“Jacob,” She stated, “Put some clothes on, Cooper won’t take you seriously in your underwear.” With that she swept from the room to dress, her hands shaking.
Her husband followed, silent as Trisha said, “I’ll never get that image out of my head. Our daughter lying on the ground with that fucking thug scowling down at her. No one touches my children.”
Jacob silently dressed before finding his phone to call his daughter, holding it tight enough that the plastic creaked . He growled, “Dani, call me back to let me know you’re safe.”
Trisha watched her husband disconnect then said, “That bastard is dead.”
Chapter Eight
It had been a normal night at the bar, no famous sports men but plenty of drunken idiots. Dani had gotten home later than she hoped but by ten the next morning she was ready to face Cooper again. She wanted to figure out what was going on in his head, he was a fascinating tangle of rugged good looks and disturbing history. She didn’t know if what she was doing was right but she didn’t want him to be alone anymore either. If he couldn’t be romantic with her she wanted him as a friend. He needed that more than romance.
Outside Coopers apartment near Chiswick High Road, about five miles from Twickenham Stadium, she took several deep breaths reminding herself that Cooper was not ready for a relationship and she would need to pace herself. She was only human and Cooper was wickedly tempting. He had two major things going for him, he was no longer a rugby player and she was certain that he was no rapist. Working in the bar Dani knew about rohipnol, had seen it used a few times but only on girls who became pliant, as if they were very drunk. Dani always pulled them out back, found their friends or called them an ambulance. One girl even returned to thank her. She had been ill for days but Dani had stopped her being led from the bar by some creep. She had no memory and it sounded exactly like Cooper’s experience. Some asshole had purposely ruined Cooper’s life. She had never heard of it happening to a man but conceded it could happen to anyone.
Dani took a few deep calming breaths before knocking on his door, only to discover he wasn’t home. She sat on his doorstep to think. Should she call his mobile or go home? Maybe fate was telling her something.
“Yeah, bad idea.” She muttered standing and wiping the seat of her pants.
She was at her car when she heard a loud wolf whistle and turned to find Cooper walking toward her, having just finished a run.
“Hey.” He grinned, “You really are keen then?”
Dani was frozen, one foot in her car the other on the ground while her tongue felt heavy in her mouth at the sight of him. It was a chilly morning but the sun was shining and it was warm out of the wind. Cooper was dressed in black running shorts and a t-shirt with the sleeves hacked off showing thick, muscled arms. Unable to speak she simply gaped. He smiled like she was weird and unlocked his door, leaving it wide for her to follow him in.
He was drinking tap water, watching the door when she stumbled inside, wondering what was happening to her. She never noticed a man’s body, she had been around big, strong men her entire life but something about this body was different.
“I’ll just have a shower.” He said “Make yourself at home. There’s plenty of food. I’d eat eggs if you’re feeling domestic.” He left Dani shaking, the image of all that lovely man flesh reminding her it was out of reach.
She contemplated following Cooper into the shower, an experiment to test his reactions but instead she made scrambled eggs. As she toasted bread Dani stared vacantly out a window wondering if Cooper were playing games, keeping her at arm’s length for attention. She had certainly never had such a challenge before. Cooper was thirty-five and hardly immature. Dani figured his years of playing mind games were behind him. He was genuinely scared that he had done something terrible and that he may hurt Dani also.
It slowly registered that the car that had pulled up as she gazed out the window was her brother’s. She watched with embarrassment as her parents emerged. Christ, what were they doing here? They would think she was sleeping with Cooper so soon. They never discussed her sex life, her father could only endure so much.
She had two options, escape out a back door, the window if necessary, or grow up and get this over with. It was her mother’s expression that stopped her dithering. Trisha was always calm yet right now she was ready for murder. Why the hell was she at Cooper’s place? Trisha would only be here if it had something to do with one of her kids.
Under her breath she muttered, “Oh, man.”
