The Wedding Agreement (The Green Family Series Book 1)

by Annie Dyer

  “I’ll see about upping the budget.” Zack rubbed his face. He hadn’t slept well the night before, which wasn’t unusual, but he could do with climbing into bed in one of the unoccupied rooms—or hell, even May Pearson’s room because she didn’t move from her sofa in front of the TV—and collapsing for an hour or six. “Find out how much more she’s paying them and let me know.”

  Jez shook his head. “But then you’ll be stuck paying that rate until the job’s done. It’s not just extra cash over two weeks, you’ll end up going right over. If I were you, I’d hang on till the lass has had her work done. It’s only an extension and from what I hear it’s pretty straightforward.” He looked to where Lee was herding the alpacas, apparently turning into the animal whisperer. “How do you think those animals taste?”

  “Not as good as revenge will when I get hold of Jake.”

  Carry on reading Sleighed here!

  PENALTY KISS

  Chapter One

  Rowan

  Nothing could turn a warm, summery Mancunian morning into a shit-tastic fuckery of a mess like a nine o’clock meeting.

  With my manager. And agent. Plus, no hint of what this meeting was about, although I could guess. It wouldn’t take a genius to work out exactly which parts of the last two weeks they were pissed about, and it wasn’t the photos of me doing extra training on the beach where me and two of the lads had been on holiday.

  Oh no. There would be no pats on the back for that, or the fact I’d been had more goal assists than anyone else last season, or sold more shirts with my name on that anyone else at Manchester Athletic, including Nate Fleming, who was the team’s golden boy.

  I was about to be torn a new asshole, and then have it rammed without lube.

  Nothing good came of Monday morning meetings when you were still meant to be on holiday, enjoying a leisurely morning working out how to spend the rest of the day without being bored. A trip to the gym maybe, or a dip in the indoor pool to stretch a few muscles. Perhaps lunch somewhere given that my usual rigid diet plan was slightly less rigid with another week to go before pre-season training started. Didn’t mean I could go completely rogue with carbs and sugar, just that I was less likely to get a rollocking off Neva, our chief meal spoiler, also known as the club’s nutritionist.

  We never asked her out for team meals, or to parties, but I don’t think she cared.

  The stadium was the shining diamond in the campus Manchester Athletic’s new owners had built when they took over half a decade ago, investing money into an area that needed to be developed. It was now the place I spent most of my time.

  I nodded at Mandy, the woman who ran the reception for staff at the entrance to part of the building dedicated to offices and the business side. She didn’t like footballers, despite her job existing because of the football team, but then I didn’t think she liked most people. Still, I was never rude to her when I saw her on the few occasions I came in this part.

  The team’s manager, Guy Babin, had an office on the second floor, with a meeting room next to it. I’d been here exactly four times before: the day I came for talks about joining the team; the day I signed; two days after I scored my first hattrick for the club and after I ended up in the media being thrown out of a bar for fighting with a bloke who just happened to support our main rivals.

  That had nothing to do with what team I played for and everything to do with how he was speaking to his girlfriend. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the take the press had, especially after he sold his story to a Sunday tabloid.

  The door to the meeting room was open, Guy and my agent, sitting opposite each other, a huge, polished rosewood desk in between them. They were both laughing.

  Until they saw me come in.

  “Rowan. Good of you to be on time.”

  Only Guy Babin could make being on time sound like you were late.

  I looked at Rhys, the man I paid to have my back. He folded his arms and sat back in his chair; expression grim. He had a suit on too, which made me take a deep inhalation. A cleansing breath, something our yoga instructor would be proud of.

  Shit was about to hit the fan, and that fan was about to spread it all over me.

  I sat down next to Rhys, bracing myself, not sure what to say. There was no point going on the defensive – that would just make me sound guilty. Or more guilty than I actually was.

  “We have a problem.” Guy didn’t sit back. He didn’t look relaxed, all he did look tanned.

  I fucking hoped he hadn’t come back of his holiday to wherever it was just to deal with this.

  The door opened again, and Genevieve Williams, our Head of Player Support waltzed in, looking like she’d just stepped out of a modelling shoot. “So sorry I’m late. I had to deal with a call from the press.” She sent a look my way. Something that was obviously my fault.

  “Not an issue.”

  Clearly Guy didn’t have the same standards about tardiness with her.

  I looked at Rhys, who just shook his head, opened his mouth a few times and then closed it, as if he didn’t have the words to express how utterly I’d disappointed him.

  If we’d been elsewhere, I’d have laughed – Rhys was only a couple of years older than me. We’d played on the same football team back when we were kids in Newcastle, only he’d ended up shattering his knee coming off a skateboard, so he’d found another way to be involved in the game.

  Guy’s gaze was back on me. “Rowan, the last two days have been something of a shitshow. Since Saturday morning, I’ve had phone calls and emails asking me for comments about the story in the press, and the photos of you in the pool with the young lady have added an additional layer of difficulty. We have to look at how this situation is managed.”

  He wasn’t wrong, apart from the young lady part. There had been nothing lady-like about the girl in the pool, whose name I’d only found out when I’d seen the picture on social media, but she had been all woman.

