Winning the Game

by Leesa Bow

  “That’s a low blow even from you, Tori. I’ve never told any girl she’s the only one.”

  I withhold telling him how I listen to the song and sing my heart out, in a therapeutic way, when I’m alone. “Fine. But I’ll convert you to a fan before Contest is over.”

  “Coldplay is on my playlist. Find it.”

  I sigh. “Bossy much.”

  “You have no idea.” He says it under his breath, and I dare not look at him because I will struggle to hide the flush in my cheeks.

  After listening to a few more Coldplay tracks I gaze out of the window at the yellow fields of canola, even prettier with streaks of pink and orange in the sky behind the fields. “The countryside around here is remarkable.”

  “Yeah, it is. You should see how green it is in the colder months. It’s why I like going home. Wish I appreciated it more when I was young. I should get home more but …” He rubs the side of his jaw.

  Listening to him makes me even more anxious, especially now we’re getting closer to the farm. My hand drifts to my mouth.

  “Relax.” He reaches over, grabs my hand and guides it to my thigh.

  I place my other hand over his and squeeze it. It’s only natural I want to impress his mother, but I’m so out of my depth, and thinking about staying at his farm is scaring the life out of me. I keep telling myself to consider it as a field trip with a client, but it’s not. I agreed to come because it’s more than research. I want to get to know Rhett …

  It’s after eight when we veer off the highway and onto a side road leading to his farm. I’m taking in the vastness of his land, and can barely make out the next home in the distance. My heart is already at a canter, and the thought of being here with Rhett doesn’t help to slow it.

  Fields of grain on my right stretch as far as I can see. The long driveway is lined with pine trees, and his house is hidden behind tall gum trees and cedars. To the left are rows and rows of fruit trees. We veer toward some sheds at the side of the house. The tyres hit the dirt, leaving a cloud of dust behind us.

  Rhett kills the engine and hops out. I follow, although not as quickly as him as I have to jump down from the high seat. He fetches our bags from the rear of the car.

  “At first I wondered why you had such a monster of a car. Now I know.” I smile at him. “Definitely didn’t have small people like me in mind.”

  “He thinks it helps him to pick up chicks, as if playing football for the Blackbirds isn’t enough?”

  I spin around in the direction of the sarcastic voice.

  A lanky lad, though not as tall as Rhett, stands with his hands on his hips. He’s taking in a good fill of me, and the way he smiles I assume he approves.

  “Do me a favour, little brother, and carry this inside for me.” Rhett shoves my bag into his chest. He grunts and stumbles back.

  “After I meet your new chick.” He winks at me, reminding me of Rhett, and it’s then I notice the same blue eyes filled with similar sex appeal.

  “Don’t make me—”

  I intercept Rhett’s threat. “Tori.” I smile, and take a few steps closer to his brother, holding out my hand.

  Rhett rubs the back of his neck. “This is my fifteen-year-old brother, Jase, who has no manners.”

  Jase flings my case over his shoulder without straining. “Bet I know how to treat this sexy lady better than you, bro.” With his free hand, Jase takes my hand in his and kisses my knuckles.

  “Do that again and I’ll knock you on your arse.” Rhett gives him a dirty look then heads toward the house.

  Jase chuckles. “After you.” He holds out an arm, gesturing for me to walk ahead. Polite as it might seem, I’m sure he’s checking me out from behind. I don’t have time to dwell as the wire door swings open and a middle-aged woman steps out onto the back verandah. Butterflies flutter in my stomach with the force of a swarm.

  Rhett takes the steps two at a time and reaches the porch in two long strides. “Mum.” He wraps her in his strong arms and kisses her cheek. The sincerity of his affection touches me.

  I take the steps one at a time. I’m so damn nervous I’m careful not to trip. “Thank you for inviting me to stay, Mrs Williams,” I say quickly.

  She wipes her hands on her apron before holding one out to me. “You’re welcome, Tori. It’s a pleasure to meet you.” She smiles, widely, with the charisma of Rhett’s smile. Her delight reaches her eyes, and it’s apparent from whom her sons inherited their striking eyes.

