Winning the Player

by Leesa Bow

  ‘Is that your phone?’ he asked, and I almost snorted, thinking he was diverting my attention away from his phone. I listened and could hear a distant sound and remembered leaving my phone on charge in my bedroom. I sprang from the couch and managed to answer before it stopped ringing. I swiped the screen so fast I didn’t read caller ID.

  ‘Hello?’

  ‘Aubree, it’s Maddy.’

  ‘Hey, you sound a lot better.’

  ‘I am and ready to go out again. I’m guessing you’re not up to it tonight if Hunter’s there.’

  ‘What? How do you know?’

  ‘Because he just tweeted how a good home-cooked roast, with vegetables, aioli and dill sauce was perfect on a Saturday night. I know it’s your mum’s specialty and I’m at his mum’s house. It wasn’t that hard to put two and two together, especially after he asked for your address this morning. Not to mention you never replied to my text.’

  ‘Oh. Sorry, I haven’t had a chance. He just arrived on my doorstep after breakfast and hasn’t gone home. I’m as surprised as you.’ I exhaled loudly. ‘I like that he’s here.’

  Maddy laughed into the phone. ‘That’s a first. Anyway, I’m about to head out with BJ and his friends.’

  ‘Oh, really.’ I was taken aback that my friends hadn’t asked me.

  ‘Check your messages, hon,’ she said, like she’d read my mind. ‘I called for another reason. I assumed Hunter was there, but Sabrina has called his house looking for him. Mary doesn’t like her and she made it clear on the phone. I told you she’s just his —’

  ‘Don’t say it,’ I said quickly, not wanting to visualise Hunter and Sabrina in bed together.

  ‘Fine. Just wanted to warn you. Promise me you’ll come to the bay tomorrow. BJ wants us to go to the Shores.’

  ‘Sure.’ I hung up, more concerned with Sabrina-bloody-Jones.

  Walking along the hallway, Hunter’s voice growled through the wall. I froze and listened, knowing it was wrong, but from the annoyed tone of his voice I hesitated to walk in mid-conversation.

  ‘No, I’m not going out tonight,’ he stated in a low voice. He paused. ‘No. No. I’m not coming over later. Stop. You’re sounding desperate and it’s not attractive.’

  And silence again so I took another step inside the doorway.

  ‘No. Leave me alone and don’t call again.’ Hunter put his phone on the carpet and looked up at me.

  ‘Everything okay?’ I asked, not really knowing what to say.

  He patted the seat next to him. ‘Now it is.’

  ‘Anything I should know about?’

  ‘Nothing I can’t handle. Who called you?’ The air shifted between us.

  ‘Maddy. She wants me to go out tomorrow night.’

  ‘Where?’

  ‘The Shores.’

  ‘Are you going?’

  ‘Kind of have to. She’s been sick and hasn’t been out in a while,’ I said, sounding like it was an effort.

  Hunter nodded and draped his arm over my shoulders once more.

  ‘What did I miss?’

  Hunter shrugged. ‘Sorry. I got distracted. I want to ask you something.’ He turned his blue eyes on me and I immediately wanted to nod without hearing the question. ‘How do you feel about me staying the night?’

  ‘What, here?’ I gasped. ‘Where?’

  He tilted his head and smirked.

  ‘In my single bed? Really?’ Had Mum put something in dinner to make him delirious?

  ‘Really. I’ve been thinking about holding you, all night.’ He trailed a finger down my cheek and held my gaze with his blue one.

  ‘Is that all you want to do?’ I whispered. His eyes darkened and something deep inside me clenched with desire. I swallowed hard.

  ‘For now,’ he answered in a husky voice. ‘Unless you tell me otherwise.’

  I lifted my chin and met his gaze head on. I wanted to sleep with him. All the signs of physical attraction were firing inside of me. If I was going to launch into planned sex then I wanted it to be with Hunter. Admittedly, when I lowered my guard I actually trusted him. Although it was not how I wanted our first time to be, especially with my mother sleeping down the hall. ‘I think we both know it’s going to happen.’ I looked away to his round shoulders and imagined them hovering over me, supporting his weight. Words stuck in my throat. I wanted to say yes but not tonight. My gaze lowered to my hands in my lap. If I wasn’t looking at him it might be easier to speak. ‘I need to trust you that nothing will happen.’ I lifted my gaze and fixed it on his. ‘Because the way I’m feeling I don’t trust myself.’

