Dare To Love Series_Daring the Hard Man Read online

  “Thank you.” Everything he’d said hit home hard. She’d long since been of the mind her job wasn’t as important and she tried harder because she was the first in her family to not wear a badge and that hurt. “I’ll let you know by the beginning of next week at the latest.”

  He nodded. “Good.” He slid an envelope over the desk. “This is what your salary would be. Think and let me know. Have a great weekend.”

  Taking the white envelope, she sighed. “Good night, boss.”

  “Night, Henderson.”

  She left his office and got to her car. She drove through the streets to her apartment. After a shower and change, she got back in her vehicle and headed to her parents’. Her usual shift had her working overnight but she’d picked up some extra hours since she wasn’t going in for the weekend.

  Parking behind her brother’s truck, she climbed out and jogged up the steps to the front door. “Hello to the house,” she called out entering.

  “Hey baby,” her father said as he walked in the room, stopping to kiss her cheek. “You’re the last one here. We’re just about to sit down.”

  “Sorry, Mr. Best had something to talk to me about after work.”

  Her father lifted an eyebrow. “Everything okay?”

  “Yes. I’ll tell you over dinner.” Together, they walked to the dining room and she kissed her mother and said hello to her siblings.

  As her father said grace, she looked around the table. Parents on either end of the long table. Her siblings and their spouses as well as children all present. It could be loud and chaotic but she wouldn’t miss it for the world nor give it up.

  Devon was seated beside her and he dipped his head. “You okay?”

  “Fine.”

  “You look like you’ve got a lot on your mind.” He handed her the potatoes.

  She scooped some onto her plate. “I do.”

  “Care to share?”

  “I will in a bit.”

  Conversation flew around the table, lively and fun. Right up until the point where Wayne looked down the table at her. “Have you told Mom and Dad about your boyfriend?”

  Silence fell and everyone turned to stare at her.

  I’m killing him. Fratricide or whatever the hell it’s called. I can’t believe he threw it out there like that.

  “You have a boyfriend?” her mother questioned.

  “No,” she replied.

  All her brothers gave her a pointed look and she groaned. Passing on the potatoes, she accepted the plate of pork chops that was offered to her. She used the fork to put one on her plate then handed it off.

  “So I’m confused, do you have a boyfriend or don’t you? And if you do, why haven’t we heard of him or met him?” Mom again.

  “I don’t have a boyfriend. I have friend I met while I was out in Miami with Marlie. He’s male. So my brothers think he’s my boyfriend.”

  “I’d prefer to think you’re not sleeping around with just a friend,” Kevin put out there.

  She groaned and gripped her knife before cutting into her pork chop. “Are we really discussing sex in front of the young kids? And if we are, can we not discuss my sex life but someone else’s?”

  “Fine, no talk of sex until they’re gone. Who is he?” Her father bit into his dinner roll. “What do we know about him?”

  “Ask your sons, they ran him. Each one. Ran him. Like he was a criminal.” She dabbed the corners of her mouth with her napkin. “Although to hear them tell it, you two both ran him as well.”

  Her mother gave her a frown. “Is he?”

  “No, Mom. He’s not. He’s an athlete.”

  “Not just an athlete, he’s a striker for the Washington Ospreys. One of their best players. A few infarctions on his record but nothing serious. And nothing in a good number of years.” Wayne gave the report without hesitation.

  Her other brothers added in some other information they’d accrued.

  Kaitlyn dropped her fork and knife, putting her hands up in surrender. “Am I the only one at this table who finds it not only odd but also wrong that you’ve just run a man’s information because he talked to a family member?”

  “Talking? Is that what you’re calling it?” Devon scoffed. “I checked with the hotel, you were there all night and part of the morning before you left.”

  She covered her face with her hands. “Oh, my God. I can’t believe you…Never mind, yes I can.”

  “Why were you in a man’s room all night, Aunt Kaitlyn?” Erin, her niece posed the question. She was six.

