Offside: A Bad Boy Sports Romance (5 page)

“This is not a vacation, Jasper. Play ball and stay out of trouble, I mean it.”

Penny nods. “Don’t disappoint me, Jasper.”

“I don’t think there’s any chance of that happening. I can tell you’re already a big fan of mine.”

Harrison squeezes my hand just that little bit tighter.

“Penny’s off-limits, Jasper, just like every other woman that works in this club. You want to fuck someone, do it out of state and undercover.”

Penny sighs. Obviously this isn’t the first time he’s given someone this talk, and he probably said the same thing to the quarterback. Finally he lets my hand go. Next to each other I’m a foot or two bigger than him, but he looks like he’d still give me a run for my money in a fair fight. I’ve got to respect that, plus I respect his position in the club. What I don’t respect is being told I’m not allowed something that isn’t his to give away.

“Let’s just start with the football. You tell me how to play and I’ll show you what I can do. The rest we’ll work out as we get to it.”

I have my eyes on Penny purposely then, just to see how she reacts. I’m looking forward to getting to know her a lot better. Thank Christ for her. Without her I’d die in this environment.

“That it?”

“If you’ve got it, that’s it until tomorrow.”

“So where do I go to get a drink?”

“Don’t test me, Jasper. Until you prove otherwise, you and I are not friends.”

Penny

When Dad has warned Jasper off woman, drinking, stepping out of line and anything else that is likely to send his blood pressure through the roof, and he’s convinced our new English rugby player convert is going to respect those rules under pain of death, the day is finally over.

“Sorry about Dad, he’s always stressed at the start of the season.”

“Don’t worry about it, I get it. I’ve met quite a few protective fathers in the past.”

“You don’t know the half of it.”

“That quarterback must be something.”

Something is definitely the word for it. “Dad wasn’t all that keen.”

“I can imagine.”

“You’ll meet him tomorrow.”

“I can’t wait.”

“Were you serious about that drink?”

I know this probably isn’t a good idea, but it’s been a long day already and I don’t feel like going home just yet.

“I’m always serious about a drink.”

“Just don’t tell Dad.”

“Are you serious? He’d send me straight home if I did.”

“You know he’s bullshitting, right? He just does that to warn players off. He did the same with Topher even though Topher’s like the most straight laced sportsman you’ll ever come across.”

“That what you like in your family is it? Straight laced.”

“Come on, let’s go and get a drink. I’ll give you the rundown on what you can really expect from your time here at Moxlin.”

“You make it sound like I’m going to need a survival guide.”

“That isn’t all that far from the truth.”

“Topher isn’t going to mind you taking me out?”

“Topher doesn’t get to say what I do. We’re engaged to be married, we’re not joined at the fucking hip. Besides which, he doesn’t drink, and I do, and right now, I need a drink.”

“Then lead the way, I’m never going to say no to a pretty lady asking me to the bar.”

“Alright, but before we go any further, you’re going to promise me one thing.”

“Not you as well.”

“My reputation is on the line here, professional and personal.”

He holds up his hands, and I’m sure he does it purposely in the way that makes his biceps flex and bulge.

“I’ll keep it in my pants, I promise.”

I can’t help but look at the bulge in those pants and I’m pretty sure he catches me.

“Just don’t complicate my life unnecessarily, that’s all.”

“How long did you say you and Topher have been going out?”

“Don’t, Jasper. One football player is enough for me.”

“I’m a rugby player remember.”

“Not here you’re not.”

“We’ll see.”

“We’ll see what?”

“How long you can resist me for.”

“Just get in the fucking car.”

“That how you talk to all the players?”

“Bridges, Jasper. I can drive you back to the motel or we can get a drink. It’s up to you. Don’t flatter yourself into thinking you’re the first whose advances I’ve had to deal with. To be honest, I thought you might be a lot less transparent. I guess I gave you way too much respect.”

“Sorry to disappoint you, I just like being direct.”

I make a point of flashing the ring Topher gave me at him. “Home or bar?”

Jasper drums his fingers on the metal of the car roof. “Drink.”

“Good choice.”

