Page 66 of The Hellion and the Captain
“Except in the final game last year,” Emmaline reminded them, and Tommy rolled his eyes at her.
“Things are different now,” he said. “We have Emmett.”
Emmaline’s eyes widened. Did they truly think that she made a difference on the team? She knew she had talent, but she couldn’t help but wonder in the back of her mind if she slowed them down or prevented them from playing a quicker game than they did.
“Yeah. Williams helps us see the field better, moves the ball around, creates more scoring opportunities. Who knows? He might be our good luck.”
“That’s what I’ve been telling Emmaline – not that Williams is good luck, but that he has been improving us. You follow the club. Don’t you agree?” he asked her, his eyes boring into her. Emmaline opened her mouth to respond when a shadow dropped over their table.
“Well, well, who do we have here? And just where is your newest acquisition, Lockwood?”
Rhys pushed back his chair to stand so fast that the chair fell over.
“Reeves,” he seethed. “Just what do you think you are doing here?
Chapter Twenty-Two
Rhys was ready to confront their opposition. “You know this is our pub and you have no business here.”
Emmaline’s eyes were wide as she watched him. Circumstance certainly changed him from one man to another. Somehow, seeing him like this, aggressive and yet protective simultaneously, made the tender moments between the two of them that much more special.
“Don’t see your name on the door,” Reeves said, his slow-spreading smile telling them that he didn’t overly care just what Rhys said to him or how much he threatened him. His gaze landed and held on Emmaline.
“Who have we here?”
Emmaline caught Rhys’s eye. He seemed ready to battle with the man, but she stood beside him, placing a hand on his arm, hoping to placate him. Rhys had nothing to worry about. She could take care of herself.
“Emmaline Whitmore,” she said with an exuberance she didn’t actually feel. “A pleasure to meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine,” he said,his gaze flicking back and forth between Emmaline and Rhys. It seemed he was ready to take her hand, but Emmaline knew that if he touched her, it would only push Rhys over the edge. “What brings you to a place like The King’s Head?”
“I’m here with the club,” she said, before glancing up at Rhys, noticing the set of his jaw. “Mr. Lockwood in particular.”
“I see,” Reeves said, drawing out the word, his brows raising before he narrowed in on her. “You look familiar.”
“I cannot see when our paths would have crossed,” Emmaline said as her heart picked up to a quicker beat.
“Hmm,” Reeves said, although his eyes were on her as though he knew more than she would have liked. “Well, my business has to do withMr. Lockwoodhere. A word, Rhys?”
Rhys looked from Emmaline to the rest of the men watching them. Emmaline guessed that he wanted to say something right here and now but likely suspected that the man could be wanting to expand on his threats against Emmett. Best to do this in private.
“Very well,” he growled, gesturing to the table in the corner that many of his club teammates referred to jokingly as his “office,” for it was where he held private conversations, if he needed to talk to one of the men about their game respectfully, without onlookers.
Emmaline watched them go, wishing she could hear that conversation, but knew there was no way to do so without raising suspicions.
Within moments, Lily occupied Rhys’s seat, her gaze worried as she watched Emmaline, although she couldn’t say much with Tommy and a few others nearby.
“I hope all is well,” she settled on, biting her lip.
“I’m sure Rhys will handle it either way,” Emmaline said with quiet confidence, truly believing it. She trusted him more than she ever had another, and while she knew he was notinfallible, when he put his mind to something, he saw it through.
He would find a way to handle Victor Reeves.
She was sure of it.
She was still trying to build that confidence when he returned to their table ten minutes later. He was silent as he sat, despite all of them staring at him.
“Well?” Tommy demanded, and Rhys’s eyes flicked over to Emmaline before returning to Tommy.
