webster knows my mood and sends me words accordingly.”
“Interesting theory,” she replied as she stepped back. “You should’ve seen the thrill of interest that just passed through the crowd.”
Glancing around, he shrugged. “Maybe they think I’m here for a research project since I’m bigger than most guys.” He pulled down his hat and grinned. “I’m incognito today with my college hat and T-shirt, and I bet no one really knows who I am.”
“I doubt it because even if they don’t watch football, they probably watch TV and your ads are populating the airwaves. I don’t think there’s much out there you haven’t promoted.”
“I haven’t done underwear yet.”
“Well, I’m sure the call is coming soon.”
“The offer already came, and I turned them down since Ronnie told me you’d never go out with someone who had a billboard with their junk hanging out.”
“When did you two have that conversation?”
“Right after I met you in San Diego, and she forbade me from going after you.”
“I can see that was a waste of her breath.”
“Usually is when I set my mind to something.”
Shrugging, she gave him a smile. “Can’t say that I have an opinion about underwear models or their junk.” She gave him a once-over and smiled. “I think you should do it because you certainly have the body for it.”
“You wouldn’t mind?”
“It’s not up to me.”
“I’m not going to take a chance and have you be uncomfortable, so if you have any objections, tell me now.”
“How much are they going to pay you to strip down to your skivvies?”
“A million dollars, which is a ridiculous amount of money.”
“I would never tell you to give up that kind of money. That’s insane.”
“I don’t need it, so I’ll probably just tell them no.”
“You can give me the million dollars then for research. Do you know how far that money would go?”
“If you need money for research, then look no further because I have more money than I can spend in three lifetimes.”
“Jack, I was just kidding.”
“I’m not, so let’s talk about it when you’re ready.” Picking up a big canvas bag with the Sharks logo displayed prominently, he held it up. “I got you some gear to wear.”
“Thank you,” she replied as she looked inside. “This is too much, though.”
“No, it’s not.” He pulled out several jerseys with his number on them and a bunch of hats. “This is just your starter gear.”
“If I wear this, people will think you’re my favorite player.”
“Honey, people already think that. Have you seen the gossip sites with our pictures plastered all over them?”
“I received a Google alert this morning and had the pleasure of looking at them while I drank my morning coffee. Have to admit it was disturbing to see how much detail they were able to capture.”
“How mad are you?”
“I’m not mad, just a little creeped out because the level of speculation about us is insane. I’ve had a taste of it before with Alex, but nothing close to what seems to be happening now.”
“I don’t want this to be a problem, and I’d be happy to hire a security team to make sure you’re safe.”
“Appreciate it, but it’s not necessary. I bet we don’t even make the next news cycle.” She bent over to pick up her bag and watched him take it out of her hand. “What are you doing?”
“Carrying my girlfriend’s bag.”
“If I ignore that comment, will you stop making it?”
“No way,” he replied as he took her hand. “Where are we eating lunch?”
Lifting their joined hands, she pointed to the far west corner. “Cafeteria.”
“Lead the way.”
“I’m not your girlfriend, Jack, and you know it.”
“But you might be after I buy you a sandwich and a bag of chips.”
“I might also marry Prince Albert Von Thurn Und Taxis. Possible, but not likely.”
“The guy’s bald and seems like kind of an ass, so I doubt you’d even give him more than ten minutes of your time.”
“And you know this how?”
“Subscription to Vanity Fair,” he replied as he squeezed her hand. “If I throw in a cookie, will that help my chances?”
“It’s sure not going to hurt,” she replied as they walked into the cafeteria. “Let’s dump our bags at a table and then get in line.”
“Will your stuff be okay if we leave it?”
“Sure, nobody wants my laptop with all my notes.” She patted his chest before moving away. “I took all the naked pictures of myself off the hard drive last month, so there’s nothing to worry about.”
Standing in line together, Jack took her hand. “There are no naked pictures are there?”
“Maybe so, maybe not.” Glancing up, she saw his unfocused look and smiled because teasing him was almost too easy. She was the youngest of three, and her many years of experience in torturing her older brothers was proving to be damn useful. Having the upper hand with Jack wasn’t likely to happen often, and she knew for the next minute or so she did because his brain was working furiously.
Leaning over, he spoke quietly in her ear. “We’ve had about five people take pictures of us, and I know they could tell I was picturing you naked. So you better not tease me while we’re in public because the evidence of my attraction is going to be unmistakable.”
Gazing up, she let out a snort. “Nice try.”
Shrugging, he gave her a careless smile. “It was worth a shot.”
Looking around, she noticed several people stealing looks. “Do you ever get tired of people gawking at you?”
