Authors: Donna Gallagher
“Thanks, but I’m good, driving and all that. I’ll save it up and have a glass or two over dinner. Go do what has to be done with the roses, I’ll sit and watch the replay with Rookie.” Trevor, after graciously declining her offer of a drink, turned towards her son. “I see we’ve interrupted your viewing. This was such a great game. You played your socks off, as I recall.”
Laura, thankful for the change in subject, hurried off to find a vase big enough to set the flowers in. She ended up just sitting them in a large saucepan full of water, eager to get back to her living room and make sure Mitchell had not thrown Trevor out of the door while she’d been busy in the other room. Not that Laura could see her son—as big and fit as he was—achieving the task. Trevor was also a prime specimen of manhood, all tall and muscled.
She giggled girlishly, the sound a shock to her system, making her shake her head. Her palms were moist and her heart was beating double-time in her chest.
“Oh, my… You are in way over your head this time, Laura Harris,” she told herself as she took a moment to smell the heavenly scent of the roses. “These roses must have cost a small fortune—such an extravagant gesture. Please don’t let Mitchell have scared him off.”
Chapter Two
Trevor was trying to ignore Rookie’s blatant hostility. It was a bit of a blow to his ego that the kid didn’t think Trevor was good enough for his mother, but he couldn’t blame Rookie. Trevor did not want to contemplate the thought of his own mother dating. But then again, his mother had nowhere near the beauty of Laura Harris, and she was still married to his father, albeit unhappily.
“So are you looking forward to the new season, Rookie? How do you think the Jets will cope with the double retirement? JT and Brodie are sure to be missed.”
“What, you doing an interview with me or something, Hughes?”
Rookie’s response was full of sarcasm, but Trevor tried his best to get the kid to calm down. “No, buddy, just makin’ conversation while I wait for your mother. But if you don’t feel like talking, that’s okay—I’ll just sit and watch the game.”
“Why are you taking my mum out, anyway?”
The kid’s question was so out of line that Trevor wouldn’t have bothered to answer if not for the sulky tones in which it had been delivered. God, if Rookie had stood up and stamped his foot in a temper tantrum it wouldn’t have surprised Trevor.
“Do you really need me to answer that question, Rookie? Your mother is single and an adult, and so am I. We are going out to dinner to get to know one another. I wasn’t kidding when I said how beautiful Laura looks tonight, mate.” Trevor was trying to be diplomatic but the faces Rookie was pulling were beginning to get on his nerves. “Be assured I will treat your mother with the dignity she deserves, okay, Rookie? Stop worrying. It’s not like I’m kidnapping her or anything. It’s dinner.”
“Yeah, right—you just want dinner and nothing else. Give me a break, Hughes. I’m not an idiot, you know. I know what you’ll be wanting after dinner.”
“Mitchell John Harris, how dare you say something like that?”
Trevor hadn’t noticed Laura had come back into the room until she confronted her son and his comments. The blaze in her eyes as she took her cantankerous son to task was glorious. Her cheeks had a flush to them that Trevor imagined would resemble the effects of a post-orgasmic glow, and he hoped he would have the chance to test his theory one day. Her eyes sparkled with fury, making her face come alive. She was a magnificent sight, and Trevor stood captivated.
“I will have you know, young man, that I do not appreciate your rudeness to a guest in my house. I raised you better than that. What I do and who I choose to have dinner with is my business, Mitchell. And son, if want to have sex, I will have sex with whomever I deem fit.”
“Oh, God, Mum! Don’t say things like that—I’ll have nightmares. It’s sick.”
Trevor was dumbfounded by the turn of conversation, but he had to admit he liked where Laura was heading. He sure as hell would be happy and willing to oblige her in the sex department. God, his cock was at half-mast already, and seeing Rookie squirm at his mother’s comment was one sight he would remember for a long time. He could only imagine the talented halfback’s opponents’ faces if they could see Rookie Harris being put back in his place by his mother. They could only wish they could control him that way.
“What, Mitch? At twenty-one, you’re still a virgin? Or is it just okay for men to have sex, but not women? Apologise to Trevor so I can go. I’m so upset with you right now.”
Trevor felt it was time he stepped in and tried to calm the situation down. He certainly didn’t want Laura to be worrying about her son’s behaviour during dinner, and really, Rookie was just protecting his mother. Trev could understand that.
