Rules of her Game: A Contemporary Sports Romance

by Karley Campbell

  His father had been adamant he needed a university degree to fall back on but Cooper had been too physical to sit through lectures and hours of study so he had instead apprenticed as a builder. He was glad of the experience and qualification even though it had taken longer than it should have with plenty of patience by his sport mad employer. But by the time he had become an All Black he never imagined he would need to build again, had assumed he would move on to commentary or hosting since that’s what happened to popular sportsmen in New Zealand.

  Just before his life fell apart Cooper had been at an event, another talkfest where he stood up and explained how he was the best and weren’t they all lucky to be in his presence. Some over processed, overconfident, scary, career obsessed woman had sparked up conversation at the bar. Cooper enjoyed chatting, it was part of the job and he had taken his job seriously. He knew she was besotted but he wasn’t in the mood and so had kept things shallow. She was home for a parent’s funeral and had explained how she was the best and wasn’t he lucky to be in her presence. She laughingly claimed to make and destroy people, and who these days didn’t want to be famous. She owned some well-known production company and had attempted to entice him to London for a reality show, had told him he was perfect for her company’s profile. She would ensure he never had to worry about work again. All he had to do was sleep with her whenever she felt like it. Her terms had been that specific but Cooper had refused to whore himself, not when the world was at his feet. So he turned down her exceedingly weird offer.

  Then in one night every career choice he ever imagined possible was gone.

  She had returned after that, making more offers he couldn’t handle, determined to climb into his bed. Her desperation had been a gross turn off. The ensuing anger and demands an embarrassment for them both.

  It was months of confusion, self-loathing and heartache before his old friend, the legendary ex-All Black captain, Steven Ivor, had asked him to play in Perpignan, France. As soon as the police returned his passport Cooper packed his bags and left, glad to be rid of everyone who had so quickly condemned him. Now, after everything, look where he was, again becoming public gossip. He thought of Birgetta Growler and what he could do about her. She was determined to follow until he slipped up, anything stupid and she would triple her guard. He could only hope that a few weeks of following him would bore her enough to back off and leave him in peace.

  He thought again of the barmaid, she compounded all he had lost. In the old days Cooper wouldn’t have thought twice about going back to that bar, engaging until she caved. Would she cave? He must be ten years older than Andrew with a dirty big skeleton rattling in his cupboard. Two years ago he would have gotten her then thrown her away, a simple barmaid was unworthy to bask in his reflected glory. Sometimes he really hated that Cooper.

  He needed to hold tight to his plan, stick to himself to remain safe. His best hope for the future was to be involved in rugby and rugby alone. Women were not safe. It was karma of course, women had always been a rough and ready hobby, he was good looking, well known and had delighted in sharing the fun. Two years of celibacy showed what an arrogant bastard he had been. He hadn’t been sharing the fun, he had been setting everyone up for disappointment, including himself.

  Unable to sleep he got up to look out at the dark night from the kitchen window of his rented apartment. It was small and ugly but cheap and close to the train for Twickenham where the team practiced when gathered in London. He logged onto the internet and checked his long-neglected trust account, gulping at the amount. What did he want to do? He had thought about flipping some properties, he could afford it and needed to be busy during the off season. He felt a complete phony calling himself a builder, he was a rugby player, first and last. He still had the fundamental construction skills. He needed contacts and that would be tough when Cooper had spent so long avoiding people. But he was back in the real world and had to get motivated again. What else could he do with his off time? He hated golf and PlayStation and if he remained idle he would obsess about what others were saying about him. He was never going back there.

  Tomorrow’s press conference sat on his mind. Jacob had been adamant that Cooper would not slink into the team unnoticed. If he wanted to be part of first-class rugby again he would need to face the media and the public that had so despised him. Cooper agreed but still felt sick about it. Jacob had been through tough times too and assured Cooper he would survive, explaining that the media were fickle and the public had short memories. Many careers had been ruined after Cooper’s and many more would be ruined after his announcement. Cooper was still too raw to agree but Jacob was certain that after a few months back he would find a new lease on life. Cooper hoped so, he couldn’t continue the way he was, with his life on hold.

