Striker (12 page)

‘Look, Amber, sweetheart. This ridiculous “no footballers” rule that you gave yourself was pointless anyway.’

‘Was it?’ Amber asked, looking up at him sharply. ‘How’s that, then?’

‘Because you’re around them all the time. The law of averages says you’re probably going to end up becoming involved with one at some point in your life.’

‘Well, thank you, Gypsy Rose Ronnie.’

Ronnie pulled a face and Amber poked her tongue out at him, her head turning to check out the door once more in a reaction that was almost reflex-driven by some kind of sixth sense because, just as she turned her head, he walked in. Tall, tanned, handsome and hot. Ryan Fisher. And practically every female in the room stopped what they were doing to stare at him. He had that kind of aura about him. But his eyes had locked straight onto hers, staring at her, a slight smile playing at the corners of his mouth. A mouth that had been covering her breasts and sending her to heaven only a couple of nights ago. And just the thought of that made her shiver, made her want to turn away and try and forget what she was feeling, but she couldn’t. She couldn’t do it.

‘I’d better go grab a few words with him,’ Amber swallowed, keeping her eyes on Ryan in case he disappeared into a crowd that was quite obviously very pleased to see him. Despite it being called the Players Lounge, it wasn’t all that often that any players actually came in there, so when they did they always attracted attention. And Ryan Fisher was hot property today. Hotter than usual, if that was actually possible. ‘On a professional level, of course.’

‘Of course,’ Ronnie said, arching an eyebrow before turning his attention to a fellow pundit who’d just arrived in the lounge.

Amber quickly weaved her way through the growing crowd of people now amassing in the small but comfortable Players Lounge, over towards Ryan, who was now talking to his new boss. Her heart raced as she tried to adopt her professional stance and forget all about Thursday evening, after all,
he
probably had. There was no doubt that he’d be moving onto the next conquest at some point tonight when he did the usual footballer’s thing of celebrating a home win with a stupidly expensive night out. And the women, of course, would be queuing up. Shit! Why did that actually bother her?

As she approached Ryan, she accidentally caught the eye of Red Star’s new manager, Jim Allen. He’d come over to the UK from Washington DC as a teenager almost thirty-two years ago to seek a career as a soccer player, and he’d been lucky enough to play for some of the biggest clubs in the world in his time – including Newcastle Red Star, where he’d spent the final few years of his professional playing career. But he hadn’t just played in
England
; he’d also spent time in
Spain
and
Germany
, not to mention numerous international appearances for his country. He loved the game, and he’d been a great player in his day, but now he was making a name for himself as a pretty successful manager. And to say the Red Star fans had been over the moon when he’d been appointed as the new man in charge of their club was an understatement. Not only had they acquired Ryan Fisher, one of the greatest players around right now, they’d also managed to steal Jim Allen away from one of the biggest, most successful London clubs.

Jim Allen had come into management fairly young – at the age of thirty-five – but he’d already proved he was a force to be reckoned with over his thirteen or so years as a manager. Football was in his blood. He’d been a great player, and now he was proving to be an accomplished and well-respected manager; a natural people person, a savvy businessman. And it also didn’t hurt that Red Star had recently been bought out by a large, New York-based consortium who were more than happy to have a fellow American at the helm.

Amber had known Jim a long time, due to the close relationship he had with her father, but he almost always made her feel slightly uncomfortable every time she was around him. And she didn’t really want to be around him right now.

She looked away quickly as he smiled at her, staring down at her feet, her hands in her pockets. ‘Could I have a quick word with Ryan, please? For News North East?’

‘He’s all yours, honey,’ Jim Allen winked, giving her his best smile, and Amber looked away again, this time pretending to root around in her bag for some imaginary object. ‘How’s your old man, by the way? Still doing okay there at
Bracken
Town
?’

‘He’s fine,’ Amber replied, still rooting around in her bag, aware that Ryan’s eyes were on her. She could almost feel them boring into the back of her neck.

