One Last Chance: A Sports Romance

by J. A. Collard

“Brother… I’m not your brother,” I reply, but then shut my mouth when I see the glare on Tracker’s face. He’s scary as hell, and I’d hate to get on his bad side. But I can’t leave without talking to Chloe, so I take a deep breath and try to get my temper under check.

  “Stop it,” Chloe states, then looks at me.

  In the background, I make out Megan who’s also in the room.

  “So, I’m guessing you’re not coming out with me to dinner?”

  “Dinner? Of course, we were just about to head out. Why don’t you join us, Domenic? Hi, by the way.” Sophia waves her hand, and I give her a curt nod, but then say, “Nice to see you, Soph. Sorry about all this,” I explain. “I just want a word with Chloe.”

  Not knowing what the look on Sophia’s face means, she lights up with a large smile, then nudges Chloe. Chloe glares at her.

  Then Tracker states, “Babe, I’ve had a long ride, can we go and get some grub?”

  Babe? He looked at Sophia when he said that.

  Feeling a sense of relief that he’s not here for Chloe, I reply, “I’d love to join you all for dinner.”

  Chloe rolls her eyes, then turns around and heads into her room.

  Giving Tracker my attention, I ask, “May I come in now?”

  Tracker smiles, his green eyes now look less intimidating.

  “Sure, man. Come on in. I’m Tracker, by the way.” He places his hand out for me to shake, and I accept it and introduce myself, “Domenic.”

  “I know who you are, brother. You’re the quarterback for Vixen Rapids. Good to meet you.”

  “Thanks.”

  “You gotta game tomorrow, don’t you?”

  Nodding and stepping further into the room, I place my hands in my pockets, looking around the room for Chloe. When I see her pulling on a jacket over her hot-as-hell black dress that ends just above her knees, showing off her beautiful slim legs, my stomach does somersaults. I wish to hell it was just Chloe and me tonight, but if it’s with the group of us, I’ll take it. Right now, I’ll do anything to be with her.

  “Dom, you hear me, brother?”

  This guy sure likes to use the word brother, and he doesn’t even know me. I guess it’s a biker thing?

  “Yeah… I’m playing tomorrow.”

  Tracker taps me on the back. “Good luck. I’d love to see that game.”

  “If you want to come to the game, I’ll see if I can get you tickets.”

  Tracker’s eyes light up. “Really? Thanks. Babe, you wanna go see a game with me?”

  Sophia leans into him in an intimate gesture, then faces him fully. “I thought you and I were gonna spend some time alone tomorrow?”

  Tracker places his hands around Sophia, bringing her in closer to him, and he kisses her on the lips, saying, “Oh, we will, don’t you worry about that.”

  My eyes travel to Chloe, who’s looking at me, but then quickly averts her eyes when I catch her staring.

  “Brother, can you get two tickets? Wanna bring Soph with me. I don’t get to see her much, so I’d appreciate it if you can get an extra ticket.”

  Raising my palm and wave, I say, “Sure, no problem.” I quickly type a text to Coach and ask him to get three tickets for tomorrow’s game, one for Chloe in case she forgives me by tonight.

  He responds immediately and texts, “On it.”

  Tracker kisses Sophia, but this time the kiss turns hungry, and it makes me feel a little uncomfortable as if I’m intruding on their privacy.

  “Shall we?” Chloe interrupts as she nudges Megan, whose eyes are glued to the couple.

  Chloe brushes past me and opens the door once again. Megan follows her and then Sophia.

  Tracker steps closer and taps me on the back, saying, “You got a lot of making up to do. We heard the whole story when we got here. Brother, you’ve got your hands full with that one.” His eyes flick to Chloe.

  He laughs, and I laugh as well, “Oh, don’t I know it.”

  Tracker cocks his head to the side. “You serious about her?”

  I raise an eyebrow. Is this scary biker seriously having a heart-to-heart with me right now?

  Nodding, I let out a sigh. “Yeah, dead serious. I love her,” I admit.

  Tracker lets out a whistle. “Fuck, man, you used the L-word. You’re definitely a goner. You got a huge night ahead. But remember, you have the big game tomorrow, no pussy should interfere with you getting a touchdown, you hear me?”