Finally he climbs inside it again.

“You invite all of the players for a drink on the first day you meet them?”

“Only the ones I think need it.”

“Not everything you read in the papers is true you know.”

“You’ve got six months to prove that to me.”

“Hopefully I’ll manage it in less time than that.”

“Just as long as you don’t fuck up on the way.”

“Hey, you’re the one inviting me for a drink remember.”

“I still think it’s the best way to get to know someone, and if you’re playing for the Tigers, and I’m going to be responsible for you, I’m going to have to make sure I know what I’m dealing with.”

Jasper and I share a look.

“You just tell me how intimate you want to be.”

“Oh you’ll soon know if you’ve overstepped the line. You’ve seen how much of a hard ass my dad is, right? Well, it isn’t him that the players are most scared of.”

“Is that right? Penny’s a bad ass.”

“I grew up with a big brother, I know how to protect myself if I need to.”

“Somehow I don’t doubt that.”

I take him to O’Connors. It’s a dive bar as good as any, where the beer is cheap and the conversation only comes if you want it. Most of the times I’ve been in here they leave you alone, which is just what I need tonight. Jasper seems to like it. I think he’d like anywhere I’d take him though. All of this is new and shiny and he’s got a grin on his face like a big kid in a candy store. It must be weird being somewhere so different. Moxlin is my life. I grew up here and I’ll probably die here, and aside from the trips we take with the team I’ve never been anywhere different, but for him it’s a brand new world.

I order two beers and we take a booth in the corner.

“Welcome to Moxlin.”

“Thank you for bringing me here, I think.”

“It’s alright. I know it isn’t London but we’ll try and make you feel at home.”

“You’re doing alright so far.”

In just a few sips, Jasper’s almost finished his pint.

“You know we’ve got training tomorrow, right?”

“You coming to pick me up again or shall we just go straight from mine?”

“You’ve not got a girlfriend back home I take it?”

“Too much hassle.”

“That’s romantic.”

“Alright, I haven’t met the right girl yet.”

“Plenty of good looking girls in Moxlin.”

“You might have to show me where, now that I know you’re out of the game.”

“You wouldn’t want to date the boss’s daughter anyway, it’s a hell of a responsibility.”

“Someone’s got to do it.”

“That’s not what my dad has always thought.”

“So what’s with that then? You just a tomboy or what?”

“My brother hated the game growing up, so Dad and I always used to throw the ball to each other. It’d drive my mom mad. Each time she’d try and make me act like a girl but I wasn’t having it. In the end she just gave up. Football’s in my blood. Dad used to play for Moxlin back in the seventies.”

“Back when they were good, right?”

“Hey!”

“It isn’t much of a secret. That’s why I’m here, right? To save your asses.”

“It’s harder than you think.”

“You going to pick me up when I fall?”

“Depends whether you carry on running again when I do.”

Jasper’s finished his beer and I’ve barely touched mine. When he comes back to the table he does so with two fresh pints and six bags of crisps.

“Hungry?”

“Starving.”

“I’d invite you over for dinner, but Topher might get a little jealous.”

“He might get jealous anyway.”

“I’m sure he’ll cope with it.”

“So, you’re getting married, that’s nice.”

“Always wanted to marry a quarterback.”

“That reminds me, I don’t know where you want me to play, or even what options there are. Am I going to look like a fool tomorrow?”

If he’s concerned, he doesn’t look it.

“We’ll go through all of that tomorrow, don’t worry about it. Everyone knows this isn’t your game, they know you’re going to need some time to get up to speed with it.”

“It’s a hell of a gamble. You know I’m what they call a bad boy, right?”

“I read the papers.”

“So why the risk?”

“Because I think you’re worth it.”

“You’re just saying that because you like me.”

“I don’t know you. Not the real you, anyway.”

“You want to though, don’t you?”

“Don’t flatter yourself, I need to.”

“You know rugby players are better looking, stronger, fitter and generally just a lot more fun than American football players?”

“Is that right?”

Jasper nods. Any more confidence in his own ability and he’d go round full circle.

“You need to know anything about me, just ask.”