  He returned to bed, mentally preparing himself for tomorrow. Doing things one step at a time and not thinking too far ahead was the key. First, get through the press conference and escape as soon as he could, then avoid the media hounds until the backlash died down. The next step was to find a house to renovate. He had no plans on buying yet since he needed a partner who could continue work when he was busy with rugby. He also needed to contact his parent’s lawyer to unlock the money fully, something he had never bothered doing. He was hoping for the best but if things went badly tomorrow he would be leaving immediately, probably for Australia. He was only prepared to take so much abuse, no matter what Jacob said. He thought Brisbane might be good, for no other reason than he didn’t know a soul there.

  His mind slipped to the barmaid again. He needed to apologize to her, the poor girl had just missed a glass to the head because of him. A strange thrill ran through him at the thought of returning to Jacob’s bar and seeing her again. She had been offended on his behalf, had tried to defend him. It had been novel and unsettling. He could ask Andrew to pass on his apologies but he just wanted to see her again. He covered his exhausted eyes at his own stupidity. Was he seriously hot over Andrew Maxwell’s girlfriend? Was he already fucking things up?

  No, he would stick to his plan. After the media circus he would eat, go to the gym then lock his door on the world. Another day survived.

  Finally sleepy he wondered again why the barmaid felt so familiar. He thought he recognized her away from Andrew, which made no sense. And what of her reaction when that girl had hit him, she had been furious on his behalf, not Andrew’s. It had been nice to have someone defend him, if only for a moment. But if that girl knew what he had been accused of she would hate him, be terrified of him.

  Well, if she had any sense in her prickly head.

  Chapter Three

  The morning after a shift at Balls & All, Dani had a personal training session booked. After bellowing at an overweight mother of two for an hour Dani felt great.

  Back at her tiny, overpriced studio apartment near the university she called her best friend Stacey who had given birth to her second child only a week before. Stacey was still in self-imposed purgatory for what she called, ‘her own stupidity for having another kid’. Dani was almost certain she was joking.

  Dani and Stacey had gone to high school together, had liked each other straight away even though Stacey hated sports while Dani had still been passionate about rugby. Stacey had to drag Dani through her final year when her opinion of rugby and rugby players had so dramatically changed. Stacey had claimed she was glad to have her friend all to herself without the ties of sports.

  It was confounding that Stacey had married a sports reporter. They had met when Stacey accompanied Dani to an event. Marcus Gold was a complete sports nut and another reason Dani avoided Stacey’s home. The man constantly pried into the happenings of the Maxwell family. What players was Jacob interested in? When was Andrew going to make the team? Why was there no announcement over the new forwards coach? What about the Australia/New Zealand tour later in the year? He then got all moody when she told him she didn’t know and didn’t care. He should have realized she wasn’t going to be the spy
he had hoped for. Family and loyalty came above all else, even if her family were obsessed over one stupid sport.

  After some chitchat about kids and exhaustion, Dani asked Stacey, “What do you know about Cooper Graves?” She didn’t know why she was asking but wanted to say his name out loud, to test how it sat with her.

  Stacey was suitably confused before surprising Dani by saying, “Hang on, that was the big rugby player from some far-flung place that you had a crush on?”

  “How do you remember that? Anyway, I met him at the bar last night and . . .”

  “You finally met him? Is he still hot?” Stacey had forgotten all about her aching body and exhaustion.

  “Yeah, he’s still very hot, perhaps even hotter. Unfortunately he also got accused of sexual assault.” It didn’t sound any better saying that part out loud.

  “Christ, you have the worst taste in men.” Stacey groaned.

  Dani countered, “This from the woman who married Marcus Gold?”

  “I know you secretly love him. If I hadn’t snaffled him up you would have.”