“Sometimes, but it’s part of being a professional athlete. Complaining about it doesn’t change anything, so I just try and handle it as best I can.”
“I admire you because I could never be as gracious as you.”
“I’ve found if you smile and ignore the attention, the results are much better. People often want to find a chink in your armor, and I do my best never to show them anything, so they move on.”
They were next in line, so she placed her order first, and then watched Jack give the flustered cook his order. He was gracious and patient, and she realized that perhaps he was just a nice guy with an extraordinary talent.
***
Setting their tray down, Jack pulled out a chair for Ana and then moved his next to hers before taking a seat. When their legs touched, he decided they were close enough. “Need anything?”
“No, I’m all set.” She passed him his plate as well as a stack of napkins. “Thank you for lunch.”
“Anytime.” Giving her a smile, he nodded and then took a bite of his sandwich, doing his best to ignore the desire coursing through his body.
“What was your favorite game to play when you were little?” Ana asked after she ate some of her lunch.
Wiping his mouth, he sat back. “I guess my favorite game was whatever my brother chose. He was my idol, and I followed him around as much as I could get away with. Looking back, I realize how much of a pain in the ass I was and how much patience Chris had. I’m damn lucky to have him as a brother, and he’s my idol to this day.” Taking her hand, he ran his finger over her nails. “Why did you ask that?”
“I’m a researcher at heart and asking questions is how I get to know people.” Looking down, she slipped her hand away. “Does it make you feel uncomfortable?”
“No,” he replied as he retook her hand. “Ask me anything. I’m an open book.”
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.”
“Okay,” she replied as she looked out the window. “Were you an outgoing kid or was that something you grew into?”
“I was bigger than everyone else and shy as could be. I didn’t gain any confidence until I was in high school and started having some success on the field.” Lifting his water, he drank half of it down. “Who you see now is the result of a lot of hard work and determination.”
“A little piece of the puzzle just clicked into place for me.”
“What do you mean?”
“You may be a highly paid professional athlete with a ton of talent in the prime of his career, but underneath that is the shy kid who works hard at being outgoing.”
Draping his arm over her shoulder, he nodded. “Not many people have ever figured that out.”
“I bet they would if they ever took the time to really look at you. The reason that I went into neuropsychology was because the brain is the most amazing puzzle in existence and I love nothing more than figuring out where everything fits.”
“And what’s been your favorite discovery so far?”
“That the brain is as susceptible to hormones as the rest of the body and the perfectly extraordinary organ is always the first to give up the fight when chemistry becomes involved.”
“And what does that mean?”
“That attraction, pheromones, and all the other things that happen when two people get together can make a perfectly reasonable adult make a lot of foolish choices.”
“Are you getting close to making a foolish choice?”
“Maybe, but I’m going to use this big brain of mine and see if I can resist for a bit longer.”
“Is it wrong if I hope that you fail?”
“No, but don’t count on it.”
“Wasn’t planning to.” He pushed her plate closer and nodded. “Better eat your lunch.”
She mimicked him and smiled. “You too, Jack.”
As he picked up his sandwich, he knew the happy as fuck grin on his face was probably permanent. “So, what does it feel like to have so much brainpower at your disposal?”
“I don’t know. What does it feel like to be so physically gifted? I saw that thing you can do when you jump up and land on a stack of boxes, and it’s damn impressive.”
“I don’t really think about it since I train harder than almost anyone and know everything is a result of that. None of this comes easily, and I just make the most of what I’ve been given.”
“I’ve done the same thing with my brain.” Pushing away her plate, she sat back and wiped her hands. Everybody has a gift, and it’s just a matter of making the most of it.”
“I just hope that someone as smart you can be interested in someone like me.”
“I could say the same thing about you. I’m not fit, or a flashy, pretty model-type. I’m just a regular girl.”
He looked into her toffee eyes and couldn’t believe she thought of herself as just a regular girl. “I think you’re regular in the most perfect way imaginable.” Taking her hand, he decided once again that holding back his feelings was not in either of their best interest. Better he lay it on the line and let the chips fall where they may. “Ana, you fit the picture in my head, and I feel like you were made specifically for me. I can’t imagine a more perfect woman than you and I’m going to do everything I can to make you feel the same way about me.”
“Jack, that’s so…”
“Perfect?”
Staring up, she smiled and put her hand over his. “Kind of, though I still don’t get why the flashy football player is interested in the science geek.”
“I can’t help myself and plan on following you around until you understand that.” Covering her hand, he grinned. “But not in a creepy, stalker way. Just in an interested, want-a-chance way.”
“All right.”
“All right, you’ll go on another date with me?”