  I didn’t smile at the memory. I wished it hadn’t happened.

  “I had no idea Jade was going to go to the press.” Which was the truth. We’d split at the end of the season when I’d gotten tired of her being so fame hungry. There were more photos of me on her Instagram than there were on mine, and the pressure from her to spend all of my free time doing stuff that involved being seen.

  “I did warn you.” Rhys always liked to say I told you so, usually with a big shit-eating grin on his ugly face, which he was managing to hide right now under the pretence of being professional.

  There was no point responding. Jade had made up a story to sell, painting herself in the light she wanted to be seen in, casting me as the villain. I’d read it at stupid o’clock morning, when I’d been woken by Rhys’ assistant telling me I had to get to the ground for this meeting. When I’d asked why, she’d told me to Google myself.

  I’d ignored the media while we were on holiday. I hired someone to manage my social media accounts, adding the odd post when it was something more personal, and even though my season had been a hundred-percenter, after ten years as a professional footballer, I’d learned not to read pundits’ opinions in the press.

  Which meant this morning had been a bit of surprise.

  “Rowan’s solicitor is involved already. We’re looking at if we can sue Ms Young. The timing of the other photos are unfortunate.” Rhys reached under the table and pinched what he could of the skin on my thigh hard, a sign to shut the fuck up.

  He was trying gloss over it.

  Guy stared at me in a way that made me feel he was analysing my soul. “You should pursue it with Ms Young and the paper. You do need to defend your image on this one, Rowan. Goals and assists aren’t going to be enough to clear up the image you now have.” His accent sounded even more French than usual. “Genevieve, where are you up to with the media?”

  Pretty green eyes looked up from the tablet in front of her. “The party line is that Rowan was single – Jade doing a tell-all has actually helped in that case – and
entitled to enjoy himself, and that he’s also entitled to his privacy.” Her eyes narrowed. “Having sex with a woman on a sun lounger in full view probably wasn’t your wisest move.”

  I rubbed my forehead. “It was a private party. I didn’t know her friend was going to take photos and post them.”

  “That’s the problem, Rowan, you can never know when someone’s going to do that. You were our record signing, you’re on our record wages. We’ve taught you to always think the worst of people who you don’t know well, or can’t be vouched for, until you know them better. You’re not stupid, but the holiday photos are damaging to your image, as is Jade’s interview. We have damage control to do.”

  I shrugged. “I take on board what you’ve said – I have shit taste in women and I didn’t make a good choice at the party.”

  Genevieve shook her head. “How can you have sex in front of other people? Never mind, you’re a footballer. Therefore, you have a whole different set of rules.”

  She was right. Money, fame and adoration were a toxic combination. When you heard fans chanting your name in the stadium, your name on banners and shirts, women making themselves available for you when you wanted you couldn’t be untouched by it. For a kid who grew up playing footy on the fields of Newcastle, whose mum couldn’t afford to buy him new boots, it was a lot.

  “I apologise on behalf of all footballers. What damage has been done?” I had the sense not to argue with her. You didn’t argue with Genevieve.

  “There’s questioning in the press whether you can handle the pressure of your price tag – but that’s been on and off since you joined us.” She checked her tablet. “A lot of backlash from fans about your behaviour on holiday – ‘you’re paid to be an example’, which you are.” She looked up at me, still glaring. “And a lot of negatively from women’s groups following on from Jade’s interview and the photographs. That’s not what you need. Or the club.”

  I took another deep breath. She was right. Manchester Athletic portrayed itself as being family friendly and a community-based club. Rory Baines, the owner, had invested not only in the campus, but the surrounding area, regenerating what had been a run down, historically industrial area of the city, only the industry wasn’t there anymore.

  “We have a few weeks until the season starts…”

  That wasn’t a sentence I was going to let Genevieve finish. “We have one week until pre-season training starts. You know how intensive that gets. Whatever you’re about to say, keep that in mind.”

  Rhys’ hand patted my back. “I’m sure Genevieve has taken all that into consideration. We all have an interest in how you’re perceived – just like your sponsors.”

  I wanted to tell Rhys that I didn’t give a shit about my sponsors, but that wasn’t true. My mum had brought me up on her own, me, my little brother, and our younger sister. My wages and the income from sponsorships made sure the life we’d lived back then was just a bad dream, and the future, especially my sister’s, was comfortable. She had severe learning difficulties and required round the clock support. While our mum was heavily involved, she couldn’t manage on her own, so the first thing my income did was provide for them.

  I swallowed again. “What’s your plan?”

  Genevieve glanced at Guy. She’d probably not had chance to run this past him yet. “There are two options. You lie low and keep out of the media, hoping it blows over, go legal with Jade. But that will take longer and after the issue with the fight last season, where we used that tactic, it’s going to leave you open to a lot more speculation and scrutiny. We’ve already had journos digging for comments on your sister, and your ex before Jade.”

  “What’s the second option?” Rhys leaned forward.

  She glanced again at Guy. “We work proactively. Get Rowan in front of the cameras but in situations that promote the image we all want him to have. I do know how intensive pre-season training can be and we won’t be looking at cutting into any of that.”

