The Beautiful Game (Man of the Match Book 1)

by A. Meredith Walters

  And from the way he made me scream, that was a lot.

  “Morgan, hang on a second,” Lucas grabbed my hand and pulled me back from Craig’s front door.

  “What is it?” I asked. Lucas seemed tense now that we were here. Something was bothering him.

  “It’s about Marla. She’ll try to say things to cause issues. She’ll make insinuations. She’s completely inappropriate and I don’t want you to think that there’s anything to the stuff she says.” Lucas was rambling. Was he nervous? Why would he be nervous?

  I frowned. “What sort of stuff would she say, Lucas?”

  Lucas opened his mouth but then the door opened. I recognized Marla right away. She was wearing a skirt that barely covered her lady bits and a tight fitting blouse that left no room for the imagination. Her red hair was piled high on top of her head. She looked stunning.

  “There you are. I thought I saw the two of you out here. You’re late, Luke,” she scolded, looping her arm with his and pulling him into the house. He held onto my hand, dragging me along with him.

  I had the most overwhelming desire to hightail it out of there. Marla barely spared me a glance as she led Lucas down the hallway. She held Lucas’ arm in an almost territorial grip. What was her deal? I thought she was married.

  “Everyone’s already sitting in the dining room. You missed cocktails,” Marla was saying. I was too busy staring at her house. It was huge of course, but it looked like a fashion magazine threw up everywhere. It was trying to be stylish but failing miserably. It was the home of someone with no real sense of individual taste. It was trying too hard.

  Just like Marla and her tiny, tiny skirt and bright red nails fixed to Lucas’ arm.

  “Can you let go of my arm, Marla,” Lucas said with betraying calm.

  “I’m so sorry. I’m holding you too tight. I just can’t help myself,” Marla giggled finally taking her hands off my man.

  That’s right. He was my man.

  Lucas put his arm around my waist and leaned down to kiss me. I turned into him and kissed him harder than he expected.

  Perhaps I was making a point.

  Yeah. I was definitely making a point.

  I was letting Marla big boobs Denham know who this man belonged to.

  I swept my tongue into his mouth and deepened the kiss, my arms going up around his neck. I went up on my tiptoes and pressed myself against the length of him. I moaned softly and he held me tighter.

  Finally I broke away, both of us slightly dazed.

  “Wow, that was nice,” Lucas smirked.

  I licked my lips and smiled. Then I turned back to Marla who looked as though she had sucked on a lemon. “So sorry, sometimes we get a little carried away.” I took Lucas’ hand. “Carry on.”

  I was being petty and jealous and slightly ridiculous. But I couldn’t help it. Women like Marla brought out the catty bitch in me.

  Marla turned on her heel and flounced off down the long, cavernous hallway.

  “I think you made your point, love,” Lucas chuckled.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Then I laughed. I wasn’t fooling him in the slightest.

  We entered a large dining room full of people. At least forty. There were wait staff bustling around bringing drinks, laying food on the table. Couches lined the wall and several people were lounging, drinking beers. It was a raucous affair. Lots of laughter. Lots of booze.

  “There’s the man himself!” Alan yelled as soon as we entered. All eyes were on us in an instant. Being with Lucas had forced me to slowly get used to being the center of attention, but the instant cease in conversation was unnerving.

  I recognized a lot of the men as Chester players. Some of which I had seen in the locker room after the first game I had attended. There were also a lot of scantily clad women. I might as well be dressed in a snowsuit.

  Several of the guys approached us immediately. I noted that the women hung back, eyeing me in an openly disapproving way. What was their problem? They didn’t even know me.

  “Everyone, this is Morgan, Lucas’ friend,” Marla announced to the room. No one missed the emphasis she put on the word ‘friend.’

  Alan gave me a hug. “It’s great to see you, Morgan.”