  “Can we please change the subject?” she asked. “Don’t worry about it, Erin.”

  Her father stared at her, his expression unreadable. He was a captain on the force and it showed. Or didn’t, in the case of his emotions and feelings. “Fine, how about you tell us what news you got today.”

  That I can handle.

  Erin however, beat her to the punch. “My best friend Dolly says when a man and a woman spends the night together in a room, they get pregnant. So are you going to have a baby, Aunt Kaitlyn?”

  She dropped her head in her hands once more and groaned. Dear Lord, take me now.

  Chapter Six

  Luca grunted as he hit the ground from the bicycle kick he just did. Bouncing back up, he turned and ran after the ball one of his teammates moved up the pitch to the Tempests’ goal. He swore as a pass was intercepted by the Tempests.

  “Focus,” he shouted. “Stop giving away the damn ball. We’re not here to lose.”

  He rushed by two of the other players, shouldering them out of his way, uncaring when they fell to the ground. He kept his eye on the ball and poured on the speed.

  The midfielder for the Tempests dribbled in his direction, winding past several close proximity of Luca’s teammates.

  Tracking him for a moment, he ran toward him and slid, challenging.

  The man dropped and grabbed his shin, screaming out in agony.

  Luca gained his feet and went to the ball but stopped when the whistle blew. Foot on the ball, he swore as the referee jogged up.

  Digging into his pocket, the ref yanked out a yellow card. “You need to be more careful. Watch your challenges.”

  Luca couldn’t believe it. “That’s fucking bullshit. He’s not hurt, are you kidding me?” he yelled.

  David grabbed him around the waist and dragged him backward. “Let it go, man, let it go.”

  “He’s fucking full of shit. I challenged him clean.” He shoved David’s arm off.

  “You’re the hard man, deal with it. Shake it off and get moving.”

  Glaring at the man who’d just cost him a yellow, Luca took David’s words to heart. Funny, how after I get the card, the fucker gets up without an issue and is ready to play once more.

  Another whistle and the game was back on. Up and back they ran, pressing for the goal. They got closer and closer. Dribbling as he moved, he heard from his left side, “Man on!”

  He zagged and tried to lose the one coming up from behind him. From the corner of his eye, he spied another teammate open and passed the ball to him.

  “Luca!”

  He sped up, aware of what the cry meant. And he stuck his foot out for the ball, caught it and kept it moving along. The goalie watched him and Luca passed the ball again to his right to one of their newer players. Not new to the game, Johan had been in the league for years, but new to the Ospreys.

  Suddenly, there was a loose ball and the ensuing goalmouth scramble was chaotic. He jumped for a header directing it to the goal. David was there and with a beautiful light touch, he angled it in for a goal, slinging just over their goalie’s gloved fingertips. David ran and slid on his knees across the pitch.

  Luca and others jumped on him, screaming their congratulations. They piled onto the ground, laughing and congratulating each other.

  “Good job, David.” Luca helped him to his feet as they ran back to their positions. They were now tied. He cracked his neck as he waited for the goalie to toss the ball
back into play. However, just as he drew his arm back the whistle for halftime rang out.

  He wiped the sweat from his brow and headed for the locker room. As he jogged off with his teammates, he glanced up and smiled when he saw his woman sitting there. Kaitlyn. She wore a tank top but at least it was in his team colors. She stared directly at him and he nearly paused. He wasn’t sure about her expression. Was she enjoying herself? Was she pissed he got carded?

  He ducked into the dark tunnel leading to the locker room and put her from his mind. They’d managed to even it up, now they had to pull it off for the win. He listened to coach and bounced on the balls of his feet as they waited in the tunnel to head back out to the pitch.

  “What’s going on with you?” David asked from behind him.

  “Don’t know what you’re talking about.” He continued facing the light they were about to walk out into.

  “You’re full of shit and normally, I wouldn’t care but even coach is noticing a difference in you.”

