A Whole New Ball Game Read online

  ‘Sometimes accidents can scare us. I think you’re experiencing a slight case of shock.’ I kept my voice calm, level, just like I used to when Kristy and I were little and she was having one of her panic attacks. ‘Here.’

  I opened the back of my ute, peeling away the cover and tapping at the carpet interior. ‘Just for a few minutes. Just until you get your bearings.’

  The woman opened her mouth as if to protest again, then took two tentative steps over, hoisting herself onto the edge. ‘Thanks,’ she whispered.

  I opened the cab, grabbing one of the towels from the seat and pressing it to my nose. Yep. Linen-scented. Must have been one of the clean ones.

  Handing it to the lady, I walked back to Kristy’s car, gesturing to the driver’s seat. ‘Your chariot awaits, and your noble sausage dogs need you.’

  ‘Are you hurt? Is anything sore?’ Kristy pressed, tugging at my arm.

  ‘I’m fine. Nothing hurts.’ The car barely tapped me. I’d just been so off balance on the inside that it didn’t take much to send me to my knees.

  A memory flashed in my mind. Ava’s hands on either side of my face after the whistle blew at the match that sent us to the top of the ladder mid-season. ‘You did it, baby!’

  ‘Not without you.’ I kissed those soft lips, relishing the taste. ‘I couldn’t have done it without you.’

  My body jolted forward. Braden wrapped his arms around the both of us.

  ‘I fucking love you guys!’ He smacked a kiss on my cheek, then one on Ava’s. ‘You’re bloody perfect!’

  I’d thought he was talking about the game, the winning play I’d set up, but maybe he meant her. Maybe it was all so much more than it seemed.

  ‘Listen, Sawyer, let’s both go. She’s the one who made a mistake here, and—’

  I turned to my sister, placing my hands on her shoulders. ‘And she’s freaking out. The least I can do is help her calm down before she gets back behind the wheel.’

  ‘But what about when she recognises you?’ Kristy whispered. ‘She’ll try take you for all you’re worth.’

  I looked over at the woman sitting on the tray of my car. Long brown hair was tied high above her head. A baggy grey jacket hung about her slim frame, tight black pants encasing her legs. Legs … legs for days. Full lips were parted just slightly as her eyes, black in the dark of the parking lot, focused on her Corolla that looked as if it had seen better days.

  She looked like she could use the money, sure.

  But she didn’t seem the type to try and take me for a ride.

  And I’d sure met a lot of that type.

  ‘I’ll see you next week.’ I opened my arms to give Kristy a hug goodbye.

  ‘Don’t you dare put that sweaty body near mine.’ She shoved at my chest, then scowled at the lady in my ute, raising her voice for a parting shot. ‘Just remember, I saw the whole thing.’

  ‘Bye, Kristy.’ I waved her off.

  ‘Call me,’ she mouthed as she hopped into her car and drove away.

  I walked over to the ute, taking a fresh water bottle from my kitbag and handing it to the woman before sitting beside her. ‘Feeling better?’

  ‘Yes. Thanks.’ She took the water and unscrewed the lid, her throat bobbing as she swallowed. ‘Sorry for shouting at you before. I think you’re right—I was in shock. I—’

  ‘It’s okay.’ I shrugged.

  We sat in silence for a few moments. A car roared past on the main road. A whistle blew from the sports centre behind us.

  ‘You playing?’ I asked, jerking my head in the direction of the mega complex.

  ‘Yeah. Aussie Rules.’ She shot me a small smile.

  Does she recognise me? ‘Huh. What position?’

  ‘Mostly in the centre,’ she replied. ‘I like to attack.’

  I bet you do. ‘Ah, see, that’s why I’m a fullback man. I like to protect what’s mine.’

  ‘You play?’

  Nope. Clearly didn’t recognise me at all. ‘Yeah. Pretty regularly.’

  ‘Cool. Maybe I’ll run into you here again then.’ Her jaw dropped. ‘Oh, God! Hopefully less literally, next time.’

  I laughed. ‘Hey, I said it’s okay. I’m not hurt. You’re not hurt.’

  ‘Henry’s not hurt.’

  ‘Henry?’

  ‘My car.’

  ‘Huh.’ I grinned. ‘That’s different.’

