Big Win (Brit Boys Sports Romance Book 2)

by J. H. Croix

  Liam’s eyes whipped to mine, just as Olivia reached the table and set down two beers. She looked between us, her green gaze assessing. At a glance, it had surprised me that Liam fell for her. She was beautiful, no doubt about that, but not the usual fun-loving, casual women Liam had dated before he met her. Olivia kept her dark curls tied up in a bun most of the time and wore glasses. At first blush, she was all business. With Liam, she was as bad off as he was. Half the time, I was reminding them they weren’t alone. I was beyond pleased Liam had found her. He’d had a rough year before we signed with the Stars. His mum died of a stroke, and he was distracted enough that he lost his touch in play and our team in London lost a crucial game as a result. Meeting Olivia had tugged him out of the fog of his grief.

  Olivia looked from me to Liam. “As usual, Alex is paying better attention. I need to know what font you like too. Not just the color,” she said with a feigned sigh.

  Liam met my gaze and rolled his eyes. “Right then.” He glanced up to Olivia, slipped his arms about her waist and pulled her into his lap. “That’s why he’s my best mate. He’s all about the details.”

  Olivia flushed pink when Liam brazenly kissed his way down her neck. She wiggled off of his lap. “Good grief! I can’t go anywhere with you.”

  “We’re at home!” Liam protested.

  Olivia shook her head and bestowed a flustered smile on me. “Alex has great judgment. If he thinks blue looks best, we’ll do that. Which font do you like?” she asked me next.

  After a few moments of back and forth over the fonts with them, Olivia scooped up the cards and returned them to a stack on the corner of the kitchen counter before joining us at the table. She chatted about her day and then looked to me. “So I heard you’ve been going running with Harper.”

  Her statement was an abrupt change of topic. For a moment, I was flummoxed. After a beat, I nodded. “I have.”

  I toyed with asking Olivia about Harper, but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to ask. Well, that didn’t quite cut it. I wanted to know everything about Harper, but worried that might reveal how powerfully I was drawn to her.

  Olivia looked at me for a long moment, her eyes considering. “Good.”

  I sensed something lay behind her comment, but hell if I knew what. “If you don’t mind me asking, why would you care if I’m running with Harper?”

  Olivia traced a circle around the base of her wineglass before shrugging, as if to herself. “Well, you’ll either hear it from me or someone else. Harper hasn’t gone running outside for a few years. You probably didn’t know, but she was a track star in college. She ran cross country and was ranked nationally.”

  I could’ve guessed something like that. Harper easily kept pace with me and ran as if she had for many years. I didn’t know why this mattered though. “Right. So…?”

  “Well, it all fell apart when we were seniors in college. She got raped by a guy from another university. Even worse, it happened when she was out running on campus. It was all over the news. It’s not like she tries to keep it a secret, but it’s not like she likes to talk about it either,” Olivia said softly.

  Olivia’s words hit me like a bolt of lightning, so hard I reeled inside. Someone raped Harper? Bloody hell. On the heels of my shock came fury, raw and cold. I wanted to race out of here and find the man who hurt her and inflict the same level of horror upon him. That’s not to say I wanted to rape the guy, but beating him senseless might, just might, suffice. In the few seconds that passed since Olivia had dropped this little bomb, I forgot all about trying to keep my feelings for Harper masked. It wasn’t that I cared all that much what Liam knew. More that I wanted time to feel things out and see where they went. I was hyperaware of how easy it was to have the media sniffing at my heels. It had been slightly better since we were in the US. Football in Britain, well pretty much anywhere else in the world, was revered. Players were dogged by the local media back there. I’d managed to avoid the attention then and hoped to keep doing so now.

  Whatever showed on my face nudged Liam to straighten in his chair, his eyes narrowing. I shackled the fury inside and looked at Olivia. “What the hell? Who is he?” I demanded.

  Olivia’s eyes widened before her expression softened. “Alex, she’s fine. It was four years ago. It won’t do her a bit of good for you to get all riled up over this.” She glanced to Liam. “You didn’t tell him?” she asked him.

