The Royal Bastard by Nicole Burnham

Author:Nicole Burnham [Burnham, Nicole]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Literature & Fiction, Genre Fiction, Family Saga, Romance, Contemporary, Sagas
Amazon: B00VGSDNGS
Published: 2015-06-15T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Fifteen

She searched his face as her questions hung in the air, suddenly realizing that it was the one she’d sandwiched in the middle that was the most important. They’d entered into a nontraditional marriage, one where they only lived under the same roof for a month or two of her off-season. They’d expected it to be years before Justine retired, so they hadn’t given their long-term living arrangement much discussion time. When her injury forced the issue, the traditional life she’d assumed they’d have never materialized. Teresa was too much a part of it.

But now she had to wonder, what did Rocco want?

Rocco rested both hands on the table. “What scares me most, Justine, is that you’re scared.” His voice softened as he added, “You’ve never been afraid of anything. Not of double black diamond slopes, not of your competition. Definitely not of us. But you were afraid to tell me you’re thinking of skiing again.”

“I’ve never been hurt before. Not like this.” She angled a look at her leg.

“But?”

“But I’ve been told dozens of times that I couldn’t accomplish things—that I wasn’t fast enough, strong enough, skilled enough—and I accomplished them anyway. Deep down, I believe it’s possible.”

Rocco sat back in his chair, absorbing her words. “How long have you known?”

“I didn’t,” she admitted. “Not until five minutes ago, when you were massaging my calf and said it out loud. But ever since I missed the job interview in Croatia, I’ve had an uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach, like I was doing something wrong. Then this morning, when I read the producer’s e-mail, it intensified, almost to the point that I felt sick.”

“Your inner voice had something to say.”

“I suppose it did.” A sigh escaped her. “But the more I think about it, the more I realize it’s why I pushed myself so hard at rehab, even after the doctors told me I’d never regain the strength necessary to compete at the World Cup level. One even suggested I take the opportunity to rediscover skiing just for fun. As if competing wasn’t where I found my fun.” She shot him a wry look. “I can’t get on skis and simply glide downhill. Even if I tried, I’d only get a few hundred yards before every cell in my body would tell me to punch the gas and smoke everyone else on the mountain.”

“Nothing like telling Justine Flyte she can’t do something to make her say, ‘wanna bet?’ is there?”

“Guess not.” She took a drink of her soda and grinned. “Maybe you know me better than I know myself.”

“What I know is that you have an innate drive to be the best and you’ve worked hard to live up to your potential. It’s part of what drew me to you that first night we met.”

“The pot’s talking to the kettle now?”

“You bet.” His smile faded to seriousness. “You’re going to turn down the job, aren’t you?”

She considered the question as she took a bite of the chicken parmesan Rocco had ordered for her.

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