  “I’m still shocked that you had real-life sex with him and he actually shoots fully loaded bullets that got you pregnant.”

  “Admit it, you think my husband is hot.”

  “Not as hot as Cooper Graves.” Okay, that didn’t sound so bad. It was true.

  “Don’t go there. Think of your poor father’s heart. He’s getting old.”

  “I think Dad’s employed him as his new forwards coach.”

  “Does Marcus know this yet?”

  “I have no idea, maybe?”

  “For your sake I hope so, you know he’ll harass you more than ever?”

  “Not if I never see him.” Dani argued. “Marcus that is.”

  “Come on, you know he’ll ferret the truth out of you.”

  “Not me, I’m immune to his crafty ways.”

  “Only because he’s never turned his smooth moves on you.”

  Stacey sounded smug so Dani put in, “If you’re talking like this one week after birth I’m guessing this won’t be the last little Gold to join the family.”

  The silence extended, “I’m sorry, I forgot my mind for a moment there. Please come over soon.” Stacey pleaded. “He’s driving me mad about the rugby, it’s all he talks about, he’s obsessed. You would think he’d be more interested in his baby daughter but no, rugby, rugby, rugby. God, I hate sports.”

  “Well, I’m not coming over if he’s home, you know what he’s like before a big match. Besides I’ve got my retest next week, if I fail again Dad will disown me.”

  “Jacob and Andrew must be excited about the Australia game?”

  “How did you remember that?” Dani laughed.

  “I’ll be solo parenting. Come over before I forget how to talk to adults.”

  “Deal, I’ll be over when Marcus and his unhealthy obsessions are out.”

  ◆◆◆

  Dani left to collect Jacob, looking forward to seeing her mother. She felt a weird need to pick her mother’s brain over Cooper Graves. Trisha Maxwell knew everything that was going on. Dani arrived at her old family home ready to raid her parent’s fridge. The house had been recently renovated and hardly resembled her childhood home, it was beautiful, just like Trisha. At fifty-five she was still stunning, tall, slim and regal. Dani took after her big, angry father while her brother had won the genetic jackpot with all the attributes most desired by the world, he was tall and solid with Jacob’s black curls and self-confidence. Both Maxwell children had an overdose of their father’s stubborn streak which Jacob found frustrating. Verbal battles were an integral part of any Maxwell gathering. Anything more competitive got out of control and was best avoided.

  Dani felt sorry for any guy she bought home but it was a great test to see how the relationship would work. Most men were star struck and either played it too cool, looking aloof and cold, or were embarrassingly enthusiastic about rugby. They all ended up scared of her father and that was usually enough to put Dani off.

  As head of his family, Jacob was big, brash, intelligent and belligerent. In that respect Dani took after him completely. Andrew was more like the unflappable Trisha, unless it was about rugby. He was passionate about the game and had been his father’s pride and joy since the day he picked up the egg-shaped ball.

  Opening the door, Trisha hugged her daughter, as usual complaining that she was too thin. Trisha was so accustomed to oversized people that Dani’s very average size caused Trisha great concern.

  “Where’s Dad?” Dani asked, shoveling food in as fast as her mother produced it. She was yet to hear her father’s booming voice.

  “I’m not sure.” Trisha said distractedly, “I think Cooper’s getting cold feet and Jacob’s talking him off the ledge, so to speak.”

  “Cooper?” Dani mentally pumped a fist in the air, she knew her mother would have the dirt. “Cooper Graves?”

  “Yes. He may not have the confidence Jacob does about his future here.”

  Attempting disinterest, Dani asked, “Is he going to be working with Dad?”

  “It appears so, scrum coach.”

  Dani thought so, this was a major job for a man that had been shut out for the best part of two years. “And if the job doesn’t work out?”

  Trisha turned to Dani on a frown, “When did you ever care about what was going on in the team?”

  “I met Cooper last night and wondered what was happening.”

  “You’ve met him before.” Trisha said returning to her pan.