  “You too, Alan,” I said sincerely. I liked Alan. He was loud and crude and completely over the top at times, but he was a good person. And I was pretty sure he was in love with Lucas’ sister. He had no idea I had seen him with Anna all those weeks ago. Nothing was ever mentioned to Lucas about their obvious relationship. They continued to banter and act, for all intents and purposes, normal. But I saw the way Alan looked at Anna. How his eyes followed her every movement. Though I wasn’t so sure she felt the same way. She was almost dismissive of him and I could see how much it hurt Alan’s feelings, no matter how he tried to hide it.

  “Morgan, I’m so glad you could make it. I’ve been after Bradley to bring you by for weeks now. I’m Craig Denham. I believe you already met my wife Marla.” The tall man with an easy, friendly smile, and beautiful hazel eyes kissed my cheek in that European way that I was never quite sure how to reciprocate.

  “Thank you for inviting me.”

  “What can I get you to drink?” Craig asked.

  “A glass of wine would be great,” I told him. Maybe alcohol would take away my nerves.

  Craig went to get me my drink and I was surrounded by a group of Lucas’ teammates.

  “I can see why Lucas has been keeping you hidden away,” said a man with a dazzling smile and a face almost too lovely to look. He was invading my personal space a bit so I took a step back. He leaned in to kiss my cheek. “I’m Nolan Dubois. I’m sure Lucas has warned you about me already.”

  Lucas’s hand tightened in mine. “Why would I warn her? You’re not really worth talking about, Frenchie.” His smile was more a bearing of teeth. It was obvious there was no love lost between the two.

  Nolan’s eyes turned frosty. “You’re full of compliments as always. So have you made a decision about Liverpool yet? I hear they’ve sweetened the pot.” Lucas was cutting off the circulation to my fingers in his effort to rein in his temper.

  “And where did you get your information?” Lucas asked, sounding blasé and unaffected by Nolan’s obvious dig. If it weren’t for my numb fingers I wouldn’t have known he was bothered at all.

  “Around. It’s amazing the things you hear and see when you pay attention.” I thought the Frenchman flicked his gaze to Marla Denham, but I couldn’t be entirely sure.

  “Lucas, introduce me already,” a man with a strong Irish accent cut in.

  “I hope we can talk again soon, Morgan,” Nolan said close to my ear. What was this guy playing at?

  “You can go away now, Frenchie,” Lucas warned, watching as his teammate walked away. Then he turned back to a man with red hair and freckles all over his face. “Shane, this is Morgan, Morgan this is Shane Given, a right twat.”

  It seemed insulting each other was a form of affection among the Chester team. Every guy I met was introduced as a knob or a tosser or a wanker.

  I met Claudio Pacetti, the goalkeeper whose autograph Phil had wanted me to get. I met Finn Skov, the Danish right back who was almost five years older than most of the guys on the team. He was at the end of his career and was apparently enjoying resurgence under their new manager. Finn, in his heavily accented English, told me all about how he played for Denmark in the World Cup and had scored three goals. Lucas rescued me after twenty minutes.

  I met Rhys Hughes and Bruno—no last name— both were friendly and warm and made me laugh with stories about Lucas’ mishaps on the pitch.

  There was Nick Dodd and Stefan Maes who were a bit more reserved but clearly looked up to Lucas. He was the undisputed leader of the squad. And he it was obvious he deserved their admiration. Apart from Nolan, who was a bit of a sleaze, he treated everyone the same—with total respect.

  Then there were the women. Not one approached me the entire time. I w
as seated next to Fiona at dinner. I remembered she was engaged to George Fletcher. After saying a chilly hello, she never spoke to me again. And that was the way with all of the females in the room.

  It seemed Marla had passed judgment on me and they all followed suit. Because for some reason it was obvious Mrs. Denham hated me.

  And I had a damn good idea why.

  “Lucas, can you come here for a minute and help me get some more wine glasses from the kitchen?” Marla asked after our plates had been cleared for dessert.

  “Can’t one of your staff do that?” Lucas asked.

  “Give her a hand, mate,” Craig said. “She says I’m too clumsy with the glassware.”

  “That’s because you break a wine glass every time you use one,” Marla giggled, kissing her husband on the cheek.

  “I don’t want to leave Morgan,” Lucas protested.

  “I’ll keep her company,” Craig offered.

