“At thirty-five, you’re still ranked among the top players. How do you do it?”
He grinned and chuckled softly. “Oh, probably years of clean living.”
The reporter and cameraman laughed also. “What does the future hold for John Kowalsky?”
He looked in Georgeanne’s direction and pointed. “That depends on that woman right over there.”
Everything within Georgeanne froze, and she slowly turned to look behind her. The hall was filled with men.
“Georgeanne, honey, I’m talking to you. ”
She spun back around and pointed to herself.
“Remember last night when I told you that I would only get married when I’m crazy in love?”
She nodded.
“Well, you know I’m crazy in love with you.” He stood in his stockinged feet and held his hand out toward her. In a daze she walked toward him and put her hand in his. “I warned you that I wouldn’t play fair.” He grasped her shoulders and forced her to sit in the chair he’d just vacated. Then he glanced at the cameraman. “Are we still on?”
“Yep.”
Georgeanne looked up and her vision started to blur. She reached for him, and he grabbed her hand.
“Don’t touch me, honey. I’m a little sweaty.” Then he went down on one knee and looked her in the eye. “When we met seven years ago, I hurt you, and I’m sorry for that. But I’m a different man now, and part of the reason I’m different is because of you. You came back into my life and made it better. When you walk into a room, I feel warm like you’ve brought the sun with you.” He paused and squeezed her hand. A bead of sweat slid down his temple and his voice shook a little when he spoke. “I’m not a poet or a romantic, and I don’t know the words to accurately express what I feel for you. I only know that you are the breath in my lungs, the beat of my heart, the ache in my soul, and without you, I am empty.” He pressed his hot mouth into her open palm and closed his eyes. When he looked at her again, his gaze was very blue and very intense. He reached inside the waistband of his hockey shorts and pulled out an emerald-cut blue diamond of at least four carats. “Marry me, Georgie.”
“Oh my Lord!” She could hardly see and wiped her eyes with her free fingers. “I can’t believe this is happening.” She sucked air into her lungs and looked from the ring back into John’s face. “Is this real?”
“Of course,” he answered, slightly offended. “Did you think I’d get you one of those fake diamonds?”
“I’m not talking about the ring.” She shook her head and wiped at the tears slipping down her cheeks. “Do you really want to marry me?”
“Yes. I want us to grow old together and have five more children. I’ll make you happy, Georgeanne. I promise.”
She gazed at his handsome face and her heart pounded. He wasn’t taking any chances. He had a television camera, a big diamond, and a crushing grip on her hand. Last night she’d wondered if he’d choose her. She’d wondered what she’d do if he did. Now she knew the answer to both questions. “Yes, I’ll marry you,” she said, laughing and crying at the same time.
“Jesus,” he sighed, relief flooding his features. “You had me worried.”
Out in the stands, thunderous applause rolled through the arena, chased by a maelstrom of several thousand cheering fans. The walls of the arena shook with their enthusiastic response.
John looked over his shoulder to the cameraman. “Are we patched into the Jumbotron?”
The man gave a thumbs-up sign, and John turned his attention back to Georgeanne. He took her left hand and kissed her knuckles. “I love you,” he said, and slid the ring on her finger.
Georgeanne wrapped her arms around his neck and flattened herself against him. “I love you, John,” she sobbed into his ear.
He stood with her clinging to his neck and glanced at the men in the room. “That’s it,” he told them, and the camera was shut off. Georgeanne clung to him as they were congratulated, and she didn’t let go even after the last man filed out of the room.
“I’m getting you all sweaty,” John said, smiling down at her.
“I don’t care. I love you, and I love your sweat, too.” She rose onto her toes and pressed against him.
He gathered her close. “Good, because you’re responsible for a lot of it. There were a few seconds there when I thought you might say no.”
“When did you plan all of this?”
“I bought the ring in St. Louis four days ago, and I talked to the television guys this morning.”
“Were you so sure I’d say yes?”