  Hunter’s eyes changed. ‘You trust me?’

  ‘Yes,’ I whispered. He looked away, stared at the television. I continued, ‘You’re not the bad guy I’d convinced myself you were.’

  His head whipped back and his eyes locked with mine. My fingers twisted around each other. He leaned forward and kissed my forehead. ‘Don’t make me out to be an angel just yet, Aubree, because I’m pretty damn sure I’m going to need help to keep that promise.’

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  Before Hunter emerged from the bathroom, I changed into my favourite pink singlet and black silk boxers and jumped under the quilt. For the second time today I watched Hunter unzip his jeans and strip down to his sexy underwear.

  My heart hammered in my chest, and if it continued at this rate I wouldn’t get any sleep. ‘Oh, Lord,’ I whispered when he pulled his T-shirt over his head and revealed abs so sculpted I could grate cheese on them.

  ‘Do you want me to climb over you or are you going to move across?’ He stood like a warrior, legs parted and hands on his hips.

  ‘Climb over,’ I managed. ‘I like to face the door.’

  ‘Superstitious, eh?’ Hunter stretched his long legs over me and the bed dipped in the centre. I couldn’t turn; every part of me jellied on feeling the warmth of his muscled body against mine. His hand caressed my hip. ‘Jesus, did you have to wear silky briefs? Didn’t think it safer to wear long pants?’

  Before I could reply, his arm wrapped around my waist and his body moulded to mine in a perfect fit. He nuzzled the back of my neck. ‘God, I love the way you smell.’ Warm breath tickled my neck.

  ‘Smell?’

  ‘Yeah, it’s you. All flowery and girly.’

  His hand slipped under the material of my singlet and my insides tightened. My skin tingled at his touch, his warm palm lightly kneading my stomach, slowly moving south.

  ‘Let’s not start what we can’t finish,’ I said quickly, when his hand reached the band of my boxers. Hunter’s hand stilled. ‘I want to turn around and kiss you but —’

  ‘Don’t move,’ he warned, in a husky voice.

  I switched off the bedside lamp. The darkness didn’t encourage sleep, in fact every other sense fired into action. His scent was fresh and manly mingled together. He smelled kind of sweet . . . comforting . . . desirable . . . irresistible. I wanted to turn around and—I clamped my eyes shut, held my breath and focused on something else. So much warmth radiated from him. He reminded me of an electric blanket and the satisfaction of snuggling under the covers on a cold winter’s night. Beneath the covers, heat enveloped my body and permeated my core. Content and warm, my shoulders relaxed. I eased into him, felt him stiffen behind me. Then his arm tightened around my waist, pulling me closer, the length of him prodding my rear.

  ‘You can trust me,’ he whispered.

  I closed my eyes, relishing the unfamiliar heat blanketing me, and drifted off knowing my dreams would only be of him.

  I woke suddenly, damp from sweat, and pulse racing. Instinctively, I reached for my knee. My breathing slowed as I absorbed my surroundings. It had been a while since I’d relived the nightmare of injuring my knee. A weight pushed against my waist—Hunter’s arm. I turned over to cuddle him. Feeling me move, he adjusted and turned his back to me. It confused me that I would relive my nightmare while I was cuddling Hunter. Had the walls protecting my heart lowered with trust?
For so long I had cut myself off from everyone who loved me, knowing I would only let them down. By shutting out friends and family I shut out pain, leaving only myself to disappoint. Now it was my own thoughts I couldn’t trust.

  I rolled over and stretched out my legs. Sunday—another sleep-in. My eyes snapped open, remembering Hunter should be lying next to me. Unless he’d shrunk considerably overnight, he definitely wasn’t in my bed.

  I sat up, looked around the room and noted the absence of his clothes. I grabbed my iPhone to check the time and noticed a message on the screen.

  Had 6 am training. You looked so peaceful I didn’t want to wake you. I kept my end of the bargain now you have to keep yours. x

  I couldn’t help but smile at remembering the warmth of holding Hunter. He must have managed some sleep because I had heard his deep breathing, almost a snore.

