Page 37 of The Hellion and the Captain
Lady Daughtry sighed, reaching out to pat Emmaline’s hand. “I understand, my dear. But don’t close yourself off to the possibility of love. It has a way of finding us when we least expect it.”
Emmaline forced a smile, her mother’s words hitting closer to home than she realized. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Rising from her chair, she made her excuses and retreated to her room, needing solitude to gather her thoughts. As she lay on her bed, staring up at the canopy, her mind drifted to Rhys once more.
The way his lips had felt against hers, the strength of his arms as he held her close. The passion that had ignited between them, threatening to consume her entirely. She had never experienced anything like it before.
She would continue to train with Rhys to improve her skills and prove herself worthy of a place on the team. But she would guard her heart and keep her feelings locked away where they couldn’t interfere.
It was the only way forward. The only way to protect herself and the fragile dream she had fought so hard to build.
With a deep breath, Emmaline sat up, squaring her shoulders. She would face this challenge as she had all the others – with determination, grit, and an unshakable resolve.
Love would have to wait. For now, the game was all that mattered.
Although that didn’t mean they couldn’t have some fun.
Rhys sat with Tommy and Felix at their usual table in the pub, nursing a pint of ale as they discussed the team’s prospects for the upcoming match. It was a familiar occurrence, as the three of them were bachelors living alone. The conversation flowed easily, punctuated by laughter and good-natured ribbing. But despite the camaraderie, Rhys found his thoughts drifting to a certain dark-haired beauty with a fiery spirit.
“What do you think of Emmett?” Tommy asked, pulling Rhys from his reverie. “He’s come a long way in a short time, hasn’t he?”
Felix nodded in agreement. “The lad’s got talent, that’s for sure. And he’s not afraid to put in the work. I’ve seen him staying late after practice, running drills on his own.”
It was questionable whether “Emmett” was staying late for extra practice or to avoid changing with the rest of them, but Rhys had to admit that he appreciated the effort.
Rhys took a sip of his ale, considering his words carefully. “He’s dedicated,” he said at last. “And he has potential. But he still has a lot to learn.”
“Don’t we all?” Tommy chuckled. “But if he continues to get better, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with.”
“He already is,” Felix added. “Did you see that goal he scored in practice last week? Brilliant footwork.”
As his teammates continued to sing Emmett’s praises, Rhys couldn’t help but picture Emmaline’s face – the determination in her eyes, the curve of her smile, the way her hair escaped its pins to frame her face in wispy tendrils. He remembered the feel of her in his arms, the taste of her lips against his.
He shook his head, trying to clear the image from his mind. This was neither the time nor the place for such thoughts. He needed to focus on the team and their goals for the season. He couldn’t afford to be distracted by a woman, no matter how alluring she might be.
Which was exactly why he should be distancing himself from her.
Unless…
“Rhys? You alright, mate?” Tommy’s voice broke through his musings, concern etched on his face.
“Fine,” Rhys replied, forcing a smile. “Just thinking about our strategy for the next game.”
And wondering whether he needed to kiss her again to lose this desire for her.
Felix leaned forward, his eyes narrowed. “You sure that’s all it is? You’ve been awfully quiet tonight.”
Rhys waved off his concern. “Just tired, that’s all. It’s been a long week.”
He knew the words weren’t entirely true even as he said them. Yes, he was tired – the long hours at the bank and the grueling practices, both with the team and with Emmaline, had taken their toll. But it was more than that. It was the constant battle he waged within himself, between wanting Emmaline and knowing that getting closer to her would only hurt both of them in the end.
He had meant what he said to her. A relationship between them would only complicate matters, both on and off the field. He had worked too hard, sacrificed too much, to let anything jeopardize his position as captain or the team’s chances at victory.
And yet, he couldn’t deny the pull he felt towards her.
It wasn’t as though he could avoid her entirely. They were to practice again tomorrow evening, although he wondered whether he should do as he had promisedher and find them somewhere more public to meet up. Somewhere he wouldn’t be quite as tempted.
“We play this weekend,” Tommy stated the obvious. “Do you have any strategies, Rhys?”