  Lucas seemed bothered. He didn’t want to go with Marla. That was apparent. But why?

  “Okay then.” Lucas kissed me. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

  Craig took Lucas’ vacated seat.

  “I’m really glad you and Lucas have gotten together. He’s a good man. He doesn’t always think so, but he is.” Craig’s affection for Lucas was clear in his voice.

  “You two are close aren’t you?” I asked.

  “He’s had my back since day one. There’s nothing I wouldn’t do for him and vice versa,” Craig stated with absolute certainty.

  “You guys seem like a big family. I didn’t expect a team to be like that,” I told him.

  Craig looked around the room at the people assembled. “We are like a family. A dysfunctional family, but a family nonetheless.” He gave me a sweet smile. “And I hope we can count you as part of that family now.”

  “Oh I don’t know. Lucas and I aren’t that serious,” I protested.

  Craig put his hand on top of mine. “He wouldn’t have brought you here if he wasn’t serious about you. Just be patient with him. He can be a frustrating sod, but his heart is in the right place.”

  Ten minutes had passed since Lucas and Marla had left the room. “Can you tell me where your bathroom is?” I asked Craig. He pointed to a door just outside the dining room.

  I thanked him and got up. But I didn’t go to the bathroom. I wandered around until I found the kitchen. It was empty.

  I had a sinking in my gut.

  Where were they?

  Then I heard rustling. Something fell to the floor. I followed the noise to a partly closed door. I pushed it open and I forgot how to breathe.

  Marla had Lucas pressed against a line of shelves. His head was turned away from her but her hands were on his face. In his hair. There was lipstick on his chin. And there was a familiarity in the way she touched him. She had done this before.

  “Are you kidding me?” I laughed bitterly.

  Lucas looked stricken. “Morgan, this isn’t what it looks like.” He shoved Marla out of the way and tried to reach for me but I backed up.

  Marla wiped her mouth and straightened her clothes. “Hi, Morgan,” she said, flipping her hair behind her back.

  “You have lipstick on your face,” I told Lucas, pointing to his chin. I sounded so, so cold. He wouldn’t know how my heart was breaking.

  “Fucking hell, tell her I didn’t do anything, Marla. This bitch never gives up. She launched herself at me. I swear to God, Morgan. I told you, there’s no one else. You said you believe me,” Lucas pleaded. He tried to grab my hand but I evaded him.

  Marla didn’t say anything. She looked from me to Lucas, her eyes hard. Then she stomped out of the room.

  “I want to leave. Now,” I told him, crossing my arms over my chest.

  “Morgan, please,” he cried, his eyes bright. “Nothing happened. I’m telling you the truth. I can’t stand that slag. I don’t see what Craig sees in her.”

  “Poor Craig. He was just telling me how you always have his back. He has no idea you’re messing around with his wife behind his back. You’ve made a fool of Craig and me. Now take me home.”

  “No,” Lucas replied.

  “Fine, I’ll call a cab.” I turned to leave the kitchen and he grabbed my arm. “Let go of me right now.”

  “No,” he repeated. He wrapped his arms around me and I fought against him. “No, I won’t let you go. Not now. Not ever, Morgan.” His voice was so soft, so tender, that if I hadn’t just seen him in the arms of another woman, I would have been weak in the knees.

  “I knew better than to give my heart to a soccer player. I read the articles. I knew what kind of man you were, but I didn’t listen to my instincts. I feel like such an idiot.” Tears started to build but I refused to let them fall. There was no way I’d let Lucas see me cry.

  “Listen to me, Morgan, Marla and I slept together—”

  “You asshole!” I screeched, beating my fists against his chest. “If you don’t let me go I’ll knee you in the junk then you won’t be using it for a good long time, you slut!”

  “Morgan, calm the fuck down and let me speak.”

  “Why should I, you dickhead?”

  “Because I fucking love you and I don’t want you thinking the worst of me. Everyone thinks the worst of me. But not you! Never you!” he shouted.

  I stopped struggling. “Don’t you dare. You’re not allowed to say that. Not now.”

