Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 87513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87513 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 438(@200wpm)___ 350(@250wpm)___ 292(@300wpm)
She chuckled, shaking her head. “You ended up starting a company? Like it was no big deal?”
He gave her a phony grimace. “Kind of like you falling into starting your own matchmaking service.”
“Touché. But how did you get into the inspirational talks you do for kids?”
He loved talking to her, learning about her, sharing with her. He couldn’t remember another woman he’d shared so much of himself with. Most women he dated weren’t interested in him. They’d wanted the gold medalist or the guy they’d seen in a commercial for athletic shoes or the rich businessman. None of them had asked about the talks he enjoyed giving to kids, about his hopes that his words inspired them to reach for everything they wanted out of life.
“I felt it was time to give back to the community. My family inspired me, and I wanted to offer that same kind of inspiration. That’s when I started talking to youth groups and young people, high school classes and sports teams. Mostly, it’s about encouraging them to believe in themselves, that they can be whatever they want to be as long as they never give up on their dreams.”
“And doing that is more important than overseeing your sports empire?” she asked.
He drummed his fingers on the table and gave her a smile. “It’s not an actual empire. But that’s important too. Providing people with the things they need to be the best they can be. Giving them new equipment, like this workout machine Matt and I have been working on. But it wouldn’t mean as much to me if I couldn’t use it as a springboard to encourage young people.”
She blinked once, then again, as though she suddenly saw him in an entirely different light. “That’s incredibly admirable. I’d love to attend one of your talks sometime.”
That drew him up. He thought about her sitting among the audience, listening, watching. Would she think he was just another blowhard or that his talks were part of his business model? As an athlete, people had judged him all his life. They’d scored his technique, his execution, his behavior on and off the diving board. But right now, he didn’t want her to be just another judge. So he said gently, “Maybe someday.”
He couldn’t tell if that was dejection on her pretty face. Especially when she said, “I’ll look forward to it.”
There were so many things he looked forward to with her.
Chapter Nine
After he paid the bill—Troy wouldn’t even let Michaela pay the tip, even though she’d tried—and they’d left the restaurant, he asked, “Can I give you a ride home?”
She shook her head. “Thank you. But I took BART from Colma, so that’s where my car is parked.”
He saw another opportunity. “I’ll drive you back to your car.” He used a reasonable excuse. “I’m not letting you get on BART by yourself this late at night.”
They had talked for hours at the restaurant, and it was now almost ten o’clock. It might be an excuse, but he also didn’t want her traveling on public transport alone at this time of night.
Thankfully, she saw the wisdom in that. “That’s very gentlemanly of you. Thank you. I’ll take you up on the offer.”
It wasn’t all that magnanimous. He wanted her in close proximity.
But once they were in the luxurious confines of his car, she became quiet, almost as if she’d talked herself out over dinner. Troy let his mind wander, her scent tantalizing him. How could he get her to go out with him? Alice had said Michaela didn’t date billionaires, but he had to figure out a way to keep her in his world.
The answer came straight out of tonight’s conversation. “Do you matchmake more than couples and business ventures?”
He saw her nod in his peripheral vision. “I’m willing to match just about anything. If someone says they want to buy a sailboat or whatever, then I’ll help them find one that’s right for them.”
Here was his in. “I’m in the market for a boat.” It wasn’t a lie; he toyed with the idea every once in a while. He loved water, wanted to be on it and in it. He’d even bought an amazing pool; it just happened to come with a house. It seemed like fate that he’d come to Michaela for one thing, and here was something else he needed her for. “Are you interested in helping me find one that’s right for me?”
He’d trapped her with her own words. Secluded with him in the quiet car, she couldn’t help thinking about everything he’d revealed about himself tonight, perhaps more than he realized. His dedication to his sport, to his career, yes, but also how much he appreciated his family, how important it was for him to give back to the community. She remembered now that Gideon Jones had mentioned having him speak to a group of foster kids who were leaving the system. She wanted to be a fly on the wall for that talk. But when she’d said she’d love to hear him speak, he’d been evasive.