Winning Ace: A Winning Ace Novel (Book 1)

by Tracie Delaney

  She’d had several missed calls from Cash but hadn’t wanted to break her concentration by speaking to him during the day. If she had, that would have been the end of her productivity. She had originally planned to wait until getting to Ireland on Friday to tell him about her decision, but now Pete knew, and because he’d been so wonderful, her excitement had gone into overdrive, and she couldn’t wait to blurt it out.

  Cash must have been waiting for her call because he answered on the first ring.

  “Hi. It’s late. Is everything okay?”

  “I’m fine. Work is crazy, and I wasted half the morning unnecessarily worrying over something and nothing, and it put me behind, so I had to work late.”

  “What were you worrying about?”

  She hesitated. “Telling Pete I’m moving in with you.”

  Cash’s sharp intake of breath was unmistakeable. “You’re sure?”

  “I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life. I was going to tell you on Friday, but I couldn’t wait.”

  Cash’s delight was evident in his voice. “Baby, you’ve made me so happy. How did Pete take it?”

  “He was amazingly supportive.”

  “Does this mean you’re coming to Indian Wells?”

  “I can’t,” she said, her tone glum. “I need to work my notice at the paper.”

  “Oh.”

  “I’m disappointed too.”

  “Never mind. Soon, I won’t be letting you out of my sight.”

  Any lingering doubts she might have had fluttered away. This was the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with. Happiness flowed through her like a fast-running stream after a deluge of rain. She wasn’t sure what made her so lucky, but she wasn’t about to start questioning the direction her life had taken.

  The future had never looked so good.

  FORTY-NINE

  Tally woke early on Friday, eager to get the day underway. The sooner it began, the sooner she’d be on a plane to Northern Ireland. Even knowing this weekend was the last time she’d see Cash for four weeks couldn’t dampen her enthusiasm. After all, once he got back from the States, they’d never be apart again. She could manage the separation because at the end was the beginning of her new life.

  She put the kettle on as a bleary-eyed Em appeared. “Coffee?”

  “Yeah.” Em yawned. “What time is it?”

  “Six.”

  “Six! I only see one six babes, and it isn’t this one.”

  Tally laughed. “Best part of the day.”

  Em slumped into a chair and rested her head on her arms. “Does your early start mean you’ll be back early enough to come flat-hunting with me?

  “That’s the idea.” Tally pushed a cup of coffee over to Em and sipped at her own.

  “I’ll miss this place,” Em mused. “We’ve had some good times, hey, babes?”

  Tally nodded. “The best. Sure you don’t want to keep it?”

  “Nah. It’s too big, not to mention too expensive for one.”

  “I’m sorry,” Tally said as remorse washed over her. If she weren’t moving out, Em wouldn’t have to leave either.

  “Don’t be daft,” Em scoffed. “New life, new you. It’s no more than you deserve.”

  She kissed Em’s cheek. “Love you. Gotta get ready. Catch you later.”

  Tally showered, dressed, grabbed a banana, and tried not to skip to the tube. Spring was just around the corner, and even amidst all the concrete, the odd daffodil flourished. Spring was her favourite season as it always brought a renewed sense of optimism that this year felt especially poignant.

  Danny was already at work, and the little darling had left a steaming cup of coffee sitting on her desk. She was going to miss working there so much, but more than that, she’d miss her colleagues and friends. Especially Danny.

  “Morning. You’re early,” she said, raising her coffee cup to thank him.

  “I’ve got a shitload to get through today, and I can’t stay late tonight.”

  “Oh yeah? That’s not like you. Normally, we have to shoehorn you out of this place.”

  “I’ve got a date.”

  She strode over to his desk and perched on the end. “I don’t care how busy you are. I’m not budging until you tell me everything.”

  Danny grinned. “His name’s Luke. I met him at a club last weekend, but I honestly never expected him to call, and then last night, completely out of the blue, he did.”