  ‘You don’t give strange things names?’ she asked, shooting me a smile, and shit, she was beautiful. That smile—it lit her whole face. She should smile like that forever.

  Whoa. Back up, Sawyer.

  The last time I thought that kind of thing about a woman, she ended up in bed with my best friend. Time to resort to my best defence mechanism—humour. ‘The only thing I’ve given a name is my penis, and I would hardly call it strange.’ I winked.

  She shot me a glare. ‘Of course you’ve named your dick.’

  Spoiler alert—I hadn’t really named my dick.

  I liked to think of my man downstairs as not needing a name—his reputation proceeded him. He was kind of like Prince—a simple symbol was enough.

  ‘The only people who name their dicks are little boys and those trying to compensate for something.’

  ‘Well I’d hardly call him little …’ I glanced to my crotch.

  ‘Oh, lord!’ The woman slipped off the edge of the ute. ‘I’m going to go. I’m sorry for hitting you, but really—you should look out next time. You can’t just go walking in front of cars like that.’

  ‘Noted.’ I slid off the tray to join her on the ground. ‘Did you want my details or anything? In case I have dented your bumper, or …’

  ‘Dented it with your rock-hard penis?’ she challenged.

  I laughed. ‘No. I was being sincere. In case there is any real damage.’

  ‘It’ll be fine.’ She raised her chin to look dead in my eyes. ‘I can take of myself.’

  I didn’t doubt that she could.

  And as she drove away, leaving me spotted in her car’s headlights, I wondered exactly how long it had been since I’d laughed like that.

  Chapter 4

  Zoe

  ‘Five minutes until Aussie Rules go time,’ Tahlia said, brushing past me on the way to her post at reception. ‘The Killers will be here any minute now.’

  ‘You know I’m a Wraiths girl, all the way. I don’t even know any Killers players.’

  ‘Well, you’re about to.’ Tahlia picked up the phone, turning her attention away.

  ‘I think I’d prefer if the women’s league came,’ I muttered. I’d only been to a few games, but from what I saw, those ladies were good.

  Maybe one day I could play like that. With other people who cared, instead of just a group of women interested in keeping fit once a week.

  I paused, my hand hovering in front of the door to Dean Wetherley’s office.

  I wouldn’t be able to play like that where I was going.

  In fact, playing at all seemed very unlikely.

  I knocked.

  ‘Come in,’ Dean called, and I entered. He nodded to the chair opposite his desk. ‘Please, sit.’

  ‘Thank you.’ I sank into the black seat, running my hand over my blue nurse’s uniform. ‘I’m here today because I wanted to ask for a referral from you, please.’

  Not a single emotion passed over Dean’s face as he turned to his computer screen. ‘For?’

  ‘For a charity position overseas. I love my work here—I always have—but it’s been a dream of mine to help underprivileged children in Third-World countries since I was a child myself. A position has come up with the Nurses Abroad group, and I’d love to take it. I’ve been interviewed, and now all I need is a …’ Is he seriously not going to look at me?

  ‘A referral.’ With one final tap, Dean clasped his hands together, his square glasses falling down his nose. ‘Ah, Zoe. You’ve been with us for what? Three years?’

  ‘Yes.’ I nodded.

  ‘I can understand tha
t the glamour of working overseas might sound appealing, but I should warn you, it’s not all wiping the brows of starving children and administering vaccines. Aide work can be ugly.’

  I straightened my spine. ‘I know. My mother volunteers full-time in Burma. I am up for the challenge.’

  ‘Okay.’ He glanced at the patient files on his desk. ‘Obviously, we’d be sad to see you go, but I can write you a letter. I’ll have it finished by the end of next week.’

  ‘Thank you,’ I said. Thank God. Something about that man always made me so nervous.

  ‘Tell me, though, in return, can I ask you a favour?’

  ‘Sure.’

  ‘Good. My son, Jarren … he’s going to be taking over from me in the next year. I’d like you to have a meeting with him to discuss your role at the centre, and some of the standard nursing duties you complete in your day-to-day.’ He nodded briskly.

  ‘You’re retiring?’

  ‘Yes. But it’s confidential, which is why I’m trusting you as the perfect person for this. I don’t want talk getting out about my future.’ He pulled off his glasses, rubbed at the bridge of his nose. ‘My health … Zoe, it’s not what it used to be. I need Jarren to start learning the ropes, and I want him to do it from the ground up.’

