7. Francesca

7

FRANCESCA

Theo leaves shortly after our spaghetti dinner and nothing else happens. No hugging, no kissing, but a definite awkwardness when he announces he better head back to his apartment. I wanted to grab him, admit how I really feel about him, and that I find him breathtakingly sexy, but I didn't. If the kiss is any indication, I'm sure he feels the same way about me. The kiss was passionate. Needy almost.

He's so attractive. I shake my head.

My gosh, this guy has practically put me into a trance.

I barely slept all night. Couldn't get Theo out of my head. What if the food hadn't arrived when it did? How far would we have gone?

I fill my travel mug with coffee. The hot liquid warms me inside and out, but I need the caffeine to revive me.

I'm torn. Obviously, I'm physically attracted to him. And his body.

Defined shoulders.

Lean and athletic.

And he's always wearing that smirk— almost like he can't get it off his face which only makes him doubly tempting.

When I make my way out the door of the apartment complex, the cold Colorado wind is like a slap in the face. The slap wakes me up from my thoughts of Theo.

As I walk to the arena, I weigh the pros and cons of being with Theo. Even if I get together with him, it doesn't mean he has to find out about what happened with Jesse in Miami.

Lucia has scolded me a few times. Always asks what I'm so ashamed of. My relationship with Jesse "Lefty" Lawrence was so sweet and the tabloids fell in love with us. It wasn't just the tabloids that delighted in our relationship, we had interviews with many reputable sports magazines. They loved featuring us. Jesse had a huge fanbase and was known as one of hottest bachelors in the league. And the girl from Little Havana, Florida won his heart. It was practically a fairytale romance unfolding for baseball fans. They were kind to us.

Until they weren't.

Word quickly got out that our engagement was off. Photos of Jesse and Whitney started showing up in the rags. I'd been replaced and Whitney was his new interest. The paparazzi chased me and hammered relentlessly about what'd happened between us. Since I'd signed an NDA with the team at the beginning of my contract, I knew I'd never be able to tell my side of the story.

Since the tabloids couldn't get the details, they invented what they couldn't figure out and embellished on it— any morsel of information they'd manage to get. I was barely able to acknowledge what'd happened between us. I certainly wasn't ready to talk to any reporters.

They began reporting that I'd cheated on Jesse with a sportswriter, with my personal trainer, with other players on the team. Thankfully, they're focusing their attention on some other stars and Frannie Russo has dried up like a piece of day-old bread.

The pros of getting together with Theo are obvious. I deserve a fresh start and I'm worthy of someone who treats me right. I don't need to keep punishing myself for what happened in Miami. Deep down, I know it wasn't my fault I was engaged to a player, but I feel ashamed of my naivety.

When I couldn't sleep last night, I searched Theo on the web. He's known as a heartbreaker with the ladies. He's had short-term relationships with beautiful women, but he's known as Mr. Non-Committal. He's also known for fighting on and off the ice— being traded amongst several teams over the past few seasons.

By the time I reach the front doors of the arena, my coffee cup is drained along with my self-preservation. If I don't get this guy off my mind, I'm going to drive myself crazy.

The hallways are quiet this morning. The only sound is the faint music and clanging of the weights coming from the workout room as I pass.

I unlock the main door to the medical staff's section and then my office door. I let out a deep breath and plop everything onto my desk— purse, keys, coffee mug. Honestly, I was a bit worried I'd run into Theo. After last night's hot scene in my apartment, I'm not sure how he'll react when he sees me. I'm not even sure how I'm going to react when I see him .

I step into the alcove of our area and begin the daily task of preparing a fresh pot of coffee. The aroma of the coffee beans soothes me. I dump a scoopful into the oversized pot.

"Looks like I'm just in time for a cup of coffee," a husky voice behind me greets. "I could sure use one."

I let out a small screech and quickly turn to see my muscled crush leaning against an adjacent counter holding a coffee cup with the team's logo.

