“Yes, I can see that.”
Mum steps to the side, making way for Jess.
“I didn’t expect to see you again so soon.”
“No, me neither. Mum, Jess asked me to be her maid of honour,” I say, trying to take the tension from the air that surrounds me.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less.” She smiles warmly, looking at Jess. Logan watches on as my dad and Fletcher stand talking to him. He looks a little anxious around my dad, but this is all new to him.
“He loves you,” my mum says, sitting down beside me.
“He does.”
“Let him take care of you.”
I look at Jess and I swear I see tears in her eyes. “I will.”
“Good, because I know he has a troubled past, but I think he’s a good man.”
I nod. My mum has it spot on. Yes, he has a troubled past that haunts him, but he is all the man I need and want in my life.
Logan
“FUCK, FUCK, AND fuck!”
“Come on. Calm down,” Fletcher tells me.
“Do you remember being in almost the same position only a short time ago? Don’t sit there and tell me to calm down. Lee doesn’t need this shit; not today. Christ, it was only an hour ago we were told she and our baby are okay. I don’t need my past being plastered on every goddamn newspaper in the country.”
I should’ve been prepared for this. Let’s face it, Chantelle is known for causing trouble. The look on her face as she left the players’ lounge yesterday told me she wasn’t happy.
This isn’t what I need before six a.m. on a Sunday morning, especially after everything else that’s gone on.
From the excitement of last night’s dinner when Jess asked Lee to be her maid of honour and Fletch asked me to be his best man, to Lee and the baby, and now this.
When Fletcher’s phone started ringing, he stared at the screen before answering it. There was a gut-wrenching feeling already forming in the pit of my stomach. I just knew there was something wrong. But this . . . this is even worse than I expected. I’m glad we weren’t in the room with Lee.
How am I supposed to leave my past where it truly belongs if others keep dredging it up? I don’t want to keep reliving it. I’ve had more than my share of nightmares over the years. I don’t want it to taint my future with Lee. This should be a happy time for us.
“Yes, of course I do. But Lee knows what Chantelle is like. How spiteful she can be. Yes, the story will upset her, but she’ll listen to you. Be open and honest with her and she’ll see through Chantelle’s lies.”
“I hope so. But, today of all days, she’s meant to be relaxing.”
“Go online and read the story for yourself and then take it from there. Peter said he wants to deal with this quickly and put an end to all rumours surrounding you, but he understands. He wants one of us to keep him informed of how Lee is.”
“Okay.” I sigh heavily. Well, no time like the present to find out what that bitch has been up to. Fletcher gets us both a coffee from one of those darn machines. I type my name in Google on my phone. Surprisingly enough, it’s the top story.
THE TRUTH ABOUT LOGAN WALKER
Logan Walker has been left out of the team for two games now. Speculation about his mental state is rife, along with talk about his days being numbered at the club, a club that has been home to him for a number of years. A close friend has given us her statement about the rumours surrounding him.
“Logan has been drinking because he’s under immense pressure, and I’m not talking about his playing career. Logan found comfort in my arms after turning to me when he heard Lee MacKay’s news; that she is expecting his baby. Of course, this news was going to be upsetting for him given his history; losing both Nikki and his unborn son in a tragic accident eight years ago. He and Lee aren’t even a couple. He feels pressurised into doing the right thing. What makes a woman trick someone into doing what she’s done? She’s deliberately fallen pregnant. Logan is distraught. He still blames himself for the accident that claimed two innocent lives. I will be there for him whenever he needs me. We have a special relationship and Lee won’t get in the way of that. Having said that, I’m glad she and the baby are okay after her earlier accident at the club.”
What a pack of fucking lies. I slam my phone down, not wanting to read any more of that woman’s twisted story. She has some imagination. As if I would turn to her in my hour of need. This would be laughable if it wasn’t so damn serious. Chantelle is the type of person who doesn’t like to see others happy. First Jess, now Lee. Will she start messing with Fran next?
I stir my coffee before taking a drink. Coffee might not be strong enough to get me through the next few hours. I hope Fletcher is right about Lee and that she’ll see right through Chantelle and her fabricated story.
I need to go back into the room and see her, and tell her about this before she hears it from someone else or reads about it in the morning papers.
“I’m going to speak to her now,” I tell Fletcher, handing him my coffee cup.
“This is going to be all right.”
I enter the room as her parents say their goodbyes, telling Lee they will see her later on in the day. Her dad stops by me and shakes my hand. “Take care of our baby.”
“I’ll do my best, sir.”
“That’s all I ask.” Once her parents leave the room, Jess looks at me and worry fills her eyes. She kisses Lee on the cheek and leaves the room. I know she won’t go far once Fletcher tells her about Peter’s phone call.
Lee looks incredible; so much better than in the middle of the night. My eyes roam her body, liking everything they see. Including her tiny bump. Our tiny piece of perfection growing inside her. She pats the bed, urging me to sit down beside her.
“Are you okay? My parents weren’t that bad with you, were they?” she asks, looking at me with concern.
I’m going to have to just tell her. “No. Your parents are lovely. But I do have something to tell you.” I sit down and close the gap between us. I wish we were at home instead of here.