  I laugh. His use of words is so straight forward, and I like it.

  Then I wonder how in hell Sophia met him.

  CHLOE

  Present

  How did I get myself into this? When Sophia and Megan turned up tonight with Tracker, I was shocked. She said she had a surprise for me, but I never thought it would be a man—a hot-as-hell man, for that matter. I can certainly see what the attraction is. He screams sexy and belonging to a biker club only adds to his appeal.

  Tracker had surprised Sophia by turning up at her work and forcing her to finish early. She had no idea he was riding down to see her and to spend the whole weekend. I’m glad she’s happy, though. Seeing Sophia who’s blonde with blue eyes and petite, next to a dark, green-eyed and black-haired biker may look odd, but you would have to be blind to not see the love and attraction they have for each other. Something I wanted so desperately to have with Domenic.

  Domenic, who surprised me by coming over tonight.

  I thought I was clear when I ran out on him today and didn’t answer his calls. I need some space away from him, but it seems he won’t give it to me.

  Now here we are all seated in Sophia’s car with Tracker driving. Sophia sits beside Tracker, and Domenic is with Megan and me in the back. I refuse to sit next to Domenic, so poor Megan was forced to sit between us. But with Domenic’s wide shoulders, he’s had to lay his arm along the back of the seat. Luckily for me, Megan is a chatterbox, so the whole drive to the restaurant we heard about Megan’s day and how she couldn’t wait to close her shop tonight.

  Now and then, I feel Domenic’s eyes on me, his hand playing with my hair. I tried to slide closer to the door, but there’s no space to do that, so I simply had to put up with his fingers on me.

  Sighing in relief when Sophia announces we’ve arrived at the restaurant, I’m famished. Other than half a sandwich at the photo shoot today, I didn’t get to have a proper lunch. But with what went down with Cassandra, food just didn’t appeal to me, even if my stomach thinks otherwise.

  Walking up to the entrance of Loreto’s Restaurant, Sophia gives her name to the attendant who’s standing behind a desk at the front.

  The attendant leads us to our table, and Sophia explains that we need an extra two seats. Just when I’m about to sit next to Megan, Domenic whispers in her ear, and Megan smiles and moves around to a seat next to Sophia.

  Domenic pulls my chair out for me, and even though I feel like saying, ‘No, thank you,” I take a seat, not wanting to draw any attention to us.

  “Oh my God, you’re Domenic Reed. Can I please get your autograph?”

  Two women who spotted Domenic are standing next to him with a pen and napkin in their hand.

  “Sorry, I don’t have any paper. Would you mind sighing this for me?” the brunette asks.

  Domenic smiles. “Sure. What’s your name?”

  “It’s Daniel, and I’m Sarah,” the other lady says, whose eyes are adoring him.

  I am trying to ignore the way they are flirting with Domenic, but it’s so hard when they’re in your face and cooing all over him like this.

  The waiter hands us some menus, and I immediately check the wine list. I’m definitely going to need some alcohol to get me through tonight.

  “Wine anyone?” I ask, trying to ignore Domenic, who’s saying goodbye to the girls.

  “Good luck with your game tomorrow,” the brunette one adds.

  I sigh, trying to control my impatience.

  Is this how it is whenever he’s out?

  Tracker,
who had his eyes on Domenic and the girls, asks, “Whoa, brother, you are like a king in this town. You must get lots of pussy.”

  “Tracker!” Sophia states, nudging him.

  “What did I say, baby?” Tracker looks at Sophia, confused. She must say something about me because then Tracker looks over with a sympathetic look. “Yo, sorry, Chloe, didn’t mean no disrespect or anything.”

  I wave my hand. “No, none taken. Domenic is free to have sex with whoever he wants,” I explain matter-of-factly, trying to hide my true feelings that I am jealous as hell.

  Domenic turns to me, his jaw tense. I know I have upset him. I know I’m playing with fire, but the words I’ve spoken are true—he doesn’t belong to me.

  Clearing my throat, I reply to the waitress that’s just arrived at the table. “I’ll have a glass of Pinot Noir, and I’ll have the fish, please. The others give the waitress their order, then Domenic asks Tracker how he and Sophia met. I’m glad for this conversation, especially considering it’s not based around Domenic and me.

