Winning the Player

by Leesa Bow

  ‘Fuck.’ His expression blanked.

  Oh, God no. ‘You don’t like it?’

  He crossed the room, grabbed my shoulders and looked deep into my eyes. I blinked several times while my mind raced ahead, trying to process what he was thinking. At the same time his hands trailed up and down my arms, calming me before I got carried away. ‘You look . . .’ He smiled that big smile straight from his heart and I felt my own smile spreading across my face. Then his expression changed as though a wave of agony had washed over him.

  ‘What is it?’ My heart skipped a beat.

  ‘It’s nothing. I just remembered something someone told me once.’

  Our eyes locked. ‘You promised we’d talk about things, especially what other people said.’

  ‘This is different,’ he said each word carefully.

  I narrowed my eyes. ‘No it’s not.’

  His chest expanded as he inhaled. ‘Connor had said you were too good for me. You’re classy and even with all my money I couldn’t buy that. He was right.’ His gaze dropped to the floor.

  My finger lifted his chin until our eyes met. ‘Connor is wrong. We’re perfect for each other.’ Seeing him react this way shocked me. I gently kissed his lips, inhaled the scent of beer. ‘You have to get ready or we’ll be late.’

  He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small box. ‘I’ve been waiting in the lobby for over an hour. We must’ve passed each other. I wanted to give you this.’ He handed me the box.

  ‘What is it?’ I opened the lid to a silver ring and gasped. It was delicate with the infinity sign at its centre. ‘It’s beautiful.’

  He took the ring out of the box and slid it along the ring finger of my right hand. ‘If you look at it this way, it’s my number.’ He turned my hand to see the number eight. ‘And this way, infinity.’ He smiled at me in a way that sent my heart rate through the roof. ‘I’ve always thought of football as infinity for me. Corny, I know, but it defines me.’ I nodded, indicating I understood.

  ‘No limits, endless.’ He shrugged. ‘Then I saw it in the window of the jewellers’ and the assistant said it was two souls joined together. Never thought of it that way until you.’

  I blinked slowly. Endless.

  He kissed my forehead and we remained silent for a few moments. My whole body tingled as I struggled to absorb what had just happened.

  ‘I’d better change. I won’t be long,’ he said in a husky voice.

  I stood there with my fingers splayed, staring at the ring. My whole universe had just shifted and my knees trembled.

  I’d well and truly fallen for Hunter Stone.

  ‘Are you okay?’ Hunter picked up my hand and kissed my fingers.

  I swallowed a lump in my throat. ‘I’m fine,’ I croaked.

  ‘I’ll get you a wine.’ Hunter opened the minibar in the back of the limousine, pulled out a cold bottle and filled two glasses. ‘Cheers. Here’s to a fun night.’

  ‘Fun?’ I mocked. It was hard to believe the night would be fun when I was nervous enough to pass out.

  Hunter drained half the glass. ‘It will be, later. The red carpet is more for you ladies to show off your gowns. When we’re seated at the table and eating dinner you’ll feel more relaxed. Then the medal count begins. At least I don’t have to worry about that.’ He snickered. ‘We’ll have a few drinks and enjoy the night. And if you’re up for it, we can head to an afterparty.’ He eyed me.

  ‘What?’

  ‘I think I’d rather take you home and out of that dress.’ His voice was deep and sexy as all hell. ‘In fact, we could do it right here.’

  ‘How can you think of that right now?’ I said quickly.

  He laughed. ‘I always think about it.’ He arched one brow at me. ‘Still nervous, eh?’ I nodded. ‘You only have to be yourself. The presenter might ask your name and who designed your dress.’ He shrugged. ‘The cameras don’t film everyone. I’ll be right by your side.’ Then he kissed my cheek. ‘Trust me, they’ll be more interested in asking me questions.’

  ‘Like?’

  ‘My disqualification, the suspension.’ He rolled his eyes. ‘And other things.’ As he rubbed the side of his face his eyes glazed over.

  ‘What other things?’ I asked, before draining the remainder of wine from the glass.

  Hunter looked down at me and pulled at the black tie around his neck. ‘Footy stuff.’

  I nodded and couldn’t help thinking he was keeping something from me, though now was not the time to push for answers. He picked up my hand and inspected my red manicured nails.

  ‘Remind me not to upset you.’

