Page 12 of The Hellion and the Captain (Scandals and Scores #2)

Chapter Ten

F or fuck’s sake.

The way her eyes had lit up, the way she had spoken from deep within her soul – it did something to him. Something that he didn’t like. Awakened a place inside of him that he tried to keep shut off.

“Rhys,” Colin said softly, looking at him in supplication.

“No,” he said, already knowing what Colin would say.

“Perhaps—”

“No.”

“She did fit well. She’s good, and getting better.”

“It won’t work.”

“Why not?”

“Because,” he said stupidly.

The women looked between them, heads bobbing back and forth as if they were watching him and Colin kick a soccer ball to one another.

“Can one of you explain what is happening?” Lily finally asked.

“I think we could make it work,” Colin said, finally giving her his attention. “That Emmaline could continue to play with us.”

“Really?” Emmaline practically squealed, her dropped shoulders lifting so suddenly that Rhys almost wondered if she had planned to speak to their vulnerabilities to convince them to allow her to continue.

“No,” Rhys said, cutting off her hope before it soared too high. “I discovered who she was quite easily. The other men will too.”

“Not if we help her,” Colin argued.

“You’ve gone soft in your marriage,” Rhys scoffed.

“Pardon me?” Lily asked, sitting forward. “I have done nothing to soften him, I can assure you.”

“Thank you, luv,” Colin said, smiling at her so sweetly that Rhys had to fight the flame of jealousy that lit within him at what they had, what he had always longed for.

“What if she is injured again?” Rhys demanded. “Or someone else discovers who she truly is? What will happen to your reputation?” he asked Emmaline now.

“I’m not sure if you have realized this yet, but I care very little for my reputation,” she said. “I am five-and-twenty and unmarried. My parents allow me to go where I please, see who I choose to see. I have yet to meet a man I want to spend my life with.”

That hurt more than he would like to admit, considering she had met him.

“I would rather have this than my reputation,” she continued with sincerity in her eyes that he couldn’t ignore.

He paused, hating what he was about to say before it came out of his mouth.

“We would need to have a plan,” he said, even though he knew he was doing the opposite of what he should be doing – providing her hope.

“We would all need to be committed to keeping the secret and making this work. If it ever came out, we would all face major repercussions. ”

“I have been keeping this to myself well enough already,” Emmaline said eagerly. “We are all trustworthy here.”

“You truly don’t care if you never marry?” Lily asked. “Because he is right about that. This would likely ruin all your chances.”

“Then so be it,” she said.

“Very well,” Rhys said, lifting his hands in the air, giving up what he knew was rational, which he should have stuck to. But something about Emmaline made him forget all reason and give in to the ridiculous. “How are we going to do this?”

He was prepared for Emmaline to launch into a strategy.

He was unprepared for her to stand from her chair and launch herself into his arms, wrapping them around him.

“Thank you, Rhys,” she said, her mouth near his neck as she practically sat in his lap. “Thank you so much.”

He awkwardly patted her on the back, aware that Colin and Lily were watching them, and uncertain of what he and Emmaline were to each other now. Yes, they had kissed, but that was before he had found out that she had been lying to him practically ever since they had met.

Eventually, she slipped back onto her chair, and Lily, after an interested glance between them, stood to make tea.

“We are all concerned for your reputation, Emmaline, even if you are not,” Colin said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. “But we also need to be mindful of the club’s reputation. If it comes out that we have a woman playing with us…”

“We would be a laughingstock,” Rhys said dryly, earning himself a glare from Emmaline, but he shrugged it off. It was the truth, and it was best she understood that.

“We need to ensure that she doesn’t speak directly to officials or players from the other teams,” Colin added. “You or I will have to be there to get between them, Rhys.”

He nodded, agreeing .

“Off the field, I am happy to help create diversions when necessary to protect Emmaline or provide excuses for Emmett,” Lily said, rejoining them with the tea tray, pouring a cup for each of them.

