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Authors: Donna Gallagher
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it was the high profile that actually drew the female interest, but it didn’t really matter to Brodie anymore. He was comfortable in his own skin.
He rubbed his hand over his close-cropped brown hair. He had learnt early on in his career to keep it that way. His naturally curly hair made him appear too soft for the life he led. Brodie thought about spraying on the latest fad in aftershave, supplied to him free of charge from the manufacturer, but decided against it. Brodie preferred natural. If someone didn’t like his smell, they could just take a hike. He hesitated at that thought, hoping that this would not be the case with his angel.
He strode purposefully from the bathroom and pulled on his crocodile skin boots, a good purchase made whilst in the top end of Australia for an exhibition game held there some years ago. It had been to encourage Indigenous boys to turn to league instead of trouble. There were many Indigenous Australians making a name for themselves playing league, and they were always up for giving something back to their communities.
He could feel his stomach quiver with anticipation about tonight and how it would go. He was nervous, which was invigorating. Brodie felt alive.
He knew the road in Ashfield that Caitlin had given him as her address, so it was a quick trip. Ashfield was only a few suburbs away from him. As he turned his black Range Rover onto the street, Brodie noticed that he’d arrived on time for his date. Trying to catch sight of a house number so he could get his bearings, he saw two figures standing on the kerb up ahead.
“What the hell?” Brodie said, as he realised it was exactly the people he was looking for. Brodie was a little old-fashioned and had expected to collect his date from her door, but as he pulled up next to them and began to climb out of the car, both passenger doors on the left opened and his guests jumped in. Brodie was half out of the door and felt a bit comical just getting back in. This was going to be an interesting night. He turned towards Caitlin and shut his door again.
“Well, hello, angel,” he said to her, with a big, goofy grin he couldn’t stop from breaking out across his face.
When he turned to the rear seat passenger he was amused to see another grin —just like his own, he imagined — reflected back at him.
“You must be Riley. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” he said enthusiastically. “I’m Brodie James. Glad you could join us for dinner, mate.”
He saw in the kid’s eyes that he was a fan and completely awestruck. Brodie had seen this look before in young kids. Hell, he remembered feeling just like that when he’d met his hero some twenty years ago. It was quite an honour when you realised you had become a sports idol, and something Brodie never took for granted. He tried to spend as much time as he could with fans. He hated disappointing anyone.
As Caitlin and Riley fastened their seatbelts, Brodie put the car into drive and headed for the restaurant. The silence was a bit unsettling so Brodie tried to lighten the mood by informing his two dinner companions of his choice of venue. Riley whooped in the back, but a quick glance at Caitlin revealed she was biting at her bottom lip. He took her hand gently and brought it up to his mouth, kissing her knuckles.
“If you don’t want to go there, that’s okay, angel,” Brodie whispered. “We can find somewhere else. I should have thought about it more. Of course you wouldn’t want to go where you work. I’m sorry, angel. What would you like to do?”
Caitlin had trouble speaking, she was so overwhelmed. She had immediately recognised the car from last night. She was also impressed with the man’s thoughtfulness and easy way of including Riley in their plans. She was relieved to be going to Mia’s because she felt comfortable there. The problem was, Brodie was looking at her with such concern, and his lips sent shivers through her whole body as he kissed her hand.
He rubbed his hand over his close-cropped brown hair. He had learnt early on in his career to keep it that way. His naturally curly hair made him appear too soft for the life he led. Brodie thought about spraying on the latest fad in aftershave, supplied to him free of charge from the manufacturer, but decided against it. Brodie preferred natural. If someone didn’t like his smell, they could just take a hike. He hesitated at that thought, hoping that this would not be the case with his angel.
He strode purposefully from the bathroom and pulled on his crocodile skin boots, a good purchase made whilst in the top end of Australia for an exhibition game held there some years ago. It had been to encourage Indigenous boys to turn to league instead of trouble. There were many Indigenous Australians making a name for themselves playing league, and they were always up for giving something back to their communities.
He could feel his stomach quiver with anticipation about tonight and how it would go. He was nervous, which was invigorating. Brodie felt alive.
He knew the road in Ashfield that Caitlin had given him as her address, so it was a quick trip. Ashfield was only a few suburbs away from him. As he turned his black Range Rover onto the street, Brodie noticed that he’d arrived on time for his date. Trying to catch sight of a house number so he could get his bearings, he saw two figures standing on the kerb up ahead.
“What the hell?” Brodie said, as he realised it was exactly the people he was looking for. Brodie was a little old-fashioned and had expected to collect his date from her door, but as he pulled up next to them and began to climb out of the car, both passenger doors on the left opened and his guests jumped in. Brodie was half out of the door and felt a bit comical just getting back in. This was going to be an interesting night. He turned towards Caitlin and shut his door again.
“Well, hello, angel,” he said to her, with a big, goofy grin he couldn’t stop from breaking out across his face.
When he turned to the rear seat passenger he was amused to see another grin —just like his own, he imagined — reflected back at him.
“You must be Riley. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you,” he said enthusiastically. “I’m Brodie James. Glad you could join us for dinner, mate.”
He saw in the kid’s eyes that he was a fan and completely awestruck. Brodie had seen this look before in young kids. Hell, he remembered feeling just like that when he’d met his hero some twenty years ago. It was quite an honour when you realised you had become a sports idol, and something Brodie never took for granted. He tried to spend as much time as he could with fans. He hated disappointing anyone.
As Caitlin and Riley fastened their seatbelts, Brodie put the car into drive and headed for the restaurant. The silence was a bit unsettling so Brodie tried to lighten the mood by informing his two dinner companions of his choice of venue. Riley whooped in the back, but a quick glance at Caitlin revealed she was biting at her bottom lip. He took her hand gently and brought it up to his mouth, kissing her knuckles.
“If you don’t want to go there, that’s okay, angel,” Brodie whispered. “We can find somewhere else. I should have thought about it more. Of course you wouldn’t want to go where you work. I’m sorry, angel. What would you like to do?”
Caitlin had trouble speaking, she was so overwhelmed. She had immediately recognised the car from last night. She was also impressed with the man’s thoughtfulness and easy way of including Riley in their plans. She was relieved to be going to Mia’s because she felt comfortable there. The problem was, Brodie was looking at her with such concern, and his lips sent shivers through her whole body as he kissed her hand.
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