Rules of her Game: A Contemporary Sports Romance

by Karley Campbell

  Shrugging, indifferent to the older woman’s personal issues, Michelle said, “You have a daughter. For now, Birgetta, continue gathering information.”

  Birgetta was not Michelle’s only informant but she was the most determined and dedicated, and something was needed quickly while the media were still debating the risks of having Cooper back in the public’s sensitive eye.

  “Anything will do, Birgetta.” She smiled, “And you know how happy something really juicy will make me.”

  “Yes, of course.” The Growler replied, distracted, “But, I’m not sure he’s worth the effort, I mean he’s really not so bad. Those radio jocks are so arrogant and rude, why don’t we go after one of them instead?”

  “Don’t question me, Birgetta. You know I have enough shit on you to sink you up to your neck. Don’t push me, not on this one person. Afterall, I know your boss at the magazine. I’d hate to have to tell him before bedtime that his entertainment reporter has a little habit that gets her into all sorts of crazy situations.”

  “You wouldn’t dare. I got that job on my own merits. Your husband wouldn’t do that to me. He needs me and your reach doesn’t go as far as you think.”

  Michelle slapped Birgetta’s plastic face, hard and fast. “My reach is wherever I say it is. I make and break people like you and no one, especially some pumped up rugby washout gets the better of me!”

  Birgetta rubbed her cheek, appearing frightened yet slightly exhilarated. Michelle knew the older woman was losing her drug buzz and needed a top up but was being careful, scared Michelle would get more evidence.

  “I don’t know why I keep coming back.” Birgetta sniffed, close to tears. “You won’t ever hand those photos back.”

  “That’s the risk you run.” Michelle rubbed her hand that was stinging and hot.

  “Why him? What did Cooper Graves do that you hate him so much?”

  Michelle watched Birgetta for a long moment. She shouldn’t have slapped her but was unaccustomed to being questioned. Feeling an explanation of some sort would keep Birgetta under thumb, she said, “I offered Cooper Graves everything once and he refused me. I needed him then, he’ll need me now and I’ll show him what he’s been missing out on. Then we can all get on with our lives.”

  Birgetta couldn’t hide her surprise. It sounded like Michelle was in love with Cooper, or she had been and Cooper had rebuffed her. Was this just revenge?

  “Once he’s under control you can have what I promised you.”

  “I’ll get as much information as you need.”

  “Good girl. I knew I could depend on you.”

  Chapter Six

  Once the reporters had cleared from the conference room, Cooper followed Dani outside so she could find her father. She knew better than to subject anyone outside the family to Jacob in this state. He hardly ever got so angry, especially around rugby circles but Dani conceded it would be difficult for any father to watch his only daughter get involved with a man with Cooper’s history. She refused to apologize for something that was yet to happen but they weren’t kids and she would not pretend she wasn’t interested.

  Assuring Cooper she would catch up with him soon, they swapped numbers and Dani left him on a grin of future promise.

  Jacob was leaning against her car and once unlocked he sat down on a groan, gazing out the window.

  Starting the car, Dani quietly asked, “Where are we going?”

  “Home. Just take me home.”

  “I thought we were going for lunch. I hardly see you, Dad and you’re off on tour soon. I’ll miss you.”

  Incredulous, Jacob said, “Don’t be nice to me now. You could have given me a heads up. I felt like a complete fool in there.”

  “Why, because I like Cooper?”

  Jacob grimaced, “Please tell me you don’t. You’re just testing me by picking the worst man possible.”

  “Dad, I’m twenty-nine years old. I’m well past trying to upset you.”

  Jacob ran a big hand over his craggy face, “That’s even worse. Now I’m going to have to kick Cooper Graves fucking balls in.” He gazed out his window before quietly adding, “And the tough son of a bitch will probably let me.”

  “I thought you’re helping him get his life back.”

  “Do you understand what he was accused of?”

  Dani raised a hand, “I know what happened, Dad. I searched him online and found misinformation and plenty of speculation but nothing stuck. You know him better than me. What do you think?”