I put my hand over my heart. "You scared the shit out of me."

He chuckles and I want to wipe that smirk off his face. "Good morning."

"Hey." I put the lid on the machine that delivers my precious brew and turn it on. "I take it you're on the prowl for a cup of coffee."

"Well, that." He shrugs. "Here to see you too."

"About last night—" I start.

"Last night was—" he says at the same time.

We laugh. "You first," I say.

He looks around cautiously before he speaks. "Last night was. . ." He lowers his voice. "You have no idea what I'd love to do to you."

"I have a lot to lose. The implications of people seeing us together— even if nothing was going on— you know they're going to draw their own conclusions and I?—"

"Morning, guys," Debbie greets as she enters the area. "Hey, you beat me to the coffee maker. Thanks for getting it started.

My heart beats out of my chest. "Hey Debbie," I let out in one long breath.

Debbie opens the refrigerator door and finds a spot for her sack lunch. She closes the door and studies me with a furrowed brow. "You okay?"

I let out a nervous laugh. "I'm good. Great." I manage a tight smile and my eyes seem to be blinking faster than necessary.

I turn to Theo. "If you have a minute before practice starts, let's head into my office to go over the rest of the paperwork,"

Good job. So fast on your feet, Frannie girl.

"Sounds good."

I step into my office with Theo on my heels and close the door.

When I turn to him, he's inches away and pushes my back against the closed door.

Theo runs his fingertips down my arms and sends a shiver through my spine. "I haven't been able to get you off my mind. All. Night." His voice is barely above a whisper.

"Same." My voice comes out like a flutter. "But as we both started to say. Out there." I point to the door. "We both have?—"

Before I can finish my thought, Theo's lips are on mine, his hands sliding up my arms and into my hair.

The kiss burns hot and fast and practically melts me into a puddle of goo on my office floor. He tilts his head for a better angle and deepens the kiss. I let out a breathy moan.

The kiss continues and I feel myself losing control. I want him and I want more.

He finally breaks the kiss, his breath hot and heavy on my face, his eyes glistening with desire. He smells like mint toothpaste and some woodsy soap. He shakes his head lightly and grins. "Wrong place and wrong time," he whispers. "This needs to be outside of the arena."

"I think it's all wrong."

"What?" He furrows his brows. "No, we can?—"

"Listen, I have a lot on the line here. It's not just this job— which I need desperately, by the way— it's my whole career. I could lose my license to practice medicine," I whisper.

Of course, I can't tell Theo that it's a lot more than the license and the job. My heart can't take another public relationship— especially another public breakup. Since Theo is so much in the spotlight already with his career and bad boy reputation, the tabloids would sniff out our relationship and they'd know exactly what happened to Fran Russo. They wouldn't be kind, and everything would come tumbling down around me. Except this time, it wouldn't only hurt me, it could hurt Theo as well and hurt his already precarious spot on the team.

I could so easily melt into this feeling of being so wanted again. It's been a long time since a man's held me like this and cared about me.

I take a shaky breath. "Trust me when I tell you…the feelings are there."

"Exactly." He smiles.

I pinch my eyes closed and open them again. "There's a lot…I like you. I do, but there's more that I can't explain. We can't go through with this."

"What?"

"You should probably see one of the other physicians on staff and we definitely can't take this any further."

"I'd see a different physician. Plus , we'd keep our relationship under wraps."

My chest tingles and I gasp to get my breath.

It's like he's bargaining.

There's a tap on the door. "Doctor Francesca?" It's Debbie.

I open the door. "Thanks for stopping in, Theo. Good luck on your practice today."

I can see the anger burning in his eyes. "Thanks," he says as he storms off down the hallway.

Telling Theo we can't be together is one of the most difficult things I've had to do. If only he knew what's at risk for both of us. I know he doesn't understand, but it's better this way. Now all I have to do is convince my heart to agree.