By then the door was being pounded on and she ran to answer it. She had to talk to her family before Cooper was involved. Jacob entered at the front of the trio and they all froze as Cooper took that moment to enter the room dressed in only a towel.
Dani turned back to her family on a silent ‘Oh.’ Jacob and Andrew moved while her mother wrapped a protective arm around her daughter, trying to steer her to the car.
“Mum, what are you doing? Let me go.”
Cooper was backing away from her father and brother with his hands up. “Nothing has happened between us, I promise.”
Dani growled as her father’s hands fisted, “Now you’re worried who I sleep with?”
Her father's scowl was evil.
“I don’t want to know . . .” He looked to Trisha helplessly before beginning again, “What are you doing here? Don’t tell me you forgive him, because I won’t.”
“What are you talking about? You’re not making any sense.”
Andrew took another step toward Cooper who convulsed in reaction, his hands still up to placate her brother who was angling for a fight. Cooper’s towel chose then to fall from his hips and accustomed to being naked he didn't move.
Andrew’s eyes never wavered while Jacob roared, “Get some fucking clothes on, boy. I’m not kicking the ass of a naked man.”
“Okay, that’s it.” Dani wedged herself between the big men.
“Get out of the way, Dani.” Andrew’s voice was calm, his furious gaze fixed on his target. Cooper equaling the intensity.
“Not until you tell me what the hell is going on.”
“Let him do this, Dani.” Cooper replied, his acceptance infuriating. “But if it helps, Andrew, me and your sister are just friends.”
“Explain this then, you bastard?” Trisha threw the newspaper toward where Cooper was cornered.
Dani bent to grab it, snatching Cooper’s towel at the same time. She tried to pass it to him but Cooper turned for his bedroom. Andrew let him go, clearly unwilling to push his sister out of the way to go after him.
Positioning herself between her family and the small hallway to the bedroom, Dani had just looked at the paper when Cooper reappeared at her shoulder dressed in a clean black t-shirt and jeans, his feet bare. Everyone went on high alert again and Dani studied the picture in confusion.
“Jesus.” Cooper sighed. “It’s happening again.”
Trisha’s voice cut through the tense silence. “We’re not stupid, Graves. We can clearly see what’s going on in that photo.”
“Hang on.” Dani said, her tone enough to claim her family’s complete attention. “I tripped over. Cooper was helping me up.”
“Bullshit!” Jacob roared, “Look at me and tell me the truth. I’m not a fucking idiot.” This was a trick from Dani’s childhood, she seriously could not look her father in the eye and lie to him. He had always used it to his advantage as his strong-willed daughter would admit to every misdemeanor and accept her punishment.
Staring her father directly in the eye, Dani said, “Cooper did not touch me. I tripped over and he was helping me off the ground.”
Andrew snarled “Read the story, for fuck sake!”
“I don’t have to, Andrew!” She yelled in return, “I am telling you that Cooper did not touch me. Do you really believe I’d let any man hit me? I’m more than capable of defending myself, especially against him.” She jabbed a thumb over her shoulder at Cooper who had moved away from her.
&
nbsp; “Dani,” He softly said, refocusing her furious attention, “I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to be sorry for. Some stupid, trick photo shows you picking me out of the gutter . . .”
He spoke over her, cutting through her fury with his sad acceptance, “No, I mean I’m sorry but I don’t want to see you again.”
She snorted with disgust, “That’s just tough, as I told you the choice is mine.”
“It’s my choice too and I’m not putting you through this.”
Dani stared at him, stunned, “But this isn’t fair.”
Cooper shrugged, saying, “Jacob, I’ll make this easy on everyone and consider myself fired. You can tell the media whatever you like. I’ll be heading to Australia in a few days so you won’t have to see me again.”
“Good.” The older man said, “Dani, get in the car.”
“No.” Her incredulity was deflated at his easy dismissal, “Cooper, this is not right. We can sort this out.”
