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I was more than a job title and a degree. A game of rugby was exactly what I needed to let off steam.
I blew on my hands and ran on the spot. A small crowd cheered us from the sideline. Stacey waved before a woman beside her grabbed her arm to show her something on her phone. Ryan glared my way again. Seriously, what was with this guy?
I inhaled sharply, ignoring Ryan, and introduced myself to the team just before the coach blew his whistle to start training.
We did some drills and passes, and then split up for a rough but fun game. Ryan managed to land an elbow to my upper thigh during a scrum. I was positive it wasn’t an accident. Everyone shook hands at the end with promises to have drinks after the Saturday game with the Stanmore Miners.
Stacey offered the team orange slices and her smile was brighter than the lights on the field. Every knock, bruise and cut were worth it for her smile.
She introduced me to Sam, her best friend, and the keeper of Stacey’s, and my, one-night stand secret.
“Nice to meet you, Hot Doc.” Sam grinned like the Cheshire cat. “I’ll be sure to get some photos of you on Saturday.” Stacey slapped her arm and Sam laughed. “For the local paper.”
“You’re a journo?”
“Nah, I’m the sports photographer for the local rag, the Stanmore Star. Hey, gotta run. Have to sort out ladies’ soccer game times for the weekend.”
The ladies’ soccer team took to the field while locals watched and chatted on the sidelines with the footy players. I met more people, watched business deals being haggled, social catch ups being arranged, and events planned. I finally got a moment to myself and sought out Stacey. She was with Sam as several of the players approached them.
One of the Wombats players was undressing Stacey with his eyes. My jaw muscles popped and my grip on my water bottle tightened. I’d missed his name at warm-up. He then noticed me and smirked, threw his sports bag over his shoulder, and strode over with a backward glance at Stacey.
“Harry, right? I’m Doug.” He stuck out his hand, his grin all teeth. “Stacey’s a great girl.”
I took a large swig from my water bottle before answering. “I’ve found Stacey to be amazing. She’s a talented, kind and smart woman.”
Doug sniggered—actuallysniggered—and dropped his hand, sizing me up.
“Yeah, she is. I guess.” He looked over my shoulder, avoiding eye contact. “Got issues though. Lots of issues.”
“Why are you telling me this, Doug?”
“Giving the new guy in town fair warning, you know? Bros before hos?”
Anger flared in my gut. I stepped into his personal space. “Let me be clear about something, Doug. Do not ever refer to Stacey Turner as a ho ever again. Not just in my presence. I mean it: never say that again in front of anyone, including yourself when you’re alone. Do you understand me?”
“Hey Doug, hurry up!” A guy waved at him out of the driver’s door of a white ute. Doug gave him a chin-tip and then met my gaze.
For a moment I thought he was going to take a swing at me.
“Just a phrase, man,” he shrugged, stepping back. “Trying to be helpful.”
Doug walked around me to his waiting friend.
I took several deep breaths to quell my rage.Jesus, what the hell had that been about?I paced, staring at the grass, trying to get myself together.
“Hey, good training tonight.”
I jumped. It was Stacey. Behind her, Ryan shot me a dark look. For a nano-second, I understood why he behaved like he did over Stacey. If he was fending off guys like Doug all the time …
“Hey.” I managed a tight smile. “It was fun.”
“You okay?”
I shrugged. “It’s nothing.”
“Did Doug say something?”
I paused. What if Stacey liked the guy? What if he was trying to scare me off so he’d have Stacey to himself?
