Page 61 of The Hellion and the Captain
“Lily,” she chastised, but Lily raised her hands to her sides.
“He was worried about you, Emmaline,” she said softly, and as they both turned to stare at him, Rhys, not hidden nearly as well as he likely thought he was behind the tree, stepped out and waved.
Oh goodness, but Emmaline had missed him.
Accepting his fate at having been caught, he now strode purposefully across the field toward her, lookingas ruggedly handsome as ever in his worn trousers and simple shirt with his sleeves rolled up, those fine forearms on display. Emmaline’s breath caught. She had missed him so much it was a physical ache, but she could only imagine what he would say to her after she had missed practice, ignored his notes, and practically disappeared.
“What are you doing here?” she asked breathlessly when he reached her side.
“First, to make sure you were alive,” he said, as Lily melted away, leaving the two of them to speak alone. “I haven’t heard from you in a week, Emmaline. What was I supposed to think?”
Some anger laced his tone, but she could see from his expression that it only covered the hurt he felt, and she was instantly ashamed of shutting him out, even if she had done so to protect him.
“I’m sorry, Rhys,” she said softly. “After what Lord Harcourt accused you of, and then hearing that itisVictor Reeves out to get me?—”
“How did you know that our suspicions were correct?”
“Lily told me.”
“Ah,” he said, running a hand over his beard. “News travels fast.”
“So it does,” she said. “But I suppose you would have told me directly if I had come to practice.”
“I would have,” he said, crossing his arms over his chest. “I know you are trying to help, Emmaline, but if you want to play for Manchester Central, you have to be there, for all of us. We have a real shot at the Cup this year, but we all must be committed.”
She met his intense gaze, searching for the truth. “Do you think it is best that I stay? Or am I just putting everyone at risk?”
“There is risk,” he conceded. “We knew that going in.Joining Manchester Central was a serious decision, Emmaline. It wasn’t just for the fun of it. When I agreed to support you, I did so knowing what could come with it. But if you are willing to take it on, so am I.”
Emmaline felt there was more behind his words, meaning that went beyond the football team, but considerations about that would have to come later.
Right now, twenty women were waiting for instructions.
“Can we talk about this later?” she said, gesturing behind her. “I’m a little busy at the moment. I’m sure Lily filled you in.”
“She did,” he said, his blue eyes boring into hers. “And I came to help. I know how much this means to you, Emmaline. Let me assist in any way I can.”
Tears pricked her eyes at his unwavering support. Having Rhys here, willing to guide her fledgling women’s team that was already a disaster, meant more than she could express.
She nodded with a smile, and together they turned toward the field.
“Ladies!” Emmaline called out. “We have a treat. This afternoon, we will have some guidance from the captain of Manchester Central. What do you think?”
The women exchanged glances, a few of them looking a bit too enthusiastic about working with the handsome football captain. Still, Emmaline knew that Rhys was doing this for her, and she had little fear that he would be tempted by anyone else before him, as lovely as many as the ladies were.
They weren’t swooning for long once they realized that Rhys would not treat them like ladies but rather hard-working women. Together, Rhys and Emmaline demonstrated proper technique and offered encouragement. Under Rhys’s expert tutelage, some of the women began to show marked improvement, their passes crisper, their footwork more precise.
Pride swelled in Emmaline’s chest as she watched themblossom. While they still had so far to go, this was her dream taking shape.
“Thank you all for coming,” she said at the end when she gathered them all around her, many of them appearing considerably relieved to be finished. “I know this was a trial for many of you, to determine whether this is something you might be interested in. I am working on building this club, finding sponsors, and making football a more respectable pursuit. If you want to continue with me, please leave your name and address with Mrs. Thornton, and we will be in touch.”
The women nodded, some thanking her, others too exhausted to say anything, but at least half of them found their way to where Lily sat at one side of the field, with a pencil and paper.
As Emmaline watched them, Rhys came to stand beside her, reaching out to her and lacing his fingers with hers, his large, warm hand engulfing her smaller one.
“You’re doing an amazing thing here, Emmaline,” he said gruffly. “Making change. Giving these women an opportunity.”
Emmaline’s heart turned over at the raw emotion in his voice, as she knew that he was not a man who gave out compliments easily.
