Playing for Keeps: Harford Scarlet Series by Toria Lyons Page B

surrounded him. He glanced back at Sarah who shook her head and rolled her eyes in mock disgust, eventually chuckling at his cheesy, self-satisfied grin.
    ‘What are you two up to?’ Tom had come up behind her.
    Sarah gave herself a moment to eat him up appreciatively with her eyes. He’d sustained a bruise and a small graze on his cheekbone in their win earlier, but that only emphasised his masculinity. The past month of dedicated training and playing had also hardened his body and enlarged his already considerable bulk; she felt increasingly feminine and delicate beside him. ‘Just teasing him about his women friends. Clare had to leave and I’m just on my way now. Will I see you in a bit?’ She struggled to keep her voice light.
    ‘I have to get you back for earlier on, don’t I? I was left in an uncomfortable position for a while.’ As Sarah fought the urge to bite her lip, he ran his hot eyes up and down her body. ‘I’ll be with you in a few hours; I need to have a word and a quick drink with Alex.’
    Sarah didn’t follow up his comment; she just smiled tightly and made her way to the exit, thinking of all the women currently surrounding Alex who would love to get their hands on another specimen. While she would be sitting at home, waiting like a housewife. She decided to call Clare – this “meeting a friend” excuse had come out of nowhere and they needed to catch up and have a proper night out.
    Once out of the club and walking, she fished out her mobile, scrolled down to Clare’s number and rang her. ‘Clare? I know you said you needed to go but it’s only seven; you’ve got plenty of time to get some sleep. Fancy going for a bite to eat?’
    ‘That sounds like a great plan. But I thought you were arranging an assignation with Tom?’
    ‘I think I can manage a night without him.’ Her body twanged in protest at her words. ‘Where are you?’
    ‘Walking back towards you now.’
    She looked up, saw Clare at the end of the road, and waved and jogged to catch up. ‘Where do you fancy?’
    ‘What about that noodle bar and then a few drinks in the White Lion?’ suggested Clare. ‘It’ll be busy, though, as all the other local rugby teams drink there.’
    ‘Sounds great. If it’s packed it’ll add to the atmosphere.’
    Clare finished her last mouthful of noodles and watched as Sarah texted Tom. ‘Will he be annoyed?’
    ‘I don’t know. Perhaps. It’ll do some good to break the routine. And it’s even better in bed when he’s being possessive.’ Sarah blushed as her body cried again for his touch. Resolutely, she turned off her phone. ‘And if he does get annoyed with me, so what?’
    Clare studied her. ‘If you insist. Ready to go?’
    The two departed and walked the few minutes along the pavement and down the passageway that led to the White Lion. Clare pulled open the side door and the noise hit them like a concussion: music and people talking, laughing and the chinking of glasses.
    ‘It is busy, isn’t it? My round,’ Sarah half shouted as she followed Clare into the packed interior with its low ceilings and rugby memorabilia along the walls. They waved at a couple of supporters she knew from the Park, and Clare went over while Sarah visited the bar.
    Despite the crowd, it didn’t take long to get served and, as she made her way back over with the drinks, she saw a couple of the Park players from the amateur side of the club had come in and joined Clare, who seemed to be determinedly enjoying herself.
    ‘Sarah, you know Danny who plays prop for the thirds?’ Clare nudged the shorter of the two hunks next to her.
    Danny, who had a wild mop of curly blond hair, a jutting chin and smiling eyes, appeared to be in his 30s but still fit enough for the tussles of the front row. He continued the introductions. ‘And this is Kiwi Adam, who’s new around here and fancied a game. Although he was a few leagues above us today, he scored most of our points – and from a second