  “Well, of course he did. You’re a total catch. Camp, but a catch nonetheless.”

  Danny rolled his eyes. “Bloody cheek. Anyway, you’re biased. But if this goes well, you are totally meeting him, Tal.” He wafted himself. “He is hot.”

  She laughed. “If you like him, I’m sure I will too.”

  “Hey, perhaps we can double date. You need to get onto Cash and make him move to London. That way, you wouldn’t need to be tripping over to Northern Ireland every weekend.”

  Her heart took a nosedive. Danny was one of her closest friends, and despite how keen she was to keep her plans secret, she couldn’t lie to his face.

  “That’s not going to happen.”

  “I think you underestimate your persuasion skills.”

  “Danny, it’s me that’s moving. I’m moving to Northern Ireland.”

  Danny paused for a beat, his mouth ajar. “You can’t.”

  “I’m keeping it low-key. Pete and Em know, and now so do you. It’s not for a few weeks yet, so I’ve got loads of time to meet Luke and give him the McKenzie seal of approval.”

  She was rambling, and her heart plummeted at Danny’s distraught expression.

  “You’re leaving,” he whispered. “As in leaving the paper. And London.”

  She grimaced. “Yeah. Cash has asked me to move in with him, and Northern Ireland is his home.”

  “So tell him London is your home.” Danny’s voice had risen, along with his agitation.

  “I’m sorry, Danny. But even if we did move to London, I’d still be leaving the paper. Cash is away at least eight months of the year, and I’m going to be travelling with him.”

  Danny’s face crumpled, and his shoulders dipped. “What will I do without you?” he said quietly.

  “I’ll visit whenever I can,” she said, her heart cramping at how upset he was. “After all, everyone special to me lives here.”

  “You say that now, but when you get on that circuit with all the glitz and glamour, you’ll forget all about us.”

  “As if. Don’t forget, I’ve already been with Cash at one tournament. Believe me, it ain’t Hollywood.”

  Danny grinned. Thank goodness. I’ve won him over. The last thing she wanted was to upset him.

  “It’s a massive step, baby girl. I hope you’ve thought it through.”

  “I have. I love him, Danny,” she said with a shrug as the thought crossed her mind that she seemed to find it easy to tell everyone she was in love with Cash, apart from Cash himself.

  “All your dreams coming true, Tal. I’m so happy for you.”

  Her eyes stung with unshed tears. “I am so going to miss you.”

  Danny squeezed her hand. “Ditto.”

  Later that afternoon, Tally glanced at the clock and groaned. It had barely moved since the last time she’d looked, and she still had two hours to go before leaving for City Airport. The ordeal of this interminably long day reaffirmed that her decision was the right one. She couldn’t live her life wishing Monday to Friday away and praying time would stand still at the weekend.

  Her desk phone rang, and she had a spike of excitement that it might be Cash. Damn, couldn’t be. The call was internal.

  “Tally McKenzie,” she said into the receiver.

  “Hi, Tally. It’s Kim from reception. A package has arrived for you, but the delivery guy is insisting you’re the only one who can sign for it.”

  “Oh, okay. Thanks, Kim. I’m on my way down.”

  She hung up and jogged down the five flights of stairs. She never
received mail at work. This could only be from Cash, but she had no idea what he was up to. He certainly kept her guessing.

  She waved at Kim, who waved back and pointed her finger at the delivery driver, who was hovering by the main doors, holding a thick, padded envelope. Tally wandered over to him. “I’m Tally McKenzie. You have a package for me?”

  “Yeah. Sign here, please.” He handed her the electronic signature machine, and she scribbled her name and swapped the machine for the buff envelope. She ran back up the stairs and used her scissors to cut through the tape.

  Reaching inside, she pulled out a set of date-stamped photographs that showed they’d been taken on Tuesday that week. Confused at first, she frowned when she recognised Cash in the first one. He was climbing out of an SUV, the same one he’d driven to the stables.