“You’re worrying me,” she says, rubbing her belly.
“Fletcher took a call from Peter a short time ago.” She frowns and pulls away from me. “There’s a story running in the papers. I need you to read it.” I pause briefly before handing my phone over to let her read it for herself.
The silence in the room is killing me as she reads it. I have no idea how she’s going to respond to this. I hate Chantelle for doing this. For bringing more uncertainty into my life.
She sighs and hands me back my phone. “Is that it?”
“As far as I know.”
“Okay. Can I ask a question?” I nod. “Did you seek comfort in her arms or her bed after I told you I was pregnant?”
“No.” That’s the truth. The only comfort I sought was from a bottle and this she already knows.
“Well, then this story is of no concern to me. Although, we should deal with it straight away. We can’t leave it too long because this will upset my parents. I wish you had told me about this before they left then we could’ve dealt with it together.” I never gave a second thought to how this would affect anyone else. My only concern was Lee.
“So you and I are okay?”
“Of course we are. Chantelle is just some attention-seeking whore who will do anything and hurt anyone to get what she wants. And she wants fame and fortune as far as I can tell. She wants a player who is in the news, grabbing the headlines. My only concern is, who will she move onto next?”
“I hate that my past is now being plastered in the papers again.”
“Logan, Nikki is always going to be there in your past whether you like it or not. There’s nothing you can do about it. I can see it’s upsetting you and I don’t want the media comparing me to Nikki, because that’s not fair on you. You have enough of your own fears deep down inside you.” She leans toward me, brushing her lips lightly against mine. “I love you. Chantelle’s wild story doesn’t change tha
t.” That was exactly what I needed to hear. “We’ll get through this together,” she says softly. “But we’ll need to pay my parents a visit today when the doctor lets me leave to stop my mum worrying.”
“I’m not looking forward to this, but I’ll do anything for you.”
“It will be fine. They like you. Not as much as I do, but I’m sure you’ll grow on them.”
“If you say so.” I climb on the bed and she scoots down a little before leaning back and resting against me. Feelings of warmth flood me. I rest my hand on her tiny bump, thankful they’re both okay. “Try and get some sleep.” Her body melts against mine and I know the minute she’s fast asleep. I grab my phone and type out a text.
You were right. She says we’ll deal with it together. Now take Jess home. Lee is sleeping in my arms and I’ll call you when we’re home. Hopefully we can set up a meeting with Peter for later in the week.
Fletcher: Good. I’ve already spoken to Peter and he just wants Lee to rest
Me: Okay.
Fletcher: Speak to you later.
I smile reading his text. Fletcher has always been there whenever I’ve needed him, regardless of what crap was going on in his life, or even when he was in a different country. All I’ve ever needed to do was pick up the phone and make one call and he would be by my side. But that’s worked both ways. I would do anything for him. The bond we share is like brothers. We always look out for each other and we’re usually the first to tell the other the honest truth. He’ll always tell me when I’ve fucked up. Lately, he’s said that on more than one occasion, bringing me back to reality, telling me to sort my shit out before I lost not only Lee, but the baby she’s carrying. His words still ring loudly in my head.
I don’t want to fuck up and I won’t allow someone like Chantelle to try and drag me down.
Lee
IT’S BEEN A few days since I came home from hospital and I’m desperate to feel him. I need him. He looked shocked when I told him what I wanted this morning. He point blank refused. But I told him he had to trust me.
His glazed eyes stay on me, leaving me breathless and unable to speak. I try to suck in a deep breath. Once, twice, three times before my breathing settles into a pattern.
“Perfection.” His voice is faint, but I do hear the lonely word that leaves his lips. I smile up at him almost coyly.
I need his undivided attention and, from the way he’s looking at me, I have it. But he needs to know there are no doubts in my mind about us and Chantelle’s story that’s been running in the newspapers. She’s only looking for her fifteen minutes of fame, although I’m sure she would love more than that.
For us, this is about trust. Yes, I know what he’s been like in the past. No different to any other guy. It’s just been unfortunate that he’s lived his life in the public eye. Normal guys don’t have their lives documented daily in the newspapers. No one hears about what they get up to. Christ, I’m sure some have got up to a lot worse than Logan.
“I need you,” I murmur, praying silently that my words will be all he needs to hear. There isn’t an inch of my body that doesn’t ache for him. He needs to know that I’m his, that this story doesn’t change a single thing between us.
With a smile, he removes the shorts that are sitting low on his hips before joining me in bed. I slide over, giving him more space, but wanting him to close the gap.
He lies by my side, not touching, just looking. Staring straight into my eyes. The prolonged anticipation building between us is almost, almost, unbearable. I catch sight of his smirk. He’s playing a game, one I know he’ll win, because there’s no way I’ll be able to keep my hands to myself for much longer. Not when I desperately want to touch him. Feel him. Feel his body on mine. He’s already won and he knows it.
Or has he?
His gaze falls and his eyes rake boldly over my body as though memorising each part, taking in every last detail. His hands move but don’t touch me. He’s prolonging my agony. I can’t wait. I can’t fight the overwhelming need to touch him any longer.
