Playing for Hearts (66 page)

Juan remained in front of the door. “Will you do me a favor?”

“Of course,” she whispered.

“I haven't told anyone, but I want you to be the first to know.” He stretched his lips over his teeth, and he gazed over to the left toward the slope.

Her heart raced. She hoped he'd tell her he loved her, and wanted to stay married. At the least, let her know he wanted to continue seeing her after the Olympics.

“What is it?” she said.

“This will be my last Olympics. After today, I'm done competing. My shoulder isn't going to take another fall, and my goals have changed since I first started the journey in downhill skiing.” Juan paused and inhaled deeply. “Even my manager doesn't know I'm walking away from the sport after I win my second gold.”

Shocked, she said the first thing that popped into her head. “Wow. Are you sure?”

He threw back his head and laughed. She frowned, wondering if his fall had given him a concussion. She found nothing amusing about him making such a drastic life decision.

“You're cute,” he said, pulling her against his chest. “That's exactly what I needed from you, babe.”

She blew the air she held in her lungs out. “I'm not trying to be funny. What about your goals, your time, your … skiing is your whole life.”

He shrugged. “I guess my incentives have changed the older I get. I can afford to do anything I want, and I'm ready to move on to the next stage of my life. Maybe you and your time tables have rubbed off on me, and made me think of my life schedule.”

She frowned. “I'm not sure you should've listened. I've been thinking lately that I might be wrong planning my life in such an extreme level. So far, it's not all it's cracked up to be, and I've failed every step of the way.”

He leaned forward and kissed her hard. “You haven't failed, and I don't want you to ever change.”

“I don't understand you. You're not acting normal,” she muttered. “I think you're delusional. Skiing is your life. It's the only thing you live for.”

“You'll understand later. Right now, I want you to hitch a ride back to the slope, and hang out with everybody at the finish line.” He kissed the tip of her nose. “I need to go get ready. I still have a chance of winning the gold if I jump a perfect score. I'm not off the platform yet.”

He waited until she stepped in front of him and walked down the hallway. At the elevator, she looked back and found him watching her. His facial expression went soft and he lifted his chin. She inhaled sharply and stepped into the elevator.

Soon, Juan's life would change in a dramatic way. Tears fell, and no sound came from her. She let the stress and heartache out. Because after today, her life would change too.

She only knew without Juan, she wouldn't like the direction her life headed.

The sea of red, white, and blue ski suits dotted the side of the mountain as the U.S. men's downhill ski team and entourage took their position. With Juan and T.T. the only two skiers from the U.S. team going into the final event against Germany, Hungary, and one skier from Russia, even the other countries who were eliminated earlier on came to show their support. Fans in the designated area at the base of the slope held signs to show their support. Dana gawked. The support for Juan was staggering. There was no doubt that he was the favorite skier in the final event.

She wondered how Juan would cope walking away from all the fame and glory. The attention, the hero-worship, the motivational speeches were what he lived for. He downplayed the importance, but she'd witnessed the joys and excitement rush through him. He became invincible when he was in his element.

Ana stroked Dana's cheek, bringing her attention back. She smiled in understanding at the joy written all over Juan's mother's face. Ana had a right to be proud of her son.

“The wait is killing me.” Crista bounced in place. “I don't care that they say the last skier has the spotlight and all the focus is on Juan. In the Ironman, it's best to be in front. I have no patience for this kind of dragged out tension. It's only making me nervous. Now I think I have to pee.”

“Hold it, lil' Chihuahua. You'll miss when Juan wins the gold if you take a pit stop now.” Bruce threw a snowball at Crista. “Have Dominic or Diana called yet?”

Crista kicked snow on Bruce. “Don't be stupid. I'd tell you if I heard anything. God, how long does it take to have a baby anyway?”

“Shauna's probably having all the billboards around Cottage Grove painted first, so everyone in town knows she's having Grayson's baby.” Bruce grinned.

Crista laughed. “I hope so. The girl deserves all the attention after pining away from Grayson her whole life.”

