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  “Good to meet you too. I’m a fan,” Trevor replied. “I saw you play one time in Ontario. You were unstoppable. The Pirates are off to a good season. I think there’s another Stanley Cup title in your future.”

  “Thanks. I hope so.”

  “Yeah, nothing can get past you. Except maybe my sister.” Trevor raised an eyebrow.

  Derek had to laugh at that one. “Would you like a drink?”

  “As opposed to the punch in the face you were gearing up for?”

  “Well, yeah.” He scratched at his beard.

  “Maybe later,” Trevor said. “I’ll give you two some privacy. I think you need to talk. Try not to destroy all this hard work.” Trevor looked around then moved to the other side of the bar.

  Derek knew he deserved that ribbing, but he wanted to run for cover from Charisma’s stance. She looked like she wanted to strangle him.

  “Is your new girlfriend is in your office?” she demanded.

  “There’s no one in my office.”

  “Is she on the way? The tabloids said you two were inseparable.”

  “I’m not dating that model. She was waiting for me outside the locker room after a game.”

  “You looked really cozy with her.”

  “I hear you were spotted having lunch with some basketball player.”

  “No. I was having lunch alone, and he was dining with friends. We passed each other in the corridor leading to the restrooms and now we’re in love. I too am a victim of random gossip.” She smirked.

  “It seems like we’re bound to each other in the media for the foreseeable future.” He rounded the bar and closed the space between them. “I can’t believe you still read those rags.”

  She laughed. “They’re filled with entertaining misinformation when it’s not about you. Fingers crossed for a new celebrity feud or sex scandal.”

  “I missed you.”

  “I’ve missed you too, but it was for the best. The court of public opinion will always villainize me. You’d be better off without me.”

  “Do I get a vote?”

  “No, you don’t. You won’t be rational.”

  They were going in circles again. There had to be something he could do to show her how much he cared about her, not her reputation. Then he had it. Derek turned off the music and climbed on top of the bar as she watched, wide-eyed. “Can I have everybody’s attention?”

  The room came to a halt.

  “Get down!” Charisma pulled on his pant leg.

  He ignored her and addressed the crowd. “Thank you everyone for coming tonight. I thought about making some improvements for a long time, but it took my good friend Seth using my place as a boxing ring to convince me that it needed a facelift.”

  The crowd laughed.

  “The best thing to come from this renovation is that I met the most wonderful woman named Charisma Reed. She’s beautiful, spunky, and a true force of nature. We’ve been linked in the media in the past, and while the story that broke about the love triangle wasn’t true, the feelings that followed were. It was the best time of my life. And I’d be a damn fool to let her get away again.” He hopped off the bar and went to her. “Let’s see where this goes.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life. But if we’re going to be together, we have to work on having a thicker skin. Misery sells. We can’t live our lives according to the perception of random strangers who have no investment in our happiness. I just want to show you how wonderful we can be together. Whatever grief I have to take is worth it.”

  Derek kissed her and the crowd went wild.

  “You are crazy,” she said, smiling and a little breathless.

  He caressed her cheek. “Let’s go to my office so I can show you how crazy I am about you.”

  “No. You have a party to host.” She clasped his hands in hers. “I’d like you jumping onto the bar to be the highlight of the evening, not making out with me in your office.”

  “I love you.” He cupped her face in his hands and looked into her eyes.

  “Stop right there.” Her eyes widened. “You’re coming off the heels of an emotional speech with an announcement like that. It’s—”

  “I love you. And I’m not taking it back. If you need some time before you say it to me, that’s fine. But how I feel won’t change. You don’t have to be afraid that I’ll leave or have certain expectations of you. I want you to be yourself and I won’t accept anything less.”

  “OK.” She kissed him.

  “I’m going to check on things. I shouldn’t be too long.”

  “I’ll be with my family.”

  Derek went into the busy kitchen and tasted a few of the sample dishes the chef had waiting for him. He gave the chef a thumbs-up. Then he touched base with his hostess and got an update on the wait staff. The food was flowing and everyone was happy, but no one could find the special champagne he’d ordered. He informed her that he’d put the cases in his office and not to worry about it, he’d retrieve it.

  As Derek retrieved the champagne, Trevor appeared in his office doorway with a couple of bottles of imported beers in each hand. “I have to say, that was quite a declaration.”

  Derek looked up from the box. Trevor was pretty light on his feet; he hadn’t heard him approach. “I meant it. She’s a remarkable woman.”

  “Yes, she is, and despite how she acts, she’s more delicate than she lets on.” Trevor handed him a beer.

  “I know. We’ll take things as slow as she wants.”

  “I’ll be keeping an eye on you. If you don’t treat her right, I’ll be back.”

  “I wouldn’t expect anything less from a member of the Reed family, especially her brother.” Derek clinked beer bottles with him and gave him a quick once-over. For some reason, the occupation photojournalist didn’t seem to fit the man. For example, Trevor was at an event where athletes and stars were bound to show up, but there was no sign of a camera on him. Derek watched him float around the room, but it seemed more like he was looking for the exits than enjoying the ambiance. He was no more a photojournalist than Derek was a costumed character in an ice show. Charisma’s brother had a secret.