He laughs when I throw my arms around his neck. “You win.” I press my lips to his and run my hands roughly through his hair. Warm arms embrace me. My body arches closer to him, needing him. An all too familiar shiver courses through my body, my heart hammering deep in my chest. His lips are pressed against mine and they roughly cover my mouth, claiming what’s his.
Me.
A sense of urgency rips through me. I’m eager for more, but I don’t want this moment to end. Right now, I could spend the whole day in bed, in his arms like this. Not having to think about the outside world. If I wasn’t so lost in our kiss I’m sure I’d be sighing at the thought of having to share him with others today, when we have to deal with the crap that has been written in the press.
But we’ll deal with it together.
For now, I’ll enjoy the sensations sweeping through my body, from my core out. All this from just one kiss. One kiss that sends a thousand volts coursing through my body, giving me that buzz. That feeling of being so alive.
His lips leave mine, showering soft, tender kisses around my swollen lips and along my jawline, leaving my head in a spin. His brown eyes sparkle under the light and his smile is real compared to how lost he’s looked at times over the past few days, when I know his mind has been on other things.
“I love you, Miss MacKay,” he says, trailing his fingers down my side. I giggle when he gets to my hip. I don’t know why, I just do. He smirks, lowering his hand, positioning himself where I want him. I thrust toward him, wanting him inside. Needing him there.
“I love you too. Please don’t make me beg. I need you.”
He lifts my leg slightly, giving him more room. My eyes roll back; I know the shift in position will ensure he goes deeper. With us both still lying on our sides, he thrusts inside me in one quick motion. My hands tug through his hair, harder than before. This is going to be quick.
I giggle again when his hands grab my hips, pulling me closer. I open my eyes when he stops moving and see he’s frowning at me. “Sorry, I can’t help it. I’m suddenly very ticklish.”
“That’s good to know. I’ll use that against you at a later date, but for now . . .” I seal my lips over his, silencing him and taking my thoughts away from my ticklish hips and back to the matter in hand.
My hands roam his back, feeling every muscle tighten as he thrusts harder into me, harder and deeper until my eyes roll back again and I’m a mass of burning sensation, fire spreading through my veins all the way to my heart. A heart that belongs to Logan. All I want to do is slide into space with just him. Our bodies, in exquisite harmony, move together as one. A tempo that bounds our bodies together. Each of us soaring higher and higher.
My orgasm takes me completely by surprise, building fast. My pleasure is explosive as I cry out his name. My body clenches tightly around him as he pushes on, seeking the pleasure of his own release.
He moves from my hold and lowers his head, placing the softest of kisses on my stomach. “Hope Daddy didn’t hurt you.”
My heart melts. That is the sweetest thing. He crawls back up beside me and kisses me on the nose. I bury myself into the warmth of his body.
Right now, my world is complete.
“Are you sure about this?” Logan asks.
“If you ask that question one more time, I might just strangle you. There’s absolutely no hesitation on my part about doing this. Maybe when the press hears our side of the story and I mention the small fact that she tried to cause trouble for Fletcher, they might actually take note of the type of person she is.”
He takes my cheeks in his hands and presses his lips to mine lightly. “You amaze me.”
“I know. I’m pretty incredible. You’re really lucky to have me in your life.”
“I know it, and I will never take it for granted.”
“Have you two finished with the mushy stuff?” Fletcher’s voice booms loudly across the room. He and Jess are walking toward us.
We’re in a waiting room at the stadium and it’s just about time for the press conference the club has organised.
I’ve been briefed by a club official on what to expect from reporters. I think I’m ready for this, but only time will tell.
My mum called earlier, waking me from a sleep. She’s worried that today will take a lot out of me. I assured her I’m fine and told her I will bring Logan over after the press conference. Her reply was to ensure that I do and that she will make us dinner. She said it will be nice to get a chance to see Logan again. Really, she wants to grill him over everything Chantelle has claimed.
I had a strange dream during the night. About Logan and my parents meeting for the very first time when I went into labour. I shudder. That’s my idea of a nightmare. I’m glad they’ve already met, even though it was a brief meeting, but it takes the pressure off.
Logan releases his hold of me just in time for Jess to engulf me in her arms. “How are you feeling?”
“I’m good. Just want this over with now.”
Logan and Fletcher stand talking at the side, their voices low so I can’t hear what’s being said between them. I’m sure Logan will tell me when I ask.
“You’ve handled this so much better than I did.” My mind drifts back to that day. The day Fletcher called me, upset that she had asked him to leave. Jess was distraught with the article in the paper and I would’ve been too if it weren’t for the fact that that bitch has done this before. I’m sure if Jess and I traded places, she would feel exactly how I feel.
“Maybe, but we all know what she’s like. I’m angry that she’s tried to use his past for her gain. He doesn’t need the upset it’s causing him. He has enough going on in his mind just trying to keep his thoughts on the future.”
The door opens and there stands Peter with the club official we spoke to when we first arrived. “Logan, Lee. Are you ready? Everyone is seated.”
I nod and Logan takes my hand.
“We’ll be at the back of the room,” Jess whispers, kissing my cheek. “Good luck.”
Saving the Game Page 14