  Now, he faced his teammate. “Are you going on about the card? I get them. Often. Like you love reminding me, I’m ‘Hard Man’ so they will blame me, even when it’s a damn good challenge.”

  “I’m talking about how quiet you were in half time. You typically have a lot to say but we couldn’t pry anything out of you in there.”

  “I’m not the captain, it was Rolf’s place to speak not mine.”

  The referees walked up between the two lines of teams.

  Luca cracked his neck once more and took several deep breaths as they waited to be lead out. With a quick prayer upstairs, he shook out his arms and fell into step with the procession as it headed back out onto the field.

  The moment his feet hit the pitch, he sighed. To him, there wasn’t any place more magical in the world. This was his domain. Anything was possible here. Sharing a look with David, he jogged to his position.

  Eyes on Rolf, the man gave him a nod and he returned it. They weren’t taking any prisoners for this final half. They came to win and planned on stamping it on the opponents that they faced either home or away, that the Ospreys were a team to be feared and reckoned with.

  As it was, they pulled off a close one, but a win was a win and he would take it. Sure, there were things that could be done better and things never to be done again but there were no red cards leveled on their side.

  “Good game, Van der Laar.”

  Luca turned to find a friend from his own country walking up, sweat dripping off his body. “Thanks, Hannes. You too.” They hugged. “How do you like being here in Chicago?”

  “Truthfully, I love it. The team could use someone like you to help us. We’re a new team and growing but as you can see, we’re definitely not without some pains and room for improvement.” They spoke Dutch as they stood there.

  People around them exchanged jerseys and chatted.

  “You recruiting now?” he teased.

  “If I can tell my coach that if they offer it correct and you’d come, hell yes. I want you here because I want to win. Well, that and you’re my friend. We could even share an apartment and cut down on cost.”

  “You sure you want me around? I know how much you like your women.”

  “No different than you, man.”

  Luca shook his head. “Oh, no. I’m a one woman man now. No one else will do it for me.”

  “Sure, I know that baby scare freaked you out, but I don’t see you giving up women.”

  “I have a woman and she’s more than enough for me.”

  “Is she here?”

  They headed to the tunnel.

  “Yes. I sent her and a friend tickets to come.”

  “Look, I know we have another game in two days, so you’re in town for a while. We need to do dinner. You have my number…put it to good use. I’ll excuse you tonight since you say your girlfriend is here, but tomorrow, we hit the town.”

  “You got it. Good to see you, man.”

  “You too, Luca.” They went their separate ways inside the tunnel heading to their separate locker rooms.

  The moment he was in the guest one they used, he headed for his phone and dialed Kaitlyn.

  “Hello,” she answered on the first ring.

  “Hey liefje. How’d you like the game?”

  “I had fun. Not sure of all the rules, but I can’t say I didn’t enjoy it.”

  “Good. Stay where you are, I’m having security bring you and your friend back here, okay?”

  “You’re bringing us back there to the locker room?” A high squeal erupted from beside her. “Jesus, Jenny, don’t do that. I think she’s excited.”

  “What about you?”

  “I’m looking forward to seeing you.”

  “And I you. Give me a bit. Don’t move.”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it.” She ended the call.

  He arranged for one of the guards to go bring them down. Luca showered in a rush and when he walked out with a towel around his waist, the reporters were milling around, asking questions. He dressed and was tying on his boots when they approached him. Answering the questions, he maintained his professional behavior but the moment he spied the guard stepping back in, giving him a nod, he was done. “Excuse me,” he said walking away. “Thanks for helping me out, Jayson.” He shook the guard’s hand.

  “No problem.”

  He’d just gotten to the door when David caught up to him. “Girlfriend out here? And the big question is, did she bring her friend?”

  “Yes, and yes.” He stepped out of the locker room and his heart kicked up into his mouth. There she was.

  She and her friend were engaged in discussion.

  He took a second to allow his gaze to rove over her.

