The Striker's Forbidden Love

was giving him a chance to take it back, arms crossed, cleats planted in the middle of

utes late to a seven a.m. film session." Daniel Re

y shoe." Mia a

s?" Daniel asked,

d, completely straight-faced, like s

lly looked

ne small second she almost smiled at her own joke

table went quiet, pretending to

looked at her like she didn't belong, like she was still the girl who'd walked onto the pitch fo

nd now, because of one new coach and one bad morning, she

ce I made this team." Mia sai

iel said, his eyes calm in a way that made her want to throw somethi

ven know me.

Daniel said evenly. He set the clipboard down on the bench be

you are. All of it tells me

way with almost anything because she scored the goals he needed and he didn't care how she got there. But there was something about the wa

se without me." Mia said, voic

se." Daniel

under her breath, just l

ime." Daniel called after her, and if she hadn't been so

nty yards out. She sat through all ninety minutes on the bench with her arms folded and her jaw clenched so hard it ached by the final whi

early set up the winning goal in stoppage time. Mia clapped for her, because tha

ng there useless in a warm-up jacket w

a result nobody's satisfied with. Mia stayed behind after the others filtered out to the parking lot, retapi

allway and didn't need to lo

tomorrow... I'd have waited to lock up." Daniel

it for me." Mia said, s

some of the sharpness had gone out of his voice. "You're a good player, Torres. May

ia asked, finally

was stating a fact rather than an accusation. "They apply to everyone. Especia

about me." Mia said, te

y a single word to your teammates, when they needed you cheering instead of sulking through it. And I know..." he said, quieter now, almost reluctant, "that if you'd shown up on time this morning, we would win that match

that he

of me?" Mia asked, one eyebrow raised, tryin

ed now. "You're better than you think you are. That's t

compliment." Mia said, arms still crossed bu

this time there was no missing the small,

ce tight enough to crack despi

aniel said,

the door close enough to catch the smell of rain still clinging to his jac

aniel calle

efusing to turn around and let him see wha

on't be late again." Da

Mia said, her voice catching on

added, just as she st

ite turning around, brac

she could hear the smile in it

ust her own voice not to laugh, and she was abs

ightness in her chest was nothing but frustration. It had to be... she'd known this man for exactly six days. She didn't have room in her life not this season, not with t

in her bag. A text from an unknown number, sent to the te

star player in the opener. Somebod

unt tag underneath it; a local sports reporter who'd been sniffing around Ironbridg

ing out. And the seas