Page 40 of Winning Match (League Valencia #1)

Ale

“Try the chicken pot pie,” Dorothy demands, indicating the dish in the center of the table.

“Looks like you could eat more green beans,” Judith tacks on, adding a heaping portion of green beans to my plate.

“And save room for dessert,” Gladys says, pointing at me.

I dip my head and murmur my thanks.

Seated at the dining table with the Sewing Circle, Marlowe, her grandpa Lou, and José Costa is something I never anticipated when I raced to the airport, desperate to get on the first flight to the East Coast of America, less than twenty-four hours ago.

But here we are.

I had a short but wonderful conversation with Marlowe’s father.

Understanding, sadness, joy, and gratitude shone bright in his eyes for the window of lucidity he was gifted.

We spoke about Marlowe the entire time and I know mi nina was choked up listening to us.

Once Mr. Prescott slipped away, he fell asleep, and Dorothy demanded we come downstairs for dinner.

Marlowe’s shock at seeing José Costa at the dinner table went through her like a jolt, and I grasped her, right under the elbow, to keep her from swaying on her feet.

Beside me, Marlowe takes a sip of her wine, her eyes darting between her grandpa and José over the rim.

“So, you flew here today?” Marlowe asks José.

“Last night,” he says, gesturing toward me with the tines of his fork. “I was on the same flight as Alejandro.”

I place a hand on her thigh, indicating that all is well.

She turns panicked eyes on me in response.

I smirk, leaning closer and lowering my voice. “I confessed everything to him.”

Marlowe gasps. “So did I.”

“I know.”

“So, he knows…everything?”

“Yes. And I don’t think he’s going to tell anyone.”

Marlowe pulls away, that little line I love creasing in between her brows. “But—why?”

“Because he knows I love you. Desperately. And that this, us, is for real.” I lean even closer. “And business is business.”

She chuckles lightly and drops her chin in agreement.

“Hey!” Judith snaps her fingers, and Marlowe and I break apart, turning our attention toward her. “No secrets at the dinner table.”

Gladys leans forward. “Unless you want to share?”

José laughs. Lou huffs as he eyes the Sewing Circle.

The ladies beam, their grins toothy, their eyes bright.

I cough my laughter into my fist.

Lou clears his throat. “José and I met to discuss the future of Prescott Sail. He reached out to me a few days ago and explained that business was bringing him to the States.”

Marlowe stares at José in disbelief. His eyes twinkle in response.

“The timing is incredible and the offer…” Lou pauses, looking at José.

“I’m getting to be an old man,” José says lightly. But then, his voice turns serious. “I want reliability, credibility, and to work with people I trust. My team is expanding. There is more competition cropping up in Europe. We all need boats.”

“Our company has been family-run for a long time,” Lou picks up the thread, looking at Marlowe. “But I’m an even older man, and I’m tired. Ready to pass the baton.”

Marlowe reaches for my hand under the table. I thread our fingers together and she squeezes tightly. I can’t tell if she’s excited or nervous or overwhelmed by the direction of the conversation.

But no matter what happens next, I know she’s it for me. Even if she stays in America. Even if we have a long-distance relationship for the next couple of years. No matter what, she’s mine.

“There’s a market in Spain,” Lou says slowly. “With José’s connections and with the generous proposal he made…” Lou looks at Marlowe. “We could open a satellite office in Valencia. It would require shuffling things around regarding the organization of the company, but it’s an option, Marlowe.”

I hear the unspoken words: if you want it.

Lou and José continue to speak about the proposal, the opportunities, the future of Prescott Sail. Marlowe hangs onto every word asking thoughtful, pertinent questions.

The Sewing Circle and I clear the table, and Gladys carefully instructs me on how to cut the various pies she baked for dessert.

Once dessert concludes, José insists that he leave as he has some other business to attend to before he flies home tomorrow.

Lou gives him a look of surprise but José grins, tossing Marlowe a wink.

She dips her head in acknowledgement and gratitude. He came here for her. For us.

All because he knew. All along he knew.

After the Sewing Circle departs and the house is quiet, Marlowe faces off with her grandpa.

“You can’t be serious about my moving to Spain. A satellite office? Who would run things here?”

“We would have to hire someone if you moved,” he says simply.

Marlowe gapes. “Who?”

Lou chuckles. “They’ll never be you but I’m sure we can find someone qualified enough in the state of Rhode Island.”

I avert my gaze to hold back my laughter as Marlowe rolls her eyes.

“The choice is yours, Marlowe,” Lou explains. “You can stay here and take over as CEO or you can launch the satellite office in Spain. Either way, I think this is the best step for Prescott Sail, it just depends on where you’d like to take charge.”

