I went straight to the bar and asked for a beer. “How’ve you been, Craig?” I asked, making conversation.
“Same old, as you can see,” he answered with a shrug. “This bar’s still packed most nights, which is good.”
“Great, great,” I said, swinging around on the stool like a kid.
“So why’s a big football star like yourself back in town?” he asked with great curiosity as he handed me a beer and a glass filled with ice. “And why are you drinking so early in the day?”
“Just missing the small town life,” I replied nonchalantly, not wanting to go into further detail. “Visiting Mom too. You know how she’s been since last year…”
My phone began to ring again. It was Andrea, one of the women I dated back in the city. She’d been sending messages, asking how I was. I didn’t want to talk, though. She was just one of those flings, anyway.
“Yeah, sorry about your dad,” Craig said, grabbing a beer for himself too. “He was a great guy. We were good friends, but nobody saw it coming until it was too late.”
I nodded quietly, remembering with sadness and guilt how I hadn’t been around much during those months that my dad had been fighting his illness. I’d been sending money, but now I knew I should’ve been there more.
The phone rang again. I was going to press the reject button when I saw who it was this time--- Mr. Young, the rich man I’d met in one of our team parties. He was the owner of a huge software enterprise operating in the entire state. I remembered him taking interest in me when he’d found out I was from Burchnell.
I held a hand up and gestured to Craig that I was going to take the call. “Hello?”
“Good afternoon, Mr. Willard,” a booming voice said from the other line. His tone was serious and commanding.
I straightened up, wondering what he wanted. “Good afternoon, sir. Mr. Young, isn’t it?”
“That’s right. Glad you remembered.” He paused for a while as I waited for him to continue. “Let me get straight to the point because my time is very precious. I heard about your unfortunate accident, and that you’re now back in your hometown.”
“Uh, yes, sir.”
“I have a proposal for you,” Mr. Young began. “Are you interested in earning some extra cash while you’re recovering?”
My eyes almost popped out of their sockets. It was an answered prayer. I was all ears.
Chapter 3
Cassy
As I threw some grains and seeds to the chickens, I wrinkled my nose in revulsion. I wasn’t an animal hater, but this kind of life just didn’t suit me. I couldn’t for the life of me think how people could last in a town like this.
“I’m feeding the chickens now, Charlene,” I said to my best friend over the phone. She had the gall to laugh at me.
“Please! Spare me the pity!” I said sarcastically and dramatically.
That made her laugh even more. “You’ll get used to it, Cassy,” she said. “Just think of it as an adventure, like an exotic vacation or something.”
“Shit,” I screamed as a chicken pecked at my foot. I scrambled away, almost dropping my phone. But my movement seemed to have excited a couple of other chickens who quickly came to scratch and scrape at the ground where I was standing. “Ooohhhh, I hate this!”
Charlene sounded as if she was doubling on the floor with laughter. “I wish I could be there to take an Instagram photo of you!”
“Ha-ha, very funny,” I said into the phone as I carefully moved away from the chickens.
“The caption would read ‘Cassy Young, The Chicken Feeder’!” she continued.
“Shut up,” I said. “Honestly, Charlene, I wish you could come over here and join me. It’s only been three days and I’m already bored out of my mind!”
“I would if I could,” Charlene said. “But my parents have imprisoned me too in their office. You know how this business thing goes.”
I sighed as I walked around the barn, bending over every now and then to pick up some weeds. So far, Aunt Ellen had been kind enough to just let me do the easiest tasks first. Maybe I should just resign myself to it. At least I’ll earn some money.
I listened to Charlene’s endless chatter about her experiences at work, all along pulling on the weeds I passed. I had on a pair of ugly gloves, but at least they protected my skin. It was also a good thing I’d decided to bring my fashionable straw hat which kept my face hidden from the harsh sunlight. Sweat was beginning to form on my forehead and at the back of my neck. On retrospect, this task wasn’t really a breeze.
A stubborn bunch of weeds made me huff and puff like crazy as I pulled with one hand. “Hold on a sec, Charlene,” I said, placing my phone at the back pocket of my ripped jeans. I pulled with two hands, grunting hard and tugging with all my might. The weeds budged from the soil, slowly emerging.
Just keep pulling, Cassy, I told myself with renewed determination. You’re making progress.
Suddenly, I remembered Charlene, so I took my phone out again. “Hey, still there?” I asked.
“Yeah, what’s got you so busy now?” she asked in an irritated voice. “I was about to tell you the juicy details of my office affair with this cute guy…”
“You’re making out with someone in your parents’ office?” I said incredulously.
“Yes, we did it on my dad’s desk,” she said, sounding proud.
“You little bitch!” I said. We both laughed. God, I missed our chat sessions over coffee and shopping.
“You know, maybe you should explore town, Cassy,” Charlene suggested. “You might find yourself a handsome farm hand or a small town cutie who can keep you entertained for a while.”
