Playing with Fire - A Sports Romance by Lydia De Luca Page A

know what any of it means. I want to talk to him. But at the same time, I know how dangerous that would be. I can't control myself around him. I can't help but want to touch him, kiss him, hold him. I want to know if he feels the same way.
    “Is it someone else?” Vivian asks. I’d forgotten she was here, and her voice startles me.
    “Someone else?”
    Vivian sits down on the couch next to me and puts a hand on my shoulder. “That’s made you feel this way. Frankie, I’ve never seen you like this before. Even back in school, or when you were in college. Is there someone else?”
    I shrug her hand off my shoulder. “There can't be, Viv,” I remind her. “I'll die an old maid, never knowing true love. You know that.”
    Vivian chuckles at our old joke. “I don't believe that.” Her voice is gentle, like she’s afraid I’ll blow away if she talks louder. “Someday he’ll understand. Someday you’ll make him understand. You’re not one to back down, Frankie. One of these days he'll listen to you.”
    As if on cue, I hear the back door open and telltale signs of someone putting away packages in the kitchen. Vivian squeezes my shoulder, then stands and glides to the doorway. Before she gets there, Marco comes into the room.
    “Vivian!” Marco beams a dashing smile. He grabs her by the shoulders and kisses each cheek before he looks over and sees me on the couch. I pull my head out of my knees as he looks back at her. “What’s this? Both my girls home to see me?”
    Marco gives his daughter a big hug and releases her. I take my arms out from under the blanket as he closes in on me.
    “Tesoro, you look as beautiful as always.” He kisses each of my cheeks and sits down on the couch next to me, an arm around my shoulders. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
    “I thought I’d come home for the weekend,” I tell him. “Take a little break from it all.”
    Marco raises his arm and gestures to the beautiful room around us. “You know you’re welcome here anytime, Frankie. Anytime. In fact, you never have to leave. Come, move back home. You don't need to live in that hotel. Your home is better than that.”
    “The hotel is fine,” I assure him.
    “Where’s Vinny, Daddy?” Vivian asks before Marco can respond. She knows a fight brewing when she sees one. My living at the Savory is a point of contention between the two of us. I throw her a grateful glance as Marco turns his attention to her.
    “Ah, off jetsetting again. I hear he’s found a new girlfriend,” Marco says with a smile. He shakes his head. “That boy. Always chasing love.”
    “That’s my brother for you,” Vivian says. The laugh that accompanies her words warms the broken spot in my soul. It's good to know at least one of us can find love, even if it is more often than most.
    “Have you met her?” Marco asks. “Jess or Jane or something?”
    “Jen,” Vivian answers. I whip my eyes up to hers and she gives me a knowing smile. I hadn't realized Vinny and Jen hit it off so well. “She’s a real sweetheart, Daddy, you’ll love her.”
    “Ah, good,” Marco says, beaming. “I should fly her out so I can meet her.”
    “No!” Both Marco and Vivian stare at me with wide eyes and I try to recover. “I mean, it’s early, Marco. He may decide tomorrow he doesn't like her anymore. You should wait.”
    Marco frowns at me. “Is it too much that I want to meet the woman who holds my son’s heart?”
    I shake my head. “Marco, you know Vinny. You can't go hearing wedding bells every time he finds a girl he's in love with. Give them some time to get to know each other. If it’s meant to be, you’ll meet her.”
    Vivian raises an eyebrow at me, but when Marco glances at her, she nods her head in agreement. “She’s right, Daddy. You know how Vinny is. He was with his last girlfriend for three days, and he was sure she was The One.”
    Marco looks back at me and pats me on the knee. “You’re always the voice of reason, Tesoro.