  ‘Sure.’ How hard could that be?

  ‘It will have to be out of hours, so no one here gets suspicious. Will that be a problem?’

  ‘Not at all.’ Aside from the casual game of Aussie Rules on a Tuesday night and the occasional drinks with the girls on the weekend, my social calendar was very much clear. Usually, at the end of a long and often emotional day’s work, all I wanted to do was sink down into my bed and let sleep take me.

  ‘Good. I’ll pass on your details to him tonight.’ He turned back to his computer screen, those fingers flying across the keyboard again.

  ‘Thank you.’ I stood, a grin stretching across my face. I’m getting my referral!

  ‘Now you best hurry, or you’ll miss the football players. I know what you women are like.’ He chuckled.

  My skin prickled. What you women are like? Sexist prick. ‘Actually, that’s rather presumptuous of—’

  Beep. Beep.

  My pager sounded at my belt and I pulled it out, reading the text on the screen.

  Emily.

  Without a backward glance, I hurried toward the young girl’s room.

  Because some things in life were more important than proving a point.

  And Emily was one of them.

  Chapter 5

  Zoe

  ‘Pain relief, change of dressing, and hot football player in room two.’ Tahlia handed me a clipboard with a devilish wiggle of her eyebrows.

  ‘You know I couldn’t be less interested.’ I strode ahead. Pain relief. I hoped Emily was okay.

  ‘I know, but I’m just saying. One of these Aussie Rules players—he is undeniably sexy. Muscles for days, all tall and lean …’

  I turned to face her, walking backward down the hall. ‘Muscles everywhere except where it counts.’ I tapped my head. ‘Or at least, that’s been my experience, anyway.’

  Tahlia’s eyes widened. Her cheeks paled.

  What could be the—

  Her gaze flicked up and slightly behind me.

  Oh.

  Shoot.

  I came to an abrupt stop.

  ‘You’re experienced with players, huh?’

  The voice was deep, right near my ear.

  The heat from a body standing too close sent chills right through me.

  I pressed my eyes closed for just a moment. Why had I gone and opened my big mouth?

  Because of Dean, and his stupid sexist line about women and footballers. It had struck a chord deeper than I cared to admit.

  I took a slow breath, stepped away from the man, and turned around, a fake smile plastered on my face.

  It was him.

  The man from the parking lot last night.

  He was dressed in the red and black uniform of the Killers team. It stretched across his broad shoulders, showcasing muscular, tanned arms and a delicious torso that left little to the imagination. Dark hair formed a scruff around his head. His jaw was peppered with stubble, but it was his eyes—clear green, as if they’d been washed out by the ocean—that really captured my attention. Holy … wow.

  Then he winked.

  He winked, and those eyes may as well have been the colour of cow dung because they sure as hell weren’t going to work any magic on me. ‘I’m experienced with men who play sport and are unaware of personal boundaries.’ I indicated the space now between us. ‘This is a respectable distance to keep between two people who don’t know each other. Also a respectable distance to keep between, say, a person and oncoming traffic. Perhaps you should remember that for future.’

  ‘I see.’ He smiled, a twinkle in his eye. ‘And is it respectable to go around saying football players are brainless?’

  ‘No.’ Heat licked at my cheeks. ‘Perhaps I should remember that for future too.’

  He shrugged one shoulder, but he didn’t look away, didn’t so much as glance at Tahlia down the hall behind me or the doors sprinkled either side of us. ‘It’s fine.’

  ‘Sorry, Sawyer Benson, this is Zoe Taylor. She’s the registered nurse on duty here at the house most days of the week.’ Tahlia stepped between us, breaking the stare-off. ‘She looks after the kids if they need anything when they’re not at the hospital receiving treatment.’

  ‘Really?’ Sawyer cocked his head to the side. ‘So you have a lot of muscles … up there.’ He tapped the side of his head with a cheeky grin.

  ‘Yes,’ I snapped, taking a step to the side. ‘Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to see to a patient.’

  ‘I believe Sawyer’s headed that way too.’ Tahlia supplied. ‘He’s Emily’s favourite.’

