Rules of her Game: A Contemporary Sports Romance

by Karley Campbell

  “Oh, sorry.” He had to drag his gaze up to meet hers, “I’m Fisher Davies, everyone calls me the Fish Finder.”

  “Original.” Dani wanted to bang her head against a wall. This guy was fresh out of university and had yet to realize he was no longer young enough to pull off this persona. Growing up was especially painful to those leaving their best years behind them, that Fisher’s best years were university was a little sad for his future.

  “I know it’s classic and a great working name. I’ll show you my work.”

  The house was stunning and Dani wondered at the income potential from selling shitty photos. Perhaps she would go into photography instead of teaching. Just then an older woman poked her head around the corner, clearing up the mystery.

  “Is that you, Fisher?”

  “Yeah, Mum. Just got clients looking at some work.”

  “Would you like a cup of tea?” She asked, studying the two women just like her son, it was leery and Dani and Trisha looked to each other on a distasteful grimace. Neither wanted a cup of tea, although Dani could throw a scalding brew at Fish if he didn’t give her what she wanted.

  Moving further into the house, Dani was even more annoyed. She expected a clean, stark, studio, instead they were led to Fisher’s bedroom with a smelly unmade bed, dirty clothes on the floor and walls dedicated to shabby photos of celebrities. Most of them were shot from miles away and showed them doing exciting things like sitting outside a café, or in one instance hanging out some washing.

  “Wow.” Dani enthused, giving her mother a wide eyed, ‘can you believe this’ look behind the Fish’s proud back. Her mother grinned, silently acknowledging that this guy was unprofessional and incompetent.

  Her mother’s good humor faded when she noticed that Fisher was once again gazing at her daughter’s cleavage. “Do you have something recent?”

  “Sure,” Fisher enthused, “I did the New Age Woman awards last . . .”

  Trisha cut him off, “You mentioned that Cooper Graves photo from the paper and online. I would like to see those to ensure you can capture someone’s essence.”

  Dani sniffed, to hide her gasp. Her mother was good.

  “I don’t have the one that went in the paper. She takes the originals, but I copied a few for my wall. I haven’t had a chance to put them up yet. I know prints are old school but I like them the most. My printer is sick.” Sick was clearly cool.

  He reached into a drawer and pulled out a stack of glossy A4 sheets. Dani fought the urge to rip them from his bony grasp and thankfully her mother got to them first as Dani’s hands were shaking. She peered over her mother’s shoulder. The first one showed as she fell, Cooper's face stricken. He was also beside his car. Another showed just after Cooper had helped her up, Dani was leaning into him and she felt like gagging at the cheesy adoration in her eyes. A third shot showed the two of them leaning over to see what she had fallen in, clung together as if against the world.

  Trisha appeared sad proving she had been running on trust. She turned to Fisher, “These are exactly what we need. How did you get them by the way?”

  “I got asked to follow him . . .”

  Trisha interrupted, “By the newspaper?”

  “No way.” He laughed and Trisha smiled inanely, encouraging him to fess up.

  “Who then?”

  His anxious gaze returned to Dani’s cleavage, furtive glances as he swung between showing off and professional confidentiality.

  “I can’t say who pays me.”

  Trisha sighed through her fake smile, “That’s terrific, exactly what we wanted to hear. No blabbing about us meeting you either.”

  Fisher sagged, “That’s a relief. I thought you might be after something.”

  At his ongoing and longing gaze at her chest, Dani asked, “How do you follow someone like Cooper Graves? And how long are you paid for? We may need you for another job.” Dani knew Fisher thought she meant a wayward husband.

  Fisher gave up pretending and openly ogled her breasts in return. “I get paid a few days at a time, it’s not hard to find something juicy. Once I found Cooper it was easy, I saw him go into that bar, I doubted he would drink much since he’s a fitness freak and he was driving. The bar was closed anyway so he wouldn’t be long. Some kid dumped a gooey toy and the rest is history.” His grin was triumphant and both women knew he had dumped the stuff, trying to get Cooper to trip for some photos. Fisher was officially an asshole.

