“So, what do you want me to do?” he asked, his eyes never once leaving her face.
“Well, I did give you the choice of serving dinner or hanging out with the guys.”
“I guess my choice is obvious,” he said with a laugh. “Point me to them.”
After Asia got Rico situated on the basketball court with the six or seven youngsters there, she went back to help Shelley with the food.
“When I asked him to help out he wanted to donate money,” she said as she watched him in the distance. He’d just stolen the ball from a tough-looking kid. She was surprised. Rico wasn’t half bad on the basketball court.
“Money always helps,” Shelley said, her eyes on Rico, too.
“Yes, but our kids need more than that. And anyway, writing a check is easy. It’s taking the time to be with them that counts."
“Well said, sister.” Shelley gave a soft chuckle. “But you know what? Your guy seems to be doing okay on both sides. Look at how he just fit right in with the boys. And he’s not cutting them any slack, either. They’ve got to work to get that ball from him.”
She was right. Rico seemed like a natural on the basketball court. With his height and trim figure he moved swiftly and easily, bobbing and weaving toward the basket. The boys, although younger, had nothing over him when it came to scoring a basket.
“Are you thinking what I’m thinking?" Shelley asked.
“Uh, huh.” Asia nodded. “With skills like that he’s bound to be a basketball fan…”
“Which means he probably has connections in the basketball world.”
Shelley said, finishing Asia's thought. “Next time he comes to the center we have to introduce him to Robert."
“If there is a next time.” Asia rolled her eyes, mocking Shelley’s confidence.
“Oh, there will be,” Shelley said with certainty. “I told you we needed some more male role models around here. I think we’ve found our first candidate.”
That evening Rico stayed until the center closed at nine o’clock, playing game after game with the boys, eating with them and chilling on the benches, telling them stories about being on a semi-professional team in France. The boys listened open-mouthed and when it was time to go the women had to shoo them out. They were so fascinated with Rico they hardly even wanted to leave.
“Yup,” Shelley said, “he’s the one.”
After the last boy had gone Rico strolled over to them, his damp T-shirt clinging to his body. “That was good,” he said with a sigh. “I haven’t had such a good workout in ages.”
“Glad you had fun,” Asia said, trying not to stare. The sight of his ni**les and broad chest under the damp T-shirt was bringing back memories. It was turning her on.
They stood there staring at each other as if the two of them were the only people there. That was the way it must have seemed because Shelley suddenly cleared her throat, causing them both to turn.
“Well,” she said, putting her hands on her hips, “I can see where this is going. It’s as clear as day. You two are in love.” She directed a pointed look at Rico. “So what are you waiting for? When are you going to pop the question?”
Asia’s mouth fell open. If the earth could have swallowed her whole right at that moment she would have gladly jumped in. How embarrassing. To have your friend demand a marriage proposal on your behalf? Was there anything more pathetic? And what if he thought she was the one who’d put Shelley up to it?
But that wasn’t the worst part. No, the absolute worst part was the look on Rico’s face. The only word Asia could think of was ‘stricken’. The man’s face flushed and he looked so guilty that Asia knew without a doubt that marriage to her was the last thing in the world he would ever want.
He wanted her. She had no doubt about that. But he did not want her for his wife.
CHAPTER TEN
That night Rico lay in bed, the king-sized bed that now seemed much too big for him alone, and he could not sleep. He kept reliving that question Shelley had asked and he still could not believe it.
Had he been so obvious? Was it that easy to read that he was in love? When Shelley had blurted out the question he’d been taken aback by her bluntness but he’d been even more surprised by her perceptiveness. He, who had always prided himself on being a master of his emotions, had been found out.
And then he thought of Asia, little Mademoiselle Miller, the first woman to try her hand at dominating him. And she’d done it in her own special way. There was no shouting match, no conflict, but she’d taken control of his mind, his heart, and his life. And, to his surprise, he welcomed it.
And that was how he knew. He had to talk to Asia. He looked at the clock on the wall. Eleven-fourteen. Too late to call. It would have to wait till morning.
******
Asia sat clenching and unclenching her fists as she waited for Rico's car to arrive. This was it. The moment she'd been dreading but had expected all along. Rico had called her early that morning to tell her he needed to see her. She'd suggested they meet next week but he'd said it couldn't wait. He had to see her this evening.
And this was all taking place the day after Shelley had dropped her bombshell. He'd probably decided it was best to end it before things got out of hand.
So here she was, waiting for the axe to fall. But she had a plan. She wasn't going to just sit and wait for him to ditch her. She'd known this love affair wasn't going to last and she would tell him so. That way, she wouldn't have to go through the torture of watching him try to wheedle himself out of the situation.
Resolved in her plan, when the car pulled up at her house she was ready.
Rico looked serious this evening. He'd given her a brief hello and as soon as she got in they set off. She was surprised when he pulled off the main road and drove to a deserted corner of the sea shore. Then he turned to her.
"Let's go for a walk," he said. "We need to talk."