Steal My Heart (Bachelors & Bridesmaids) by Barbara Freethy Page A

they'd waited until I graduated from high school before dropping that bomb."
    "I'm sorry, Michael," Liz said, compassion in her eyes.
    "Luckily, I had college waiting and football, of course. I should probably be thankful my parents waited until I was leaving the house. I know that they both deserved to be happy, so if being together wasn't going to make them happy, then they made the right decision."
    She nodded. "That's a good way to look at it."
    He took one last look at the house, then pulled away from the curb. "Let's go see your family."
    "I should have told you that I was inviting you to basically a football viewing party," she said. "If you want to drop me off, I can find another way back to Sacramento."
    "It's a long drive," he reminded her.
    "I can always rent a car."
    "No, you're not going to do that. I'm fine. Just tell me there will be snacks."
    "More than you could imagine."

Chapter Six
     
    Despite Michael's willingness to come to her house, Liz felt a little guilty about exposing him to the football fanatics in her family. It would be good for her dad, but having heard a little more of Michael's story, she wondered if it would be good for him. He obviously had an emotional attachment to the game, the dream career he'd worked so hard to get and the abrupt collapse of everything he'd ever wanted. She'd always thought of him as the Golden Boy , the one for whom everything always went right. But that had certainly ended last year.
    Still, he had recovered. He was back on his feet, working for his sister, going after huge PR accounts as if he had all the experience in the world. She really didn't need to feel sorry for him.
    Not that she did feel sorry for him. No, her feelings were far more complicated than that.
    "Turn left at the next street," she said.
    "I remember," he muttered.
    Now it was her turn to ask, "How do you remember where I live?"
    "I wanted to talk to you after you broke my nose, so I drove to your house."
    "But we didn't talk," she said, meeting his gaze.
    "No, I chickened out."
    Silence followed his words. She knew she should leave it alone, but somehow she couldn't. "What were you going to say to me?"
    "That you had it wrong," he said with a sigh. "But you wouldn't have believed me. And I couldn't risk taking another punch to the face. My parents were all over me about what had happened at the party."
    "Did you tell them I hit you?"
    "God, no! I couldn't tell my father that a girl broke my nose."
    She smiled. "My older brothers taught me how to fight."
    "They did a good job." He paused. "Did you ever tell your parents?"
    She shook her head. "No, it was too embarrassing. I kept thinking I might have to. I waited for you or your parents to call them or to report me to the school. I don't think I slept very well for the next few weeks—if that's any consolation."
    "Not really. My nose is still crooked."
    "It gives you character. And you played football. I'm sure I wasn't the only one to take a shot at your face."
    "I took some hits, but I usually had a helmet and face mask on. And you didn't only leave me with a physical scar, I was a little gun-shy when it came to kissing a girl for months after that."
    "I'm sure you got over it."
    He parked the car in front of her house, and as they got out, she saw her brothers and their kids at the grassy park across the street. Her oldest brother Tom waved to her, motioning her over. "It must be halftime," she said. "Come and meet my brothers."
    Tom came over to give her a hug while Greg threw the football to four little boys who went racing to catch it.
    "I wasn't sure you were going to make it," Tom said.
    "I told you I'd make the time. This is Michael Stafford," she added as her brother's interested gaze moved to Michael.
    Recognition flickered in Tom's eyes followed by excitement. "The football player?"
    "Former football player," Michael replied.
    "I saw that hit you took on your knee," Tom said. "That was painful to watch."
    "Even worse to experience,"