Page 59 of The Lady and the Footballer
Colin.
Colin stretched his legs before him as he took a hearty drink of ale.
It had been a long day, made even longer by his uncertainty about when he would see Lily again and his constant on-edge watchfulness for any suspicious activity.
He would have to talk to some of his teammates, but he was unsure whom he could fully trust.
Rhys? Tommy?
First, he had to ensure Lily would accept sharing their secrets with his teammates.
Well, notallof their secrets.
“Surprised you’re still here,” Tommy said, retaking his seat after he had tried and failed to speak to a woman across the pub. “Usually, you’ve retired by now.”
“True,” Colin said, tipping his cup toward Tommy. “But it’s been a long day. Needed the extra drink. And I need to talk to you about something.”
He’d share some of what he discovered – but not all of it yet.
“Anything,” Tommy said, his eyes gleaming. “It’s a rare day you have anything too interesting to discuss.”
“Are you calling me a bore?”
“Something like that.”
Colin took a sip of his drink, ignoring Tommy’s comment.
“Does this have to do with the Evans girl?” Tommy said before Colin could begin.
“Why would you ask that?”
“I’ve seen how the two of you look at one another, whether it’s across the football pitch or from opposite sides of the same room. If only you looked at the football like that.”
Colin scoffed. “I do perfectly well, thank you very much.”
“Sure, but you don’t lust after the ball the way you do that woman.”
Colin rolled his eyes, but he worried, for if Tommy had noticed, other people might have as well.
“It’s not her that I need to tell you about, but it does involve her,” he started, until Tommy’s eyes stared past him to the entrance of the bar, his eyes widening.
“Hold that thought,” Tommy said, pointing across the room, and Colin’s gaze followed his finger, his heart nearly stopping when he saw what he was pointing at.
Or, rather, who.
She wore a soft lavender gown of lightweight silk, its bustle modest and its trimmings understated—just a row of delicate white lace at the collar and cuffs. Not exactly the attire for The King’s Head. Her hair was loosely pinned, a few curls escaping, though not enough to soften her determined expression.
“What is she doing here?” he practically exploded, looking at Tommy with a panicked glance.
“Just as I thought,” Tommy said smugly. “You are involved with her.”
“I’m not—I didn’t—I— Oh, for pity’s sake,” he said with exasperation.
Before he could decide what he would do about Lily’s presence, she spotted him across the room and came marching toward their table. He stood, ready to greet her, but Rhys beat him to it.
“Miss Evans,” Rhys said, taking a step away from his chair to practically bow over her hand to kiss her fingers. “Are you in need of assistance?”
“Yes,” she said, her eyes swinging over to Colin. “Quite a bit of it, actually.”