  I exhale in relief. She remembers my name. I shake her hand, and notice how rough her palm feels against mine. “Rhett is keen to show me where he grew up, and I think it will help broaden the scope of the show.”

  Mrs Williams wraps salt-and-pepper strands behind her ear, then looks at Rhett, eyes wide, then back to me. “He brought you here for the show?”

  “No, Mum. Tori wants to understand me better, and I thought bringing her out here would help. She’s not going to be talking about the farm or my family on the show, and there’ll be no cameras.”

  “Oh. Well, all right then.”

  “I apologise, Mrs Williams, I meant no disrespect.”

  “Please call me Penny. And none taken.” Rhett and Jase enter the house with our bags. I steal a moment to stand on the verandah and take in the sweeping view of the farm. “Come inside, dear.” Penny swings the wire door open and holds it for me. “Before the mosquitoes feast on us. I have supper waiting for you both.”

  We step into the dining and kitchen area. The aroma of freshly baked cake hits my senses. The idea of home-cooked food excites me, reminding me of happier times as a child in my grandmother’s kitchen. My mother was never the same when Gran died around the time I was ten, but the memory of delicious food has my stomach grumbling. “I hope we haven’t put you out. I’ve been so busy I forgot to grab dinner.”

  “Rhett,” she calls out to wherever Rhett has disappeared. “I can’t believe you never stopped to feed this poor girl.”

  “He … I mean, it’s fine. I didn’t mean to—”

  “Now, there won’t be any skipping meals here, dear.”

  “Yes, of course,” I say obediently, and stick my fingers in my front jean pockets, not sure what to do with my hands. I turn, taking in her Baltic-wood-styled kitchen with two ovens. “You must cook a lot.”

  “Three growing boys, and when my husband was alive, it felt like I’d be in here every spare minute if I weren’t in the fields.”

  My stomach plummets like a boulder over a cliff. My cheeks are heating for the second time tonight. “I’m sorry … I mean for your loss, not for being in the kitchen. I—” Could I be any more awkward? But shit, if Rhett had at least warned me.

  “It’s okay, dear. It’s been nine years. Time heals some, but you don’t forget. You simply learn to cope.” She nods at me.

  The way she says it I assume it’s not raw and she can talk without getting upset. “Rhett never told me,” I confess. By the look on her face I’ve also surprised her. “He didn’t want to discuss family.”

  Penny doesn’t respond. Instead, she says, “Rhett tells me your parents live in Melbourne.”

  “Yes. Unfortunately, I don’t get to visit them often.”

  She unties her apron behind her back, and I sense her wanting to ask more. But the conversation halts when the wire door is yanked open, and another lanky lad strolls in. He tosses his car keys on the bench before picking up a large piece of lemon cake and biting into it.

  “Dustin,” Penny chastises. “The cake is for our guest.”

  His gaze shoots across the room and lands on me.

  “Hi, I’m Tori.”

  He ignores me and turns back to his mother. “Brought my car home. Randy is picking me up in five to go to the pub. Thought you’d be happy since I’m not driving.”

  “Yes I’m happy, but not if Randy’s drinking. And where are your manners, boy? I distinctly heard Tori speak to you.”

  He stares at me before answering. “I’m not going to
pretend. How’s she different to any of his other girls. She’ll be gone by next week.” A horn sounds from outside the house, and he heads for the door.

  “Dustin,” Penny snaps. “Apologise to Tori.”

  My cheeks warm. Then, out of nowhere, Rhett appears and strides across the kitchen tiles to grab Dustin by the arm. There are a few grunts and a scuffle before Rhett shoves him out the door and onto the back verandah.

  “We don’t need to hear this.” Penny closes the wooden door behind them. “I’m sorry, dear. He’s at that age, and without his father to pull him into line, I’m not sure what to do. My friends tell me he’s going through a stage, but I’ve never raised my sons to be rude.” Penny places a piece of quiche on a plate in front of me, then a piece of her lemon cake on a separate plate. “Not sure what I would’ve done without Rhett to pull them into line. I can’t blame him for not being here much over the years, but they do listen to him.”

