Striker (13 page)

‘I want my own place, okay?’

‘Is the city centre the most sensible choice of location, son? It’s a bit close to…’

‘That house, it wasn’t me,’ Ryan interrupted. ‘I wasn’t comfortable there.’

His father fixed him with a stare that demanded the truth. ‘Are you…?’

‘Am I, what?’ Ryan asked, his stare just as determined.

‘You know what I’m asking, Ryan.’

‘I’m getting there, Dad. That’s all you need to know.’

‘Aye, well, as long as you are, lad. As long as you are.’

*

‘Do I look alright?’ Amber asked Ronnie as he pulled up at the corner of the street where Franco’s restaurant was situated.

‘You look fine,’ Ronnie replied as he fiddled with his in-car Mp3 player.

Amber looked at him. ‘Fine. I look
fine
?’

Ronnie stared at her. ‘Yeah. You look fine.’

Amber said nothing, just raised her eyebrows and gave him a wide-eyed look. Ronnie shrugged, genuinely confused. ‘What? What do you
want
me to say? Who the hell
am
I? Gok frigging Wan? You look great, okay? Is that better?’

Amber still said nothing, just pulled down the visor and checked her face in the small, side-lit mirror, running her tongue over her teeth just in case any pale pink lip gloss had found its way on there.

‘Do you know what you’re doing?’ Ronnie asked, finally finding a play list he was happy with.

Amber looked at him. ‘Of course I know what I’m doing. I’m having dinner with Ryan Fisher.’

‘You know what I mean. I want to make sure you know just what it is you might be getting into. Although, if you want my opinion…’

‘Which I don’t.’

Ronnie ignored her. ‘If you want my opinion, I don’t think you should be getting into it at all.’

‘I’m not getting “into” anything, Ronnie.’

‘Well, with the greatest of respect, Amber, you already
are
into something when you sleep with somebody.’

‘So, what does that make
our
relationship then? Huh? Do you want to explain that one?’

Ronnie looked out of the window for a second. She kind of had him there.

‘No, didn’t think so. Because you can’t, can you? Look, Ronnie, like I said before, I’m not getting “into” anything. I’m just having dinner. That’s all. Ryan and I both know where we stand, and just because we appear to be doing things a little back to front it doesn’t actually have to mean anything’s going on.’

‘Y’know, you might think you’re all hard-faced and nobody can tell you anything, but you’re still my best friend and I care about you, okay? And, let’s face it, where men are concerned you’re not exactly experienced, are you?’

‘Yeah, thanks for that, Ronnie.’

‘Amber, sweetheart… you said that all of this doesn’t have to mean that anything’s going on, but…’

‘But, what?’ Amber asked, looking right into Ronnie’s eyes.

‘But… do you
want
something to happen? Even just a little bit?’

She sat back in the passenger seat of his black BMW, the dark leather interior cool against her skin. ‘Look, Ronnie, I know I’ve always said I really didn’t want to get involved with footballers, mainly because I assumed you were all like Ryan Fisher. But
you
proved me wrong, and I think Ryan might actually prove me wrong, too. I don’t know. Maybe I’m just getting softer, but I’m willing to see how tonight goes. People
can
change, y’know.’

Ronnie raised a concerned eyebrow. ‘You think so, huh? You think someone like Ryan Fisher is just going to change overnight? Don’t go rushing into anything, Amber. Please.’

‘It’s a bit late for that, isn’t it?’ Amber smiled, grabbing her handbag and opening the car door. ‘I mean, like you said before, we’ve already slept together, haven’t we?’

Ronnie gave a resigned sigh, smiling back at her as she leaned in through the open passenger window, blowing him a kiss. ‘Have a good time, kiddo.’

‘I’ll try,’ she winked at him before waving him off, standing still for a few seconds, just to compose herself. Again. She seemed to be composing herself a lot where Ryan Fisher was concerned.

