“You sound like a man in love already.”
“Maybe I am, Rhys,” Tommy said wistfully. “Maybe I am.”
Chapter Two
Minnie stayed close to Emmaline and Lily as they weaved their way through the tavern patrons to the table where the Manchester Central players always convened.
“It seems we’ve beaten the men here,” Emmaline said as she took a seat at one end, Lily and Minnie sitting across from her. “How did you escape your parents, Min?”
“Now that you are both respectable, married women, it seems that you are proper chaperones.”
“I never thought I would see the day whenIwas a proper chaperone,” Emmaline laughed. “Lily, perhaps.”
Colin hadn’t been far behind them, having accompanied them in the carriage that he and Lily had been gifted from Lily’s father, Lord Harcourt. He had been waylaid outside the tavern by those who had recognized him and been quick to offer their congratulations.
“I’m glad you could join us,” Colin said as he took a seat somewhat gingerly, having taken a hard fall on a hip during the game. He looked behind him quickly before returning hisgaze to them with a mischievous grin. “And I’m not the only one who is pleased about it.”
“No?” Emmaline said, lifting a brow. “Let me guess. A certain Tommy Ward is eager to see Minnie?”
“Why, Emmaline, how did you ever guess? Perhaps because Tommy has been interested in Minnie ever since you brought her out with the team as your pretend companion?” Colin said with a laugh as Rhys walked in and joined them, sitting beside his wife and drawing her close, placing a kiss on her neck. He was one of the most formidable looking men Minnie had ever seen — that was, until he came close to Emmaline, and then he turned into the softest lamb.
“Rhys is still annoyed about that?”
“I know you’re angry that he would be interested in a teammate’s woman, but surely we can let that go, considering it was all a ruse,” Emmaline said, leaning her head into Rhys, and he sighed.
“I suppose,” he agreed with a shrug, which was likely the most he would ever say about it, considering how little the man ever spoke.
“I must say,” Minnie said, changing the subject, “your game today was rather tame.”
“Tame?” Rhys repeated, his brows lifting in question.
“Considering the outcome the last few times you played the Athletics, I was expecting a brawl or vendetta of some sort. At least some words to be had.”
“Their captain, Harrington, is actually not a bad sort,” Colin said with a shrug. “Now that Reeves is gone, the Athletics seem to be more subdued.”
“Thank goodness for that,” Emmaline said, as Minnie’s gaze swung toward the opening tavern door.
It wasn’t the first time patrons had entered since they’d arrived. In fact, players and fans alike had been making their way from the football match to the tavern.
But somehow, this time, Minnie knew.
She stared through all the people seated at the tables and standing between them.
And instantly locked upon him.
His green eyes were focused on hers, glinting with mischief as he stared her down, his footsteps heading toward her, prowling like a panther.
His lips tugged up into a smile, a deep dimple appearing on each cheek, as though he was lucky to have found her there, having captured her in his nest.
Minnie couldn’t look away.
He wasn’t as classically handsome as Colin or even Rhys, but he had a mischievous look to him that made something deep inside her twinge with a restless need to know more, to discover what was hiding beneath that mysterious exterior.
His sandy hair curled around his head, sticking up almost like a halo, although Minnie knew he was far from an angel.
“Be careful, Min,” Lily murmured in warning. “We love Tommy, but that smile has charmed more women than Tommy himself would likely ever admit.”
Minnie nodded in recognition of Lily’s words, even though she had no wish to believe them, as her heart rate picked up when the man closed in toward her.
