Page 8 of Arrogant Rucking Player

It took everything in me not to grab her hand, pull her into me, and tell her not to hide just because she had a broken nail from work, because I could figure that much out for myself. But I managed to keep my hands to myself while her son circled us, kicking the ball about with a decent amount of skill.

“That sound.” She nodded decisively as I rubbed my hand over my mouth, staring down at her.

A smile of my own threatened my lips. “That sound says Brady reminds me of me as a kid, and that his teachers should be doing more to help him out. But maybe I can. Not that I’m qualified, exactly.”What the hell am I doing?This definitely came underoverstepping my bounds.

“You…were, youarelike Brady?” Nyla corrected herself as she stepped into my space hesitantly, pivoting on her heel to watch him play. “He’s so?—”

“Enthusiastic. Full of fun. And he means so well. That’s the main thing, Nyla. Don’t let that drive to be joyful turn inward, to anger. If it does—” I pressed my knuckles to my chest, over my heart. “It’ll hurt like hell here.”

“You’re talking from experience.” That was not a question. Her head canted to one side, the sunlight striking her cheek in a brilliant glow of golden skin. “Aren’t you?”

That one was a question, and I had to answer her.

I swallowed. “Yeah. Let’s say my teenage years sucked a bit, but I was lucky and had some good family who cuffed the back of my head when I needed it and pulled me into line.” I forced a smile when she frowned. “You don't like the idea of that.”

“It sounds violent.”

“It was love.” I grinned at the memory. “My cousins knew I was being a little shit, excuse my language.” I winced after pulling Brady up for his all day. “And that I needed a reminder to behave like a human, just like everyone else. There's no room for pedestals in family. We’re all the same. The day my call came that sent me to Australia, we all left together. That’s what family is for.” I shrugged as she watched me, her eyes dark and huge and luminous.

And glittering.

Nyla breathed out. “I wouldn’t know.”

My heart lurched in my chest. “Brady told me a bit about his dad?—”

That’s all I got out before she pivoted again, moving faster than I would have given her credit for, but apparently that speed was a trait Brady drew from his mother’s side.

“Brady, it’s time to go.” Even her voice was abrupt as she covered ground in short, quick steps that put distance between us a hell of a lot faster than my brain could process.

I rolled my lips inward but didn’t chase after her, flexing my fingers at my sides. Brady kicked the ball back to me. I caught it one handed returning his wave, though my mind flickered to the logo embroidered on her work apron that wasn’t covered for once.Cowboy’s Pitstop,along with the Busty Betty pictured next to the words.

Who knew, maybe I’d get lucky with the team Christmas party over the coming weekend. Because I had the feeling we’d be in the same space for a few hours, and I wouldn’t have the distraction of twenty kids under my responsibility to take my attention off the pretty mum with the soul deep eyes that I wanted to drift away into.

Actually, I kinda didn’t care if I fell into her with no safety net in sight.

CHAPTER FOUR

MASON

“Pass it. Faster! That’s it,” My coach encouraged the kids as I took the other side of the drills and lined them up.

The skills clinic grew hectic, both of us working the two groups we’d split them into earlier in the day simultaneously. Balls flew everywhere. There were more misses than catches, but the air fast filled with raucous shouts and laughter and…

That’s what the game should be about at the kids’ level. Encouraging fun and making sure theywantedto turn up next session rather than their parents bugging them out the door during their school holidays.

I lapped the group, making sure I earned an extra layer of sweat to prove my worth to them as well as myself, and collapsed on the grass on my back as the last ball flew back into Leon’s hands.

“Please thank Leon Nash for coaching us today!” I shouted at the top of my lungs. It wasn’t much. My voice rasped at the end and I could do with a deluge of water for myself. The Aussie sun slammed me with late afternoon summer heat. Hell, I’ll be shagged before the Christmas party later tonight, and I’d need a decent nana nap before I made an appearance at the restaurant. “I’m getting old,” I muttered.

“Did you just call me old?” Coach stared down at me.

“I saidI’mgetting old,” I called back.

“Not what I heard. What did you all hear?” He cupped his hand around his ear.

Showpony.

“You’re. OLD!” the kids shouted back in perfect unison.

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