“I’ll bear that in mind.”

“Topher’s a lucky guy.”

“What makes you say that?”

“You’re a good looking girl, you know how to drink, you speak your mind. You seem like fun.”

“We’ll have this conversation again the day you have to leave and we’ll see what changes between then and now.”

“You think appearances can be deceptive?”

“I think you don’t know me well enough to say.”

Jasper raises his glass into the air.

“Well, let’s make sure we change that. What time do you have to be in bed?”

“Earlier than you are going to like.”

“That’s no fun.”

“You want to change your mind about me?”

“Give me a few weeks and we’ll see.”

“Don’t cause me trouble, Jasper. I brought you here so I could officially welcome you to the Moxlin Tigers.”

“And because you wanted a drink.”

“And because it’s been a busy few days organizing this and I needed to unwind. Moxlin have zero money. We are fucked. If we don’t start winning, the club goes under. That’s a lot of pressure for a club my father has been involved in for most of his life.”

“Then we just have to make sure we don’t lose.”

“That’s the plan.”

“Don’t worry. Now that you’ve got me, we’ll be absolutely fine. I just need a few things to keep me happy along the way. A few drinks, the love of a good woman, and somewhere decent to sleep.”

“We’ll sort that.”

“Was that seriously the best you could find?”

“It was short notice.”

“I could have stayed with you.”

I don’t know whether he’s jerking around or he’s being serious. Whatever, he’s got some balls.

“Like Topher would have agreed to that.”

“Come on, you make it sound like I wouldn’t have been able to keep my hands off you.”

“You’ve already said I’m a good looking girl. What am I supposed to think?”

“Maybe if you weren’t already out of the game you’d be thinking a little differently. It doesn’t take a genius to work out that’s what attracted you to the game in the first place. It must be fun being surrounded by hot and sweaty men all day long.”

“Believe me, it’s not.”

I don’t know whether he does believe me, but whatever. As many men as I’m surrounded by at the club, I’ve only got eyes for Topher. Sure we’ve got our problems like everyone else, and Topher can be a dick and it’s true that he hasn’t always had eyes for me but when we are good together we are absolutely solid. That’s why we are getting married, and that’s why, despite myself, I forgave him for the last two times he strayed.

“It must be a bonus though.”

Jasper nudges my arm affectionately. I hold up my hands in defense.

“If I find myself in the locker room, I’m there purely in a professional capacity.”

“That’s usually my excuse.”

“Yeah well hopefully you won’t need one this time around.”

I take the pint Jasper has bought for me and pour half of it into his empty glass.

“Thanks.”

“I can’t drink it if you want me to drive you back.”

“No, thanks for this. It’s kind of you.”

“I’m your chaperone. What kind of a welcome would it be if I took you right back home and dumped you there without a second thought? You don’t know this city, and I’ve seen enough players come through from outside of Moxlin to know that everyone needs a friend to help them settle in.”

“
And
you wanted to get to know me right? I can see that twinkle in your eye.”

Jasper’s going to be trouble, I can tell. I like him already, he seems like fun, which is usually a terrible sign.

“Purely in a professional capacity.”

“Of course.”

“Dad’s relying on you.”

“He looks like he’s going to take some convincing.”

“You wait until tomorrow.”

“Your boyfriend going to give me a hard time?”

“He can be an ass sometimes, especially with new players. It’s a competitive jock thing, don’t let him rile you. I shouldn’t even be telling you.”

“Maybe I ought to get in early and surprise them.”

“You don’t want to come across as too much of a nerd.”

“And you don’t want to get out of bed too early.”

“More to the point.”

“I’m going to need a car.”

“I’ll sort your cell phone your bank and a brand new hotel out this week, a car might have to wait.”

“You’ll have to keep picking me up.”

“You can get a taxi.”

“How would we get to know each other better?”

“Perhaps we shouldn’t.”

“Is that because you reckon you won’t be able to resist me.”

“I’ll tell you that when I know you’re trying to seduce me.”

“Don’t tell me you didn’t expect it.”

“I didn’t expect it so soon.”

“Maybe I’m just playing around to be nice.”