  His tone sent a shiver through me, but my attention was diverted as the driver steered the limousine off the road and to a stop. Bright lights and a succession of camera flashes reflected off the windows. I looked away and squinted to protect my eyes from the glare.

  As soon as the door opened I heard directions being fired from a black-coated security guard. My gaze followed the red carpet to several television cameras and a presenter with a microphone talking to a perfect-looking couple, the footballer in a jade-green tie to match his partner’s dress. Fans lined the streets. As soon as Hunter stepped out girls screamed his name.

  ‘You ready?’ He took my hand, helped me out of the limo and waited until I’d adjusted my gown.

  ‘Hunter,’ yelled a group of photographers, pushing to edge closer. ‘Over here,’ they continued, contesting for the best shot.

  ‘Mr Stone,’ a man addressed Hunter and took him aside. Another ushered me along so the next limousine could arrive. I tucked my clutch-purse under my arm and took a few steps on the red carpet, blinded by flashing lights, and wishing Hunter would hurry up. Fiddling with my ring, I twirled it around my finger like it could perform some magic. I turned as more guests arrived behind me and yet there was still no sign of Hunter.

  ‘Come this way, Miss,’ a suited man directed. He indicated with his eyes to continue walking and waved me along.

  A journalist with a microphone approached me and a cameraman followed behind. He aimed the lens directly at my face. I inhaled as panic blossomed.

  ‘You look lost,’ he said sympathetically. He put the microphone to his mouth then hesitated, seeming uncertain about whether to continue. ‘I’m Clay Thompson covering the red carpet for the sports channel. Who’s your partner?’ I blinked several times and opened my mouth. ‘What’s your name?’ He pressed without allowing me time to answer.

  My heart thumped so hard inside my chest I was sure the microphone would pick up the sound.

  ‘Aubree.’

  Suddenly, a strong arm tightened around my waist. I looked up to Hunter’s apologetic blue eyes. He turned to Clay with a hardened expression, eyes reminding me that he was made of steel. ‘This is Aubree Taylor, and she’s with me.’

  CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

  After logging off my computer for the day, I packed up my belongings, eager to head home and fill Mum in my night. Hunter and I had managed a few hours’ sleep before catching a red-eye flight from Melbourne to Adelaide. He’d arranged a driver to take me to work this morning and deliver my case later. Hunter had tried to convince me to stay another day but I refused, not wanting to be ridden with guilt for taking unnecessary time off work. Even though basketball no longer played a part in my life, I treated work with the same commitment as training. Being swallowed up by guilt for missing a day wasn’t worth the emotional torture. I’d already applied for leave to care for Mum after her surgery, and I’d taken a day off for her appointments before the ceremony. So realistically, I couldn’t afford to miss another day of work just to recover from a big night.

  First, I had a promise to keep before heading home. I intended to visit Mrs White and tell her about my night. I had noticed her grandson, Luke, was also visiting.

  I wiped my palms on the material of my cream pencil skirt and then knocked. After hearing a faint response, I peered into the room. ‘Sorry I took so long to come see you. Thing
s are getting busy around here.’ I walked to her side and turned to Luke. ‘Hello again.’

  ‘I know, dear,’ Mrs White said, looking up at me from a recliner chair. ‘Thank you for giving up your time to see an old woman.’

  ‘Don’t be silly. I love spending time with you.’ I leaned over and kissed her cheek.

  ‘I’ve been hearing all about you.’ Luke winked at his grandmother. ‘Gotta say, I didn’t recognise you on the TV last night. Saw the chick in the red dress and didn’t know it was you.’ He pushed the folded newspaper on the table towards me and pointed to a photo of me with Hunter.

  My work colleagues had already cut out the photo and pinned it on the staff noticeboard. The photographer had caught the perfect moment, of Hunter and me sitting at a table during the count. Hunter was looking at me as though I meant everything to him as I stared back, starry-eyed.

  I laughed. ‘Apparently I scrubbed up well, or so my friend Maddy told me.’

  ‘You looked like a princess,’ Mrs White interrupted. Her long, feeble fingers squeezed my hand. ‘Fine young man you have there, too, I might say.’

  I smiled proudly. ‘Yes, he is quite fine.’