Again he shrugged, “There’s nothing to sort out. I told you this wouldn’t work. I guess it’s better it ends now, before you get more attached.”
“Don’t you get attached?”
“Not anymore. I should have known better than to have hoped. Can you all get out, I’ve got some packing to do.”
“No.” Dani said but before she could react she was staring at a closed door. Her brother tugged her keys from her numb fingers and ambled to her car, leaving her to the back seat with her parents, like a little girl who had been caught doing wrong.
◆◆◆
Trisha was concerned. She had been relieved to get Dani away from Cooper, but her usually antagonistic daughter had locked herself in the bathroom until Trisha had demanded she come out and talk.
Dani’s puffy eyes had scared Trisha as much as that photo. Her hardnosed daughter did not cry, certainly not over a boy. Not that Cooper Graves was a boy, more like a big thug who had threatened her child.
When Dani still didn’t arrive in the family room Trisha wandered the house until she found her curled in a ball on her old single bed. The room had been modernized but still retained the memories of the child Dani had been. Stroppy, headstrong, smart and funny, certainly not a victim.
Trisha sat down next to her daughter, rubbing her back. “Dani, how did this happen? What were you thinking defending him?”
Sitting up in one furious movement, Dani hissed, “I’m not lying, he never touched me.” Her scowl was more like the girl Trisha knew and adored, “I’m going to find out how this happened. Save your pity for the asshole that’s done this because they are going to be very, very sorry.”
When Dani emerged from her bedroom Jacob and Andrew were sitting at the wooden dining room table, uncomfortable in each other’s company for the first time.
Sitting between them, Dani snapped, “Right, let’s do this. Like I said, Cooper did not touch me. The man is too scared to even contemplate sex because he’s so messed up over being an accused rapist.”
“There has to be some truth in it.” Andrew sneered.
“What if you’re next, Andrew?” She was seeing this from many angles.
Her brother went from angry to furious instantly. “I don’t have to force women into anything, they are with me because they want to.”
“What if one said later that she had changed her mind? How can you prove you didn’t push her into it?”
Andrew stood, incredulous, “Because everyone I know would stand by me. I’m no rapist and I sure as fuck don’t hit women in the street. Don’t you dare heap me in with that cocksucker Graves.”
“Do you think Cooper would be that stupid after everything he’s gone through? Do you really think he would beat me up in the street with photographers just waiting to pounce? I hardly know the man, why would I protect him? If Cooper Graves had hit me, I’d be in prison for murder. You know that.” Her parents were inanimate as she added, “You all know that.”
Trisha gasped, “I do know that.”
“Bullshit!” Jacob roared. “You don’t know Cooper any more than she does.”
“But I know my daughter.” Trisha covered her eyes. “Jacob, what if it were Andrew being accused of these things?”
“It never would happen.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, think about it. Take off your parent hat and look at this logically. We would not rest until his name was cleared. Who does Cooper have? No one defended that boy.” She took a deep breath.
Dani moved to sit on the couch, leaning over to cry her eyes out again. Her father and brother watched on in horror while Trisha found a pen and paper. She studied the photo and wrote down the name of the photographer and reporter.
“This says the picture is by Fish Photography. Ever heard of them, Jacob?”
Jacob stared at his wife for a moment before hefting himself from the table and leaving, his son followed.
“Fine,” Trish quietly said before calling to Dani, “Get over here and help me. If you think you can clear his name we’re going to have to move fast.”
Dani moved to the kitchen table next to her mother. Trisha noticed her daughter was fidgety with anxiety but produced her phone to find the number for Fish Photography. She used speakerphone.
“Fish Photos, I’ll tag em you bag em.” Trisha thought this guy sounded exceptionally smug. Like a man who had just decided he loved his job.
When Dani struggled to say anything, Trisha stepped in. “Hello. My names . . . ah, Sue. Sue Smith.” She said the first name that popped into her head, cringing at her lack of imagination. “Do you do paparazzi type photos for events?”
