Page 10 of The Game

"Is his reason the fact he is a twat?"

Waller flashed me a stern glare from under his greying brows. "You aren't making it easier."

I shoved my hands into the pockets of my chinos. "I didn't know I'd been hired to make things easy. I thought I was here to help you win?"

Waller shrugged. "I know that."

There was a pause of expectancy. "But now you want me to tell Willis that I’m sorry." I couldn't bear to say his name even out loud. To me, he was the Lion: beastly, unapproachable and downright dangerous.

"It may help."

For a whole minute, I was totally wordless. "This is ridiculous."

"I know, Lys, I know."

Blowing a gust of air out of my mouth I lifted my fringe out of my eyes. And then I chose to move on. The Lancashire Lion's problems were his own. I couldn't help what had been done to him in the past, whatever his reason was for being an obnoxious prick. In truth, what I'd been brought up to believe was that your problems were your own. You faced them and dealt.

I stood and brushed my hands down my top. "Fine."

"Fine?" Waller looked surprised.

"I'll apologise for what I said, but you know what? If I don't see him bowl or bat soon then I will be putting him on my bench list, and I don't give a damn who he is or what he has to say about it."

The changing room was a rowdy brawl when I arrived. These guys were like children if left unattended. I clapped my hands and waited for silence. "Okay."

They all looked at me expectantly. More than likely it was known I'd been called into Waller's office for a bollocking. I swallowed it down and focused on the job at hand. I would make these guys a decent winning team if it killed me.

"In the nets today, fifty balls each and expect to chat with me while you do it."

"Fifty?" there was a murmur around the benches.

"Want me to make it more?"

They all jumped, and we filed outside. Bailey fell into step at my side. "You okay?" he asked.

"Sure thing, hotshot."

I liked him. He was friendly and didn't hate me for being the wrong sex. It put him at the top of my good boy list. That was until he opened his mouth and said. "Do you fancy getting a drink with me later?"

My steps faltered. "Drink? just you and me?"

He laughed, and his white teeth glinted in the hot sun. "Well, yes."

I shook my head. "Thanks, but no. I don't think that's a good idea."

The briefest flash of annoyance swept across his face before he turned and grinned. "Figured you'd say that."

"Why'd you ask then?" I touched his arm and pulled him to a stop before we reached the nets.

He grinned. "I don't know." Stepping back, he pulled his practice shirt up over his head, revealing his smooth curved torso beneath.

Bloody hell.

"You don't mind do you, Lys?" he stretched and grinned. "I think I should work on my tan before we face the cameras."

Shaking my head, I laughed at him, and he prodded me with his index finger. "So vain," I said, but I was smiling for the first time in days.

I watched him walk to the nets, swinging a bat in his easy grip. He was not bad to look at after all, but I knew that having a drink with him would be the very worst of ideas. I was fighting for my place as it was without being seen to have favourites.