  Liam’s watchful gaze caught mine before swinging to Olivia. “No. It’s not like we talk much about your friends. Not to mention it’s a bloody shitty topic. It’s awful what happened,” he replied before looking back to me. “It pisses me off too, mate, but ease up.”

  I could tell he was trying to suss out what was up with me. I’d be pissed to hear about any woman getting hurt in any way. But this was Harper. In a matter of weeks, my curiosity about her had gone from simply that to far more. I was relieved with Liam’s next comment.

  “I told you, luv. Alex would protect the whole wide world if he could. He’s a beast like that. Remember how I told you he was worried about you when we started dating? Hearing one of your friends got raped is like that times a million,” Liam said.

  About now, he’d usually grin, but this wasn’t funny. Nothing about rape was funny. I ran a hand through my hair and took a long drag off my beer. I bloody well didn’t like being this furious without a target. My mind spun back to the day I’d encountered Harper in the park, the very day she’d first kissed me a bit later. I couldn’t help but wonder if the man we’d seen had been the very man who raped her.

  Looking to Olivia, I asked, “What happened to the guy?”

  Her gaze darkened and her mouth tightened, anger and resignation evident on her face. “Well, see, he was a track star too. He attended a different university, but it was right here in Seattle. Harper doesn’t hide what happened if anyone happens to ask, but she’s never talked much about the details since right after it happened. I know more from the papers than I know from her. I don’t think it will help you to get angry about something you can’t do anything about.”

  “Tell me what happened,” I said, trying to keep the anger out of my tone. I wasn’t angry with Olivia, but bloody hell I needed to know what happened to the guy.

  Her eyes flicked to Liam.

  “Luv, just tell him what you know. If you don’t, Alex will track the details down on his own, so you might as well save him the trouble,” Liam said.

  Bloody right he was. As it stood, I’d be on the guy’s scent as soon as I could.

  Olivia took a gulp of wine and eyed me. “You’re a good man, Alex Gordon,” she said softly.

  I took another long drag off my beer and circled my hand in the air. “Right, right. Carry on and tell me what happened to the bastard.”

  “He was arrested and charged, but he got a good attorney and fought like hell. In the end, the charges were pleaded down. I’d have to look up the details on that. He served two months in jail and was released. He didn’t even have to register as a sex offender.” She shook her head furiously at that, her eyes bright with tears. “Harper’s one of my best friends. What he did was horrible, and in the end, it was hardly a speed bump for him. He got kicked off the team, but he still got to graduate.”

  “Where is he now?” I asked, my focus like a laser on the present.

  Olivia gulped in air and let it out in a heavy sigh. “He works at some finance place in Seattle. I try to keep tabs on him. Since he doesn’t have to register as a sex offender, I don’t know where he lives, and he does a pretty good job of keeping his online profile to a minimum.”

  “Who is he?”

  Liam stayed quiet, but I could tell he sensed my fury.

  “His name is Joe Schmidt,” Olivia said, her worried gaze scanning my face. “Promise me you won’t try to do anything. There’s nothing to do. He was charged and convicted on whatever dumb charges they agreed on. The whole investigation ruined Harper’s life for a while. She was miserable, and it was just awfu
l. She’s moved on. I mean, I wondered if she’d ever run outside again and now she’s running with you. That’s why I’m happy about that, but I get why you’re pissed. Trust me, every time I think about it, I want to scream. But let Harper stay moved on. Please.”

  Olivia’s gentle words penetrated the fury coiling inside. I closed my eyes and took a slow breath, I hadn’t realized I was clenching a fist. I eased my grip and leaned back in my chair, opening my eyes to find two concerned gazes on me. “Right. I know you’re right,” I said, directing my words to Olivia. “Doesn’t change the fact it bloody sucks. It’s bollocks the guy spent only two months in jail. How bad…” I forced myself to stop with the questions. I’d save them for another time, or find the answers myself.

  Olivia reached over and squeezed my hand. “You see Harper as she is now. She’s strong and healthy and fine. She’s really, really fine. There’s only one other thing I’d wish for her.”

  “What’s that?” I asked, my question reflexive.