  Tense with anger, Dani said, “But Cooper didn’t fall, that must have been irritating. A photo of him breaking his back would have sold for a fortune.”

  “Christ, I’m not an animal.” Fisher lamely argued. “Anyway Cooper’s a big bastard and stepped past it. He was hustling so I doubt he even saw it. The girl going down like that was an unexpected bonus.” He looked up quickly, “Not that I wanted her to get hurt. I’ve got to pay my rent or my mother will kick me out.”

  Dani was shaking and her mother touched her arm, a reminder to keep calm.

  “But the story said he was beating her up.” Trisha remained non-threatening while Dani focused on the photos she had taken from her mother. Cooper’s face was distraught seeing her fallen. This whole situation was a mess.

  Fisher fixed his gaze on Dani’s cleavage again, trying to sound tired but mature, “Happens all the time. Reality and illusion don’t have much relation in the media, but if these people don’t like being in the public eye they would stay out of it.”

  “Clearly.” Trisha was dry. “I think I'm missing something here. Cooper was old news for sport nuts from the other side of the world. Your shots show he didn’t do anything anyway. Why would we care if he or some girl falls over?”

  Fisher gaped like a landed trout, unable or unwilling to reply.

  Calmer now Dani became cool professionalism, “These are terrific, exactly what we’re looking for. Can I take these to show our other partners?”

  Fisher deflated. “Sorry, I’m not supposed to have them. I agreed to give her the lot, but I like to keep my wall recent.”

  “That makes good business sense. Something similar perhaps.”

  Dani tried to keep hold of the photo’s hoping to nab them when the dweeb wasn’t looking. He snatched them away, sliding them back into the drawer. Dani was not leaving this house without them so cooed over Fish’s other crap work telling him often they were exactly what they needed. Fisher handed over a flyer with his rates that Trisha assured him were very competitive and he was a front runner for the imaginary exclusive event.

  Just as Dani thought she would explode with impotent fury, Trisha said, “I’m parched after all this celebrity talk. Any chance of that cup of tea now?”

  “Absolutely.” He waited for them to leave the room, firmly closing the door behind them. His mother emerged to pointedly asked him about dinner. Their time was up.

  Dani planned a mad dash for the room when his mother called, “Don’t forget to wash your hands before you cook.”

  “Better do as she says, then walk us to the door.” Trisha pat his arm.

  The second he was out of sight, Dani called, “My keys. I’ll meet you outside.”

  It was the work of seconds. The drawer was heaving and if she had time Dani would have made a nice pile and burned the lot, instead she grabbed the prints she wanted and slipped from the room. Only a second passed until Fish and Trisha rounded the corner. Dani tried to appear as if they had just caught her up, gratified when Fisher only ushered them out.

  At the door she turned on a genuine smile, the photos at her back, pushing her breasts out until all Fisher’s attention focused there, “Do you have a card?”

  “Sure.” He reached into a pocket and produced a bent and grubby card with his name, number and website. Trisha shook his hand while Dani strode for the car, the photos now clutched to her stomach.

  In the car she gave her mother a high five.

  Trisha asked, “How do we get these into the paper?”

  “That so old f
ashioned. I’ve got a better idea."

  Chapter Nine

  Stacey was standing at the sink, eating a sandwich and enjoying a moment of peace when someone knocked at the door.

  “Can you get that, Marcus?” She hissed, trying not to wake the baby.

  Either he didn’t hear from his office lair or he ignored her and when the knocking came again, louder this time, she raced to answer it.

  It took her a moment to register Dani and her mother. “Have you two swapped souls or something?”

  “Nothing that simple.” Dani gave her friend a quick hug, as did Trisha before chatting about the baby.

  Exhausted and still in pain from a long birth and a busy toddler, Stacey cut them off, “Why are you here?”

  Jiggling, Dani asked, “Is Marcus home?”

  This got all Stacey’s attention, “Marcus? You can’t stand him.”

  “That’s not true. I love how much he loves you and the kids. He’s a good dad and all that. I have a story for him.”