“Laura, no need for an apology. I’m sure Rookie just had your best interests at heart. No harm done. I respect him for his protectiveness. Would expect nothing less, from what I hear of your son’s outstanding character. JT certainly holds him in high regard after he stood up to protect Mandy from that madman she was having all those problems with. What say we just forget all about this and go to Mia’s? What do you say, Rookie? Shake hands and move on?”
“That’s very generous of you, Trevor, but Mitchell still treated you—my guest—rudely and I won’t stand for that. Mitchell, do you have something to say?”
Trevor fought back the grin that was threatening as he watched Rookie shuffling his feet like a small child who had been caught out being naughty. What was it about mothers that could bring grown men to their knees?
“Sorry.” Rookie’s apology was quiet and quick. Trevor nearly missed it altogether.
“Sorry for what, Mitchell?” Laura really wasn’t letting her son off the hook anytime soon, and Trevor was actually starting to feel sorry for the kid. No wonder Rookie Harris was such a respectable and mature young man—Laura wouldn’t let him be any other way.
“I’m sorry for being rude, Hughes. Is that better, Mum? You’re really embarrassing me here, you know.” Rookie’s plea apparently fell on deaf ears, as Laura still did not let up.
“Trevor or Mr Hughes, please, Mitchell. You know how much I hate you just using surnames when addressing another human being. Politeness is free, you know. And if you are embarrassed by my attempts at teaching you some manners, then perhaps you can understand how I felt over your behaviour.”
Trevor did get to shake hands with a very meek Rookie before finally getting Laura strapped safely in his car so they could be on their way. The trip to Mia’s was filled with her apologising over Rookie’s attitude, and the more he tried to convince her it was all forgotten the more she apologised. He really had to get her off the subject or the date would be a disaster.
“I hear on the grapevine you have a cleaning company, Laura. So you’re a businesswoman as well as being beautiful.” Trevor hoped distracting Laura with a question about her work might get her onto another topic—usually people had a lot to say about their careers, Trev had found, and he just hoped it was the case with Laura.
“I’m not expecting any write ups in the
Australian Financial Review
anytime soon.” Laura’s laugh at her own expense was warm and throaty. Trevor found the sound enticing, sexy, as it caressed over him, and he wanted to hear it again.
“I clean houses for busy people and have been fortunate enough to get to the stage where I can employ a small staff, as well. It’s nothing grandiose—just hard menial work. But it pays the bills and in the beginning I could schedule my time around Mitchell’s needs, so it worked well for me. Growing to become my own company is something I only dreamed of. In the beginning it was just a way a young, uneducated woman could make a living.”
“Laura, don’t sell yourself short. You own a business, have clients and staff—it’s something to be proud of. You have obviously worked hard to get where you are now. Hey, I just talk for a living. Now
that’s
shallow.”
Trevor was glad to finally start up a normal conversation with Laura, get her thoughts away from her son. He loved the humble way she’d described what she did to make a living. She might have been short of a formal education, but Trevor could tell Laura was no brainless blonde. She had guts, that was clear, and the few conversations they’d had previously had all been highly entertaining.
Trevor couldn’t wait to find out more about what made the attractive woman tick—he wanted to know her favourite food, what music she listened to, the movies she preferred, what the score was with Rookie’s father… He wanted to know everything there was about Laura. And that alone should have had him running for the hills. Trevor preferred to keep a comfortable distance from relationships.
As they walked through the door of Mia’s, Trevor knew he had made a mistake. What had he been thinking when he’d offered to bring Laura here on a date? There would be no chance of sharing an intimate dinner and getting to know her better when more than half of the restaurant’s patrons were people he knew, all probably in attendance to enjoy listening to the beautiful sounds of Caitlin James’ voice. Caitlin’s husband, Brodie James, was already waving them over to join his table, a table also occupied by another of the Jets stalwarts—Jon ‘JT’ Thompson and his fiancée, Mandy.
His fate was sealed with the sound of Laura’s happy gasp at the sight of the very pregnant Mandy.
“Oh, look, Trevor—there’s Mandy and JT, as well as Brodie, and Caitlin’s little brother, Riley! We should go over and say hello.” Laura shot off in their direction, leaving him to follow.