  Guy nodded. “And if you’re busy with this, you won’t have chance to get in any more trouble.”

  “What do you want me to do?”

  The look Genevieve gave Rhys did not fill me with joy.

  Order Penalty Kiss

  Thanks and all that!

  There are always a lot of people to thank when it comes to birthing a book.

  My beta readers: Laura, Lauren, Jen, Jenny, Melonie, Emily and Sarah - your time and enthusiasm is so very much appreciated.

  Eliza, my editor and long term friend, back from the days when we wrote fan fiction.

  Najla Qamber, who not only designs the covers but also keeps me organised with them and puts up with my changing my mind.

  My fellow writers - big shout out to LJ Evans for being one of the loveliest and most supportive people I know especially.

  My husband, for putting up with my lack of hygiene and interest in anything else when I wrote the majority of this book in ten days.

  And - Debbie H’s husband for telling me exactly what went in a Scotsman’s sporran so any, er, arousal, could be hidden!!

  About the Author

  Annie Dyer lives in Manchester, England. She spends her time finding ways to procrastinate from tidying up, usually through creating characters. Staple foods include chocolate, Pad Thai and whatever hasn’t gone off in the fridge.

  You can find out more about Annie’s upcoming books and the inspiration behind them through her newsletter and Facebook group, Annie’s London Lovers.

  https://www.facebook.com/groups/AnniesLondonLovers

  Visit her website to sign up for the newsletter and received access to bonus epilogues!

  https://www.writeranniedyer.com

  Also by Annie Dyer

  The Callaghan Green Series

  In Suggested Reading order (can be read as stand-alones)

  Engagement Rate

  What happens when a hook up leaves you hooked? Jackson Callaghan is the broody workaholic who isn’t looking for love until he meets his new marketing executive? Meet the Callaghans in this first-in-series, steamy office romance.

  White Knight

  If you’re in the mood for a second chance romance with an older brother’s best friend twist, then look no further. Claire Callaghan guards her heart as well as her secrets, but Killian O’Hara may just be the man to take her heart for himself.

  Compromising Agreements

  Grumpy, bossy Maxwell Callaghan meets his match in this steamy enemies-lovers story. Mistaking Victoria Davies as being a quiet secretary is only Max’s first mistake, but can she be the one to make this brooding Callaghan brother smile?

  Between Cases

  Could there be anything better than a book boyfriend who owns a bookstore? Payton Callaghan isn’t sure; although giving up relationships when she might’ve just met The One is a dilemma she’s facing in BETWEEN CASES, a meet-cute that’ll have you swooning over Owen Anders.

  Changing Spaces

  Love a best friend’s younger sister romance? Meet Eli, partner in the Callaghan Green law firm and Ava’s Callaghan’s steamy one-night stand that she just can’t seem to keep as just one night. Independent, strong-willed and intelligent, can Eli be the man Ava wants?

  Heat

  Feeling hungry? Get a taste of this single dad, hot chef romance in HEAT. Simone Wood is a restaurant owner who loves to dance, she’s just never found the right partner until her head chef Jack starts to teach her his rhythm. Problem is, someone’s not happy with Simone, and their dance could be over before they’ve learned the steps.

  Mythical Creatures

  The enigmatic Callum Callaghan heads to Africa with the only woman who came close to taming his heart, in this steamy second-chance romance. Contains a beautifully broken alpha and some divinely gorgeous scenery in this tale that will make you both cry and laugh. HEA guaranteed.

  Melted Hearts

  Hot rock star? Enemies to lovers? Fake engagement? All of these ingredients are in this Callaghan Green novel. Sophie Slat
er is a businesswoman through and through but makes a pact with the devil – also known as Liam Rossi, newly retired Rockstar – to get the property she wants - one that just happens to be in Iceland. Northern lights, a Callaghan bachelor party, and a quickly picked engagement ring are key notes in this hot springs heated romance.

  Evergreen

  Christmas wouldn’t be Christmas without any presents, and that’s what’s going to happen if Seph Callaghan doesn’t get his act together. The Callaghan clan are together for Christmas, along with a positive pregnancy test from someone and several more surprises!

  The Partnership

  Seph Callaghan finally gets his HEA in this office romance. Babies, exes and a whole lot of smoulder!

  The Green Family Series

  The Wedding Agreement

  Imogen Green doesn’t do anything without thinking it through, and that includes offering to marry her old - very attractive - school friend, Noah Soames, who needs a wedding. The only problem is, their fauxmance might not be so fake, after all…

  The Atelier Assignment

  Dealing with musty paintings is Catrin Green’s job. Dealing with a hot Lord who happens to be grumpy AF isn’t. But that’s what she’s stuck with for three months. Zeke’s daughter is the only light in her days, until she finds a way to make Zeke smile. Only this wasn’t part of the assignment.

  Manchester Athletic FC

  Penalty Kiss

  Manchester Athletic's bad boy needs taming, else his football career could be on the line. Pitched with women's football's role model pin up, he has pre-season to sort out his game - on and off the field.

  Hollywood Ball

  One night. It didn't matter who she was, or who he was, because tomorrow they'd both go back to their lives. Only hers wasn't that ordinary.