“Well, that’s an idea,” I said nonchalantly, not really interested in meeting anyone at the moment. “But hey, listen, I’ll call you again later, all right? Just gotta finish this shit so I can earn some money to spend downtown.”
“Okay, good luck!” she said cheerfully. “Ciao!”
After ending the call and putting my phone back into my jeans, I rested for a few seconds, bent down lower, and then pulled again. I pushed with my feet, my branded white sneakers getting muddied. But I shifted my focus to the task, finally yanking out the damn weeds. As I did, though, I stumbled backwards and fell hard on the ground.
Somebody snickered behind me. I clambered to my feet, brushed off the dirt on my clothes, and turned around to glare at whoever had dared to make fun of me.
I was ready with a curse. But when I saw the handsome young man grinning at me, his muscles flexing through his plain blue shirt, the words died on my lips. I was surprisingly blown away.
He had the nerve to look me over, a smirk forming on his lips. His rugged features and the mischief playing in his brown eyes made him very attractive in a “bad boy” kind of way.
“Those weeds giving you trouble?” he asked, gesturing to the hideous plants I was still holding in my hands. “You shouldn’t be wearing those shoes out here. Tsk-tsk.”
He seemed to be teasing me, mocking me. I narrowed my eyes at him. “It’s none of your business,” I said sharply.
“I can help you get rid of those weeds faster,” he offered as I turned my back on him and began to walk away.
“I’m not some damsel in distress, all right?” I retorted, not bothering to look back. “Go find somebody else to bother.”
I heard him following behind me. “And I sure don’t want to be anyone’s knight in shining armor,” he answered back.
“Leave me alone,” I told him, despite the fact that I seemed to be drawn to him. It was instant physical attraction, definitely, but his being a nuisance was fast killing all traces of allure in me.
He simply shrugged. “We can work side by side without talking. I don’t mind as long as you don’t do that chicken dance you did a while back.”
I stopped walking and stared at him with hands on my waist. I saw his lips twitching, holding back his laughter. A wave of embarrassment washed over me, and in that instance, I wanted to strangle him
. So badly.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to calm myself as I met his playful gaze with a steely stare. “Who the hell are you, anyway?” I demanded to know.
“My name is Ivan Willard,” he introduced himself. “I’m your Aunt Ellen’s new farm hand. I’m guessing you’re the spoiled brat from the city.”
I could not believe his audacity. I wanted to tell him off right then and there, but as I opened my mouth to speak, Aunt Ellen appeared with a huge smile on her face. “I see you two have met already,” she said in a sort of sing-song voice. “Thanks for volunteering, Ivan. I’ve really got my hands full now, so I trust that you’ll be the one to show Cassy here what else has to be done. I’m so glad she’s got someone her age to keep her company.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. A part of me wanted to protest and complain, while another part of me yearned to spend more time with this tall, gorgeous man.
“Yes, of course, Miss Young,” he said politely with a wide grin.
“Thank you, Ivan,” she said. “I’m sure you two will have the time of your life together.”
I scoffed. It’s going to be a very interesting year, after all.
Chapter 4
Ivan
“My daughter’s in town. I want you to befriend her and make sure she sticks around and doesn’t run away or do something stupid. I want you to help her get a job, inspire her to work hard and learn to value money, show her how to be responsible. Do all that and I’ll pay you your monthly income as a football player. Is it a deal?”
When I heard that proposal from Mr. Young, I had no idea what I would be dealing with. I didn’t know how I would go about doing all that, but because I needed the money, I had immediately said yes.
“Great,” he had told me. “Coach Beckham said you could be trusted.”
So the rich business tycoon had even talked to my coach. He could surely pull connections for me if I could accomplish well what he was asking of me. At the same time, I know he’d be capable of breaking my career as well should I fail in this “mission”.
I watched the beautiful young lady from behind as she bent over to spray the crops the way I taught her how. Her perfectly shaped butt and slim legs were evident in her tight-fitting jeans. And under her straw hat, I could see her wavy blonde hair billowing in the soft breeze, seemingly calling out to me, enticing me to run the tresses through my fingers.
This woman was very attractive, no doubt about it. The way she had stood up to me, answered back, and struggled to learn a ton of farming chores in one day made her even more appealing and fascinating.
She turned around then, sauntering over with confidence and a haughty look on her face. The graceful swing of her hips and the cleavage showing through the open top buttons of her polo captivated my manly tendencies all at once. I felt a stirring in my groin.
As she approached, I shifted my gaze to her pinkish lips, her perfectly carved nose, the determined glint in her blue-green eyes. I could see the sweat on her flawless face glistening in the brightness of the afternoon. She was damn striking. I’ve never felt such a strong attraction to anyone before.
“Are we done?” she asked, folding her arms across her chest.
“Yup.”
“Okay, great,” she said eagerly, heading toward the house. “I’m dying to get out of these filthy clothes!”
For some reason, that statement gave me a very visual picture of her without her clothes on. It sent my blood rushing and my body temperature rising. I literally shook my head to get it out.