  Being an only child I’ve never witnessed siblings squabble. And apart from my grandparents’ passing, death has not influenced my life like it must have Rhett’s family. My skin tingles, and I’m feeling the tug of emotion in my heart. Something foreign to me. Yet, in a few minutes of being in Rhett’s home, I’d noticed the family bond, despite them clashing. “They respect him,” I say in understanding.

  “You wouldn’t know it sometimes, but they do. They miss him, too.” Her expression falters and she turns to the kettle. “Do you take tea or coffee?”

  “I’d love a coffee.”

  “Rhett has put your bag in his bedroom,” Jase interrupts. “Said he’s sleeping in the spare room.” He leans on the doorframe leading to the hallway, his thumbs hooked in his jean pockets.

  “Thank you. Um, do you mind showing me the bathroom? I’d like to freshen up before I eat.”

  “Sure.” He nods in the opposite direction to follow him.

  I trail behind him along a long central hall with doors on either side. “Bathroom.” Jase points to a door. “Spare room. Rhett’s bedroom.” He continues pointing. “And my room.” He winks again.

  “Which she doesn’t need to know,” Rhett says in a gruff voice. He grabs my hand and leads me to his room, closing the door behind him. “I’m sorry about my brothers. One is inexcusably rude and the other so accommodating I can’t afford to take my eyes off you for a minute.”

  I laugh once. “They’re fine. Nothing I can’t handle.” I reach up to adjust his long blond fringe, sticking out at an odd angle. “They’re young.” He’s studying my face, and the way he is looking at me warms me. Realising how close I am to him I quickly pull my hand away. I look away and swivel to take in his room. “So this is the room you grew up in?”

  “Yeah, although I’ve changed it a bit.” He stares at something on the desk and I decide to check it out later. “You should be comfortable. It’s the closest room to the bathroom and it has a king-size bed, whereas the spare room only has a single.”

  “Now I feel bad. I can sleep in the single bed. It makes sense. I doubt you’d fit.”

  “It’s fine. Besides, if I can’t sleep it will give me an excuse to come back to my bed.”

  “Rhett—” I say to reprimand him, but my voice croaks because he’s making my knees weak at the thought of sleeping with him.

  He winks. “Playing with you, Boss.” He taps my rear and I squeak. “Meet you back in the kitchen.”

  “Wait.” When I have Rhett’s attention I say in a soft voice, “You never told me about your father.”

  His gaze levels with mine. “Not much to tell.”

  “It would’ve been nice to know … before. When your mum mentioned it I felt like …” I pause again. “I wish you’d told me,” I whisper.

  “I was going to,” he says, “but it’s not really a conversation starter.” His gaze shifts to the desk. “I wanted to keep all of this separate from the show. It’s my private life and I don’t want people knowing my business. Grant wanted to know about me, the football player.” His gaze lifts and this time I want to take a step back from the intensity burning in his eyes. “I’ve got to know you, want to know you better. Telling you was taking our business relationship to a personal level, and I wasn’t sure you were ready.”

  Swallowing the lump in my throat, I nod.

  Our eyes remain locked, searching for a few seconds more, before he breaks the stare. “I’ll let you use the bathroom, then.”

  I stare at his broad back as he leaves the room, not quite sure what to say. Something has changed between us, and we both know it. Even though it seems wrong, I do a quick once-over of his room. It’s like I’m in another universe, in a room where all the secrets of Rhett Williams are kept sacred. I take a closer look at his desk, at a line of photographs, including his family and his football team. One stands out amongst the others. A man, who appears to be in his early forties, with his arm around a much younger Rhett. I assume it’s a photograph of his father, going by his height. He has the same strong jawline. Only his dark hair throws me.

  I’m woken by a creaky floor, and the door to the bathroom clunks as it closes. Lying in a strange bed, and in an even stranger house, I had decoded many noises of an old house at night before going to sleep. It may have taken a while to get to sleep, but I can’t entirely blame the house.

  My professional approach is waning, consumed with everything Rhett. No matter how many times my inner voice reprimands or warns me, being away from the city, and with only the two of us here from Contest, I’m wanting him more and thinking less of the consequences.