  Of course he was. My favourite charge couldn’t have had a humanitarian for a hero, or even a rock musician. She had to have an Aussie Rules player.

  ‘I’ll follow you,’ Sawyer said.

  ‘Okay.’ I motored ahead, not looking back. ‘But you’ll have to keep up.’

  ‘I can handle it.’

  We walked in silence, my sneakers squeaking on the tiled floor. The scent of garlic and rosemary wafted from the kitchen as we passed. Finally, we reached the door to Emily’s room, and I knocked twice, brisk. ‘It’s just me, Zoe.’

  ‘Come in.’

  I turned to Sawyer, standing a few feet back. ‘Just let me go in and check she’s okay first.’

  ‘Of course.’

  I twisted the handle, walking inside and pulling the door to behind me.

  Emily sat on the bed, her father, Nick, beside her holding an open book.

  ‘Zoe!’ Emily grinned, sliding from the bed and stumbling over to greet me.

  I rushed to meet her halfway, wrapping the little five-year-old up in my arms and giving her a huge hug. ‘Hey, Emily.’

  ‘You want to read a book?’ She gestured to the one on the bed.

  ‘I would love to in a minute. How are you feeling this morning?’

  ‘Sore.’ Her lower lip wobbled.

  ‘She had a rough night. Trouble sleeping, and then this morning she’s been a bit agitated.’ Nick stood, mussing his daughter’s hair. ‘I think she’s excited about the F-O-O-T-B-A-L-L—’

  ‘Saw-yah.’ Emily nodded sagely. ‘I want to see Saw-yah.’

  I laughed. ‘She can spell?’

  ‘Only words I spell a lot.’ Nick held out his arms, and Emily fell back into them, a little smile lighting her face. ‘She is just thrilled you guys have organised this visit.’

  The door swung open behind me. ‘Did I hear there’s a pro-athlete in the making in the room?’

  ‘Saw-yah!’ Emily’s voice wobbled. Her jaw dropped.

  I stepped back, letting Sawyer get closer. He grinned at the small child, then dropped to one knee, his hand out. ‘I’m Sawyer Benson. What’s your name?’

  ‘I …’
Emily turned and buried her face in her father’s shirt. ‘Sawyer,’ she said, her voice muffled.

  ‘You got it. I’m Sawyer.’ Sawyer’s voice softened, that cocky overtone gone as he smiled at the child still wrapped in her father’s arms, not making eye contact, not looking for one moment.

  ‘Shy?’ I mouthed to Nick.

  He shook his head, and it was only then I noticed little Emily’s shoulders shaking. Oh, God. She was crying—emotionally overcome.

  ‘Saw-yah,’ Emily sobbed, glancing back over her shoulder then shaking her head, burying it in Nick’s arms once more.

  ‘You’re reading The Hungry Caterpillar?’ Sawyer stood and picked up the book from the bed. ‘That’s one of my favourites.’

  Emily’s shoulders slowed their shaking.

  ‘If you don’t mind, Emily, I’d love to read this while I’m here.’ Sawyer walked over to the couch and settled down in one corner. ‘I like to read aloud though, and I always feel a little silly doing it without an audience. You don’t think … could you …?’ Sawyer sighed, as if his emotions were waging a terrible war inside of him.

  Emily pulled away from her dad. Doubt filled her expression. ‘You like to read The Hungry Caterpillar?’

  ‘That’s right. I can’t wait to read more about him, but I really need someone to read this book to. Could you help me out?’ Sawyer tapped the seat beside him. ‘Please?’

  Emily looked to her dad, as if asking for permission. Of course, he nodded, then walked over to the seat beside Sawyer, placing his daughter down but staying right in front of her.

  ‘Ah, that’s better. Let’s do it.’ Sawyer held out the book so Emily could see and started to read.

  While Emily’s focus was on the book, I opened the safe on the wall and checked on her meds. I topped up the Panadol and made a note in the folder on how much was gone since it’d last been checked. Of course, Emily could have stronger pain relief when required, but they tended to do that more at the hospital than here in the accommodation next door.

  Next, I checked the water bottles in the bar fridge—all full—and finally, I snapped on some disposable gloves, took the small first-aid kit from the safe, and walked to Emily’s side. Her dad stepped away, but the child barely noticed, entranced by the Aussie Rules player and the book about the caterpillar.