The restaurant was busy when she finally walked in, but then, it
was
Saturday night in the centre of town. She’d never actually been inside Franco’s before, mainly because it was the haunt of local celebrities and footballers and therefore the price range was a little out of her league, but she’d always wondered what it would be like to eat there. She was also one of life’s truly nosy people, and to be able to get a glimpse at the clientele that frequented this famous local restaurant was something she was particularly looking forward to.

Sliding her clutch bag under her arm she scanned the room as she waited at the front desk for the Maitre d’, but she couldn’t see Ryan anywhere. What if he’d had a better offer from someone younger, thinner and blonde? She could do without
that
kind of kick in the teeth.

‘You look amazing.’

She swung round at the sound of that now-familiar voice, trying to keep the smile off her face as she saw him standing there behind her. Dressed in a dark suit and white shirt, no tie, and that sexy, messed-up hair that he really was carrying off so well, it was all Amber could do to stop a sharp intake of breath from escaping. As usual, Ryan Fisher looked hot. Handsome, sexy, young and dangerous. Cocky, arrogant, selfish and smug. All things that described this man in front of her, but Amber was willing to give him that chance he seemed so set on having. But if he blew it then she was walking away. No second chances, no lame explanations. She was breaking the biggest rule she’d ever set herself and if he gave her cause to regret that then she was walking away.

‘I was at the bar,’ he went on, his hands in his pockets, a smile on his handsome face. She couldn’t help noticing how sexy that beard of his really was. He suited it. It made her think of a young George Best in his hey day, and then she couldn’t help hoping that he didn’t resemble him in other ways, too. Because she’d heard the stories, listened to the rumours. ‘Do you want a drink before we get settled at our table?’

‘Please,’ Amber smiled, positive she was breaking out in some kind of hot flush. She was only eleven years older than him but she felt like some kind of Mrs. Robinson figure. She felt as if all eyes were on her, which they probably weren’t. But they could quite possibly all be on Ryan. ‘And make it a large one.’

Ryan laughed a deep, almost rough-edged laugh that made Amber’s skin break out in a zillion goose bumps. Was there anything this man did that
wasn’t
sexy? ‘That kind of day, huh?’

She looked at him as they walked over to the dimly-lit but cosy bar area, the low lighting making him look younger than his twenty-six years. She could only hope it was as kind to her. ‘Not really. I’m just nervous. There, I’ve said it. I’ll have a white wine, please.’

‘Okay. Coming up,’ he said, smiling slightly as he turned to order their drinks. ‘So,’ he went on, turning back to face her, ‘… want to know something? I’m nervous, too.’

‘Really?’ Amber asked, unable to hide the slightly cynical tone in her voice. She did, however, hope that he meant it and he wasn’t just saying it to make her feel better. Although, even
that
would be a really kind thing for him to do. Hang on, had she just described Ryan Fisher as “kind” there?

‘Yeah, really,’ Ryan replied, handing her a large glass of white wine. ‘Even arrogant, self-centred bastards can get nervous sometimes.’

She took a sip of wine, keeping her eyes on his on all the time. ‘I still find that so hard to believe. Come on, Ryan, you can’t blame me. There’s hardly a week goes by when you’re not in some gossip magazine or showbiz section of some newspaper or other with something that falls into the category of Z-List celebrity hanging off your arm. There
was
a time when footballers only used to feature on the
back
pages of newspapers.’

‘You’re not in the least bit cynical, then?’ he asked, although it was purely a rhetorical question. Boy, it was going to be a long haul to get this one on side. She was going to be hard work, but something was telling Ryan she’d be worth it. He hadn’t realised how exciting a bit of a challenge would be until he’d met Amber Sullivan. And maybe she was just what he needed right now – someone to take his mind off everything else.

‘Cynical? Me?’ Amber smiled, taking another sip of wine. ‘As if.’

Ryan smiled, too, holding out his hand. ‘Shall we sit down?’