Dana listened curiously. She hadn't even met the others, but she was intrigued. From what Juan had said, Grayson and Shauna were destined for each other. She liked that thought, and often wondered if fate had made her run into Juan when she was escaping the humiliation of being stood up on her wedding day.

“Why is it taking so long?” Maria groaned. “They announced Juan to the platform ten minutes ago.”

Dana strode to the fence. “Maybe they're having camera difficulties or one of the judges had a question.”

“Still, I don't remember a delay the last time Juan competed in the Olympics,” Maria said.

At that moment, Crista's phone rang. Dana turned, along with everyone else, to find out if the baby had come.

Crista frowned at the screen and answered. “Who is this?”

Dana glanced at Maria and raised her brows. Crista wasn't lying when she said she was losing her cool. She'd snapped at whoever was on the phone.

Crista glanced at Dana, and quickly turned around. Dana whistled under her breath and went back to watching the hillside. Any longer and she was going to join Crista and start complaining. It was as if they were drawing out the suspense on purpose.

“Hey, Dana,” Crista said.

She glanced over her shoulder. “Yeah?”

“You need to turn on your phone,” Crista shut off her phone and shoved it in the pocket of her coat.

“Why?” she asked.

Crista rolled her eyes. “Because I asked you to, that's why.”

“That's silly. No one but my dad is going to call me here. He knows I'm busy all day with Juan. Besides, rates are terrible here.” She turned back around.

“God, you're stubborn.” Crista reached into Dana's pocket.

Dana raised her arms to get out of Crista's way as her friend assaulted her body. “What are you doing?”

“Getting your phone.” Crista stuck her tongue out the corner of her mouth. “Shit, girl. How much Kleenex do you need to carry with you?”

“For your information, those are for Juan. He always needs to wipe his goggles when he practices.” Dana laughed when Crista pulled her coat off her hip and felt around for the pocket of her ski pants. “Stop it. I'm ticklish.”

“Too much information,” Crista muttered. “Where's your damn phone?”

Dana pushed Crista's hands away, and unzipped her jacket halfway and reached inside the coat to the inside pocket. “Here.”

“I don't need it, you do.” Crista pushed the power button and shoved it back at Dana. “Make sure you answer it if it rings.”

“I'm doing no such thing. The air horn could go off any time, and I'd miss Juan's final event.” Dana started to put the phone away, and Crista grabbed her wrist.

“I swear, I will kick your ass if you don't keep that phone in your hand and answer it when it rings.” Crista glared. “Trust me, you do not want to piss me off, girlfriend.”

“I'm going to put you on my hate list with Gary and Bruce.” Dana backed away, shaking her head. “Fine. I'll leave the phone on.”

“Fine.” Crista brushed her gloved hands together. “Finally.”

While she watched the hillside and contemplated Crista's odd behavior, her phone vibrated. She glanced at the screen, not recognizing the number. She looked up at the slope, ignoring the call.

“Dammit, answer the phone,” Crista yelled behind her.

Dana pushed her hood off her head, exasperated with Crista's attitude, and pushed the button to shut her up. “Hello?”

“Hey, babe … ” Juan said.

Pleasure flooded her body and she warmed. “What are you doing calling me?”

“I've been telling you we'd talk since before we left for Germany, and I know it's not fair to make you wait any longer.” Juan paused. “You deserve more from me, so I thought now would be a good time for us to talk.”

“Are you crazy?” She squinted, straining to find him on the slope. “You're supposed to be on the platform.”

“I am.” He laughed. “What better way to get your attention than to stop the Olympics. It's just me and you here, babe.”

“Oh my God,” she whispered. “You've gone insane.”

“No. I've fallen in love with you. From the moment I found you running through the lodge in a wedding dress, it's only been you for me. I want to wake up beside you every morning and hold you every night as we go to sleep,” he said.

She pressed her hand to her chest. “Are you serious?”

He chuckled. “As a heart attack. Do me a favor and wave at Bruce for me.”