“Sure. Why don’t you come over to reality TV night on Tuesday? It’s at my house, and we’ll probably end up watching some survival show. Ronnie will be there along with Ella and Alex.”
Leaning over, he kissed her cheek. “I’d love to come, but I want to take you on a real date too. I can rent a boat or fly us down to the Keys for dinner. Whatever you want.”
“I’ve wanted to go to Joe’s. I hear they have amazing food, and I’d love to try the stone crabs.”
“It’s not very fancy. Don’t you want to go out someplace really nice?”
“I thought the restaurant sounded like fun. If you want to go someplace else, then you pick where we go.” Looking down at her hands, she twirled her rings.
Lifting her chin, he frowned. “I didn’t mean to insult you. I’m just used to women wanting to go out to the most expensive and exclusive places, and I didn’t want you to think that I wouldn’t take you someplace nice. I love Joe’s and couldn’t think of anything nicer.”
“I’m not that kind of woman, Jack. I don’t want your money, or fame, or anything actually. I just want to go eat crabs with someone who’s fun to hang out with.”
“Would it be wrong to admit I’m half-in-love with you already?”
“It wouldn’t be wrong, but it would scare the crap out of me.”
“Good thing I didn’t admit it then.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yeah, good thing.”
“I want to tell you something, and hope you won’t judge me.”
“Did you pose nude? Do you have a sex tape out there? Have you fathered several children?”
“Jeez, Ana. None of those things.”
“Okay then, I won’t judge you.”
He sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. “I’m dyslexic and have to work hard at comprehending what I read.”
She stared at him and waited. “Is that it?”
“Yeah. What else did you think there was?”
“It doesn’t really seem like a confession. I thought you had something big and juicy.”
“That is big!” he replied loudly. “I was made fun of all through grammar school until I was diagnosed. People thought I was stupid and gave me a hard time as often as they could.”
“I’m sorry you had to go through that, but having dyslexia just means your brain is wired differently. It has nothing to do with your cognitive abilities. You needed to be taught differently is all.” She looked him over and put her hand on his leg. “I’m guessing you have strong reasoning and problem-solving skills, and I bet some of your athletic ability comes from your visual-spatial and motor skill strengths. I’ve found that a challenge is often balanced out with a strength, and no one has everything. I say this with complete authority since I’ve been studying the brain for a long time.”
“I was worried about telling you, and I’m not sure why.”
“You’re sure about the sex tape and children thing…right?”
Rolling his eyes, he covered her hand. “Yes, Ana.”
“Just want to make sure.” Her phone alarm went off, and she checked it. “Time for me to get back.” She started to gather her things. “Thank you for taking me to lunch and bringing me all the new gear. Should I wear the jersey tomorrow for game day?”
“Sure, I’d love to think about you wearing my number.”
“I guess I can’t tomorrow since I’ll be in meetings, but I’ll will the following week. My cousin Birdie has recently made me over, and I’m trying to stick with it since, up until a month ago, I dressed like I was still an undergraduate. I have no fashion sense and resort to wearing jeans and flip-flops most days. What you see today is the result of an intensive two-week makeover orchestrated by my cousin. And when I say makeover, what I really mean is an intervention because I forget to brush my hair a lot and apparently that’s not the professional message I should be sending.”
“So, if I came over to your house on say a Saturday morning, what would I find?”
“Would I know you’re coming or would it be a surprise? Perhaps one that included donuts?”
“It would be a surprise, and there would definitely be donuts.”
“I’d be wearing shorts, a T-shirt, and my hair wouldn’t be brushed.”
“Perfect.”
“You’re weird. I’ve seen some pictures of you with some very glamorous gals, and I imagine they’re a lot more interesting than a woman who doesn’t always dress properly.”
“That’s where you’re wrong because I happen to like a woman who looks like herself and smells like soap. I don’t like all the makeup some gals wear because it makes me think I’m not seeing the real person.” He ran his hands through her hair and whispered in her ear, “I love your soft hair, the freckles across your nose, and the way you smell.” Turning his head so they were breathing the same air, he slowly lowered his head and pressed his lips to hers and knew instantly she was the person he’d been waiting for.
Excitement strummed through his veins, and there was no doubt that it was the most perfect last first kiss of his life.
Slowly releasing her mouth, he opened his eyes and saw a smile on her lips.
Opening her eyes, she sighed. “That’s the type of kiss that could change a girl’s mind about a lot of things.”
Laughing, he took her hand and leaned his head against hers. “I can’t wait to give you a thousand more.”
She ran her hand down his face and closed her eyes. “I might like that, Jack.”
“I’ll do everything I can to make sure you do.”