Amber nodded, slipping her hand into his, her stomach turning a tiny somersault as his fingers curled around hers. It had been a long time since she’d experienced those somersaults, those little stomach flips that told you something exciting might be about to happen. But, as Amber was the eternal pessimist, she never let herself get carried away with those feelings. And she had to remember who she was dealing with here.

‘So, the lure of the post-home-win-celebrations with some of the lads wasn’t grabbing you, huh?’ Amber asked, resting her chin in her hand as she looked at him across the candle-lit table.

Ryan shrugged, giving her that famous smile of his again. ‘I fancied a change.’

‘Oh, so
that’s
what I am, then? A
change
. I see…’

‘I didn’t mean it like that…’

‘I know you didn’t,’ Amber smiled. ‘I just wanted to see how genuine you are.’

‘Are you gonna constantly test me like this?’

Amber shrugged. ‘Probably. It takes a lot for me to trust somebody, Ryan. I’ve been around sportsmen too long, believe me. I know what a lot of you are like.’

He leaned forward, keeping his eyes on hers, not willing to break the stare. ‘Do you, though? Do you really? You said yourself you’ve kept away from relationships with footballers in particular, so, if that’s the case, then you only know what you see on the surface – what you read about, what you hear them talking about, and believe
me
, Amber, there are a few of them out there who like to furnish the truth quite a bit. So, you see, you only
think
you know what we’re like. You don’t actually
know
anything.’

‘Don’t I?’

He shook his head. ‘No. You don’t.’

‘How do you know that, huh? You don’t really know anything about me, so, how do you know that?’

‘Because, bar your relationship with Ronnie White, you’ve never let yourself get close enough. At least, that’s what you’re leading me to assume. So, what you think you know only scratches the surface in reality, doesn’t it?’

‘You really
are
arrogance personified, aren’t you?’

‘Look, Amber, all I’m saying is that if you, maybe, stopped being so cynical, tore down those barriers you seem to have built around yourself and just let someone in, you might actually find something there that could change your mind. If you’re willing to give them a chance.’

She
wanted
to give him a chance. She’d told Ronnie as much, and there was no doubt that she was attracted to him. But she’d spent so long backing away from relationships and concentrating on her career that she didn’t really know what to do next. Or how to handle it all. How the hell
did
you handle a relationship with somebody like Ryan Fisher? And is that what they were talking about here – a relationship? Is that what was happening? Is that what she
wanted
? What
he
wanted?

‘I can pull ‘em down, if you like,’ Ryan said, giving her that grin of his.

She couldn’t help smiling back. ‘Pull
what
down, exactly?’

He sat back, adopting a more-than-casual stance. Cocky, even. But that was just the way he was. The way he chose to showcase himself. And she figured she was just going to have to learn to deal with it if she really wanted to get closer to him.

‘Those barriers of yours,’ he smirked, causing Amber to laugh out loud, against her better judgement. ‘There you go. You’re not such an ice-queen after all, are you?’

‘Jesus, is that how I really come across?’ Amber asked, smiling her thanks at the wine waiter as he topped up her half-empty glass.

‘Sometimes. But, hey, you just need warming up a bit.’

‘Reel it in, will you, Ryan. I get it, okay?’

He looked at her through slightly narrowed eyes. It was all a front as far as he was concerned, this ice-queen image. She was using it as some kind of shield to hide behind, and he should know. ‘I just want to get to know you, Amber. Is that such a bad thing?’

She shook her head, finally allowing herself to feel comfortable with him, although the drink could be helping on that score. But a little bit of help never hurt, did it?

‘No. It’s not a bad thing at all.’

‘Okay. Then, let’s start again, shall we? My name’s Ryan, and I’m pleased to meet you.’

She couldn’t help smiling at him as she felt herself relax. ‘Pleased to meet you, too, Ryan. I’m Amber.’

‘Well hello, Amber.’ He leaned forward, clasping his hands together on the table in front of him. ‘I think you and I are gonna get along just fine, don’t you?’