  The second photograph was also of Cash, taken from behind. In front of him was a large stone house she’d never seen before.

  In the third picture, a young woman had been photographed in motion, her long, blond ponytail trailing behind her as she ran out of the house, and by the fourth, Cash had swept her up into his arms, and they were smiling as they looked into each other’s eyes.

  It was the fifth picture that finished her off. The photographer had caught the intimate moment perfectly, their lips meeting in a warm kiss.

  Cash’s betrayal caused a searing pain in her chest as though it had been cracked open and someone had ripped out her heart. The pictures blurred as her eyes filled with tears. She didn’t want to cry because of him. He didn’t deserve it. But she cried anyway. For him. For her. And for all those shattered dreams.

  FIFTY

  Cash’s plane landed early, and he grabbed a coffee in the private members’ lounge while he waited for Natalia to arrive. He’d rather have picked her up at the paper, but she’d insisted on meeting him here.

  Even though it had been two days since she’d told him she was moving in, he could still hardly believe it, and adding that to the stunning news he’d received on Tuesday, he felt like the luckiest man in the world.

  The trust she was placing in him was more than a little overwhelming, and he had to remind himself about how difficult such a huge change would be for her. He couldn’t let her down.

  He wouldn’t let her down.

  His leg bounced as he grew impatient to see her. He glanced at his watch. She was five minutes late, and he wondered if there was a problem on the DLR. He googled the Transport for London website, but apart from a slight delay on the Jubilee line, there didn’t seem to be a problem. When five minutes turned into fifteen, he rang her mobile. The call went straight to voicemail, meaning she was either engaged or her phone was switched off. He tried again with the same result.

  An anxious feeling clawed at his insides. What if something had happened to her? If she’d got stuck at work or on the way to meet him, she would have called. He found the number for the paper and dialled reception. As it was past business hours, he got through to security, who put him through to Natalia’s landline. After the phone rang several times, he was diverted back to security. He asked to be put through to Pete.

  Pete didn’t pick up either. Cash’s heart began to race. He wiped damp palms on his jeans. Something wasn’t right.

  He left the lounge and headed for the taxi rank. The queue snaked around the corner, and he cursed. Rush hour on a Friday at City Airport, and this is what you get. He was approached by a couple of fans looking for selfies, but he shook his head and pulled his cap lower. It took thirty minutes to reach the front of the line, and during the wait, he kept calling Natalia, but each time, the call went straight to voicemail.

  Finally, his turn arrived. He jumped into the cab and he gave the driver Natalia’s address. The traffic was awful. The cab kept stopping and starting, and with every delay, his angst grew. She still hadn’t answered her phone. Please, God, let her be okay. Don’t snatch her away just as I’ve found her.

  The cab pulled up outside Natalia’s flat. A light was on in the living room, so someone had to be home. His heart was pounding as he knocked on the door. The living room curtains twitched, and then a few seconds later, Emmalee opened the door, her face smouldering, her eyes cold.

  He frowned. “Hey, Emmalee. Is Natalia home? She was supposed to meet me but didn’t turn up.”

  “What the fuck do you care?” she said, shoving him hard in the chest as he began to walk inside.

  “What?”

  “I should have known. Once a cock, always a cock. Fuck off, Cash, before I call the police.”

  She slammed the door, but he managed to ram his foot into the gap. He shoved hard, and the door bounced open.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” he said, brushing past her into the hallway.

  “Get out of my house,” Emmalee said between gritted teeth. “You are not wanted here.”

  “I’m going nowhere. Not until I get some answers.”

  He marched into the living room. Natalia was sitting with her knees curled into her chest and her arms wrapped around them. Her face was red and blotchy and her eyes bloodshot from crying.

  “Baby, you’re all right,” he said, making a move towards her.

  She held up her hand. “Stop. Don’t come near me.”