  Dani cringed, praying her mother didn’t remember her daughter drooling in the corner the few times Cooper had been around. “When?”

  “Jacob’s talked about him for years.” She paused then clicked her fingers in memory. “Before you stopped playing rugby, you definitely met him then.”

  Dani let out a silent breath. Teenage crushes were so embarrassing.

  “How old is Cooper now?” She couldn’t help prodding.

  Trisha shrugged, “About thirty-five I suppose.”

  If she wanted more information Dani was going to have to fess up with some of her own, “I do remember now. He was out here on tour a few times before Dad took over for England. I was about thirteen so he must have been eighteen. I couldn’t even look at him, he was so handsome. Still is.”

  Trisha studied Dani suspiciously but Jacob thankfully chose then to enter the kitchen, a phone pressed to his ear as he gazed about for something. Picking up the keys to Trisha’s tiny car he scowled and threw them down, spying Dani in relief his grizzled face was transformed.

  “Coop, my kid’s here so I suggest you get moving. I’ll meet you there.” He paused while listening and for the first time ever Dani wished her father liked conference calls so she could hear Cooper’s reply. Her father continued loudly, clearly cutting Cooper off, “Don’t let me down boy, you’ll thank me one day. You have the skill set I need and I don’t give a shit what the media say. I pick who I want and I want you. So get your big butt out the door and I’ll meet you there.”

  He jabbed a button with a big blunt finger and turned on a huge grin, wrapping his daughter in a bear hug. Dani enjoyed his solid presence and familiar scent. No matter how much they annoyed each other Dani knew her father always had her back.

  “Will he turn up?” Trisha questioned, her interest in rugby never in doubt. She was rugby royalty, her father had played with Cooper’s, her two brothers well known players and coaches. She married a famous player who was now the head coach, and her son had one cap and an exciting career in front of him.

  Jacob scowled deeply, which was impressive as he scowled even when he wasn’t trying. “He better, I haven’t even thought of anyone else. Who else would hesitate? Shows how messed up he is.”

  Trisha’s jaw set, “That poor boy went through hell, we know how brutal the media are when a good sport scandal erupts.”

  Dani stared at her own clasped hands at clear mention of this family shame. Jacob bluntly stated,
“Well sometimes we need some sense smacked into our arrogant heads.” He hugged his wife for an embarrassingly long time. Dani sat quietly picking at the toast crust on her plate.

  Eventually Jacob pulled away and changed the subject, saying to Dani, “JD said there were some problems at the bar last night. That Cooper was involved.”

  “It had nothing to do with Cooper.” Dani said. “Some bimbo decided Cooper and Andrew should jump when she clicked her talons and then threw a glass at them. Cooper saved me from a pint in the head.”

  Trisha’s lovely face curled, "Her mother must be proud.”

  Jacob was silent for a long moment before barking, “Let’s go. I can’t be late. And remember, this ain’t the F1. I love you, but you ain’t got balls.”

  Dani grinned, “Is that a challenge, old man?”

  Her father laughed in delight, “Just get me there.”

  Calling a goodbye to her mother, Dani raced to beat her father to the driver’s seat. Jacob had bought the car and when she tried to pay for it he roared that it was a gift. If she pissed him off she was robbing an old man blind. Luckily she adored him.

  As she started the car she thought of Cooper and what might happen when his new role was announced. No matter what her father said, the media were going to lose their collective mind. Her stomach flipped at seeing him again, purely a throwback to her teenage crush, she had no interest in him regardless of how good looking he was. He was suspected of sexual abuse and she could never accept that of anyone. There had to be some truth in it, didn’t there? Another problem was the rugby thing, and that he didn’t know who her father was. She smiled as she burned rubber out of the driveway, her father bellowing at her side. Her mind was made up and it was a relief. Regardless of her instant attraction to Cooper Graves, some men were out of bounds and Dani didn’t need her little brother telling her that Cooper was trouble and more complicated than she could handle. That was just obvious.