Marlowe puffs out her cheeks, the wheels in her mind turning. Then, she asks softly, “What about Dad?”

That’s my cue to dip out of the room. Marlowe and her grandfather need time to discuss particulars. I have no idea where Marlowe’s head is at about the options. And as much as I want her to move to Spain to be closer to me, I want her to pick what’s in her best interest more.

My presence might cloud her judgment, or make it difficult for her to speak freely, so I thank Lou for dinner and retire to the guest bedroom he showed me to earlier.

Pulling out my phone, I heave a sigh at the thread of text messages I’ve ignored all day.

Knowing I should get the most pressing conversation out of the way, I dial Papá. It’s after one a.m. in Valencia, but I know my father will be awake, most likely waiting for my update.

“I was wondering when you would call,” he answers.

“I reached out to Javi,” I offer. “He understood. He wasn’t happy about it. At all. And I have a fine to settle. But he understood.”

“I know. Andrés and Luca stepped up for you and led the blue team on your behalf,” Papá supplies. “You have good friends, Alejandro.”

I grin. I have exceptional friends.

Even Callie, who doesn’t take bullshit, messaged that it will all blow over and it isn’t the end of the world. Especially when she learned of Marlowe’s father’s fall and condition.

Papá is quiet for a moment, his breathing even, and then he asks, “Well? What’s the real news? Your abuela’s been calling every five minutes and your mother hasn’t gone to bed yet.”

I chuckle. “We talked. You and Abuela were right. I should have been honest with Marlowe about my feelings. But she’s giving me another chance. We have to work out the logistics, but Marlowe and I are good. We’re better than good.”

I can hear Papá’s smile through the line.

“ Bueno , Alejandro. I’m happy to hear it.

You love her. Anyone who knows you can see that you’ve grown.

Finally, a man, who goes after what he wants, who tries to be worthy of something greater.

Sometimes that’s fútbol , but it’s better when it’s the right woman.

The right partner. Look at your mother and me,” he adds.

“I wouldn’t have achieved half of my success without her by my side. ”

“ Gracias , Papá.”

“I’ve made a lot of mistakes with you kids,” Papá continues.

“Your mother and Abuela pointed it out for years, but I truly realized it when your sister married Avery. The way she lit up around him, the woman she grew into, the confidence she exuded, a lot of it was because she felt safe, secure, in her relationship with him. And in the past two months, I’ve watched you become a bigger, better man because of Marlowe.

Leadership manifests in different ways and this weekend, you took the lead and showed up for a woman who needed you even more than the charity event. I’m proud of you, hijo .” Son.

I work a swallow around the lump in the center of my throat, dropping my head. “ Gracias ,” I repeat.

“Call your mother tomorrow,” he replies, resuming his usual, clipped tone. “And be back here before your next game. Javi is counting on it.”

“I will.”

“ Buenas noches , Alejandro.”

“ Buenas noches , Papá.” I hang up the call and recline on the bed, propping one arm under my head as I stare at the ceiling.

Papá is proud of me.

It’s the acknowledgement I’ve chased for a long time, for years. And it took this—doing right by the woman I love—for him to recognize that I’m a grown-ass man worthy of respect. Worthy of leadership.

I snort, shaking my head.

“What are you laughing at?” Marlowe asks as she slips into the room.

Yawning, I hold out an arm and she comes to my side, lying next to me and nestling close, her head on my shoulder.

“My papá is proud of me.”

She kisses the side of my neck. “Well, there’s a lot to be proud of.”

I smirk, inclining my head until my chin rests on the top of her hair. “Are you okay, Marlowe?”

“Yes. My grandpa is proud of me, too.”

I chuckle. “I never doubted that, mi amor .” She yawns sleepily and I hold her closer. “Sleep, Marli.”

“We should talk.”

“Tomorrow,” I whisper.

“Tomorrow,” she agrees, her eyes flashing as she dips her fingertips under the waistband of my pants. “Tonight, we have other plans.”

I snort as Marlowe shifts over me but when she swings a leg over my hips to straddle me and lowers her mouth to mine, my humor turns into heat.

I slip a hand into her hair and lift my face to kiss her back. “We have to be quiet.”

“I know,” she whispers, slipping her hand into my boxer briefs and fisting my length. “Very quiet,” she warns, her eyes holding mine as she begins to drag her fist over my cock.

I harden instantly. “I missed you.”

“I missed you, too.”

I lean closer to kiss her, my hands sliding up her abdomen until I cup her breasts.

Marlowe and I undress slowly. Then, we slip beneath the covers—kissing, touching, and tasting. We make love quietly, as moonlight flickers on the bay and the stars shine in the night sky.

We make love until sleep claims us.