‘Well, tell him to give me a call, okay? It’s been a while since we’ve had a proper catch-up.’ His eyes met hers again. ‘Yeah… It’s been a long time.’ He turned his attention back to Ryan, leaving him with a friendly slap on the shoulder. ‘Proud of you today, kiddo. Be nice to Amber, okay? She’s a good friend of mine.’ He looked at her again. ‘A very good friend.’

Amber watched Jim leave, almost breathing an inner sigh of relief, before slowly turning round to face Ryan.

‘Not
one
word since Thursday?’ he asked, his comment, not to mention his tone of voice, taking her completely by surprise. She had no idea it would even have bothered him. She’d given him what he’d wanted, hadn’t she?

‘You’ve been holed up in a hotel since Friday afternoon, Ryan. There was no way
to
get in touch with you.’

Jim Allen was a great believer in making sure his players had as few distractions as possible before a match. The day before any game – be it home or away – he’d take his team to a hotel, away from everything, away from all outside distractions, and make sure they were focused on nothing but football. No contact of any kind with wives, girlfriends or any family members was allowed – unless it was an emergency, of course. He wanted everyone to think only about the forthcoming match, and nothing else.

‘That’s crap, Amber. We didn’t leave for the fucking hotel until after 3 0’clock…’

Amber quickly switched to professional mode, looking him straight in the eye. ‘Any more thoughts on this evening’s match?’

‘For fuck’s sake, Amber, we’ve already done this… I loved every second of it, the crowd were amazing, the boss is a legend, and I was proud to get a hat trick on my debut for the club. There. Anything else you need to know? Not one frigging word, Amber.’

‘Hang on, can we rewind a bit here because I’m a touch confused. You
are
Ryan Fisher, aren’t you? The one who, quite frankly, will sleep with anything that shows him the slightest bit of interest and then prays they never want to see him again once the sex is over? That
is
you, isn’t it?’

‘
You
were different, Amber,’ Ryan hissed, trying to keep his voice down but he was more than agitated that she didn’t seem to care about what had happened between them. Because
he
did. Oh, he didn’t
want
to. Jesus, of course he didn’t
want
to feel that way, but he did. ‘I didn’t want to leave; you
do
know that, don’t you?’

Amber said nothing at first, just looked at him, searching his handsome face because there was something different about him today that she hadn’t really noticed before. Sincerity? Was that it?
 

‘I needed you to go, Ryan,’ she whispered. Her stomach felt as though it was tied up in knots, the confusion she’d been feeling since Thursday threatening to overwhelm her again. For so many reasons.

‘Why, Amber? Why did you need me to go? Because you actually enjoyed yourself and were afraid to let anyone know that?’

‘Come on, Ryan. I’d just slept with you – with
you,
so how do you ex
pect
me to react?’

‘What the hell’s
that
supposed to mean?’

She looked away for a second, looking over at Ronnie who was deep in conversation with a couple of reporters she recognised. ‘I didn’t want to be another conquest, Ryan.’

‘You weren’t. You
aren’t
.’

She looked at him. ‘Why should I believe you? I mean, you have such a reputation, a reputation that…’

‘That means I couldn’t possibly find someone that makes me feel different?’

Amber stared at him. She just stared at him, because she couldn’t actually think of anything to say.

‘Okay, I have a reputation, I’ll hold my hands up to that,’ Ryan began, staring down at his trainers for a second. ‘And, as you’ve just pointed out, I’ve obviously got a lot of work ahead of me if I ever want to leave that reputation behind.’

‘Why would you
want
to leave it behind?’ Amber asked, narrowing her eyes as she continued to stare at him. ‘I mean, this is what you do, isn’t it? This is you. This is the way you live your life.’

‘Have you ever thought that I might actually want to give a proper relationship a go?’