  “I’ll go get him.” Dani let out a relieved breath as Stacey entered the dungeon, whispering until she returned with her husband. His scowl deepened when he found Dani and her mother’s strange attire.

  “I’ve seen the story,” He said, “Are you hiding from Cooper Graves?”

  “What story?” Stacey asked. Marcus left the room returning with a printed copy of the article and photo.

  Stacey gasped, “Oh, my God, Dani.”

  She shook her head, “Marcus, I need your opinion, it’s connected to this.”

  As she reached for the glossy photos in her mother’s bag, Marcus said, “I knew this would happen. It’s only a matter of time before these assholes get themselves in trouble. I mean, we adore them for what they do on the field but they must learn control when they’re off it. Jesus, it’s not like they’re saving lives. It’s a fucking game that they happen to be genetically predisposed to be good at. Doesn’t give them any rights above the law or public scrutiny.”

  Dani crossed her eyes. “Before you judge him can you look at these? We stole them off a photographer called Fish Finder.”

  “Fish Finder should be renamed the pictorial whore.” He leaned over to inspect the photo’s Dani laid out on his kitchen table.

  “Wow.” Was all he said while Stacey picked one up.

  “But Cooper’s not even near you when you fell.” She picked up the published photo to compare the two.

  Dani stared at Marcus who was processing this new information, hoping his analytical mind could be exploited to Cooper’s advantage.

  Finally, after a quick glance at Trisha, he asked Dani, “I presume something is going on between you and Cooper?”

  Dani shrugged, “Not with all this. The poor guy is trying to move on from what he was accused of a few years ago then this happens. I’ve only met him and he’s ready to bolt, says it’s all happening again. I think someone is targeting him.”

  “Does he have any idea who?”

  “It’s just some reporter who likes pissing on celebrities, isn’t it?”

  “No way.” Marcus was grim, “This is someone with a grudge. The Fish Finder is a hack but he’s still worth some coin because he’ll do whatever it takes. If someone is paying him to follow Cooper all day, that’s not cheap. They must be confident if they left Fish Finder with this evidence.”

  “He was supposed to surrender them all, that was part of the deal but he has a wall of photos to show off to his friends.”

  Trisha added with distaste. “And pretty girls.”

  Marcus grimaced at Dani’s heaving cleavage, nodding in understanding. “Cooper wants to quit?” Marcus hadn’t missed a word, another reason he was so good at his job. “He’ll leave the country. Does he have another contract to coach? Can he get out of his contract with the rugby union or have they cut him loose over this?”

  “Is this professional interest or because you really care?” Dani wryly asked.

  Embarrassed, Marcus grinned, “If I help you I want payback.”

  “Like what?” Dani asked.

  Before he could reply, Stacey said, “Marcus, you will help Dani and Cooper or you’ll sleep in the spare room until you’re eighty and impotent. Got it?” The steel in her voice was surprising since Stacey was usually amiable and good natured with her husband.

  Turning to his wife, seeing she meant every word, he backed down. When it counted Stacey wasn’t laid back at all, the reason she had been Dani’s friend at school. Dani would have broken anyone meek. Stacey could never be underestimated.

  “Fine.” Marcus sounded like it was not fine at all. “What should we do?”

  Sighing in relief, Dani said, “We need to move fast because unless this gets cleared up quickly Cooper will be gone.”

  “You want this on the news, don’t you?” Marcus smiled in delight.

  “Tonight.” Dani confirmed.

  “Jesus.” Stacey and Trisha said at the same time.

  ◆◆◆

  The Growler was lovingly creating an ice-cream sundae. She deserved it for screwing over Cooper Graves. Now Michelle would have to return that awful evidence.

  The television was white noise in the background and she froze when a familiar face flashed on screen. By the time it had registered fully the story was over so forgoing her calorie laden treat she opened her laptop, searching for anything new on Fisher Davies. When she found it her mouth went dry in horror. She clicked on the interview of Fisher outside his mother’s house, stunned by the media spotlight. The story progressed to a full screen shot of the Cooper Graves photo that had been published. The photo Birgetta had delightedly paid for.

