Page 30 of The Hellion and the Captain
“Why not?”
“Because,” he said stupidly.
The women looked between them, heads bobbing back and forth as if they were watching him and Colin kick a soccer ball to one another.
“Can one of you explain what is happening?” Lily finally asked.
“I think we could make it work,” Colinsaid, finally giving her his attention. “That Emmaline could continue to play with us.”
“Really?” Emmaline practically squealed, her dropped shoulders lifting so suddenly that Rhys almost wondered if she had planned to speak to their vulnerabilities to convince them to allow her to continue.
“No,” Rhys said, cutting off her hope before it soared too high. “I discovered who she was quite easily. The other men will too.”
“Not if we help her,” Colin argued.
“You’ve gone soft in your marriage,” Rhys scoffed.
“Pardon me?” Lily asked, sitting forward. “I have done nothing to soften him, I can assure you.”
“Thank you, luv,” Colin said, smiling at her so sweetly that Rhys had to fight the flame of jealousy that lit within him at what they had, what he had always longed for.
“What if she is injured again?” Rhys demanded. “Or someone else discovers who she truly is? What will happen to your reputation?” he asked Emmaline now.
“I’m not sure if you have realized this yet, but I care very little for my reputation,” she said. “I am five-and-twenty and unmarried. My parents allow me to go where I please, see who I choose to see. I have yet to meet a man I want to spend my life with.”
That hurt more than he would like to admit, considering she had met him.
“I would rather have this than my reputation,” she continued with sincerity in her eyes that he couldn’t ignore.
He paused, hating what he was about to say before it came out of his mouth. “We would need to have a plan,” he said, even though he knew he was doing the opposite of what he should be doing – providing her hope. “We would all need to be committed to keeping the secret and making this work. If it ever came out, we would all face major repercussions.”
“I have been keeping this to myself well enough already,” Emmaline said eagerly. “We are all trustworthy here.”
“You truly don’t care if you never marry?” Lily asked. “Because he is right about that. This would likely ruin all your chances.”
“Then so be it,” she said.
“Very well,” Rhys said, lifting his hands in the air, giving up what he knew was rational, which he should have stuck to. But something about Emmaline made him forget all reason and give in to the ridiculous. “How are we going to do this?”
He was prepared for Emmaline to launch into a strategy.
He was unprepared for her to stand from her chair and launch herself into his arms, wrapping them around him.
“Thank you, Rhys,” she said, her mouth near his neck as she practically sat in his lap. “Thank you so much.”
He awkwardly patted her on the back, aware that Colin and Lily were watching them, and uncertain of what he and Emmaline were to each other now. Yes, they had kissed, but that was before he had found out that she had been lying to him practically ever since they had met.
Eventually, she slipped back onto her chair, and Lily, after an interested glance between them, stood to make tea.
“We are all concerned for your reputation, Emmaline, even if you are not,” Colin said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “But we also need to be mindful of the club’s reputation. If it comes out that we have a woman playing with us…”
“We would be a laughingstock,” Rhys said dryly, earning himself a glare from Emmaline, but he shrugged it off. It was the truth, and it was best she understood that.
“We need to ensure that she doesn’t speak directly to officials or players from the other teams,” Colin added. “You or I will have to be there to get between them, Rhys.”
He nodded, agreeing.
“Off the field, I am happy to help create diversions when necessary to protect Emmaline or provide excuses for Emmett,” Lily said, rejoining them with the tea tray, pouring a cup for each of them. “I also had an idea.” Her eyes glinted. “We could ask Minnie to pose as the woman you are courting. You could bring her to events, and she could add to your disguise.”
