Centre spot enemies to l.., p.1
Centre Spot (Enemies to Lovers #2), page 1
Centre Spot
Enemies To Lovers
She’s off limits.
I have NONE.
BOOK TWO
Gracie-Mae Harding
gracie-mae.com
Copyright And Disclaimer
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual events or locales or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication / use of the trademarks is not authorized, associated with or sponsored by the trademark owners.
Copyright © 2020 Gracie-Mae Harding.
All rights reserved.
For more information: gracie-mae.com
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Table Of Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Book Three Preview
About The Author
Other Books By The Author
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Chapter One
James:
“Mummy, Mummy,” Chloe screamed as she ran through the deep beach sand and into Katie’s waiting arms. She held out her hand, revealing a colorful seashell.
The sight of them glowing in their rainbow-colored beach dresses, mixed in with the sounds of their laughter is eye-catching and emotionally gratifying. A couple of people turned around to stare at them and I felt my heart swell with pride. I then sensed someone tapping me on the shoulder. I turned to face a tall, robust man with a shy-looking toddler. The child has beautifully tanned skin. He is trying to save the oversized beach ball from slipping under arm by clamping it tightly to his side.
“Wow! You really are James Reed. You see, I thought little James here was seeing things. I’m Michael, and this here is my son, James. We named him after you,” he said. He was still grinning as he stretched out his hand for a handshake. I reached out and grabbed his hand, grateful for his kind words.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you here. I’m a huge fan and I must say, last season was insane. It’s been a long time since anyone has broken so many records in a single season. I don’t know how you do it, but you’re amazing! Thank you for never letting your fans down.”
“The credit goes to the entire team,” I replied with a modest smile. This entire time, I noticed his eyes did not leave me. He continued to observe me like a spectacle.
The sound of Katie’s laughter reached me, and I turned to see her and Chloe beckoning to me in excitement.
“Oh! I didn’t realize you were out with your family. I’m sorry to have taken so much of your time. We’ll let you get back to your family. But...before you go, could we take a picture with you?” the man asked.
“Oh, sure.”
The man’s smile grew even brighter as he pulled out his cell phone to take the photo.
“Could I also get your autograph?” the plump toddler asked. He then extended his ball towards me as his father fondled through his pocket for a few moments and eventually produced a marker-pen. As I reached for the ball, I heard Chloe scream my name and felt as if the ground was shaking beneath me. Excruciating pain drove through my legs; starting from my ankle. I groaned in agony before falling to the ground.
I opened my eyes to the familiar sight of my bedroom ceiling. I then leaped up from my bed. It was just a dream. Bloody hell.
I haven’t had nightmares in a while, not since Katie and I had last spoken. Perhaps, she had been my good luck charm.
I looked at the clock and saw that it is 5:30. It’s still too early. Knowing well enough that I can’t bring myself to return to bed, I walked over to the kitchen to get myself a cold glass of water to calm my nerves.
My throat was dry like sawdust and my mouth tasted just as bad. The refreshing water was a welcome relief. I can feel hydration returned to my lips and throat as I downed the whole glass. I sighed in relief and filled my glass again. I then walked over to my couch and sat back, allowing myself to melt into it like soft butter. The house and I are somehow connected. No matter how bad my day would be, I would feel better the instant I step foot inside and enter. Maybe it’s because I designed the house that I feel so much at ease in it.
In a bid to push away the thoughts and images from my nightmare, the heated events of last night started to emerge. It was not long before the memories started to replay themselves in my mind. Each scene was as vivid as if I were watching a movie. Katie…how could such a beautiful woman always seem to fall in love with all the wrong men? I punched the air in frustration as Burke’s snickering face flashed through my mind– that son of a bitch. Annoyance and disappointment washed through me and I suddenly felt as if I was in college all over again. Placing my glass on the floor, I headed for the gym. I was hoping that some exercise might help drive thoughts of Katie out of my mind.
After a few inattentive minutes into my workout, I gave up. Last night should have ended nicely. For the first time in a long time, Katie seemed to have let her guard down completely. She was sitting across from me, looking all snug and sexy. I love how smart she is, and how she is able to hold her own in any conversation, especially ones revolving around sports. The coffee was good and her house was nice and warm. But Burke just had to show up and run his mouth.
The last time Katie looked at me, I saw hurt and disappointment shone clearly in her eyes. Obviously, I had crossed a major line last night. But I'm not sorry. That redhead doesn't deserve her, and I will not stand by and watch her get hurt again. If I am being honest, it is because I have fallen for her. Without even knowing it, she has made her way into my heart. Even if I have to punch that redhead again, I will do it without remorse if he doesn’t leave her alone.