  ‘The cameras kept flashing on you. I couldn’t hear what they were saying but I knew it was you.’ She nodded like she wanted me to fill in the blanks.

  ‘Hunter was disqualified so he couldn’t win the medal. Every time he scored votes the camera zoomed in on him. I just happened to be sitting next to him.’

  ‘It happened a lot,’ she added.

  I sighed. ‘Yes. He attracts a lot of attention.’

  ‘Well, you looked lovely, Aubree,’ Luke interjected. ‘But I must go, Gran. I’ll see you soon.’ He leaned forward and kissed his grandmother. ‘See you soon, Aubree.’

  I waved goodbye to Luke and turned back to Mrs White. I held out my hand for her to see my ring. ‘He gave it to me last night.’

  ‘Oh dear. He’s a thoughtful one.’

  I could hardly contain my adoration. ‘Yes, he certainly surprised me.’

  ‘Your nails look quite elegant.’ Mrs White studied my red nails. ‘I’d love to have young hands again instead of these wrinkly old things. I miss wearing my wedding rings. This old skin of mine tears so easily and I’ve lost so much weight, the rings just fall off.’

  ‘Would you like them resized?’ I studied her fragile hands and realised that the rings could catch and tear her paper-thin skin, so it was probably wise not to wear them.

  ‘Excuse me,’ Belinda from admin said. Both Mrs White and I looked to Belinda standing in the doorway. ‘You should come outside, Aubree. Your friend has had an accident. Nothing major.’

  I glanced at Mrs White. ‘I’ll come back.’

  ‘What happened?’ I asked Belinda, keeping in step with her as we rushed through the corridors.

  ‘Your girlfriend reversed into one of the visitors.’ Belinda pulled a face and I imagined Maddy making a scene.

  Maddy had called earlier and suggested she pick me up from work. She wanted to have dinner at my house and hear all about last night. While Belinda typed in the security code to the front door, I peered through the window to the car park to gauge the damage. As I approached the two cars involved, I heard Maddy’s voice lift a few decibels.

  ‘If you weren’t in such a hurry, you might’ve noticed me,’ she yelled.

  ‘You were supposed to give way to me,’ a man’s voice replied in an unhappy tone.

  Shit. I stood close enough to see that Maddy had reversed into Luke’s Commodore.

  ‘Maddy.’ I put my arm around her. ‘This is Luke, Mrs White’s grandson.’ I smiled at Luke and nudged Maddy discreetly.

  ‘Luke this is my friend, Maddy. I’m sorry that she hit your car.’ I turned back to Maddy and looked at her in warning to remain quiet. ‘Perhaps you two could exchange contact details, driver’s licence numbers, insurance companies, and whatever else you need and let the insurance company handle it.’

  ‘It wasn’t my fault,’ Maddy said belligerently.

  ‘Maybe, but you did hit Luke.’

  Maddy huffed before storming off to her car to get her handbag. From what I could tell, neither car had suffered major damage: a small dent on each vehicle and a smashed headlight on Luke’s car.

  ‘She’s not always like this,’ I said to Luke.

  ‘Sounds like a pain in the arse,’ he said.

  I patted his arm. ‘If you get to know her she’s a lot of fun to be around.’

  ‘Well, that won’t be happening. I’ll let the insurance companies sort it out. But I’m sticking with her being in the wrong.’

  ‘Fine,’ I said in a level tone, trying to soothe Luke. ‘She’ll do the same. I promise.’

  He shook his head in disbelief. ‘I’d better go and tell Gran what happened.’

  ‘I’ll tell her. You just leave after you give Maddy all your details. Don’t worry, I’ll handle her, too.’

  Maddy eventually calmed down, although I held onto the seat during the drive home because her concentration on the road wasn’t as strong as her language describing the incident.

  After we helped Mum with dinner, I sat down to a barrage of questions. ‘So, was it as exciting as the cameras made it look?’ Mum glanced up as she twirled fettuccine around her fork.

  ‘Yes, although counting the votes each round dragged on for me. I didn’t know anyone and knew nothing about the game, so had no clue to their conversations.’

  Maddy groaned. ‘Damn, I should’ve been there. Right up my alley. I could’ve clued you in.’

