Chapter Nineteen

That kiss of all kisses finally had to end. If Zave hadn’t whisked me off into the team tunnel, I think I might have melted onto the basketball court.

“I’m going to take a quick shower,” he said. “Please, please, say you’ll wait for me.” Another sparkling grin jumped out at me.

“Yes.” I laughed.

“Good—no, great!” He punched the air. “Jordan, will you please take Ms. Frost up to the Team Box and help her avoid any fans hanging around?”

“Will do, Triple X. This way, Ms. Frost.” The man looked delighted to be asked to help us as he motioned me toward the elevator.

We managed to enter the box without being interrupted by anyone. There were at least thirty soft seats facing the glass wall overlooking the court. Rhonda was out on the balcony talking to an extremely tall young man. I knew that the Nuggets often brought in recruits and treated them to a game or two in the corporate box as part of wooing new players. He must be one of them. Rhonda laughed at something he said and flipped her hair with her fingers. Looked like Rhonda had moved on to another victim, the poor guy. I stayed inside the glass walls and sat down in the back corner where I was sure they couldn’t see me.

I couldn’t believe Zave had just done that on air. My whole body tingled and the huge cloud of doom and gloom that had trailed me since we broke up evaporated with that one delicious kiss. I touched my lips. They were still warm and tasted a bit salty, yet sweet. It was a kettle corn kiss.

This kind of thing had never happened to me. I was Cinderella—no—Noella or Ellerella, I thought as a giggle spilled out. So, this was what it felt like to be a princess, to win the lottery in love, to finally have someone I could believe in and share with. I felt flushed and never wanted to stop grinning. Good thing most of the people in the box were gone and the few who remained weren’t looking my way.

Zave was known to keep his private life private. He would never, ever do something like that in front of the television cameras unless he meant it. I had no doubt that he meant every word he said. He’d taken a big risk out there. I couldn’t even imagine what would have happened if I had pushed him away or stormed off in the middle of the interview.

That would have been horrid, lonely, sad, and an absolute tragedy. I’d been so caught up in my own story, my strong distrust, and had been wrong all along. I’d let the damaged part of me taint my thoughts. No more. I was ready to allow myself to let this happiness take me on an incredible journey. “This must be what it’s like to float on a cloud, win the golden ticket, take the world championship, live happily ever after,” I whispered.

I don’t think my grin had gone away since that magnificent kiss—that kiss that a good million or more people witnessed, I thought, laughing.

A high-pitched giggle from Rhonda interrupted my thoughts. I watched her as she ran her fingers up the young man’s arm.

“Yuck.” Rhonda, Rhonda. I should have talked to Zave. There would always be Rhondas, or ladies like that homewrecker, Cherise, who chased men and didn’t care who they hurt. It took two people to have integrity, to remain faithful in a relationship, to make it work. Zave’s declaration before the world tonight showed him to be a man of integrity, if not a little crazy, and now I needed to show faith in him.

I’d let Rhonda get to me because of my own paranoia and fear after the betrayal and cruelty I had lived through during my former marriage. I vowed to move forward and face those fears and realize that not all men were wired to be or chose to be abusive. My own father was never that way. Joy’s husband was never that way. Some of my friends and co-workers seemed to have great marriages and relationships. Zave’s bold move tonight had saved me from sabotaging the best thing—no, the best man ever for me, and Tatum, too.

Tatum—oh no—Tatum may have seen that. I was sure Joy did and had called Holly and Chrissy by now. I’d better talk to them. I made a group call and only managed to get in a few words with all of their whooping and teasing. All three of them had seen the interview.

Joy did manage to tell me that Tatum had fallen asleep before the end of the game. She said she’d let me share my news and show her the video clip myself but cautioned me to do it before the weekend was over, so the story didn’t come from kids or teachers at school.

A peaceful warmth surrounded me. I took some slow breaths and thought about my parents, wishing they could have met Zave. They would have liked him.

I heard the door behind me open and there he was. Zave glanced around the empty room, looking worried, until his eyes met mine.

“Oh good. For a minute, I thought I’d imagined the last half hour.” With long strides he reached me in a few seconds. He pulled me up and into a big bear hug. We clung to each other for what seemed like eternity but was definitely eons too short.

He whispered in my ear, “Do you forgive me for the on-air stunt I pulled?”