  I keep listening out for Rhett, the sound of his footsteps, because there’s a distinct difference to those of his brothers. It’s a balmy night and there’s no air conditioner or ceiling fan in his room. It’s left me a little crazy. Although not crazy enough, because the moment my door creaks open my heart flutters, knowing its Rhett. But I ask anyway.

  “Rhett?”

  “Just wanted to check on you,” he says in a low voice.

  “I was asleep, if that’s what you mean. And I’m sure you’re not lost. Bathroom is across the hall,” I say, knowing he already went. The bed dips beside me and I sit up.

  “You’re right,” he says like it’s an apology. “I can’t sleep in that bed. I only need a few more hours sleep.”

  “You want to swap?”

  “This bed is big enough for both of us.”

  “I don’t think that’s a good idea.” I lean across and switch on the bedside lamp. Rhett moans and covers his eyes.

  I stop breathing at the sight of him lying on his back beside me. My eyes drift to his bare chest, chiselled abs, and lines like arrows pointing down to somewhere beneath the band of his black underwear. Oh Lord. How in the hell will I get any more sleep with Rhett practically naked next to me?

  “I’ll go,” I rasp.

  Rhett still has his hand over his eyes. It’s a blessing he didn’t catch me ogling him. “Shut up and turn off the light, Tori.”

  If we argue, we could wake his mother, and I don’t want to alert her to Rhett’s being here with me. I smack the sheets down between our bodies. “Don’t come over my side,” I warn before I flick off the light. I slide down with my back to Rhett, my pounding heart not showing any sign of slowing. My thoughts are all over the place. Panic builds in my gut. The last person I slept with was Tait. Since him, I haven’t slept with anyone, technically. They leave or I do, after the sex.

  For a few minutes I lie there, listening to the sound of him drifting off to sleep. Finally, I roll away and close my eyes, thinking he’s asleep until he says, “Pink suits you, by the way. You should wear it more.”

  I let out a long breath. “I didn’t wear it for you.”

  He chuckles low, then he places his hand on my hip, as though it’s the normal thing for him to do.

  “Hands on your side of the bed, Williams,” I rasp.

  “If it’s on the outside of the covers it doesn’t count.”

  “So now you’re making the rules
?”

  “My house, my rules. Goodnight, Tori.”

  I sigh again. I should leave. Yet I can’t seem to make my body co-operate. My skin is buzzing and I’m feeling all the warm fuzzies, the ones I work hard at blocking out.

  I go to roll on my back but the large hand on my hip stops me. “So now I can’t move?” I whisper.

  “You can move … but not any closer to me. My hand is there for your own protection.”

  TORI

  My eyes fling open when a male voice drifts under the door. My brain catches up to where I am, whose bed I’m in … and who slept beside me. I’m lying on the edge of the bed, as though subconsciously I’m staying away from the middle, keeping my distance. I push upright and I’m not sure what to feel seeing the empty space. Disappointment. Relief, maybe. I flop back onto the mattress and stare at the ceiling, remembering the night.

  More voices drift from the kitchen and interrupt my thoughts. Lying in bed as a guest when everyone else is up is just rude. So I check the time and curse realising it’s almost nine. Sleeping past seven-thirty is a novelty. Generally, I’m a light sleeper, so not to hear Rhett leave is unusual.

  Hell, this weekend is a far cry from normal, and the constant tightness in my chest is a warning of the risk I’m taking being here. I’m still questioning my decision to come, still trying to defuse the lust swirling deep in my stomach whenever Rhett looks my way. I’ve worked with beautiful people before, and none have had a hold on me like Rhett. It’s more than desire, and something much greater than lust.

  I care about him.

  And that scares me.

  After showering, I walk in on a conversation in the kitchen between Dustin and Penny. “I’m sorry,” I say, and step back.

  “Tori.” I halt when Penny addresses me. “Dustin would like to say something.”

  Dustin, unlike Rhett and Jase, has the same dark hair as his father. He has the same eyes as his mother, eyes capable of taking your breath away with a single look. “I’m sorry about being a dick to you last night.”