Page 31 of Tempting the Player
“I have actually, he’s called Nathan. You’ve probably heard Jess talk about Lucia?” They both nod. “It’s Lucia’s dad. We started seeing each other a couple of weeks ago – it was early days, so we decided to keep it quiet, but now we want to tell the girls that we’re more than friends, so I wanted to tell you first.”
His face goes soft. “It must be serious if you want to tell Jess?”
I nod, “It’s looking that way, yes.”
He smiles at me softly. “I'm happy for you . . . I really am. No one deserves to be happy more than you. I've heard Jess mention Nate a couple of times. I'm presuming that him?” I nod, “He’s a nice guy?”
“Yeah, he is Pat. You don’t need to worry about him spending time with Jess, and I’ll introduce the two of you to make you feel better about that, but he’s a nice guy and a brilliant dad to Lucia. . . he and Jess get on great.”
“I'm happy for you, too, chick,” Gary says and hugs me.
“Me too… I am, I hope he treats you nice.” Pat says, hugging me too.
“Good.” I breathe out a sigh of relief. “Phew, I'm glad that’s out of the way . . . who wants a cuppa?”
We have a drink before they get on their way, so I can prepare dinner for Jess and me. I broke the news to her when we had finished dinner, after plucking up the courage, and I might as well have told her it was school tomorrow - no big deal at all. She didn’t flinch. She’s used to seeing him and knows him well, so that helped. However, when I told her that he was my boyfriend and that I care about him, she got excited about spending more time with Lucia and possibly having more sleepovers. I got nervous about telling her for absolutely no reason.
I text Nate after I've put her to bed.
Well, that’s Jess told - she barely acknowledged what I said, she got excited at the idea of more sleepovers!
I get a text back about half an hour later.
Same here, Lucia asked when you were moving in! I told you she loves you… Not as much as I do, though. I had a fantastic weekend, babe. Wish you were here with me now. Miss you. xx
I reply.
I miss you, too, honey.I’ll see you in the morning. You coming back to mine when I drop the girls off? I don’t start work until 10? xx
I get one back immediately.
Hell, yes, I was supposed to be on a job for half nine, but I'll tell my lads that I’ll be a bit late and to start without me.
I put back
I love you, Nate. Thanks for this weekend. Xxxxxxxxxx
He texts back
Night, Kate, I love you. Xxxxxx
That leaves the path clear for us now. The only one who doesn’t know about us is his ex... Lucia’s mum and I’d rather she stay out of the picture altogether.
Chapter 13
Two months later.
I watch Nate walk into the clubhouse after the game . . . and what a game it was, my man is brilliant, my ‘man of the match’ scored three tries, he had the crowd going berserk, it was a cup match against a good team so the crowd was not expecting a win, but they got one, and my man was a huge part of making that happen. I smile to myself, still not believing he's mine. I’ll never take that for granted . . .ever.
We’re officially an item. Patrick and Gary love him, and they say bonus - he's pretty to look at. They may be in a committed relationship, but no one can ignore the fact that he’s hot!
The more I come here to the club, the more I feel like part of the group. While the match was on, I stood with the players’ wives and girlfriends, one of whom was Amanda, of course. We’re back at the clubhouse bar now, celebrating the win. I love it that I'm with him. I love being with him. I like being here with him now when he’s with his friends, but just as much, I love it when the girls are asleep and we’re curling up on the sofa with a takeaway and watching Netflix. My life is perfect - a feeling I haven't felt in a long time. I'm lucky that he wants to be with me – he’s perfect. And the sex, oh . . . my . . . god . . . the sex - it’s out of this world – I never knew it could be this good.
I watch him chatting at the bar with another player while I'm sitting with Janine, one of the wives. From the smoulder he'sgiving me right now across the room, I'm pretty sure he wants to work off his post-match buzz at home, which works for me.
He types on his phone, and my phone beeps.
I want to take you home and do things to you to make you scream my name in that way that you do . . . sound good?