  “I want her to find someone. She hasn’t even gone on a date since it happened. She’s so awesome, but I don’t know if she even thinks about it.” Olivia glanced between us. “I mean, right? She’s pretty and smart and funny and…”

  Liam reached over and caught Olivia’s hand in his, lifting it for a kiss. “Of course she is. But I think you’re going to have to let this ball stay in Harper’s court.”

  Meanwhile, I sat there stunned, my mind spinning over the revelations and wondering just what to think about what happened between Harper and me.

  Chapter Six

  Harper

  I jogged down the stairs to the front door of my building with Stanley at my side. It was a small thing, but I loved how the stairs curved along the wall. It always felt as if I was spinning slowly down a slide and out the front door. I had a little buzz of joy inside, knowing I was about to walk out and meet Alex for another run. After he’d invited me to run with him in the mornings, I’d quickly fallen into a pattern of meeting him daily. Unbeknownst to him, his offer had given me a small gift. I used to run outside all the time, hours upon hours every week. In a blink, I lost the joy of it after an early morning run in that time where the light hadn’t quite washed away the darkness. Crossing paths with Joe at that in between time had ripped my joy away. Joe who seemed to live somewhere nearby. Joe whose mere presence should’ve permanently scared me away from returning to the park.

  I hated knowing he was near, but I felt safe with Alex and I’d missed running so. Alex had stirred deep waters in me. He made me think I could steal back what had been stolen from me. It wasn’t just the fact he made me so hot I forgot I’d once thought I’d never want to have sex again. He made me think maybe I could banish the hold Joe had on me. The fact I was running outside at all was a small miracle. I’d never stopped running, but I’d relegated myself to a treadmill. Even though the mechanics were close enough, I’d dearly missed the joy and invigoration of the fresh early morning air and watching the sunrise.

  I reached the entryway and glanced to Stanley. His blue eyes met mine, and he nudged my hand with his nose. Stanley loved running too. It was safe to say he adored Alex and had come to expect our morning runs now. He pressed his nose to one of the small windowpanes along the side of the door. A glance outside told me Alex wasn’t here yet. I was looking down at my watch when Stanley let out a soft woof. Just as I wondered what he was reacting to, Alex strolled into view.

  My breath hitched and my belly clenched. Damn. He was so ridiculously handsome. With his apartment east of mine, the sun was rising behind him, glinting off his dark brown hair. He walked with an easiness, emanating strength and masculine grace. Every inch of him was muscled and mouth-watering. It had been over a week since he’d practically left me in a puddle by my door. Too long. I was determined to push him past his ridiculous edge of control, but I’d yet to finagle an opportunity. Today was Saturday though, and I knew we’d be in the same place tonight. Olivia had invited me to dinner with her and Liam and said she needed some girl back up since Liam’s friends would be there.

  That little buzz of joy propelled me through the door and down the steps with Stanley padding along at my side. Alex stopped at the foot of the stairs just as I reached the bottom step. His brown eyes met mine, the intensity of his gaze giving me pause. His eyes swept over me, sending a jolt through me. When he met my gaze again, I was confused. He felt coiled tight and had lines of tension bracketing his face. Even in rest, he was an intense man, but at the moment, I was taken aback. My first instinct was to want to comfort him and before I realized it, I’d reached out and slid my hand down his arm.

  “Are you okay?” I asked when he didn’t say anything for a moment.

  He gave his head a small shake when Stanley stepped to his side and nudged his hand. Alex stroked Stanley, his hand sliding in a path along the center of Stanley’s back. He’d quickly come to know what Stanley loved and commenced to idly scratch between Stanley’s shoulders. Alex looked back up at me. “I’m fine. You?”

  Whatever tension he’d been holding eased. His eyes softened as he looked at me. I took a breath and the knot of tension I hadn’t noticed dissolved. “Ready to run,” I replied.

  He held my gaze for a few more beats, his eyes searching. For what, I didn’t know. “Okay then. Let’s go.” He glanced to Stanley. “Ready Stanley?”