Amber couldn’t help laughing. ‘Ha! Come on, Ryan. You’ve tried that before and it just doesn’t work. You don’t really want that…’

‘Hey, do you want to quit telling me what it is I want?’ He ran a hand through his hair, those incredible dark blue eyes of his full of confusion, which only served to make him look twice as handsome, Amber noticed. If that was possible. ‘Look, come out to dinner with me. Tonight.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I like you, Amber. I like being with you, I like the vibes you give off, and I even like the fact you’re a pain in the arse who refuses to give footballers a chance. And I can’t lie – the sex was amazing. Jesus, sweetheart, you have one killer body.’

Amber felt herself blush. What was she? Sixteen?

‘Look me in the eye and tell me you don’t want to see me again. Come on. Look me in the eye and tell me that was it, and if you can do that, well…’ He shrugged, ‘… end of story.’

She looked him right in the eye, but she couldn’t say it, could she? Because she wouldn’t mean it. ‘Okay,’ she sighed, rolling her eyes as though accepting a dinner date with Ryan Fisher was the world’s biggest chore, when really she felt elated that he’d told her all those things. Maybe he
did
deserve that chance she’d denied him on Thursday. ‘Dinner it is. Where?’

‘Franco’s. Do you know it? It’s in town…’

‘Yeah, I know it,’ Amber said, trying not to let the smile she was dying to let loose escape onto her face just yet. She didn’t want him to know she was actually looking forward to seeing him later. ‘I’ll meet you there. Eight-thirty?’

Ryan wasn’t used to women making the decisions quite as forcefully as she was, but on her it was a turn-on. He couldn’t help wondering if she brought that dominating streak into the bedroom, but maybe if he played his cards right tonight he’d find out.

‘Eight-thirty it is,’ he grinned, sticking his hands in his pockets. ‘Looking forward to it.’

Amber just gave him a small smile back then turned and walked away. Ryan had absolutely no idea why this woman had got to him, but she had. Maybe it was because she was just so different to all the other girls he was used to. Maybe it was because she didn’t fall at his feet with just the click of a finger. He didn’t know, but whatever it was he wanted to find out more.

‘Great match, lad. You did me proud out there.’

Ryan swung round at the sound of the strong Geordie accent behind him, leaning back against the wall, sighing heavily. ‘Dad.’

‘I thought you would’ve been to see us, Ryan. Your mam’s been looking forward to having her boy back home after all these years.’

‘I’ve been busy.’

‘Too busy to spare a few minutes to come and see your mam and dad?’

Ryan looked at his father. ‘I don’t need the nagging, Dad. Mam treats me like I’m still a kid sometimes.’

‘With good reason, son. Because sometimes you act like it.’

Ryan continued to stare at his dad. ‘Those days are over now. Okay?’

‘I hope you’re right, Ryan. Still, at least you’re back home now. Back where you belong.’

Ryan looked at his dad through slightly narrowed eyes, but said nothing.

‘Your mam’s worried sick about you, lad.’

Ryan threw his head back and sighed again. ‘Jesus…’ He looked straight at his father, running a hand through his dark hair. ‘I’m fine, alright? Everything is just fine.’

‘Is it? After everything…’

‘It’s fine, Dad.’ Ryan’s voice left his father in no doubt that his son didn’t want to take this conversation any further. But that was easier said than done.

‘Your mam always told me that letting you settle in
London
was a bad idea. She blames me for everything…’

‘Christ, Dad, come on. None of it was
your
fault. It was nobody’s fault but mine.
I
got myself into all that shit.’

‘And I hope you’re well out of it now, son. It’s good that you’ve come back home.’

‘Where you can keep an eye on me? Is that it?’

‘If that’s what it takes, Ryan. Yes. I hear you’ve just bought a brand new flat down on the Quayside.’

Ryan looked at his dad, his hands jammed firmly in his pockets, not enjoying this unwelcome interrogation. ‘I need somewhere to live.’

‘The club had given you a perfectly good house to stay in. For as long as you needed it.’