I leaned back to look at him. “What? Are you kidding me? It took a sledgehammer for me to realize that I’d misjudged you. I’m so sorry I didn’t have enough faith in you to talk to you. Can you forgive me? I expected the worst and didn’t give you a fair chance.”

I knew I was rambling, but I couldn’t stop, so I continued, “I thought I’d dealt with the reality of my past—of a selfish and abusive and unfaithful ex-husband. I thought I was over it. But now I see why those dreams keep haunting me.”

“Dreams? You mean you have nightmares about what he did to you?” Zave looked horrified.

“Yes. It’s boiled down to the same degrading two-act-play over and over again. Maybe they’ll stop now. But we can talk about that later. I’m so sorry for doubting you and shutting you out. I should have talked to you after that nasty run-in at the jewelry store.”

Zave tilted his head to the side and squinted his eyes. “Jewelry store run-in? What was that?”

“Oh, we can talk about that later, too. It’s another long, sneaky misunderstanding that includes Rhonda. I don’t want to let Rhondas ever come between us ever again. I just want to hug you now and tell you I’m sorry I didn’t give you a—”

Zave lowered his lips to mine. I forgot all the things I was sorry about and lost myself in his kiss…again.

“Uh hum.” A cough interrupted my bliss.

“So it’s true. You have the hots for the TV lady.” Rhonda’s voice sounded screechy.

We separated, reluctantly. Zave kept a protective arm around me.

I noticed Rhonda and the young man were now holding hands.

“Hello, Rhonda. Meet my girlfriend, Noelle Frost. Of course, you may have seen her before.” Zave glared at her.

She remained silent. At least she had enough sense to lower her head as she stood there, caught in her deceit and nasty manipulations.

“Uh, hi, Triple X, I’m Bracken Trudeau. I’m a big fan.” The young man stuck out his hand. He seemed to miss the tense atmosphere surrounding us.

Zave shook his hand, ever the gentleman. “Hello, Bracken. Nice to meet you. Where’re you from?”

“University of Arizona. Junior year, thinking of jumping into the NBA early.”

“Can I give you a bit of advice?” Zave asked him.

Rhonda was now looking all around the room, anywhere but at us.

“Sure.” The young basketball player sounded eager.

“Stay in school. Finish your degree. Injuries are a way of life in the NBA and often cut careers short, but your degree will last you a lifetime,” Zave said in a serious voice.

The young man looked crestfallen but thanked him and said he would think about it.

Rhonda yanked on his hand, and they left.

I turned toward Zave. He pulled me close.

“What you told that young man was certainly not what he wanted to hear. Great advice, though.” I beamed up at him.

Zave nodded. “I try to tell it how it is. These young guys get stars in their eyes and want the money right away. I have seen too many of them come and go because of injuries. I hope he listens.”

“You never cease to amaze me.” I tapped his chin with my finger.

“I hope I can continue to amaze you for a long time, Elle.” He lowered his lips to mine, and I was happily amazed once again.

Too soon, the kiss ended.

Zave whispered, lips close to my ear as he held me tight, “I thought I had lost you and Tatum. I’ve never given up on anything that I really cared about in all my life.” His voice came out soft and ragged. “I just couldn’t lose you two. I love you, Noelle Belle Frost. Would you and Tatum like to fly kites tomorrow?”

“Wait. What?” I leaned my head back to look him straight in the eye.

“I said, ‘Would you and Tatum like to fly kites tomorrow?’” The right side of his mouth twitched.

“No. What did you say before that?” I wrapped my arms around his neck, thinking how great it was that I was tall enough to actually reach that far.

“Oh, just that I love you.” He broke out into a full smile. Then he leaned down and kissed me again.

The sweetest kiss I have ever known. In fact, it would go down in my memory as the honey kiss, it was so sweet.

His lips gently left mine and he said, “Well?” His eyes shone a dusky green, and his brows rose as he waited.

“Well, what?” My heart pounded as I paused. I knew what he wanted, but anticipation was half the fun.

“Do you love me, too?” The look on his face had changed to one of concern.

I teared up. My heart tried to beat out of my chest. Time had somehow stopped as I reached my hands up to cup both sides of his face. Then I whispered, “Xavier Maximillian Trayce, I love you.”