“Whatever you need.”
“I have a function coming up with celebrities and I don’t want the magazines stealing the evidence. You know what I mean, keep it low key, release the photos myself on social media.”
“I know exactly what you mean. Very smart.”
“Do you have anything I can see to ensure your work is right for my needs?”
He gave Trisha a list of social media sites and magazines. Even gloating about his latest newspaper triumph. “It’s all over the internet.”
“Oh, wow.” Trisha watched her daughter's jaw work. “That Cooper Graves is a piece of work. You must have been terrified seeing that happen. How did you not help a girl getting beaten like that?” She shook her head at Dani who was outraged.
There was a long pause before the man said, “Look, I don’t get involved and I don’t choose what gets printed. I just take the photos and hand them over to whoever is paying me to do that job.”
Both women’s eyes widened. Had Fisher just admitted he had not come across the incident by luck? It sounded as if he was paid to follow Cooper and get anything he could on the big man. Trisha felt her resolve harden. Like Dani, she was now determined to uncover the truth. Not just for her daughter but for a broken man that had no one else to do it for him.
“Sure, sure. Can I come over now? My assistant and I need someone booked today and you might be exactly what we are looking for.”
The man was delighted and invited them right over. Giving them his address, Trisha disconnected and turned to her daughter, “This is plain old interesting.”
“What are we trying to find?” Dani asked.
“There was more than one photo. I want to see what the rest show.” She smiled at her daughter, “After that I have no idea. Go let your hair down or something. We don’t want this loser guessing you’re the woman in the photo. It’s possible he won’t notice anyway, I don’t think you were the target, that you just happened to be with Cooper.” Trisha tapped a manicured nail against her teeth, thinking hard. “Who on earth would have so much anger toward him and why?” She shrugged, “Maybe Fisher can help us out with more than just a photo.”
◆◆◆
Half an hour later Dani was squeezed into one of her mother’s white business shirts, her hair uncharacteristically loose around her shoulders and a pair of dark sunglasses covering her eyes. She felt ridicu
lous until finding a jacket that wouldn’t quite close over her boobs that were lifted high in a padded bra, the tight shirt straining to contain her usually small cleavage.
Outside a perfectly normal red brick semidetached in Richmond, Dani and her mother were relieved to find a small sign that showed they had arrived at Fish Photography. Knocking on the bright green door Dani felt a sense of calm and she smiled reassuringly at her mother who was just as absurdly dressed. Deciding not to risk being recognized as Jacob’s wife (and it was bizarre how many did recognize her) she had slipped into Dani’s jeans and t-shirt, pulling a tie through her normally elegant coif until it was a small nubbin ponytail at her neck. Dani was irritated by the tendrils that escaped making it appear her mother had just stepped from a salon.
“You are still annoyingly good-looking.” Dani grumbled.
“Thank you, its genetics. One day, you too shall have all this.” She winked then added. “Do not lose your temper, we will ask nicely for information then find the reporter, that will be who wanted the photo in the first place.”
“Maybe.” Dani conceded, “Or maybe the reporter wrote what they were told to write to fit that one photo. I want to find the rest.”
“One step at a time.” Her mother said as the door opened and Dani beamed radiantly at the young man.
Fish Finder was tall, weedy thin and no older than twenty-five with a receding hairline that didn’t appear to bother him enough to cover up. He was dressed in baggy jeans that showed off the waistband of his underwear and a short white tee that was stained. Fisher had a lot to learn about business attire. He looked Dani up and down hungrily then ushered her and her mother inside.
Dani held her hand out, “Hello, I’m Sarah Smith.”
The man shook her hand, his eyes glued to her cleavage, “I thought you said your name was Sue.” He said absently and Dani’s eyes slipped to her mother who coughed to cover her laugh. Dani was glad someone was having fun.
“That is my assistant. No realation. And what was your real name?”
Rules of her Game: A Contemporary Sports Romance Page 7