Redemption: A British Stepbrother Romance by Jessica Ashe Read Free Book Online Page B

bit.”
    “Of course they are,” Michelle muttered, before bending over and grabbing a bottle of water from her bag. I took the chance to admire her arse in those tight jeans. The denim clung to her body, but to me it was crying out to be peeled off. I’d never seen anyone look so damn appealing in a pair of jeans and a cardigan.
    I reluctantly looked away from Michelle and ran over to say hello and explain the basics of what they could expect over the next few weeks. The girls were all gossiping about me as I walked up, but unlike the older girls, they didn’t make any inappropriate jokes. Not in front of me, at least. I dreaded to think what Maisie would overhear in the changing rooms later.
    Terry and I put the girls through a few basic drills, and Maisie continued to excel. I looked back over my shoulder to Michelle and saw her looking in my direction, not at Maisie. That was a good start at least. I knew I’d worn these tight shorts for a reason and it wasn’t to impress the girls.
    I had my eyes set on a woman, and when I set my sight on something I didn’t give up without a fight. I made that mistake eight years ago, but I wasn’t going to make it again.

Chapter Seven
Michelle
    H ad he really changed that much? Or was this all just part of the act? He still spoke like a cocky asshole and didn’t sound at all apologetic for the way he treated me back in 2007. I thought for a moment that he was on the verge of apologizing when Maisie ran over and interrupted, but even if he had, it would have been eight years too late.
    I suppose the way I spoke to him was just as bad. I didn’t want to snap at him all the time, but I couldn’t help it. Everything he said made me irrationally mad, and I ended up taking my anger out on him. He’d done a nice thing for Maisie, and yet all I could do was accuse him of trying to curry my favor.
    As if he need bother. If he wanted sex, all he had to do was snap his fingers and every girl around here would come running, as would most of the moms. Christ, even some of the dads would probably look twice.
    It wouldn’t have been so bad if he hadn’t insisted on wearing his rugby gear for training. He had on a tight pair of shorts that did nothing to hide the bulging muscles in his legs, and the jersey fit snuggly around his pecs, leaving his biceps practically uncovered.
    I managed to avoid staring at him until he walked off to take training, but he still caught me. I didn’t look away; if he mentioned it later I planned to tell him I was looking at the view in the distance and hadn’t noticed him. He’d never believe it, but it was better to lie than look away and blush like the sixteen-year-old schoolgirl I had been when we’d first met.
    After the disaster in the World Cup Final, Oliver had made it clear he hated rugby and wanted no further part in it, but he did eventually start playing again for West London. He never went back to the national team, but I didn’t know if that was his choice or not.
    Looking at him now, it was clear that rugby was in his blood. Rugby balls were larger than footballs and harder to hold, but in Oliver’s hands it was like another limb that he had full control of. He split the girls into two teams; one for Terry to coach and one for Oliver. Terry had already spotted that Maisie was one of the stronger players, and he insisted she play on his team.
    Oliver put the girls through a few drills and even from a hundred yards away I could tell they were hanging on his every word. After an hour the two teams played a game of seven versus seven.
    Terry had clearly instructed his team to pass to Maisie whenever she was open, but Oliver had predicted that and made stopping her his goal. It worked. Maisie received the ball often enough, but never had anywhere to run. She was at her strongest when she’d had a few yards to gain speed, but with no room to move she ended up getting tackled for little gain.
    I didn’t like watching Maisie get tackled, but