  While she wasn’t wearing his jersey, the tan and gold colors of his team looked wonderful on her. The shirt merely said Ospreys on it and her jean shorts were white, showing off the beautiful tan of her legs.

  “Damn,” David said beside him. “They’re both hot, so I don’t care which one is yours, I’m willing to take the other.”

  “Shut up.”

  At that moment, Kaitlyn glanced over to the door and a grin lifted her lips.

  His heartbeat lifted speed as well. He couldn’t help but return the smile as he strode to her. Without slowing or thinking of anything else, he covered her mouth with his and claimed her in front of everyone, including the reporters in the hall. He saw the flashes of bulbs and heard the clicking as they shot their pictures, but he didn’t care. Kaitlyn was his.

  Drawing back, he stared down into her slightly unfocused gaze, her parted lips shone and he wanted to kiss her again. Instead, he ran the backs of his fingers down her cheek. “Hi,” he whispered.

  αβ

  Kaitlyn unclenched her hands and took a deep breath. Damn, the man could kiss. She sucked her lower lip in her mouth and angled her head slightly away from the flashing cameras. Not that there was a good place to go being surrounded by them but she tried. “Hi,” she replied. “This is my friend, Jenny. Jenny, this is Luca.”

  They shook hands. “So nice to meet a friend of my Kaitlyn,” he said.

  Jenny looked between them. “Your Kaitlyn? I’ve known her longer.”

  He nodded and bent closer. “I’m sleeping with her.” His eyes sparkled. “Unless you want to tell me you’re doing that as well?”

  Jenny laughed. “Nope, got me beat. Who’s the cutie with you?”

  God love her friend, never got thrown by a change in subject.

  “David,” the man said stepping closer, hand out for hers. “David Muller.”

  “Jenny Bayhill.” Her voice had gone all soft and sexy.

  The man looked over at her, locking onto her with those piercing blue eyes. She offered her own hand. “Kaitlyn Henderson.”

  “Lovely to meet you both. Can we interest you in joining us for a meal?”

  Jenny gave her a pleading glance.

  She hadn’t needed to, Kaitlyn didn’t want to leave Luca so fast. “Sure th
ing, we’d love to.”

  “So who’s this woman you’ve been kissing? She looks like the one we have you with in Miami? Is she the same one?” A reporter thrust his recorder between them.

  Luca immediately took charge, inserting himself in front of her and David did the same for Jenny.

  While typically, Kaitlyn liked fighting her own battles, this reporter thing unnerved her, so she had no problems with them stepping in.

  “We’ll make a statement on our relationship when we’re ready. Until then, leave us alone. Excuse us, we have a prior engagement.” Luca kept himself between her and the reporter as well as the wall on her other side, so no one else could get to her.

  David again, was doing the same to Jenny.

  They got out to the parking and suddenly, they were on the outside of her and Jenny.

  Luca held her hand, his thumb continually stroking her skin, setting up a slow burning fire that wouldn’t take much to ignite to a full burn. A car waited for them and the four climbed in the back. She faced Luca and sat beside Jenny on the leather seat.

  Luca allowed his leg to brush against hers, as they started moving. “It’s been a while since I’ve been with you in a limo,” he said.

  Her entire body heated up by a few hundred degrees as she recalled how things were in the limo the last time with him. “Yes, Miami was a while ago.”

  “I remember.”

  So did she. She struggled for some moisture in her mouth and his lips quirked as if he knew exactly what her problem was.

  They went to eat at the hotel and the hostess sat them in the back. No one bothered them and it was a great meal. Afterward, they went their separate ways. Jenny and David headed off to do their own thing, leaving her and Luca together.

  He pulled her close and captured her chin in his fingers. “I missed you.”

  “I missed you too.”

  “A lot? Or just a little bit?”

  “If I say a lot, what does that get me, versus if I say a little?”

  “A lot, if I’m doing my job right, a little and I need to give you some more attention.” His eyes darkened. “Of the personal variety.”