  Yet I felt out of sorts, maybe from my nightmare or from not waking beside him, I wasn’t sure. Part of me wondered what it would feel like to wake next to someone you truly cared about, not just someone you screwed—regretful and wanting to escape. Perhaps it was best he was not here. Things were moving faster than I had anticipated and it gave me time to catch my breath, think about what I was getting myself into. At least his early departure meant I didn’t have to explain his staying over to Mum.

  I sent a text to Maddy.

  Want to meet for coffee?

  I sat opposite Maddy at an outdoor table enjoying rare sunshine at this time of year. The clear blue sky encouraged other people to flock to the bay to shop and dine, so we were lucky to secure a table outside. Glancing over her shoulder, I took in the ocean view.

  ‘I told you Hunter would come around.’ Maddy jutted her chin, reminding me of her cousin.

  ‘I don’t know what to think. I haven’t heard from him since he left.’ I shrugged my shoulders. ‘His mood changes so fast, it frightens me.’

  ‘That’s the way he likes it.’ Maddy lifted the mug to her lips and sipped her latte. ‘Hunter doesn’t think people can read him, but he’s an open book.’ She placed her mug on the table. ‘When he’s out you can tell if he’s into a chick ’cause he’ll spend the night chatting with her, his way of showing he cares about her as a person before they have sex. But he refuses to dance. Can’t dance.’

  True. I’d never seen him dance.

  ‘A girl broke his heart years ago. I don’t remember much ’cause I was only fourteen.’ She waved her hand at me. ‘She’s married now, but ever since, Hunter’s found it difficult to let any girl get close. He doesn’t trust anyone. He usually bangs them and that’s it.’

  ‘What about Sabrina?’ Whenever I’d seen them together they definitely seemed close.

  ‘Oh, he kind of trusts her. She’s gotten closer to him than anyone. But he’s always screwed around while he’s been with her. He knows she doesn’t care as long as he bangs her, too. If he really liked her he wouldn’t do that.’

  I grabbed a serviette and rolled it between my fingers; it wasn’t easy hearing about Hunter’s sex buddies. Was I seriously considering sleeping with him when he took girls for granted? Hell, he could have an STD.

  ‘You see, that’s why I avoided him. When I think of him with all those girls . . .’

  ‘Oh, hon, he’s not stupid. I know he uses protection. I’ve even sat at the table while Mary lectured him. No shame.’ She shook her head.

  ‘His mum?’

  ‘Oh, she’s hilarious when she shakes her finger and tells him girls are dangerous and he shouldn’t be thinking with his willy. He actually blushes’cause she doesn’t care that his cousins are witnessing her mother–son chat.’

  ‘Hunter blushing. I’d like to see that.’

  ‘Yeah, well it’s not my point. Hunter is actually a softie. He has a good heart. But he won’t let just anyone break it. He’s tough, inside and out, until the right girl comes along. Then he turns to mush.’

  I smiled at Maddy. ‘The closeness you two have, I’m jealous.’ Being an only child of an only child, I’d never had any cousins to look out for me. ‘I like that you have each other’s back.’

  She shot me a look. ‘You know I’ve always got your back.’

  ‘Yeah, I do. You’re like my best friend, sister and cousin all in one.’ I chewed on my lip. ‘You’re a good friend, Mads.’

  ‘Well, we understand each other. We don’t always agree on things . . .’ She smirked. Her grin disappeared before she added, ‘Both of us not having a father around in our teens, well I think it helped connect us, make us stronger. I hated those girls at school getting what they wanted and their rich daddies never saying no to them. They didn’t learn a damn thing about life.’

  ‘You’re referring to Emily, aren’t you?’

  She nodded. ‘Never forgiven the bitch for getting me suspended for a week and Mum grounding me.’

  I grinned at that. The incident was a few years ago at school. Hunter had hooked up with Emily at a party. She was seventeen, and jokingly told Maddy he’d got her pregnant. Maddy, being all protective and loyal, saw red on hearing Emily slam Hunter, so she squashed her sandwich in Emily’s face and pushed her hard. Blinded by fritz and sauce, Emily stumbled back. Both girls were standing on the grassed oval, but when Emily stumbled she landed smack on her butt and in dog poo. Her rich daddy denied Emily’s words and pushed for an assault charge.