  He cupped my cheeks and held me still, so I had nowhere to look but in his eyes. They were wet. Was he crying?

  I didn’t care. Let him sob.

  Faithless jerk.

  “I slept with Marla a long time ago. I was drunk. I was new to the team. I made a bad decision that I have regretted every day since. I was an awful person. I did awful things to people I cared about. Until I met you. You’ve changed me, Morgan Carter. You’ve made me a better man. Because I want to be everything you deserve.” He rubbed my skin with his thumbs. “Don’t you understand? I can’t even look at anyone else because you’re all I see. I love you.” He kissed my unyielding lips. “I love you,” he whispered, his voice cracking.

  “Does Craig know about you and Marla?” I asked him. I’d table the declaration of love for the moment. I wasn’t ready to forgive him.

  Not yet.

  Lucas looked ashamed. “No. He doesn’t. I’ve wanted to tell him a hundred times but I haven’t been able to bring myself to do it.”

  “Don’t you think he has a right to know what kind of woman he’s married to? What sort of friend are you?”

  “The worst kind,” he answered sadly. “I’m a coward. I didn’t want Craig to hate me. Even if that’s exactly what I deserve.”

  “You need to tell him, Lucas. Craig seems like a decent guy. He deserves better than Marla, that’s for sure. If you want to be better, then do better.” Lucas nodded.

  “You’re right. I will tell him. But I can’t during the season. It will mess up his game. It will screw up the team—”

  “And that’s more important than being honest?” I asked.

  “No. It’s not.” His voice broke and he let me go. “I’ll tell him soon, Morgan. I promise.”

  “Good.” I wiped away tears I hadn’t realized were falling. “I’d like you take me home now, Lucas.”

  “You’re going to leave me aren’t you?” His eyes were frightened. I hadn’t realized the power I had over him. The power to break him. It was a heady sensation. But it brought me no pleasure.

  Because I loved him.

  “Please don’t leave me, Morgan.” He sounded so, so sad.

  My shoulders sagged and I felt my anger seep out of me. “I’m not going to leave you, Lucas. I couldn’t even if I wanted to. My heart won’t let me.”

  “Why?” he asked. I could see the hope there.

  “Because I love you too,” I admitted, giving him the words he so freely gave to me.

  “Say it again,” he begged.

  “I love you.”

  He pulled me to him and
kissed me. “I’m so sorry you had to see that. I’m sorry, Morgan. I’m sorry.”

  I could taste the salt of our tears on his lips. Mingled together.

  “I love you.” It became his chant. He said it over and over.

  “I love you too,” I told him.

  It was true.

  Love couldn’t solve all of our problems. But it was a good place to start.

  Lucas

  “You need to get out of bed with your girlfriend and get to the stadium before Jack comes over there personally,” Alan warned.

  “I’m not in bed with Morgan,” I lied. Morgan giggled and I shushed her.

  “You’re a fucking liar, but I don’t blame you. I’d rather be balls deep in that pretty American girl than be around a bunch of sweaty men, but we have a match this afternoon. You know how the gaf is on game day.”

  Morgan was snuggled into my side. I never thought I’d be content to only sleep with one woman. I never thought I’d find myself thinking of her when we weren’t together. Imagining when I’d get to see her again.

  I never thought I would let her into every corner of my life.

  But I had never had a Morgan Carter in my life before.

  “I’ll be there in twenty. Keep your knickers on.” I hung up the phone and pulled Morgan on top of me.

  “You need to get showered and dressed,” she reminded me as I started kissing her again.

  “What I need is to kiss you some more.”

  After our meltdown at Craig’s I had felt a bit like a fool. I had ripped myself open for her, letting her see all of me. I had been terrified she’d turn around and walk away.

  I had never been scared to lose a woman before.

  Not until Morgan.

  But something changed that night.

  I told her I loved her.

  She told me she loved me.

  Now here we were and I couldn’t help myself from being freaked out.

  Because love was a ticking time bomb, ready to detonate at any moment and blow your whole world apart. Sometimes I could barely breathe as I waited for it to annihilate me. But god, how I wanted the destruction.