“Well, would you look who we have here?” Brodie James’ voice held a touch of smugness, Trevor thought, as he shook hands with the newly retired player, now assistant coach of the Jets. Trevor and Brodie went way back and he really enjoyed hanging out with Brodie, but it hadn’t been what he’d had in mind for tonight.
His face must have shown his thoughts because Brodie laughed, a deep guffawing that rumbled from the giant of a man’s chest. “What’s wrong Trevor? Did you not realise that we would all be here for Cate’s first night back?” The man added, too aware of Trevor’s mind for his liking, “If you wanted a quiet night with Rookie’s mother, maybe this was the last place you should have come, mate.”
“Yeah, right, smart-arse—maybe I wanted to have you all around so you could give me some pointers. Hey, look at you and JT, wrapped around your women’s fingers. The once big, tough Jets front-row forwards reduced to bending and scraping to please the little women…” Trevor’s teasing was just that—he actually envied Brodie’s and JT’s newfound happiness. He could see for himself how much Caitlin and Mandy had enhanced his mates’ lives. Not that he was ever likely to have that sort of relationship.
“What’s that rubbish you’re spouting, Hughes? No-one tells JT what to do. I’m a man’s man, and don’t you forget it.” When JT welcomed someone, he often nearly smothered them in a bear hug or knocked them over with a punch to the arm. In this case, Trevor found he was the recipient of both, and as he rubbed at the painful repercussion of JT’s friendship he shook his head.
“Dare you to say that again when Mandy’s not distracted talking to Laura. You, JT, my friend, are a lost cause and you know it. How are you both? Hope the honeymoon was
nice
,
Brodie.” Trevor gave a smirk as he mentioned Brodie and Caitlin’s honeymoon, knowing that there was no way Brodie would divulge any information in front of his new young brother-in-law. Riley Walters had quickly become a part of everyone’s hearts. The poor kid and his sister had had a hard life after losing both their parents in a tragic car accident, before Brodie had walked into their lives and changed them for the better.
“Do you want to join us for dinner, Trev? You’re welcome, but I’ll understand if you would rather not,” Brodie added diplomatically. But the decision was taken out of Trevor’s hands as Mandy and Laura both made very feminine squealing noises in response to the idea.
“Would you mind terribly, Trevor? I really would love to chat some more with Mandy about the pregnancy.” Laura leaned towards him and, with a wisp of air blowing gently over his ear and neck, she whispered, obviously not wanting to be overheard, “Mandy doesn’t really have anyone to talk to about that sort of thing. She’s estranged from her own mother and Caitlin’s not experienced with this sort of thing, either.”
Trevor would have given Laura the world at that moment as the feel of her breath on his neck took all rational thought from his brain. Not only was she the sexiest woman he had ever laid eyes on, but that innocent caress of exhaled air on his skin filled him with a sense of need so urgent he wanted to sweep her into his arms and carry her away to some secluded spot and ravish her for hours, days…maybe even years. Laura also had a heart of gold, he was discovering.
“Sure, gorgeous. This table is as good as any, but I’m not sharing my meal with these apes. I’m ordering my own dish—you got that, JT?”
As everyone settled back into their seats and Angelo, the owner of Mia’s, fussed over them, taking orders and returning with drink selections, Trevor smiled. He was happy. Laura looked so comfortable sitting amongst his friends. They chatted easily back and forth with her. It might not have been the romantic night of seduction he had planned, but Laura was enjoying it, and that was what was important to make a first date successful, he supposed.
Chapter Three
Laura was having the time of her life. After such an uncomfortable start to the evening, thanks to her son’s well-meaning but embarrassing intervention, she and Trevor were having a wonderful time. Okay, so the fact they weren’t alone wasn’t the best prelude to the night of debauchery she’d been hoping for, but catching up with the Jets gang was so much fun. JT and Brodie were fantastic men and had been such great mentors to Mitchell. Mandy was just a delight. Apart from the fact that they looked totally different, and that Mandy was an artist and Laura a cleaner, Mandy reminded Laura of her younger self. Mandy had had problems with her family, just as her own family had had issues. Mandy had struggled to overcome her problems, resulting in some bad life choices—just as Laura had dealt with being left confused, alone and pregnant by a man she had too innocently trusted. Laura loved the young woman’s determination.