  She adjusted the sound as sports presenter Marcus Gold spoke of uncovering a long-running conspiracy against Cooper. A new photo of Dani Maxwell lying on the ground clearly showed Cooper by his car, then another of him helping her up. Two new pictures that destroyed the one that came before it.

  The shrill noise of her mobile phone cut the air. Birgetta had agonized over her ring tone, wanting something classy. Right now she wanted to throw the phone across the room. She knew who was calling and whimpered at what this might do to her plans to get that evidence back.

  Before she could mutter a greeting, Michelle was yelling, “You said that Fisher was professional and trustworthy!”

  “I’ve never had problems with him before.” The Growler mumbled. “Anyway, it was you that found him in the first place. You said he was perfect.”

  “What else has he ferreted away?” Michelle growled, her accent which Birgetta normally found exotic now terrifying.

  “Nothing.”

  “Can you guarantee it?”

  “Sure.” She couldn’t hide her uncertainty and the other end of the line erupted into a litany of foul language.

  Eventually, Michelle said, “I suggest you find out how Marcus Gold got this information and you get something more incriminating on Cooper Graves. If he is vindicated I will be extremely upset and you will never know what I’m likely to do.”

  The sound of a deadline filled Birgetta’s ear and she slowly placed her phone beside her. She felt sick with worry and robotically walked to the toilet and threw up, grateful she hadn’t bothered with her sundae. She had so much work to do. Protecting her family was more important than anything and she had devoted too much of her life to turn back now. It was either her or Cooper and she was determined to win.

  She got dressed and went in search of Fisher’s house. She needed to get the idiot boy alone to discover how he had gifted Cooper Graves a public pardon and how they would work together to restore both of their professional reputations.

  ◆◆◆

  Cooper should have been packing but just couldn’t summon the energy and had instead watched movie after movie. Noise and lights outside and banging on his door made it obvious something major was going on.

  Uninterested in answering questions about Dani Maxwell and expecting the police, he closed his curtains, grateful that by the weekend he
would be gone. He could cope with a few days under siege, it had happened before and he had survived. So long as he stuck to himself and kept quiet he would be fine. At least this time he had no memory loss. If he was accused of anything he would fight to the highest court.

  He forgot the world outside and after eating he double checked his doors and went to bed, quickly falling asleep. Being hated again was comforting, fate was having its revenge for his initial escape to France.

  At some stage during the night he came awake with a start. Something was different, he could sense it in the air, a draught that shouldn’t be there. Silently sliding from his warm bed he moved to the bedroom door, peering down the small hallway as a shadowy figure moved. Figuring it was a reporter Cooper was furious. Should he call the cops? Whoever it was had broken into his home but that didn’t mean much, Cooper was always in the wrong.

  Whoever it was tripped on a groan and Cooper moved like liquid. He was in the room with the intruder in moments, his eyes adjusted enough to see a figure awkwardly extracting itself from his sofa.

  Holding his breath Cooper slipped a thick arm around an unsuspecting neck. “Looking for me?” He dragged the figure backward, flicking on a light.

  The hair was familiar and soft and Cooper pushed Dani away in horror.

  She rubbed her neck, smiling like there was nothing wrong. “Hi, sorry to barge in. Why didn’t you open your door? I thought something had happened to you.”

  Cooper just stared at her as if she had risen from the dead. In a way she had, he had been refusing to think of Dani Maxwell He wasn’t supposed to see her again. Yet here she was, once again as if she had every right to be where she wanted.

  “What do you doing here?" He snapped.

  “I wanted to see you, duh.”

  “I thought we agreed this was over.” He growled.

  Dani rolled her eyes. “My father’s not here to punch you in the balls. I thought you’d be happy to see me after what’s happened. I forgot you’re a difficult prick.”

  Shaking his head, confounded, he asked, “You broke in at midnight to tell me I should be happy to see you without Jacob, and to call me names?”