I was lying on the cold gym floor mat, shivering as the chill creeped under my skin. Damn the cold, damn the redhead, damn my heart, and damn everything!
The next time I opened my eyes, it was to the loud shrill of my alarm. It’s so loud that I was able to hear it ringing all the way from my bedroom. I hissed when I realized that I had fallen asleep on the gym floor. Pushing my body up with my stiff muscles, I headed to the bathroom for a hot shower to clear my weariness.
After the shower, my head seemed to lighten. I took my time to get dressed before heading to the kitchen to whip up a quick breakfast for Chloe and me. As soon as I shove my meal into the microwave, I called Uncle Hank to inform him that I am on my way to pick up Chloe.
Sliding into my black Chevrolet Camaro, I put on my sun shades to block out the excess light and threw a wad of mint gum in my mouth. I revved the engine a few more times than necessary before I eventually hit the accelerator. Yes, I am still James Reed. A wealthy, famous athlete who can have any woman he wants. I do not need to be pining over one woman.
Katie:
After spending thirty minutes staring at my TV screen, I decided to turn it off. It didn’t matter, I wasn’t able to focus on the show anyway. I had previously agreed to spend time on Sunday with Burke but an emergency had come up last minute at his workplace. He had to run off early. So I’m left here alone on a quiet Sunday afternoon. One thing about having a job that usually keeps me occupied is the fact that the concept of free time seems almost mythical. I do want to have more free time to do the things I want to do but when I have it, I don’t know what to do with it.
I picked my phone up and searched through my contact list for someone I could call to at least talk to. After a few minutes of scrolling, I concluded that it is quite an arduous task. First off, calling my girlfriends, whom I hardly keep up with, might cost me more time than I actually planned to spend. Second, since Burke and I had gotten together, my friends list had shrunk significantly. I realized that I didn’t need my friends as much since I could always turn to Burke whenever I needed to talk. It’s horrible I know. I’m one of those women who ditches their friends for a man. Now that I am sitting here alone, I realized why people have always warned against it.
I kept scrolling and when James' name popped up, I paused for a bit. A few days ago, he would have been the best and perfect choice. We had just rekindled our friendship, and everything was going great. But he had chosen to blow it all away. Having a brawl with my boyfriend right under my roof is inexcusable, no matter the cause, and he had done so unapologetically. There had been no phone call, no text, no anything from him. His silence is a clear indication that I need to set sharp boundaries. James
was my friend in college, but he's my client now. Just a client.
Finally, I settled on calling my mum. I used to talk to her and my dad almost every day over the phone. But when they had realized that I was mostly always busy, they had decided to give me some breathing room, only calling on special occasions.
"Hello, darling. It's so nice to finally hear from you." My mum's soft voice reached me from her end and I realized that I have missed her terribly.
"Hi, Mum," I replied with the same affectionate tone. My mum has a highly contagious calm manner of speaking. An attribute I envy very much.
"It's nice to hear from you too. I'm sorry I haven't called in a while. I've been swamped with work. How have you been?"
"Oh dear, I totally understand. Your dad and I are fine and happy just knowing that our beautiful daughter is doing so well. We are proud of you, baby."
Maybe I took it for granted a little too much sometimes, but I count myself lucky to have such loving and supportive parents who are still together. Growing up, I had let peer pressure blind me from seeing this beautiful fact. I used to throw many tantrums back when I was in high school and in my early college days. I had wanted to be classy, like the rest of the other girls around me. I wanted more things than we could afford, closing my eyes to the priceless things that I already had.
"Thanks, Mum," I replied.
"So how are you? What's been going on with you?" she asked.
"I'm okay. Work's been going on well and all," I replied.
"It's great to hear that, honey. By the way, what about your new client? The sports celebrity boy you told me about the other time?"
I paused for a moment as my memory pulled up an image of the other night. James and Burke scuffling replayed through my mind.
"Oh, James. Yeah, that's going well. Surprisingly, we've even settled our differences from years ago. But even if we hadn't, he's my client after all. I'd have to relate with him professionally in the end," I said with a chuckle.
"I understand. But I really am glad that you've finally got that burden off your shoulder," she said honestly.
"How's Dad?" I asked, changing the topic.
"Oh well, your father is fine. Although, he is still bent on claiming that he has a new vegan lifestyle when clearly someone's been eating the chicken in the fridge," she said, laughing. The fondness was clear in her voice, and I can’t help but join in on the laughter.
Somewhere in my subconscious, I have always wished and strove for a relationship like the one my parents have– the warm and homely best-friends-forever type of love. It's why I have stayed with Burke for so long.
"Is that Katie?" I heard my father shout. He sounded a bit far away, as if he was coming from the other end of the house.
"Yes, darling," my mum yelled back.
