‘A
re you nervous?’ Zara asked.
Ward, with his arm wrapped around her shoulders, he held her close to his side as she escorted him to his car.
In six hours, he would be standing in the middle of a stadium full of screaming fans. Yet here he stood in the serenity of the countryside where horses grazed in emerald fields beneath clouds that floated like overfull marshmallows. A dog barked, a horse neighed, and chickens clucked. But there was no one else, except the most amazing woman before him. Wrapping his arms around her slender waist, he admired her hair that was the colour of summer. It contrasted with her eyes that matched this morning’s winter sky.
‘I don’t get nervous before games anymore. Used to in the beginning.’ He’d been nervous about last night’s dinner, scared of her reaction—which went better than expected. Would he be nervous today?
He’d been so distracted by her, he hadn’t thought about the game until now. How was that possible?
‘When did you get nervous before playing? On the first whistle thingy?’
‘Siren.’ He grinned at her lack of game knowledge. ‘I dunno, it’s been a while.’ Stroking the soft strands of her fringe from her eyes, he tucked them behind her dainty ear. ‘It used to be just before we ran onto the field, that’s when it’d hit me the most. The rest of it’s the waiting, keeping occupied, stretching, and prepping before I play. I know how to keep busy.’ Nuzzling below her earlobe and delicate neck, he watched the prickles rush across her skin.
She squirmed as the blush glowed softly on her cheeks. ‘Have you got the energy for today?’
‘If I didn’t have to go, we’d still be in bed.’ He brought her close, chest to chest, kissing her lips he just couldn’t stop kissing.
‘You don’t want to be late.’ She pressed her palms against his chest, breaking from his embrace and stepped back.
He frowned at the distance, now cold away from her.
Zara wrapped the blanket around herself like a shawl, covering last night’s dress. ‘If you get nervous and feel it’s all too much—’
‘I won’t.’ The woman cared, awesome. Unable to help himself, he pulled her back to his chest. He liked her close, especially when he knew she was naked under that dress.
‘Just in case, feel free to call me, okay?’
‘Will you answer?’ His eyebrow arched, resting his forehead against hers.
‘I will today.’
‘And every other day I call.’
‘Pushy, huh?’
Yet it was her palms pressing against his chest trying to push him away, again.
‘I go after what I like. If you hadn’t realised, Z, you’re my favourite.’
Her eyes narrowed at him. ‘Like a favourite brand of chocolate or TV-show-of-the-moment?’
‘Not like that. More than that.’ He pressed his lips against hers to stop his mouth from making more of a mess. Holding her body close, he didn’t want to let go of her at all.
‘Wow.’ Her beautiful eyes were glazed, blinking up at him as if to regain her focus.
‘See you soon.’ He winked at her and turned to his car where Max sat waiting by the door with head low. He wiped his mouth, looking at the dog’s pleading eyes.
Ward opened his car door and the dog whimpered.
Damn.
Ward slid his thumbs into his jeans’ pockets, tilting his head at the dog. ‘Max…’ He paused his prepared speech—but he couldn’t say it. ‘Get in.’
The dog leaped inside before Ward had finished speaking. His huge fawn rump filled the passenger window until he found the perfect spot to sit. With a wide gummy smile, his black tongue flicked across his furry face, and the thump-thump-thumping tail tap-danced against the leather seat.
‘You’re taking Max home, huh?’ Zara wrapped her arms around herself as she smiled into her blanketed arms as if covering her lips from the cold. But her eyes shone brightly with joy that warmed his own heart.
He couldn’t be a prick. Not now. But still…
‘You have until Monday, focus on the game first, please.’
It was as if the woman had read his mind.
‘Good luck today, you’ll do well.’
‘Thank you.’ The belief she showed him made him hug her more. ‘I’ll talk to you soon.’
He drove along the long gravel driveway, watching Zara wave him off through the rear-view mirror. He was going to come back soon. Very soon.
Onto the main road, he glanced at the massive hulking frame of the dog in the front seat. ‘Do you think Zara will want to do this as a permanent thing with me?’ He looked at the dog who sniffed at him. ‘She’s special, and you’re just ugly, you know that.’ He chuckled at Max with his half-chewed ears, covered in scars.
Yet there was an increase in the muscle tone and strength to Max. All that running was paying off and the light tanned coat had a shine to it. ‘My housemates will be glad to see you. Not sure if I’ll share my new crockery with them though.’ Ward laughed. He owned crockery and cutlery, all for one dinner date. Did that make him domesticated?
‘Just so we’re clear, this is until Monday.’ He had his excuse to return when he had Monday off and knew Zara did too. ‘I’ll make my decision then, okay? Can’t believe I’m talking to a dog.’ Which was starting to become a regular thing.
Max gave him that sad, puppy-dog stare as if he understood.
Ward dodged a black-tongue flick. ‘Don’t do doggy kisses.’ Not when he had Zara to kiss. ‘You did well last night. You’re a good dog.’ He patted the dog’s big head, bringing on another round of thump-thump-thumping taps of the tail.
But Ward had other things to focus on as he drove towards town. Today was game day, where he’d prove to the coach and those sceptics that he’d recovered. He was fit enough to play, but knew they were waiting to see if he was mentally fit too.
‘I’ll show them all.’ Ward drove back to the city to get ready for the game. He loved the game. He loved his job. Did he love Zara too?