  Listening to their story, I start to drink my wine once the waitress places it in front of me.

  Tracker kisses Sophia now and then and squeezes her hand as he describes in detail the day he met Sophia.

  Domenic sits there listening, his eyes now and then glancing my way. The subject turns to Tracker’s biker club, and I have to say I’m intrigued at his story and how he became part of the club. He describes how he was an FBI agent, and how he was searching for his brother, Tate, who up and left one day without a word. He knew he had joined a biker club, so he traveled around trying to find him by visiting biker clubs and where they hung out. That’s when he bumped into the Blood Brothers’ club and explained how they were like a family, and he wanted to be a part of that life. So, one day he left his old life behind to become one of their members.

  “That’s an unbelievable story,” I state. “How about your brother? Did you end up finding him?”

  Tracker smiles at the mention of his brother and nods. “Yeah, I found him. My brothers helped me locate him. He’s now the president of his own club out in Vegas.”

  “This all sounds so adventurous.”

  Sophia smiles at me, then looks at Tracker. “It does, doesn’t it? I’m so glad his search brought him to Vixen Falls that day, or I would never have met him.” She leans in and kisses Tracker on his lips, and he places his hand at the back of her head keeping her there.

  Feeling my cheeks flush at their intimacy, I can’t help but look over at Domenic. His eyes are on me, and I swallow hard at the hunger that’s evident in them.

  When they finally separate, Sophia giggles and looks at us. “Sorry about that. It’s been so long since I’ve seen him. We can’t keep our hands off one another.”

  “So, Ryan, then?”

  Smirking, he replies, “Yup, name’s Ryan. Tracker’s my road name.”

  Before Domenic can ask anything else, the waitress returns with our food and places it in front of us. Megan speaks up, and I feel guilty knowing I had totally forgotten that she was even here. She’s been so quiet, probably intrigued with Tracker’s story as are we all.

  As we take a bite of our food, Megan looks at Tracker, frowning. “Um, what’s a road name?” She places a fork of risotto into her mouth, then waits for his reply.

  “It’s my road name. We all are given road names when we join.”

  “But why Tracker?”

  “Well, the boys thought it suited me because I was ex FBI, and one of my skills is tracking down people when the club needs it. Hence the name Tracker.”

  I raise my brows. “Why would you need to track down people?”

  I feel a thump on my foot, and open my mouth to yell at Domenic for kicking me, but when I see the look in his eyes and the way he’s discreetly shaking his head, I stop.

  Tracker laughs. “It’s all good. Let’s just say… it’s club business.”

  “Club business?” I repeat.

  Tracker nods. “Yeah, that’s right. I’ll just say this… there are some things that are better left unsaid.”

  I take the meaning and decide to change the subject. “So, Tracker, are you coming out dancing with us tonight?”

  “I wasn’t planning to. What about you, Domenic?”

  Domenic cuts his steak, then sits back and takes a sip of his beer. Glancing at me then back to Tracker, he replies, “Wasn’t invited.” He turns back to me and takes another sip of his beer. Trying to ignore his sly comment, I turn to Tracker. “So, are you?”

  “Yeah, maybe you girls just go, I’m beat from the ride up here. But Chloe?”

  “Yes?”

  “You look out for my girl. No man is to touch or even look at her. Her ass belongs to me, and what a fine ass it is.” Tracker kisses her again. Then when he stops, he looks at me. “If you run into any problems, I need you to call me.”

  “Wow! Is it getting hot in here or what?”

  I laugh at Megan as she grabs a napkin and fans herself. I have to admit, it’s one of the hottest things I’ve ever heard, and the way he cups the back of her neck and places a kiss on her forehead makes me melt that little bit more.

  “Um… you wouldn’t happen to have any single biker friends, would you?”

  We all blurt out laughing, including Domenic. “Oh, Megan, you’re too funny,” I say, and she looks at me and shrugs her shoulders. “What did I say? I’m seriously interested.”

  Shaking my head, I continue to giggle.

  “Sure. Some of my brothers don’t have an ol’ lady.”

  Megan clears her throat. “An ol’ lady? What’s that? A wife?”

