Stroke of Luck (10 page)
Robert paused as if trying to choose his next words. Annalisa held her breath.
“When I was injured, part of me just wanted to give up. I’m not very proud of that, but with the help of great friends I was able to overcome the depression and find a challenge that led me here,” he said. “But as great as winning the medals is, I lost something more important getting here.”
The room was so silent it was eerie. Annalisa knew her heart was still beating because she was still standing there, camera forgotten around her neck.
“You see, I met a beautiful, talented woman at the US Championships and because I was so focused on my own goals, I didn’t appreciate what I’d found. Now here I sit with my teammates, after having reached the highest athletic level possible, and the one person I want to share it with won’t answer my calls.”
At that point, Annalisa felt every head in the room turn in her direction. She kept her eyes locked on Robert’s face.
“For me, winning this woman’s love would be better than what I’ve done today,” he said softly. “And now, my only focus is getting her to take me back. Getting Annalisa Webb to marry me.”
There was silence for two seconds then a voice from the crowd said, “So, how about it, honey? Give him a second chance.”
Annalisa felt tears gathering in her eyes and her heart was in her throat. Before she could answer, Robert moved off the stage and through the crowd, talking as he walked to where she stood.
“Will you please give me a chance, Annalisa, to make up for the things I said to you last month? Will you give me a chance to prove to you that I love you with all my heart?”
He stood directly in front of her now. The motor drives of the other photographers’ cameras were whirring crazily as they snapped image after image. Annalisa just stood there looking at the man who had held her heart from the moment she’d landed in his arms.
“I know I said a lot of things that hurt you. I know you think I don’t respect you and your abilities. But I was scared—more frightened then I’ve ever been in my life that I was going to lose you.”
Now he took her hand in his and got down on one knee. Though he didn’t show any pain, Annalisa knew the movement had to hurt his weak knees. She wanted to say something to stop him from doing anything else. She promptly forgot the urge when he spoke again.
“I’m begging you, Annalisa Webb,” he said. “Marry me. Let me prove how much I love you every day for the rest of our lives.”
Annalisa didn’t hesitate for one more second. She leaned into his arms…and promptly poked him in the chest with her camera. They fell to the floor.
“Sorry,” she said, sliding the camera to one side. Someone reached down and took it from her neck. She murmured a quick thank you then started kissing Robert’s face.
“Not a problem,” he muttered. “Is this a yes?”
“Oh, yes,” she replied. “A thousand times yes.”
I
’m Trixie and I love nothing more than writing feisty heroines and over-the-top sexy heroes who manage to get into some lively scrapes. Love and laughter go hand-in-hand in my stories and, really, what could be better? Well, perhaps having a studly man to do all the menial tasks—like the dishes, vacuuming, cleaning the litter box and fulfilling all of my fantasies—okay, not going to happen but a girl can dream, right?
I’m a former journalist and have had a variety of other jobs leading me to become a multi-published author. I've told tales, I mean stories, since I could talk and my current hobbies are reading, knitting, photography and dreaming of ways to spin more stories of hot, hot, hot characters falling in love.
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Trixie Stilletto
Ellora’s Cave Publishing
Stroke of Luck
ISBN 9781419943461
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Stroke of Luck Copyright © 2013 Trixie Stilletto
Edited by Rebecca Hill
Cover design by Syneca
Cover photography by Corepics/Fotolia.com and Honored_Member/Shutterstock.com
Electronic book publication March 2013
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