“Yep. Grafton Techs can run itself until we decide to sell it, so I’m free to return to New York. Honestly, there was only ever one thing tying me to London.”
She twisted to face him. “Fenchurch United Soccer Club?”
He chuckled affectionately. “No, Sarah, you.”
“But you’re leaving?”
“I sure am.” He gazed at her inquisitively for a moment, then he threw her that dazzling grin – the one he reserved only for her. He leaned forward and kissed her tenderly. “So… do you wanna come live in New York with me?”
Sarah’s heart jolted with joy. She gripped the plastic armrest to check she wasn’t dreaming. “Oh god, Dylan – I’ve been waiting seven years for you to come here and ask me that!”
He grinned and shot to his feet, grabbing her on his way up and pulling her into his arms. He held her close and twirled her around, making her giggle.
He placed her back down on the concrete and they gazed into each other’s eyes. Sarah’s mind swum with questions – what was she going to do in New York? There was no way she could just be Dylan’s girlfriend – she needed her own sense of purpose.
He ran his fingers through her hair. “I know you’ll miss London, but we’ll have one thing to tie us both back to the UK, right?”
“What’s that?”
He laughed. “Fenchurch United Soccer Club.”
“What? Why?”
“I’m buying it for you. For the memory of your dad.”
Sarah gasped in shock. “Dylan… what are you saying?”
“How would you like to be a soccer club owner?”
“I don’t know anything about being a soccer club owner!”
“Neither did Orlov. Come on, you’ll be better than him. At least you actually care about the club. And you’ve got years of experience in hospitality. And your family are life-long fans… You’re the perfect woman for the job, sweetheart.”
“But… Orlov owns it.”
“I know. But soccer clubs are run by boards like most businesses and he’s about to either go to jail or get torn apart by his gang. They’ll be needing a new owner.”
Sarah laughed. “You never stop looking for a business opportunity, do you?”
“Nope, I’m a Quinlan. So what’s your answer? Come live with me in New York and be the chairwoman of Fenchurch United. We’ll find some good guys here in London to keep us informed at all times. What do you say?”
“I don’t know what to say… “
“Well, just say yes. If you want to.”
“Yes! Aww, Dylan, you’re so romantic, thank you!”
He ran his fingers down her back and squeezed her ass tight, causing her lust to rocket. “I’m not losing you again, Sarah – not now I’ve got you back. I need to keep you interested in me only. I can’t let you walk out again.”
“I’ll never walk out on you again, Dylan.”
“That’s what I needed to hear. I can’t wait to show you New York – I’m done with London.” He cupped her chin and kissed her hard. “I got what I came here for.”
Sarah sensed her life unfolding ahead like a sunbeam. She grinned into his eyes. “Hey, you wanna go back to the hotel and make love all afternoon?”
Dylan pressed his hard-on against her. “Love to, babe.” He glanced over at the green sparkling grass of the soccer field. “And once we’ve bought this place, we’ll make our mark on it by fucking right in the middle of the pitch. How about it, huh?”
She stepped away from his arms and thrust out her hand for him to shake. “It’s a deal, Mr Quinlan – it’s a deal!”