Page 18 of Tempting the Player
He stands and makes his way to the bar.
While he’s waiting to get served, he turns around, smiles at me and turns back.
Wow! I take a deep breath. This is going well. Can I do this? Open myself up to him like this? I have to give him a bit of trust; otherwise, I'll never meet anyone if I don’t take chances. I have a feeling Nate’s pretty special.
His phone, which he’s left beside me, beeps, and I instinctively glance at it. It’s a message that appears on the home screen. It’s from someone called Maggie. I go cold when I read it.
Thanks for last night, Nathan. See you soon. Love you, M xx
What the hell . . . He was with someone last night, but is sitting here chatting me up? A stab of jealousy quickly turns into anger. How dare he! I was falling for this nice guy act. I’m so stupid . . . again. I flip his phone over so he doesn’t know that I've seen it. I straighten when he makes his way back with the drinks.
“I've put the sweetener in it for you... two, right?”
I nod and smile at him. “Thanks.” I love that he knows how I like my coffee now. Wait a minute . . . he’s a wanker – Ihatethat he knows how I like my coffee now!
“So . . . Kate.” He clears his throat nervously. “Have you thought about it? Would you like to go out with me sometime? Just the two of us . . . a date.”
I stare at him. There are no signs whatsoever that he feels guilty. Un – fucking – believable.
“Are you seeing anyone?” I blurt
He shakes his head. “What? No, of course not, I wouldn’t ask you out if I was.”
“It's not a good idea, Nathan, sorry. I'm going to go and check on the girls.” My voice is cold and hard. I've closed down, and he can tell. He frowns at me and shakes his head.
I walk to Jess, and after checking on her, I go to sit with Rosie and Charlotte. I glance at Nathan, and he’s sitting alone, staring at me. Why do I feel bad? He’s the one who was getting action last night, not me. Stuff him.
I managed to avoid him for the rest of the party, but I don’t like doing it, after he bought me a coffee too. Well, he shouldn’t be a cheating bastard, should he? But why is he acting hurt?
Chapter 7
“Will this outfit be OK?” I ask Amanda as we get ready for the local rugby match. I haven’t been to watch the rugby in years - I have no clue what to wear. Years ago, I used to go every week with my dad and brother; it was our weekly thing that we did together. Amanda’s husband, Greg, has joined a local team, and we’re going along to cheer him on. I'm wearing biker boots and black skinny jeans with a cream knit jumper and have my hair piled on my head with a biker jacket – I'm loving the whole biker chick look right now.
“Yes, Kate, you look gorgeous . . . like you always do . . . sickening.” She says. “Have you got your outfit sorted for tonight?”
It’s Saturday and there’s a rugby event at the club. Amanda and Greg are going, as are Karen and Maria. It should be good fun, and hopefully, there will be plenty of attractive rugby players for me to look at. Damn my preference for rugby players.
“Yeah, I've got a sexy black number, halter neck and backless. I got it from Karen Millen ages ago in the sale, and I have banned myself from carbs this week!”
“Brilliant, I've got mine sorted too, it’s a prom style. I can’t wait, tonight’s going to be great!” Bless Amanda - she gets so excited.
We make our way to the pitch, pay our entry fee, and take our position near the halfway line, waiting for the players to come onto the pitch. After five minutes, the crowd gets rowdy, applauding and cheering. I look towards the pitch where the home players are running onto the field to warm up. I get ready to eye up lovely rugby players; who needs Nate? I've got lots of men to ogle right here. I'm determined not to think of HIM.The HIM I haven’t been able to stop thinking about, but hating myself for doing it, because he’s proved that he hasn’t changed one bit.
I scan the team and see Amanda’s husband, Greg. I scan further down the team and freeze, for staring straight at me while he does his warm-up is Nathan. Fuck. How did I not know that this was his team? I knew he still played locally; I should have at least considered this a possibility.
I tear my eyes away from his. “Shit, Amanda – Nathan is on this team.”
I’d filled her in with what had happened between us - she knew I liked him.
She turns to me in horror. “I had no idea, I wouldn’t have asked you to come if I had . . . I'm sorry, hun.”
I shake my head and try to smile, as though my insides aren't doing the impression of a washing machine.
“Don’t be silly, there’s no way you could have known, but I'm not going to be able to take my eyes off him all bloody match, and it’s not going to help me forget him.” I half-laugh as though I'm joking, but I'm serious.
He’s wearing white shorts that reach mid-thigh, showcasing his solid thighs perfectly, paired with knee-length socks and rugby boots, and, of course, the team jersey. . . Jesus, he is hot.I mean, hot. He’s been texting me since the party last week, asking if I'm OK, or if he did or said something wrong – I've ignored them and managed to avoid him in the playground, with my new talent as a sleuth . . . I've got turning up as the school doors open, down to a fine work of art, to the precise minute so that he doesn’t get a chance to speak to me.
Oh crap, he’s coming! He’s making his way across the pitch . . . argh!! I try to be calm and composed, straightening myjumper and flicking my hair back, but instantly regret it - that’s a sure giveaway that I care what I look like in front of him. He reaches the fence in front of me, separating the spectators from the pitch.