  He ignored her, crouching down at the side of the chair. As he reached for her hand, she snatched it away.

  “Don’t touch me,” she hissed. “Don’t you dare touch me.”

  “I-I don’t understand.”

  Emmalee coughed out a laugh behind him. “Sure you don’t.”

  His head snapped around. “I said I fucking don’t.”

  “Em, it’s okay. I need to do this. Give me five minutes, will you?”

  Cash shot a triumphant look at Emmalee. He didn’t have a clue what was going on but wasn’t going to find out with her snapping at his heels. She nodded at Natalia, glared at Cash with intense loathing, and left them alone.

  “Please tell me what’s going on, baby.”

  “Don’t you dare call me baby. I’m not your baby.”

  Cash frowned and dug his fingers into his temple. “Tell me what I’m supposed to have done, because I sure as hell don’t have a clue.”

  She sneered, the edge of her top lip curling upwards. “So that’s your plan. Play dumb? Well, too bad for you, the camera doesn’t lie.”

  His frown deepened. “Camera? What the fuck are you talking about?”

  Natalia leaned forward and picked up a brown padded envelope off the coffee table. She reached inside and took out a bunch of photographs, her face twisting as she glanced down.

  “Here,” she said, thrusting the contents at him.

  Confused, he looked at the first picture, and then, when he flicked through the rest, his head jerked upwards.

  “This isn’t how it looks.”

  “You are such a cliché, Cash,” Natalia said. “Of course it isn’t how it looks. How stupid of me to think that a picture of you kissing another woman would be anything other than what it is.”

  Sweat broke out on his forehead as panic rushed through him. “Where did you get these?”

  “I don’t see how that matters, but if you must know, they were sent to work.” She laughed mirthlessly. “You’ve pissed off enough paps over the years. You must have made someone’s day when you snogged another woman.”

  Cash scrubbed a hand over his face. “You don’t understand.”

  “Who is she?”

  His teeth grazed his bottom lip, and he blinked slowly before meeting her gaze. He wanted to lie, but the truth slipped out. “Gracie.”

  Natalia sucked in a breath. “I knew it,” she said softly.

  Cash knelt in front of her and grabbed her arms, expecting her to throw him off, but she was limp. Lifeless.

  “This is not what you think. Gracie is an important presence in my life but not for the reasons going through your head. There is nothing romantic between us.”

  She laughed bitterly. “Well, of course n
ot. I often kiss men that I have no romantic involvement with. Wait until you get those pictures.”

  The sudden surge of agony surprised him even though she was trying to be facetious. Thoughts of Natalia kissing someone else were too fucking painful to acknowledge.

  “Please let me explain.”

  She shrugged him off then and pressed her body into the back of the chair, as far away from him as she could get. She waved her hand dismissively. “Go on, then. I’m listening.”

  “I have never had any romantic feelings for Gracie. Ever. She is… helping me with something in my personal life. But it’s not how it looks in these pictures.”

  “What is she helping you with?”

  “I… I can’t tell you.”

  “Can’t or won’t?”

  “Can’t. Not yet. Natalia, trust me, please. I’ve told you time and time again to trust me, yet still you can’t. What do I have to do?”

  “Stop kissing other women!” She grabbed the incriminating-looking photograph and shoved it against his chest. “You are kissing her, Cash. As I said, the camera doesn’t lie. I’m sick of your lies and your secrets. I’ve had enough.”

  “Natalia, please––”

  She held her hand in the air, cutting him off. “No. I want you to leave. You knew the deal-breaker, Cash. I never want to see you again.”

  Defeated, his shoulders dropped. He wanted to tell her everything, but when he did, he’d lose not only her but potentially his whole career too. He couldn’t risk that. “I’m not leaving. Not until you hear what I’m saying. Gracie means nothing to me.”

  “I don’t believe you. And I don’t trust you.”

  Her words cut through him, slicing right through his heart. He grabbed her hand and pressed it to his face.