  He ignored her question. “What if he does something to you? How could I live with knowing that I bought him into your life?”

  “I just want to get to know him, that’s all.”

  “I suppose it had to happen.” At Dani’s confusion, Jacob said, “One day you’d like a guy that was halfway decent. If I had to look at one more computer geek or rugby nut I’d strangle you.”

  “Thanks, Dad.” She leaned over to squeeze his knee, gripping until he yelped and they both chuckled. “And regardless of what happens, I’ll always love you more.”

  “You better.” He grouched.

  “I don’t know why you’re so uptight. You know what I’m like. I give him a week and he’ll be running for his life. I’m annoying.”

  Jacob was sour, “Cooper Graves is good at endurance and patience. Probably enough to cope with you. Take me home.” He snapped, “I need your mother.”

  “Fine.” Dani didn’t want to argue with him. He was tired and annoying him more would go from fun to cruel.

  After dropping him home Dani did a few hours of studying before work, going in early to help JD set up. They were sitting amiably together, sharing a pizza as an early dinner when someone pounded on the locked door.

  Checking his watch, JD sauntered to the door returning with Cooper. JD was animated with delight at Cooper’s appointment to the coaching team. Cooper didn’t do more than glance at her until JD finished speaking, giving JD his complete attention. It was respectful, something Cooper had not gotten in the last two years and probably never thought to give others in his bad old days. When he did turn to her his smile was bright and Dani made a pact that she was going to discover the truth about what happened that night Cooper was accused of rape, and she knew just the reporter who would help her. She would offer up as much babysitting as he wanted.

  ◆◆◆

  Cooper felt the tension draining from his shoulders and neck. Dani was relaxed and happy to see him. She would know about his past by now, her father would have filled her in on all the gory details and still she appeared delighted he was here. Was she insightful or stupid? And who was he to judge when he didn’t know why he had come in the first place. Hadn’t he promised himself never to be vulnerable again? If any person threatened that pledge it was bull-headed Dani Maxwell.

  Perhaps he was sick of fighting. If anyone could comprehend what he had gone through, what he had lost, she probably could. She was bought up around rugby and her ease at being surrounded by big men at the press conference showed this clearly. There was no fear or awe at being with those men and only amusement at Cooper thinking she was having an affair with her own father.

  Wanting to touch her but scared to try, Cooper reached out a hand. Dani looked at it on a wry smile before allowing him the pleasure of her firm grasp.

  “Cooper Graves, what on earth brings you here?” She asked.

  JD was confused too, “We don’t open for an hour. The staff isn’t even here.”

  “Ah, JD, can I talk to Dani alone for a minute?” He was nervous while she remained completely at ease.

  “Oh!” JD backed toward the bar. “Sure, take your time.”

  Cooper didn’t miss as JD pointed at his own eyes then back at Dani, meaning he would be watching, keeping her safe from the perverted criminal. Cooper felt outraged but had to concede that those that cared for her may be uncertain. Cooper was a big man, had always reveled in his size, had made a career out of it, but if he did lash out, Dani had no h
ope of defending herself. He had never laid a hand on a woman in anger, had even been in a campaign about domestic abuse. All these thoughts trotted through his head while Cooper anxiously waited.

  Dani stood. “Cooper, what’s wrong?” She stepped around the table.

  He stilled, only realizing now that he had been fidgeting with worry.

  “Nothing.” He grinned, her voice made him happy. She was confident and forthright. “I remember you now. The surly teenager who never left the corner?”

  Dani laughed, covering her eyes. “Nothing’s changed, I’m still surly.”

  Cooper looked her over, “Oh, you’re plenty different. Thankfully you look more like your mother than Jacob.”

  If he expected her to be offended he would be wrong again. She was simply interested. “Really? I always thought I looked like Jacob.”

  “No, believe me you look like Trisha. You sound like Jacob though.”

  Dani laughed, “Is that good?”

