Page 4 of King of Hearts

“Argh, he is my boss.” I answered, startled by the question. “Look, I’m sorry. I was not supposed to be interviewing you, which you already know. But Felicity was sick and I was sent as her replacement. Lucky me, right? Honestly, I know nothing about you or this game which I realise is such a shock based on the abundant knowledge I’ve showcased thus far.” I joked, grimacing as he continued to stare at me. His eyes narrowed slightly although now he looked amused rather than annoyed. Casually assessing me, his arms crossing over his chest, I felt exposed in a way I never had before and my cheeks flamed. “I’m so sorry, but if I don’t ask you these questions, I am going to lose my job so can you please just be a good old sport and help me out?”

“I don’t owe your people anything!” He snapped and I flinched at the sharp tinge in his words, jarred by the way his previously amused gaze now appeared laced with detest. Not only was I underdressed and underprepared, but I was also now awash with humiliation.

Exasperated, I gritted my teeth realising I was going to need a new job by morning because I was destroying a bloody big opportunity. He continued to stare and I felt the fire begin to swirl in my chest, the word vomit rising close to the surface.

“I realise I am totally unprepared, but how hard is it to just answer some questions!” My patience was wearing thin and his ‘I’ddrop my panties for you’good looks only went so far.

The guy was a dick.

Pushing himself off the wall, he took the smallest step towards me and my breath hitched.

“Maybe you should ask better questions, Arna!” His voice eroded irritation as it danced across my skin. I shivered as I thought about the way my name sounded as it left his mouth, certain no one had ever been sexier when doing so.

Holy shit, I was going to get whiplash. I couldn’t read him yet the way he surrounded me when there was still at least a foot between us was baffling. He looked like he was either going to strangle me or kiss me and I wasn’t sure which I would prefer, but given the dry spell I was currently experiencing, I think I would have enjoyed both.

Nervously shoving my hands in my pockets, I took my bottom lip in between my teeth, and stared back at him with a confidence I did not feel. His eyes darted down to follow the movement and now I was the one who was speechless.

Neither of us spoke, his sharp jaw gritted indignantly, as my breathing increased. The ambient sounds of the room muffled, the blood pulsing in my ears as we stared at each other, his attention torn between my eyes and my lip, still held firmly by my teeth. I mapped his features – the stubble lining his jaw, his long dark lashes framing deep brown eyes which narrowed with a curious anger. And his mouth. Those lips. I was absorbed. Spellbound. When the pad of his finger softly grazed my lower lip, releasing it from the tension of my own grip, I inhaled sharply, my own hand racing to quell the heat left behind from his touch.

His eyes widened as he took a quick step backwards, as shocked by his action as I was.

What the fuck was happening?

A penetrating voice broke the spell, the noise around us returning to its rightful volume, as players were called for a post-match discussion. Andy looked at me for a second longer, his brows bunched in confusion, before he turned and walked away without another word. I watched him go, unable to take my eyes off the muscles that spread across his still sweaty back. He turned to glance in my direction one final time, his face unreadable as my mouth still tingled with the mark he left against my skin. A simple touch. A subconscious, tangible connection. A catalyst to the racing of my heart and the absolute mess of my thoughts.

He shook his head so subtly before he left, taking himself and my job with him.

I was officially screwed.

Thanks for nothing arsehole.

Chapter Three

Andy

Three months later

“Ando, Pup said you’ve got twenty minutes.” Jack called from his position with the centres as I ran another set of Hard Squares with some of the other boys on the field. It was one of the more endurance heavy training drills we did and focused on precision and increasing fitness. It was also one where I could focus entirely on football and improving our skills and ultimately the team. Cognitively, there was little room for anything else, exactly what I loved.

Nodding, I passed the ball to one of the forwards and jogged from the field. Training was intense and as captain I liked to set the tone, meaning making sure I pushed harder than anyone else. It also meant a shower was always necessary straight after.

Why I agreed to this feature with the same platform as my last attempted interview, was beyond me. That was if you could even call it an interview considering I didn’t answer one of her questions and she appeared disorganised to say the least. Only reinforcing my opinion that they were all the same. Entitled and arrogant, simply assuming I would provide them a copy of my life story for them to do with as they wished.

Although, the woman who arrived was not at all what I had been expecting because whenever I was forced into a quick post-match discussion it was generally with another journalist. The surprise packet who arrived was sexy as fuck and had crossed my mind more than once since that day. She was flustered, chaotic and clearly out of her depth, yet it was obvious she had a fire in her and the spark of attitude left me with a strange curiosity. I spent many nights wondering what came over me that day when I reached out and pulled her taut lip free, sadistically enjoying the jolt of hunger which always swam through me when I thought about that small touch. But – there was no way I would ever let myself forget why I hatedthemso much, regardless of how often I sought release to the memory of her supple lips and the curvature of that fucking arse. The fact remained that she was one ofthemand they were all interchangeable with their lack of ethics and morals.

Frustratingly though, I still needed to get both Kieran and the team off my back about the fact it was mid-season and there had been no media interaction on my end. I was their captain and to them it came with the position meaning as much as I loathed these monotonous conversations, I had no choice and today marked that obligatory moment.

Forget about the fact I was one of the best players on the team, giving them my heart and soul week in and week out. That was irrelevant. They literally wrote a clause into my contract, highlighting the section so it was crystal clear, or in this case, fluorescent yellow, that I was required to conduct at least one major interview per season with a reputable tabloid. Who it was with or what I said was inconsequential, so long as my face was plastered on a billboard somewhere.

Publicity for me meant publicity for them – good or bad. Which was exactly why I was going to be sitting down for an interview within the next hour. My decision around today had proved far more difficult than it normally did though. I alternated between having Pup choose a random outlet – specifically one who would bring in the highest ratings – or selecting the same people I always did. Ultimately, my hormones won and I settled on Urban Pulse because I hoped I was going to get that same gorgeous blonde who walked into the sheds a few months ago with more attitude than someone should have brought to ajob.

Jack ran to catch up to me as I greedily drank from my water bottle and headed for the change rooms. Hydration was crucial with how much I trained but it was especially balmy today and I was slightly more on edge than usual.

“You nervous or something, Cap?” I looked over to him, his forehead dripping with sweat mirroring my own.

“Why would I be nervous?” I asked, using my sleeve to wipe the droplets from my head.

“Usually, we have to tell you a hundred times to leave the park but today you practically sprinted off. What gives?” He was staring at me like I was spiking a fever, and in fairness, I wasn’t sure myself. The interest tampering with my normally laser-like focus was not something I had ever experienced.

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