"The team will survive without me."
She lifted her head at his abrupt change of tone.
"I'm staying here." He paused, listened, frowned. "It's my life, Grandma, not yours."
Anna lifted her hand to hide her smile. It really was something to watch such a big, strong, tough man be such a softie. All for a woman he loved dearly.
"Fine, I'll play the damn game Sunday. But I'm flying right back."
Another pause, one where he looked like one of her first graders who knew he'd spoken out of turn.
"Sorry, ma'am," he said, and then, "Well, if you want me to stay in San Francisco with the team for practices, then I want you transferred to a nearby hospital." His face was like thunder. "We'll talk about this again soon."
He all but threw the phone down on the couch.
"Grandma is sending me back to California."
Anna knew she shouldn't be happy to hear it.
But she was.
* * *
It was all too much for her. The flight home in first class. The knowledge that she'd soon have to explain her rash marriage to not only her family, but also her friends and colleagues. All the while knowing that it would be coming to an end in the near future--and then she'd have to figure out how to explain her divorce. But mostly, Anna was overwhelmed by being so close to Cole for so many hours. He was always touching her, a thousand little caresses that slowly but surely drove her out of her mind.
Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
Placing his hand at the small of her back to guide her through throngs of photographers outside both airports.
Brushing her shoulder and arm with his during the flight, despite the fact that her first-class seat was the size of a small ocean liner.
Thankful that James was already waiting for them just outside Arrivals, Anna was glad for Cole's large frame protecting her from the bulk of the flashbulbs.
"I didn't realize football players were so well known."
"Most women would be thrilled by my fame. And fortune."
She scooted as far away from him as she could in the backseat. "I'm a good girl, remember? We don't care about that stuff."
She didn't bother to hold in her bitterness. Why should she? It wasn't like she had anything left to lose.
Except for her heart.
Anna shoved the mute button down on the stupid little voice in her head. She could feel Cole's eyes on her, just by the way her skin was heating up.
"I know it's strange, but you get used to the fame after a while."
But Anna wasn't sure she would. Hopefully the pictures and the short statement Cole had given the paparazzi about Anna making him "the happiest man on earth" would be enough.
"Damn it. I expected them to figure out where you lived, but not this fast."
Anna realized a crowd of journalists were on the sidewalk in front of her apartment.
"Why would they care about me? I'm a nobody. I'm not important."
He was in her face in an instant, gripping her shoulders in his strong hands. "You're beautiful. And sweet. And intelligent. You're very special, Anna."
Looking into his eyes as the rough tone of his words pummeled her, she realized he was angry. Because of what she'd said...about herself.
He rapped on the shaded window that separated them from James. "Keep going. We'll head straight to my house."
"But I need to go home." She poked a finger into Cole's chest. "And don't you dare say you'll send someone for my things again." His eyebrows rose at her no-nonsense tone of voice.
"Please park outside my apartment, James."
James made a U-turn. "We'll be there in just a moment, Anna."
She straightened her shoulders, ran a hand over her hair, then opened the door and stepped onto the sidewalk. "Hello. Good afternoon. Excuse me."
She carefully walked past the camera-laden strangers, keeping her smile firmly on her face. She could feel Cole a step behind her, knew without looking that he was barely keeping a lid on it. She refused to let her hand shake as she put her key in the door.
She had barely closed--and bolted--her front door when Cole spun her around and pressed her against it. He hunkered over her, his eyes flaming.
"Damn it, you'll listen to me next time."
She could feel his thick erection pressing into her body and even though he had no right to treat her with such disrespect, her body instantly responded with a flood of arousal, her breasts peaking beneath her bra and shirt.
"No, next time you'll ask me what I want to do before making a unilateral decision. And you'll heed my answer."
His dark, sinful eyes moved from her eyes to her mouth, then back up again. "Are you talking back to me, sweet Anna?"
She couldn't stop staring at his mouth. "Get used to it." The throbbing between her thighs had turned into a deep ache.