  “I think so.” Cooper grinned before adding, “Look, I just came to apologize about last night. If I knew that girl would throw a glass I’d never have stayed.”

  Dani shrugged, “Okay.”

  “And for earlier today, I’m sorry for mistaking you and Jacob . . . I mean your father. God, that was embarrassing. It never even crossed my mind that he’s part of your family. I’m not good at this and I just thought you should know things about me from me. I’m sure you heard what happened . . .”

  Dani held a hand up, “Cooper, it’s okay.”

  “No, it’s not. I like you.” He said this like it was terrible. “But I would be bad for you. I attract trouble even when I’m trying not to. Last night only proved it.”

  She scowled just like her father. “Right, is all that off your chest?”

  He looked confused, “Ah, I’d like to tell you about it, if you want to listen.”

  “Sure, but no ‘poor me’ crap.” She covered his lips with one finger when he tried to interrupt. “Let’s go through this. You don’t need to apologize for last night. I’ve been surrounded by rugby players my entire life and I’ve seen the way people behave. Just so we are super clear, I’m not one of them and I won’t tolerate you pandering to them. I dated a player once and it ended very badly. He was the last person I actively wanted to be with.”

  “And what about now?” Cooper queried, “Do you still avoid rugby players?”

  “Absolutely.” She smiled, “But ex-players who are now coaches are doable.”

  “That’s good.” Cooper relaxed his shoulders again.

  “You won’t be saying that soon.”

  “Explain.” Cooper said, certain nothing she could say would upset him now.

  Dani’s grin was slow and mischievous. “I’m certain Jacob will tell you that I’m hard work. I’m guessing you’re not simple either.”

  He stepped closer, drawn. “I don’t know what I am. I’ve been single for a long time but I’m willing to take a gamble if you are.”

  “Cool.”

  Cooper sat down, his entire being relaxing.

  Pushing a slice of pizza toward him, Dani said, “Come on then let’s get this all out in the open.”

  He didn’t know where to start. How did you explain to a beautiful woman how you had gone from an adored top sportsman to a disgraced has-been predator?

  Reaching out to cover his fidgeting hands, Dani helped him out. “Your dad was an All-Black too?”

  “He never got to see me wear the jersey.” He tried not to sound morbid but it was unavoidable. “He died before I made the team. My mother too.”

  Dani gasped, “I’m so sorry.” When her brow furrowed Cooper fought the urge to smooth the creases with a finger. She wasn’t his to touch and he couldn’t imagine finding the confidence to do it anyway.

  “You’ve done this all alone? Went through those charges with no family?”

  Her horror made Cooper defensive. That she might think he was weak. But he had done it alone. “Being by myself was the simple part. It would have killed me if my folks had suffered through all that too. They had me so late in life that my mother thought I was menopause, they were both gone before I was twenty-two, general old age. It was sad but it didn’t slow me down for long. I had the rest of my life to plan and life was awesome.”

  Cooper didn’t mention that his father had been an accountant as well as a ball player, he had worn the jersey before the game turned professional, back when men played then went back to their day jobs. His father had eventually owned his own firm and his parents had left their only child everything. The assets had been cashed up and the money dumped into a managed trust fund. Cooper had no need for large amounts of cash and couldn’t imagine what would cause his blossoming rugby career to falter other than injury. The money was his back up, nothing more. Cooper had been determined to live on his own paycheck, not his parents. Money had never motivated him, not when other parts of his life held such dominance. He had rugby, sponsorship commitments and the endless pursuit of beautiful women.

  Then after one perfect match the fun had all ended. Looking back, the well managed trust fund was probably the only smart thing he had done.

  “Then your awesome life ended.” It was obvious to Cooper that Dani knew where this story was going but it was important to them both that she heard it from him. For the first time Cooper wanted to be the person to tell someone.

  “It sure did.” Cooper agreed.

  Dani perplexed him by changing the subject, “What was it like in France?”