"How's Burke, by the way? How are you both?" I know my mum enough to recognize that this is her polite way of asking if we are still together. I can’t help but laugh. Mum has never been good at being subtle.
"He's fine, Mum. We're fine too. I'll let him know you said hi. Maybe one of these days, we’ll come and visit."
"I'd love that."
"Let me speak to her," I heard my dad say.
"Okay. Dear, your father wants to speak with you now. Brace up, and do not believe any diet talk that may come out of his mouth."
"Howdy cupcake!" My dad's deep bass voice hit me from the other end.
"Hi, Dad. I heard you've been doing well for yourself," I replied, smiling. I know I am no longer a child but hearing him call me cupcake still makes me smile.
"Well, what can I say? I'm trying my best to live a healthy life. Despite the lack of support and belief that I am surrounded by," he said, chuckling.
"Aw, Dad. Even if no one else believes in you, you know that I do," I said jokingly.
"Now, that's my girl. So, are you sure you're okay and happy, honey?" he asked, dropping the playful tone.
"Yes, Dad. I am. And I'm sorry I don't come around as often anymore. I'll definitely make it up to you and Mum sometime soon."
"Oh, it's okay. We understand that you are busy. Oh, did your mum mention that we are thinking of renovating the house?"
"Oh, wow! No, she didn't."
I heard scuffling sounds and then a pause before my mum's voice returned to the phone.
"Oh, darling. That was meant to be a surprise. I should have known your father would spill the beans," she said, making a frustrated sound.
I laughed loudly at her frustration. My dad is not someone that could keep a secret for long. Last year, he had warned me of the "surprise" visit they had planned for my birthday way beforehand. My mum had thrown a big tantrum when she had found out. It's a very hilarious memory.
"Anyway, since you are aware now, I wanted your opinion on something. I was thinking of replacing the cream walls in your room with a bright pink shade. What do you think? I remember you wanting it to be that color when you were younger. I know you're barely home. But when you do come visit, I want your room to feel like your own and not some foreign guest room. How does that sound?“
"Really good," I said.
"Okay, then. I haven’t told Lauren, though. We'll have to wait until she gets back. So please don't be like your father. I'd like to be the one to announce the news to her myself."
"Alright, Mum. You have my word."
Now that I think of it, I haven't heard from my sister in quite a while. She’s a stone's throw from the girl I was when I was her age. Lauren is a smart, beautiful, and outspoken college student. She only remembers to call me when she needs money, although I do not mind.
"When was the last time you heard from her?" my mum asked.
"Not in a while, Mum. You and dad must be keeping her pocket properly lined, I presume."
"Oh no, not at all," my mum said, laughing. "She finally decided to be responsible and got herself a part-time job. You should call her, though," she added.
"Yes, Mum, I will. When I have the time," I replied.
My laptop beeped in front of me, and I looked to see that I have an email from Dan. Time to go.
"Alright, Mum. It's nice to hear from you and Dad, and I know we could talk forever, but I've got to go now. I'll remember to call again soon, I promise," I said as I blew a kiss over the phone.
"Okay, honey. Take good care of yourself. We love you," she said. I told her I love her too and then I ended the call.
Somehow, the call left me feeling very refreshed. Heaven knows I needed that.
James:
My eyes darted across the table at Katie's face as she concentrated intensely on shuffling the papers in her hands with her decently manicured nails. Even just the sight of her performing minor actions like this makes me want to hold her in my arms. Dang, it looks like I'm more caught up in her web than I imagined.
"Oh well, I think that one will be the last of your interviews then. You can finally sit back, relax, and concentrate fully on your rehab again. And just so you know, your medical results are beginning to show a little progress. It's not much, so don't get too excited. But I mean, if the pace can increase by a notch, you might be able to join in on spring training. At least that's what your coach says. Emphasis on might. How are you, though? Is all going on well with you?" she said, looking up at me with her pretty auburn eyes.
"Yes. I mean, just within these past few weeks, I've been dug out of a nasty shithole. My ankle has also been responding well to treatment, and Chloe is with me, so I guess I have every reason to be grateful," I said, seriously.
"I know, right? Nonetheless, this doesn't mean that you should let your guard down. But then again, I’m sure you know that. And before I forget, Flash Spot has a special gift for you," she said with a smile. She always seems to glow effortlessly every time she smiles.
"What is it?" I asked in suspense when she didn't continue.
"Well, we figured that perhaps a slight change of environment could help you heal faster, especially with all that went on these past few months. We figured a short switch to a peaceful area will do you a lot of good. So, Flash Spot has organized a three days all-expense-paid vacation to our executive lodge in the countryside. I mean, it's not entirely a vacation, seeing as your rehab will not be affected. But you'd get to be in a more relaxing environment," she added quickly.