“I also had an idea.” Her eyes glinted. “We could ask Minnie to pose as the woman you are courting. You could bring her to events, and she could add to your disguise.”

“Would she keep the secret?” Rhys asked, not liking the idea of bringing anyone else in.

“Of course she would,” Lily said. “We have been friends with her forever, and she was always mischievous, although not to the extent of Emmaline, of course.”

Emmaline shot her a sharp look, and Lily laughed. “It’s true. Anyway, yes, Minnie would be a good idea. Her father is a partner of Emmaline’s grandfather, so she has familiarity with many different circles of people.”

Rhys caught the brief twinge of concern that crossed Emmaline’s face.

“What is it?” he asked.

“Nothing,” she said, turning a surprised look upon him.

“Something is bothering you about that plan.”

“It’s not the plan,” she said. “It is just… Minnie is exceptionally beautiful. She will attract a great deal of attention.”

“No woman could be that beautiful,” he said, stopping before he said what he was truly thinking – that no woman could be as beautiful as she was.

“Oh, but she is,” Emmaline insisted. “You’ve seen her. You just must not realize who she is. She was at Lily and Colin’s party at the beginning of the season. You looked at her a great many times.”

He had been looking at Emmaline. Now that she mentioned it, however, he recalled her speaking to a blond woman, although he couldn’t conjure an image of her.

He frowned, and Lily broke the silence .

“You should have a code.”

“A code?” Rhys said.

“A way to communicate on the field, in case Emmaline needs help, then one of you will be able to cover for her.”

“Just say ‘help,’” Rhys said without expression, and Lily rolled her eyes.

“That’s not quite good enough.”

“Offside,” Colin suggested. “If Emmaline says ‘offside’ during a match, it means she needs assistance or for one of us to intervene.”

Rhys nodded thoughtfully. It was a term they used frequently enough that it wouldn’t raise suspicions but could easily be worked into conversation if the need arose. “And in social situations, if she mentions her ‘Aunt Eliza,’ that can be our signal that she needs one of us to assist.”

Emmaline beamed at them, clearly pleased with the plan taking shape. Rhys couldn’t help but admire her enthusiasm, even as a part of him still wrestled with the risks they were undertaking.

As the discussion progressed, they ironed out additional details – establishing alibis, coordinating schedules, and refining Emmaline’s disguise. Rhys was impressed by her quick wit and creativity as she offered suggestions and insights.

Despite his initial reservations, he began to see the potential in their scheme. If they worked together, they could pull this off. And if they did... the possibilities were tantalizing. As much as he didn’t want to admit it, Emmaline’s skill could be the edge they needed to secure the cup.

“Let’s have a toast,” Lily said once all of the details were settled.

“With our teacups?” Colin asked, raising a brow, and she nodded. “To new friendships and victories.”

“To new friendships,” Emmaline said, meeting Rhys’s eyes .

“And to victories,” he said back. In that moment, a silent understanding passed between them. They were in this together now, for better or worse.

But looking at the determination in her gaze, the fire that sparked there, Rhys realized that as challenging as this might be, they would face it together. Head-on. He had spent his life as part of a team, but he had never had such a partnership before.

He rose to his feet, offering his hand to Emmaline.

“Well then, Emmaline – or should I say, Emmett – let us begin. We have work to do. As skilled as you are, your conditioning and your speed need to improve. It’s not your fault — you’re not used to it.

But we’re going to have to spend some additional time practicing. Are you up for it?”

She grinned, clasping his hand firmly in her own. “Lead the way, Captain Lockwood. I’m ready for whatever comes next.”

As they shook on it, sealing their pact, a thrill of anticipation coursed through Rhys from where their hands touched, and it had nothing to do with football.

It had everything to do with this woman before him. A woman who had the potential to destroy everything that he had built for himself.

But somehow, he had a feeling that she just might be worth it.