  ‘Come on,’ I said, laughing. ‘It was worth it to see Emily with sauce on her face and poop on her smelly butt.’

  Maddy giggled. ‘Guess everyone knew from then on not to mess with this Irish gal.’

  ‘For sure. And if anything happens between Hunter and I, we can’t let it come between us.’

  Her gaze moved to the table, to the spoon twirling between her fingers. ‘You know I’ve never supported my friends getting with him . . . but it’s you, Aubs. You’re different to everyone else. He’s always liked you.’

  Always? News to me. ‘I don’t understand. I’m like vanilla compared to other girls he’s been with.’

  Maddy laughed. ‘Some people like vanilla. It’s just a matter of taste. Every now and then you get adventurous and try something else, but you always return to your favourite. It’s like a safety net.’

  ‘I just feel bland.’ I shrugged. ‘Training all the time, I never really developed an interest in anything else. Now I have nothing.’

  ‘You have me and you’re not bland,’ Maddy admonished. ‘You’ll find something that interests you, but don’t go changing for no one.’

  I thought about that, and then remembered Connor. ‘I have a small problem.’ I explained my friendly dates with Connor and how last week he’d tried to kiss me.

  ‘You can’t see him anymore, even as a friend. Hunter would hit the roof. I mean he’d really go off. I’ve seen his temper and you wouldn’t ever want to be on the receiving end. Trust me on this one.’

  I nodded. ‘I’ll call Connor.’

  ‘If Hunter knew you were seeing his brother, even as a friend, he’d be pissed.’

  ‘Why? It’s not like there’s anything between us.’

  Maddy took another sip of her coffee. ‘He’s the jealous type, and let’s just say there’s history between the two. I think I have that closeness with Hunter because of his dad leaving as well. I remember our mums supporting each other, sisters united. Mum told me that Hunter’s dad was a great footballer, and Hunter plays a lot like him. Apparently, his dad even went to a few of his games but Hunter doesn’t know that. Connor and I never really connected like me and Hunter. Which is weird because Connor is closer to me in age. Sometimes I think Hunter likes acting as the parent, being responsible and proving he’s not like his dad.’ Maddy checked the time on her phone. ‘Want to help me find a dress for tonight? BJ offered to have pre-drinks at his house before we go out.’

  ‘Sure . . . Shopping sounds like my kind of fun.’ I grinned at her.

  Her eyes narrowed. ‘Shut up and buy yourself a dress. Lord knows you need one.’

>   It was BJ’s last weekend in Adelaide and he intended to have a big night.

  In case I ran into Hunter, I limited my alcohol intake. His text about keeping my end of the bargain played on my mind.

  Inside the Shores nightclub I suggested we hang out at the lower-level bar. If Hunter were here he’d be upstairs with the other footballers, and I wasn’t ready to discover just how friendly he and Sabrina were. I needed to work up some courage to speak to him. Yesterday, he wanted only to be with me, today he hadn’t even called . . .

  With a change of heart I yelled, ‘My shout!’

  ‘What? You? Well make it double,’ BJ mocked.

  I pulled a face. ‘Who wants shots?’

  After downing a vodka laced with peach schnapps, I wanted to dance. I took Maddy’s hand and led her towards the dance floor, while BJ and Josh remained at the bar. While dancing, I could discreetly check out the room.

  From what I could tell, the upstairs bar was packed and a drum of conversation echoed off the walls. Tonight, downstairs was just as popular. The crowd had thickened around the bar, but I found BJ easily, as he stood a good head above everyone else. Then I noticed him eyeing Maddy in an I-want-you-now way while she moved about on the dance floor.

  ‘You want to tell me about BJ?’ I yelled over the music.

  Maddy froze for a second, then continued wiggling her butt in her teeny black dress.

  ‘Is he looking?’ She flicked her ponytail over her shoulder and danced intimately and too close to me.

  ‘Geez,’ I moaned.

  Maddy grinned and continued dancing like a Brazilian performer at Carnival. I wanted to slap her except my spine tingled with the sense of being watched. Dragging my focus to the crowd, I moved around, looking in all directions, but nothing stood out. My gaze wandered to the stairs, to a tall figure holding a bottle leaning against the iron balustrade. I swirled and looked back. Definitely Hunter. He stood very still, watching.