  “It’s as close to a wife that a brother has. An ol’ lady is a biker’s woman, and when he chooses his ol’ lady, the brothers protect her and take her under their wing. She wears a patch that says she’s the property of the brother, which means no other man can touch her.”

  “Wait! What?” I add. “Property?”

  Tracker smiles, his straight white teeth on full show. “Yeah, his property. She is his till the brother says she’s not.”

  “Isn’t that just—”

  “I know what you’re thinking,” he interrupts. “You have to live in our world to know what it all represents. Trying to explain it is just not the same.”

  Feeling Domenic’s hand on mine, my eyes move from Tracker’s to his.

  “We don’t know what it’s like to be in a biker club, Chlo, so just let it go.”

  Who does he think he is?

  My mouth opens to say something, but then I snap it shut when Sophia leans in and kisses Tracker.

  Why am I so opinionated about what an ol’ lady means? Sophia doesn’t seem to be bothered by it all, so why should I be?

  We finish off our meal with light conversation, and Tracker offers to pay for the meal. I start to wonder what he does for a living to make money. If he’s part of a biker club, how do they earn their income? But my thoughts are ended when Domenic grabs me by my arm softly and whispers, “Can I please have a minute of your time?”

  My first reaction is to say, ‘No, you can’t.’ But when I see the look on his face that holds hope, I say, “Sure, but just a minute.”

  “I’ll be a second,” I tell the others, and Sophia smiles then says, “Go on. We’ll be here waiting.” Sophia gives me a wide smile and winks at me.

  This is all so odd.

  Here I am with Domenic Reed, a famous football player who’s Sophia’s ex.

  How did we get here?

  Domenic places his hand in mine and leads me around the corner of the restaurant. I stand there with my back against the brick wall as he paces in front of me, running his hands through his hair now and then in thought.

  “What is it? What do you want to say?”

  He stops, then takes a couple of steps toward me. “Chloe, I know what I did was wrong… leaving you there to defend us while I ran out to Cassandra. I didn’t think.” He steps closer, the smell of his aftershave lingering between
us. “I just needed to explain to her who you are to me and what you mean to me.” He looks away then back at me. “Chloe, believe me, the last thing I wanted to do was hurt you. I love you. You know that, don’t you?”

  Cupping my cheek, he rubs his thumb across it, and I feel my heart quicken. He’s so close, and with him being this close, I can’t seem to think.

  His mouth lingers above mine when he murmurs, “Don’t do this. Don’t withdraw from me. Not now that I have you again in my life and in my bed.”

  Tears prick my eyes at the words he’s saying. They mean more than he will ever know. My eyes flick up to his from his lips, and feeling vulnerable, I say, “But Domenic, I can’t be the reason for your breakup. I can’t do that to you again.”

  He leans in and kisses me softly, his tongue lightly brushing against mine. Slowly, he pulls back. “Let me worry about that. All I want is you… always. That’s all I have ever wanted. Be with me, Chloe. Stay with me. Love me like I love you.”

  Tears now fall freely down my face, and Domenic wipes them away with his thumb. “Don’t cry, Chlo, I can’t handle you crying. Please tell me you’ll stay, and that you will give us a try. All I need is for you to say yes, and I’ll handle the rest. I promise you.” He grabs my hands in his, and the warmth is welcoming.

  “Okay,” I whisper between tears. “Okay, I’ll stay.”

  “Yesss.” He kisses me hard, and I wrap my arms around his neck. He lifts and twirls me around. “Yes, yes, yes… you won’t be sorry. I’m going to make you so happy, Chloe. I promise you that,” he declares between kisses, causing me to love him that much more.

  “Hey, are you guys done? I’m freezing out here.”

  We stop our kiss, then Domenic and I smile at each other. With me still in his arms, I crook my neck looking over his shoulder and spot Sophia, Tracker, and Megan standing there just watching us. Megan has a proud look on her face while Tracker smiles and Sophia, well, she has a big smile on her face too.

  Sliding down Domenic’s body, I peck him on his lips and pull away. “Looks like I have to go.”

  “So, I’ll see you at the game tomorrow?”

  I place my hands on his face saying, “Yeah, I’ll see you there.”