She turned around and found everyone staring at her. Ana wiped her tears. Crista beamed. Maria giggled, covering her mouth. She caught Bruce's gaze and waved, looking at him curiously. “Okay, I waved.”

“Good. Is he coming toward you?”

“Yeah.” She caught her lip between her teeth.

Bruce lifted her free hand and placed something in it, and curled her fingers. He winked before backing away.

“Babe, open your hand,” Juan said softly.

She turned her wrist and opened up her hand. “Oh my God,” she whispered.

A gold double ring loaded with more diamonds than she could count sparkled on her glove. She blinked furiously to expel the moisture blurring her vision.

“I realized I never thought to buy you a wedding ring for our fake marriage, and since I want to make this real, I thought you'd like an engagement and wedding ring.” He paused. “Dana?”

“What?” she said.

“Will you stay married to me?”

She turned around and gazed up at the platform. She already knew her answer, and she had a feeling he did too. “I'll tell you once you hit the finish line. Now go win the gold.”

“Will you be waiting for me?” he asked.

She smiled, clutching the ring to her chest. “Always,” she whispered.

Several minutes later, the air horn blared. Dana counted the seconds, and held her breath as Juan shot from the ramp up into the air.

One flip.

Two flip.

A twist.

She gasped, leaning forward as she watched him going for — oh my God — a second full twist.

He moved too fast for her to watch his skis to see if they were aligned, and he descended. Her knees buckled, and she held on to the fence to stay standing.
Come on, honey. Come on …

Juan straightened into a standing position from a perfect crouched landing. The spectators screamed. The announcer yelled over the loudspeaker, but she tuned everything out. Someone hugged her from behind, but she only had eyes for Juan.

He skied straight for her, never glancing at anyone else. She bounced, waving to him.

Juan skidded to a stop in front of her. She reached over, grabbed his suit, and pulled him closer.

“Yes. Yes, I'll stay married to you,” she said.

He kissed her. She clung to him, afraid she'd wake up and find out she'd dreamt the whole dramatic day.

Juan pulled back and put his lips on her ear. “I love you, Mrs. Santiago.”

She closed her eyes, and melted. “I love you, Amante Español.”

One freaking fantastic month later.

Dana sat on Juan's lap, happier than she could ever remember being. She gazed around the living room at all the friends and family filling the house. Upon arriving back in Oregon after their honeymoon to Italy, she'd quickly settled into Juan's house when Ana announced she was throwing them a reception.

That was yesterday, and the only people who remained were Ana, Maria, Grayson and his wife Shauna, Dominic and his fiancée Diana, Bruce, Crista, and Gary. She'd insisted they all spend the night, so she could get to know them better. It hadn't been hard to convince the girls. They had a lot of conspiring to do about their men.

“My turn to hold the baby.” She hopped off Juan's lap.

Maria handed her Grayson and Shauna's baby. She cradled Trevor's head and sighed. No matter how many times she got to hold Trevor, she never tired of looking at him. He simply fascinated her.

From the light, baby blonde fuzz on the top of his head to the sweet scent of baby powder encompassing everything he touched, the child was the most adorable infant she'd ever seen. He took all the strange people holding him with good-natured patience, while they counted his fingers and looked at his toes.

Dana walked over and sat beside Juan. “Isn't he beautiful?”

“Handsome,” Grayson said.

Dominic coughed. “Manly.”

“Rugged,” Bruce said.

“Tough,” Gary added.

She glanced at Juan. “Aren't you going to add a description of Trevor to the male mix, so he can grow up to be a famous athlete like his father and all his honorary uncles?”

Juan wiggled his brows. “Studly.”

All the females groaned. Dana brought Trevor closer and whispered loud enough everyone could hear her, “Don't you listen too closely to the men in the room. They're all egotistical, dominating, possessive men — ” she glanced up and grinned, “who I hope you'll take after when you're all grown up. Just don't grow up too fast, because I like you tiny and adorable.”

Trevor gave a wispy baby sigh and his eyelids closed in contentment. She kissed his forehead, inhaling deeply, not ready to see Grayson and Shauna leave and take Trevor with them.