  ‘I was fine. Hunter explained things. It wasn’t like you could talk a lot, so he’d whisper in my ear.’ Last night seemed like a dream sitting next to Hunter, feeling like a . . . My mind struggled to think of an appropriate word. Princess sounded wrong, although we were treated like royalty. I remembered feeling special when he looked into my eyes and smiled, like I was his world and nothing else mattered. Heading back to the hotel because of our early-morning flight and not having to attend the after party with his teammates turned out to be the perfect ending to a perfect night. But sleep had not been on Hunter’s mind.

  ‘Every time the camera flashed on you two my heart swirled,’ Mum said, holding her hand over her heart. ‘You looked happy, really happy.’ She smiled at me. ‘You looked stunning sweetheart. I don’t know why you were so nervous.’

  ‘Thanks to Maddy.’ Maddy sat close enough for me to pat her shoulder. ‘Though, it’s weird being fussed over.’ I raised my hand to inspect my fingernails for imperfections. I turned my hand to parade them in front of Maddy and Mum. ‘I love my nails.’

  ‘Like I said before, you scrubbed up well, Aubs.’ Maddy grinned.

  ‘And your red dress,’ Mum added. ‘It was elegant and modern. You looked amazing. I was so proud of you.’

  ‘Aw, Mrs Taylor that’s so sweet.’ Maddy looked back and forth between Mum and me.

  ‘Thank you, thank you both,’ I said humbly. ‘It was a night I’ll never forget. Although I’m pretty tired from it all and think I’ll head to bed straight after dinner.’

  ‘I’ll meet you at the gym tomorrow night,’ Maddy suggested.

  I nodded. ‘Mum goes into hospital in two days.’ I reassuringly patted Mum’s hand. ‘So I’ll be spending the next three weeks with her at home until she gets her strength back. The doctor said no driving or lifting anything heavy, including washing baskets and grocery bags.’ I gave Mum a look. ‘So I’ll be pretty busy here for a while.’

  ‘I can help out if you need,’ Maddy said eagerly. ‘I’m only at uni three days a week this semester.’

  ‘Oh, girls, this is all very nice but I’ll be fine, really.’

  ‘Shut up,’ both Maddy and I said in tune, and then we laughed.

  After changing into my pyjamas I almost fell into bed. I set my alarm and noticed a Twitter notification on the screen.

  @HunterStone8: With my girl@AubsTaylor #anighttoremember

  He had uploade
d a photo of us taken during the ceremony. I was looking into his eyes and he was smiling as if sharing a private joke. Life couldn’t be any better right now. My whole body warmed when I thought that Hunter truly cared for me. I had started following him again soon after the weekend in Victor Harbor, I tapped Retweet then sent him one of my own.

  @AubsTaylor: @HunterStone8 Always there for you #anighttoremember

  Moments later my phone buzzed with an incoming call from Hunter.

  ‘Hello you,’ I said affectionately.

  ‘Hey. I thought you’d be asleep.’

  ‘I’m trying. Think I’m overtired.’ I sighed.

  ‘I could come over and help make you tired.’ His voice oozed sex appeal even over the phone.

  ‘I miss you already,’ I whispered.

  ‘Me too.’ He was quiet for a few seconds. ‘I found out today I have to go to Melbourne next week. Footy stuff.’

  ‘Oh. What’s it about?’

  ‘Nothing exciting. It’s routine stuff I have to sort out.’ He hesitated. ‘It’s to do with my suspension.’

  ‘I see. Will you be gone long?’

  ‘Only overnight. I’ll make it up to you this weekend.’ His voice held promise.

  ‘Mum’s booked in for her surgery on Friday. I could do with some cheering up.’

  ‘You can stay with me over the weekend,’ he suggested. ‘Better than being home alone.’

  ‘Sure, as long as everything here is perfect for her to come home to.’

  ‘That reminds me,’ he said quickly. ‘I’ve ordered a queen bed to be delivered to your house on Saturday. Someone needs to be there for delivery.’

  ‘What? I never said I wanted a new bed.’

  ‘I can’t sleep in your single bed,’ he said firmly. ‘And if you can’t leave your mum for a few weeks then I intend to sleep over. Don’t argue with me, Aubs. Get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.’

  ‘See you tomorrow,’ I whispered, before ending the call. At first Mum had had reservations about Hunter sleeping over, although she seems to have accepted it now. Nevertheless, explaining the bed to Mum was going be awkward.