  “I must say you have a fascinating career,” Derek finally said. “Charisma tells me you’re quite the globetrotter. She never knows what country you’re in or for how long. That must be grueling to move around so much.”

  “It’s a nomad’s job, but I go where the story takes me.”

  “You must have seen some interesting things on your travels. I had an uncle who was a photojournalist. He always complained about the camera lens making a bulge in his suit jacket,” Derek mused.

  Trevor raised an eyebrow and adjusted his jacket. “I know. Uncle Anton, is it? I did some checking.”

  “It is what it is.” So Trevor had done his homework on him. He knew his family had a colorful history, and his father had done his best to shelter them from it but he knew his uncle had worked for an intelligence agency. He just didn’t know which one.

  “But you seem to be squeaky clean,” Trevor said.

  “I try not bite off more sins than I can chew,” he said, remembering Luke’s comment that night at the party.

  Trevor laughed. “Good rule of thumb.”

  “I take it your sister doesn’t know what you really do for a living?”

  “And let’s keep this between the two of us. I don’t advocate keeping secrets from her, but she’s safer being kept in the dark.”

  “Understood.” He nodded. “She really misses having you around though. It would devastate her if something happened to you.”

  “I plan to drop in more often.”

  “Good.” He put the bottle down and picked up a box. “I have to get this champagne out there.”

  “I’ll help.” Trevor picked up the other box. “I’m glad we had this chat. You take care of my sister.”

  “I will.”

  CHAPTER NINE

  It had
been an eventful Sunday, starting with morning church service and then a luncheon in the rectory afterward. Charisma enjoyed attending service with her grandmother, which was quite an event for the elder Reed. Grandma liked to put on her best duds when she worshiped, right down to the fancy church hat with a wide brim, an intricate flaring bow, and pearl trimming to complete the ensemble.

  Despite the whispers going on about her renewed relationship with Derek, she focused on the inspirational words of Reverend Johnson. She had a lot to be thankful for. She and Derek were doing well, and Lamont was out of her life for good. That accident must have shaken him to his core. She couldn’t turn on a television without seeing his face, apologizing for every wrong thing he’d ever done in his life. His football career with the Titans was over, due to his accident injuries. There was something humbled about him now. She truly thought that this time the apologies weren’t scripted by the some publicist but coming from the heart. Whatever heated exchange had occurred between him and that mysterious man before his accident had changed his life.

  Today the sermon was about forgiveness, so it was fitting that her mother arrived late to the service. But that didn’t stop her from asking fifteen people to stand up so she could come and cram herself between Charisa and her cousin Trina. As soon as her butt connected with the pew, Debra started firing off questions at her, but Grandma gave her a look that silenced her.

  At Grandma’s insistence, Trevor hung around long enough to see their parents. It wasn’t the reunion of the century, but there was some groundwork laid that Charisma hoped would lead to a better relationship with all involved. This time when Trevor left, she believed he would be back again soon, even if it were only to make sure Derek was behaving. She hadn’t felt that loved in a long time.

  At the close of the sermon, Debra squeezed her hand. Afterward Debra politely asked if they could get together for lunch one day next week instead of demanding it. She took it as a sign of hope her mother was looking to make peace and love her unconditionally. It was still too early to introduce her to Derek, but she hoped one day soon it would happen.

  After church, they headed home. Charisma jumped out of her car and scurried to the other side to help her grandmother.

  “Take my arm, Grandma,” Charisma said as she aided the older woman up the stairs to the house.

  “Charisma Elise, I’m going to tan your hide. I told you to stop treating me like I’m some feeble old woman.” She patted her granddaughter’s arm and handed her the house key.

  “Hey, what did I do to deserve a middle-name calling?” Charisma smiled and opened the front door. “You refused to use your cane because it didn’t match your outfit. I don’t want you breaking any bones. I know how you hate hospitals.”

  Once inside, she hung up their coats and made a beeline for the kitchen to put on the teakettle. She peered inside the fridge to find a host of dishes they could reheat.

  “What would you like to eat?”

  “Are you still hungry after that luncheon?”

  “I took polite bites because I saw the newsletter photographer roaming around. But that macaroni and cheese was so gooey I thought it was going slide out of the side door of the church.” She shook her head.

  Grandma snickered. “You are bad. Ursula volunteers to bring that mess to every potluck function. Your grandfather, rest his soul, accused her of food poisoning once.”

  “I see a pot roast in here and some baked ziti. Which one do you want?”

  “Beverly is too heavy-handed on the oregano when she cooks Italian food. I’ll have Sydney’s pot roast.” Grandma removed her hat.

  Charisma laughed. She thought she was the only one who’d noticed her cousin used too much of the spice. She stuck the roast in the oven to warm and programmed it to three-fifty. “OK, I can roast some vegetables and make mashed potatoes to go with it.”

  “So how are things going with your mother? I see you let her hold your hand.”

  “It’s a work in progress, but I’m optimistic.” She reached into the cupboard for the good dining plates.