  Stanley simply nudged Alex’s leg with his gray head. At that, we started jogging. It worked out that the distance from my apartment to the park was just enough to warm us up. By the time we jogged through the park entrance, we were ready to pick up the pace. We didn’t talk much while we ran, which suited me fine. Alex’s pace was strong and steady. Aside from the layers of reasons why I enjoyed running with him, he was nearly perfect as a running partner for me. He could easily hold pace and his stamina was excellent. Given that he was a professional soccer player, this wasn’t surprising, but nevertheless I appreciated it.

  We ran through the wooded portion of the park and down to a pathway that offered a view of Puget Sound. Gulls called and a salty breeze gusted off the water. The old runner’s high that I loved rose inside, something I’d never quite felt when I ran on a treadmill. Whether it was a myth or not, I loved the rush of adrenaline and the soft exhilaration I felt when I ran through the cool morning air. It had rained during the night, so the air was earthy and felt as if it had been washed clean by the rain. Sun glittered on the damp leaves and grass.

  Stanley ran on one side of me with Alex on the other, his footfalls steady and even. I felt strong this morning as we crested a small rise and turned a corner on the path. I was looking out toward the water when I sensed Alex go tense. I glanced to his face to see those tight lines again, his eyes dark. I followed his gaze to see Joe Schmidt, my personal hell, running in the distance. That sick feeling of dread coiled in my gut, but I pushed back against it. It had been four years since Joe raped me. He’d done a measly two months in jail, and I’d moved on as best I could. I was determined not to let his presence ruin what I’d found again. I swallowed against the fear and kept running. I felt half-sick and ready to vomit, but if I was ever going to get past this awful feeling, I could do it with Stanley and Alex.

  Alex slowed his pace and glanced to me. “Let’s take a different route today.”

  I didn’t know how, but in a flash I realized he knew I’d been raped and that Joe was the man responsible. I stopped abruptly, a wild feeling coursing through me—fear mixed with dread mixed with adrenaline mixed with a dose of recklessness.

  “Why?”

  Joe was still a good distance away, but his stride kept moving in our direction. Alex met my gaze, his own expression a mix of anger and frustration. “Because,” he bit out.

  “Who told you?” I asked.

  Alex’s eyes widened. He rested a hand on his hip, his breath coming in heaves. “Harper… Bloody hell. Can we talk about this later?”

  Neither one of us was saying aloud what we were talking about, but it
was clear. “We can talk later, but we’re not taking a different route.”

  My tone was mulish, and most of me thought I was crazy. Completely off my rocker, in fact. You don’t have to get comfy with seeing Joe. He raped you. Getting past it doesn’t mean getting okay around him. That voice was insistent and quite rational. Yet, I was in a strange place right now. I didn’t want to bend my life into contortions to avoid Joe. I’d been doing that for four years. I perversely wanted him to know I didn’t give a damn and I wasn’t afraid. I had nothing to lose because he’d already smashed my life to smithereens once. He couldn’t do it again. Plus, I had Alex with me. I knew I was safe with him.

  Alex leaned his head back to stare at the sky before lasering me with his dark gaze again. “Unless you want me to beat him senseless right now, we’d best take another route,” he said flatly.

  I had no idea how Alex pieced together who Joe was, but I knew without a doubt that if I insisted we cross paths with Joe, Alex would probably do just as he said. As it was, his fists were clenched and his face dark with anger. Alex, who was almost always calm, who felt like a rock of safety to me, felt dangerous right now. Not dangerous to me, but most definitely dangerous to Joe. Much as a part of me wouldn’t mind seeing Joe get his ass kicked, that wasn’t what I wanted right now. I looked back at Alex, a rush of emotion welling inside of me. I fought to keep from crying and couldn’t say if they were good tears or bad tears. Maybe both. I finally nodded in assent and started running again, following Alex’s lead as he turned up another path.

  I could feel the coiled energy coming off of Alex in waves as we ran and didn’t quite know what to do about any of it. The facts of my rape were no secret to anyone who knew me, or anyone who happened to be in Seattle at the time of the rape. It was all over the news because I’d been a track star at University of Washington, and Joe had been one at another nearby university. Looking back, I occasionally wondered how I’d had the courage to report the rape. In hindsight, I think it was because I’d been raised to believe things worked out how they should. People did bad things, you told the police, and they made it right. Little did I know it was never that simple when it came to rape.