  He shrugged, unexcited, “Fine. I stuck to myself. Travelled the countryside when I could. It’s a beautiful place.”

  “But?”

  He took a deep breath, “Nothing gets by you, does it?” He sighed at her shrug. “I should have enjoyed it more but I couldn’t help feeling that I was in the wrong place, that I should still be in New Zealand focusing on my after-rugby career.”

  “Behaving like a man whore?”

  “Probably.” He chuckled. “I was on a losing streak that didn’t end until I had nothing left. After taking such a gamble on me I barely played for my new club. My body started falling apart almost instantly. I had lost my edge, my passion for the game, for working through injuries. Not only did Perpignan pay to take on a rapist,” He closed his eyes, this word still hurting. “They didn’t even get a player with his mind on the game. Then I went and screwed my shoulder and soon after my ankle.” He rubbed his eyes. “I was still fit but the rest was gone. The head doctors thought it was the stress coming out through my body as injuries.”

  “But you were coaching.” Dani was confused, “You went there to coach.”

  “No, I went there to play and to hide on the other side of the world from New Zealand’s media. The coaching role there was just good timing. Fabrice Lehare walked out on his co-coaching contract when he was offered head coach elsewhere. Stephen Ivor and I are friends and he insisted I take Fabrice’s place.”

  “You don’t sound very enthusiastic or grateful.”

  His head snapped up and their eyes locked.

  “What does that mean?”

  “You look pissed. It’s nice to see a little fire in there.”

  “I was grateful but . . .”

  “You were still caught up in the past?”

  “Still am.” He felt grim and disappointed, uncertain if it was with himself or her. “Anyway, we had two successful years and I was about to renew my contract with Perpignan when your father got in touch. Believe me, no one was more surprised than I was. I mean how would he know where to find me and that I was off contract?”

  “Are you kidding? He spends every free second stalking his favorites and, well, Jacob doesn’t care what people think. If he thought a dog would help his team win, especially against you kiwis, he’d hire him.”

  “What about you? Do you care what people think?”

  Their eyes were locked as Dani replied, “Not so much. Tell me what happened that night. All of it, before I get t
o like you.”

  “You don’t like me yet?” He smiled, emotional that she was confronting his most personal shame head on.

  “I’m reserving my judgement.”

  “Alright. Look, I’ve obsessed over this for the past two years. I want to hate myself less for what happened but . . .”

  Dani became tense. “Are you saying you actually did it? You hurt that girl?”

  “I’m saying I have no idea. I remember the game, it was the NPC final,” He clarified, not needing to explain to Dani that this was a big deal on his side of the world. “We won the championship. I was the captain and clearly remember holding the trophy high, kissing it while the camera flashes blinded us all. I vividly remember my manager telling me that the All Blacks captain Tom Hendricks was still out with a torn Achilles and I was going to be named the next captain for the upcoming tour of South Africa. It was the culmination of all my hopes and hard work.”

  Dani gasped, understanding that this was a very big deal. “I didn’t know that.”

  “No one knows that. I was thirty-two, the elder statesman with the experience to back me up. What a way to wind down my career, huh?”

  “It would have guaranteed your future.”

  “Exactly.” Cooper sadly said.

  “What happened after you won?” This was a typical story and Dani could imagine how the evening had progressed after the match. She was waiting for the part about the drinking and the pretty girls.

  “I was on top of the world.” Cooper said, unable to meet Dani’s eye, looking to where JD was busy behind the bar, polishing and keeping busy while covertly watching them. “We headed into town to celebrate. I kept the captaincy thing a secret, it would be announced the next day and I was happy to wait, to let my team have the limelight until I took over. I had waited a long time to cement my name in the history books, what was a few more hours? I knew my team would be ecstatic for me, it was the end to an exceptional year.

  “I had been happy to hang out, we were one of the most successful teams in NPC history. I knew not to drink much because of all the coming interviews. But drinks just kept appearing from fans who wanted to share in the celebration. How could I say no to the fans? They are the whole point of what we do.”