  “Parents sometimes see their offspring as a new hope to fulfill some dream or wish they feel they were never granted. When that happens, you have to forgive them for projecting onto you and live your life the way you see fit.”

  “Wise as always, Grandma. So what do you want to do after dinner?”

  “Is Derek coming by tonight?”

  “No, he’s traveling for an away game. I have to study later, but we can start the quilt you’ve been talking about.”

  Her grandmother’s eyes lit up. “How would you feel about creating a profile for me so I can access the family’s page myself on my smart phone? My friend Yvonne brags about using it. I want to know what the big fuss is all about. And I want to keep an eye on this family.”

  Charisma’s eyes widened. “I have to warn you. Your opinion of the entire family may change if you see more of their social media pages.”

  “Avery showed me some of that mess on the family page. I didn’t like what I saw. I don’t think the Reed family values are being represented properly.”

  “It’s the guilty pleasure of every computer owner. You can sit behind a screen and rant without anyone knowing your name or, more importantly, where you live.” She laughed.

  “I’m going to find my good reading glasses and a notepad. We’ll get started after dinner.” Grandma Reed left the kitchen in search of the items.

  Charisma put some oil olive in a pan and turned on the burner. Despite being able to finally afford a place of her own, she liked living with her grandmother. Since she’d been there, she felt like a piece of her soul had been restored. Derek didn’t mind game night or including her grandma in their fun. It was all kind of…wholesome, and she liked it.

  She looked at her phone when it chimed. It was a text message from Derek telling her that he missed her. That never got old. The declarations of love and caring were plentiful from him, and now it was time that she told him how she felt too. He’d been so patient as she found the courage to express herself. But she was grateful that he knew she was still working on the self-love issue too.

  They had a date scheduled for when he returned to the city. She’d plan something special.

  * * *

  Derek walked down the corridor, noticing it was a bit crowded for that time of night on campus. He insisted on picking Charisma up from her night classes. If he did have a game, then the Regency security specialist assigned to shadow her would make sure she got home OK. It took some doing to convince her that it was necessary, but he’d reminded her that it would aid her in keeping the media at bay.

  Now looking at all the students hanging out, he figured news must have circulated around the campus that he’d been showing up in Otto Hall twice a week to pick up his girlfriend from her classes. He was always polite. He’d signed a few autographs and was chatted up by some of the students, but when class finished, he’d politely end the conversation and whisk Charisma out of there. She’d lamented that some of her classmates were super nice to her, but only when they’d discovered who he was.

  The revelation that they were dating produced another wave of tabloid reports, but that was to be expected. It was the side effect of who they were. And if the world couldn’t accept that they genuinely cared each other, that was the world’s problem, not his. The Reed men had already sat him down for a chat. They let him know that they loved him like a brother, but he’d have to hide in hell if he hurt her. Seth had warned him it was coming. Derek understood they were just looking out for her.

  The door opened to the classroom, and Charisma was the first one to come out.

  “Hey, babe. How was class?” He relieved her of her backpack, put his arm around her shoulders, and kissed her. They started walking down the hall toward the exit.

  “Interesting. I’m getting better at note taking. But I got distracted with a great idea of how to decorate your third guest bedroom. I was thinking a subtle Southwestern style to
showcase your love of the Alamo and Texas history.”

  “Sounds like a great idea. We can coordinate our schedules and set up a consult.”

  “We’re having dinner tonight. We can—”

  “Tonight there’s no hockey, no Slap Shot, no interior design talk. We’re going to have a nice meal and relax.” When they finally reached his car, he held the door for her, then got behind the wheel.

  She glanced in the backseat. “What’s with the boxes?”

  “I saw something I thought you might like.”

  “Derek, you shouldn’t have. I told you before you don’t have to do things like that.” She bit her lip.

  “I thought we talked about this. A nice gift should never be construed as leverage or an assertion of power in a relationship, and I’m sorry that you’ve been with men who made you feel that way. Just know it comes from the heart, and that I think you’re worth so much more than material things.”

  “Message received.” Charisma caressed his hand and glanced back at the package. “That’s a pretty big box.”

  “It’s a pretty big sentiment. The big one is for you. The smaller one is for your grandmother. It’s a tablet, a pre-birthday present for her.” He leaned over and kissed her.

  “It’s a miracle I’ve been able to plan this party without her knowing.” She smiled. “Do you mind that I’m still living with my grandmother even though I’ve saved enough money for a place of my own?”

  “I think being with her is good for you. You should stay until it’s the right time to leave.”

  When they arrived, Derek parked in the driveway, grabbed the presents, and rounded the car to open the door for Charisma.

  “Before we go in, I have something to tell you.”

  “OK.” He put the presents on the seat.

  She paced back and forth.

  He was getting worried. “Whatever it is, just spit it out. We’ll deal with it together.”

  “Ya lyublyu tebya,” she said.

  “You do?”

  “Did I say it right? Yes, I do love you, with all my heart. I wanted to tell you when I knew what that meant, really meant to me, and now I can say it. A thousand times if you want.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer for a kiss.