The elderly Miss Young was calling for us to join her for early dinner. I looked up at the sky. The sun was just beginning to set.
An enticing smell wafted through the kitchen window as we passed. “Smells good,” I said, my stomach grumbling in response.
Cassy went ahead of me and quickly headed straight upstairs. I plopped on one of the stools at the kitchen counter and chatted up the old lady.
“Can I help with anything?” I asked.
“You’re too sweet, my dear,” Miss Young said. “But no thanks. I’m almost done.”
I got up and prepared the table instead. Little Miss Spoiled Brat was probably going to be taking forever in the shower. I doubt she even had any intention of helping with dinner.
After a while, Cassy bounded down the stairs looking fresh and much younger than her actual age. She was wearing a rather short navy blue dress, showing off her lean, tanned legs. I felt my eyes following her as she sat down at the table across from me.
“You seem overdressed, Cassy,” Miss Young observed, her eyebrows shooting up. “Going somewhere?”
Cassy threw her an overly friendly smile. “Well, I thought maybe you’ll give me my salary for the last three days and I could relax a bit for a change. It’s still a bit early. Maybe I could try to make friends here and actually have some fun.”
I stayed quiet, waiting for the old woman’s answer. She seemed to be pondering her response very seriously.
“Well, you know our agreement. You’ll get your week’s salary every Friday. That’s tomorrow, Cassy. You can wait until then and have some time off on Saturday.”
Cassy sulked, her pretty little face crumpling. For some reason, I suddenly had the urge to go over and give her a comforting embrace. Maybe she had that effect on men.
“But don’t I deserve a little break here?” she said, slightly raising her voice in an irritated manner.
Miss Young looked stern. “I’m sorry, but if you’re going to learn to be more responsible, then we ought to stick to the rules.”
Cassy pouted and ate in silence. Miss Young tried to steer the conversation toward the farm work she’d learned for the day, but Cassy just kept on mumbling and mostly ignoring her.
It was certainly awkward for me. She seemed not to care what I heard, anyway.
Miss Young faced me instead and started to ask about my football career. I wasn’t eager to share much because of my injury, but I was curious about Cassy’s reaction. From the looks of it, she wasn’t a football fan and had never watched a single game even on TV. But when she heard her aunt raving about my skill on the field even during my high school days, she seemed to perk up and pay more attention. I beamed proudly, of course, glad that I didn’t have to be the one to brag.
As the meal ended, an idea came to me. Without thinking, I blurted it out. “Uh, Miss Young…is it okay if I drive Cassy around in town, just so she could settle in and maybe meet some friends? I think some of my former schoolmates are having a get-together at The Creamery.”
Cassy looked up from her plate in surprise. Even the old woman was taken aback. She hesitated before saying, “I guess I could trust you to take her if she likes. Just have her back early.”
I grinned, then looked at Cassy who was actually scowling at me. “What do you say?” I asked nevertheless. “I wouldn’t want you to waste your lovely dress.”
She glared at me, which made me want to laugh out loud.
Miss Young was looking at her expectantly.
She shrugged. “Sure, whatever. I guess it’s better than staring at my wall all night until I fall asleep.”
“Okay, off you go so you can get back early,” the old woman said, standing up and beginning to clear the table. “I’ll take care of these.”
I went outside without another word while Cassy followed behind me. I went straight to my car and got into the driver’s seat without giving her a second look.
After a second of hesitation, she got into the passenger’s seat. I got a whiff of her perfume, which made me quite heady. All of a sudden, I could feel the air getting thick with tension as I turned the ignition. It wasn’t negative tension, but more of the invisible magnet that seemed to be hanging between us, drawing us close to one another.
Very much aware of our close proximity, I opened the windows to let the night wind blow on our faces so I could also breathe better.
“So you were living in the city, huh?” she started.
“Yeah,�
� I said. “Big football player. I can give you my autograph later.”
She gave out a sarcastic laugh. “No, thanks,” was her curt answer. “I don’t intend to become part of your groupies.” She laughed again.
I knew I should feel insulted. But the sound of her laughter felt like music to my ears, somehow warming my body and relaxing my nerves. It was odd how we connected in some way, despite our differences and our satirical banter.
Chapter 5
Cassy
The ice cream parlor was old school but homey, as expected of a small town hang-out place. It was nothing compared to the posh coffee shops I was used to. But at least their dessert was delicious, and the company was actually good.
Ivan’s friends from high school were very nice and friendly, and I soon found myself laughing with them. I also enjoyed the fact that they all seemed excited to know more about me and my life in the big city, especially since these were individuals who had settled into this town for good. Some of them had never left this place at all!
I tried not to be bitchy, and I guess I had it in me. I could be pleasant if I wanted to, which means I have my dad’s people skills. This was a useful characteristic in business, after all.
“I really love your dress, Cassy,” Jenny complimented. “It’s so simple but elegant.”
Hard Game Page 2
