Losing Game: A Winning Ace Novel (Book 2) Read online

  LOSING GAME

  The Winning Ace Series (Book 2)

  Tracie Delaney

  Contents

  Also By The Author

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Newsletter Sign Up

  Acknowledgments

  FROM MY HEART

  About the Author

  Also By The Author

  THE WINNING ACE SERIES

  Winning Ace

  Losing Game

  Grand Slam (Releasing October 2017)

  Mismatch (Releasing December 2017)

  Copyright © 2017 Tracie Delaney

  Content Editing by Jessica Anderegg - Red Adept Editing

  Line Editing by Sarah Carleton - Red Adept Editing

  Cover art by Art by Karri

  All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in uniform or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written permission of the author.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  1

  Rainwater trickled down Tally’s neck as she ran home from the supermarket. Pete’s flat was normally a ten-minute walk, but in this weather, it took her twice as long. As she moved away from the coast, the wind dropped, although the rain still soaked through her jeans. She dug the front-door key out of her pocket and inserted it into the lock. After kicking the door shut behind her, she shrugged off her wet coat and threw it over the banister.

  Tally swapped her damp clothes for pyjamas even though it was still early. As she ate dinner at the small table squashed in the corner of a kitchen too cramped for furniture, loneliness engulfed her. Since breaking off her relationship with Cash, she had found it difficult to dredge up any emotion apart from an intense sadness that grew like a cancer until it was as much a part of her as blood and bones and sinew.

  God, she missed him.

  Cash Gallagher, tennis ace. Love of her life.

  Cheating bastard.

  Every time she closed her eyes, her mind was ransacked with images of Cash in the living room of her flat in London with those incriminating photographs fluttering from his hands. She pictured his earnest expression as he lied to her face about the woman he’d been kissing. He’d been so cruel to choose that moment to tell her, for the first time, he was in love with her.

  Tally made herself a hot chocolate and wandered into the living room. She took a sip and picked up her phone, desperate to hear Em’s voice.

  “Hey, babes,” Em said, answering so quickly Tally hadn’t even heard a ringing tone. “How are you doing?”

  Tally forced a smile, hoping it would filter into her voice. “Yeah, good, although the weather here is awful today.”

  “Tell me about it,” Em said. “It’s like a monsoon. Where the fuck is spring?”

  “Hiding. I got drenched coming back from the supermarket today. I can hardly believe it’s April next week.”

  “You’re eating, then?”

  Tally fidgeted in her seat. “A bit. I must admit the breakup diet does wonders for weight loss.”

  Em heaved a sigh. “That’s not funny, Tal. You’d better be taking proper care of yourself because I swear to God, if you look scrawny when I get there this weekend, I’m going to cram sausage rolls down your throat.”

  Tally laughed. “I’m eating. Just not as much as I was. Let’s face it, Em. I could afford to lose a few pounds—and now I have. I like the thinner me, although I still can’t shift my fat arse.”

  “Hmm,” Em replied, sounding not in the least bit convinced. “I’ll make up my own mind on Friday. I should be down about seven.”

  “I can’t wait,” Tally said, and despite all the “no more crying” promises she’d made to herself, her voice broke on the last word.

  “Come on, babes,” Em said, her own voice quivering. “You’re going to get through this.”

  “I miss him,” she whispered as fat tears clung momentarily to her eyelashes before spilling down her cheeks. “It’s not getting any easier.”

  “I know you do. But you have to stay strong, Tal. Otherwise, you’ll end up crawling back to him and regretting it. You’re better than that, and you deserve better than him.”

  “Doesn’t help numb the pain, though.”

  Em caught her breath. “You’re breaking my heart, Tal.”

  Tally dashed away her tears, making the back of her hand wet. She wiped it on her pyjama bottoms. “I’ll be fine, especially when you get here. I’ll spend this weekend planning next weekend.”

  “If this weather continues, we can stay in and watch trashy movies and eat takeaway pizza.”

  “Sounds perfect.”

  “Are you sleeping any better?”

  “A little,” Tally replied, yawning on cue.

  “Get an early night. I’ll call you tomorrow. Love you, babes.”

  “Love you too.”

  Tally hung up the phone as despair swamped her. Thoughts of Cash crept into her mind, but she shoved them away. She couldn’t allow herself to think about him too much. Every time she dwelled on what could have been, even for a fraction of a second, the tears would come, and she’d cried too much already.

  She grabbed her mug of hot chocolate and went to bed. She rubbed eyes that stung from lack of sleep. Her body might be exhausted, but her mind had other ideas.

  Reluctantly, she took a sleeping pill. All she needed was a decent night’s kip, then she’d be able to think more clearly. As the tablet took effect and her eyelids began to droop, her thoughts drifted to whether Cash was suffering too. The idea comforted her, but she couldn’t carry on like this. Three weeks of wallowing in self-pity was long enough.

  As the sleeping tablet dragged her under, she vowed that tonight would be the last time she allowed Cash Gallagher to have a hold over her.

  Tomorrow, she would take control.

  Tally awoke the next morning, groggy with sleep. The pill had done its job because she could barely crank open her eyes. She lay there for a few minutes, allowing her body to come around in its own time. Slowly, she swung her legs out of bed and padded over to the window.

  The weather had improved from the day before. The sun hovered low in the sky, and wispy clouds bobbe
d along on a light breeze. She threw on her dressing gown and headed into the kitchen, full of determination to take control of her life. The first decision had been made. She was going to stick with her plans to freelance because it would give her freedom to travel. Her work would involve moving around, and moving around meant Cash would find it harder to track her down.

  Not that he’d made any attempt to do that…

  Ignoring the crushing weight on her chest, she made a cup of tea and stepped into the tiny courtyard. Outside space was at a premium this close to the coast in Brighton. Pete’s backyard had barely enough space for a bistro-sized table, two chairs, and a few terracotta pots that were home to several neglected evergreen shrubs.

  Feeling a distinct chill in the air, she warmed her hands around the mug as she sat on one of the iron chairs. In the last few weeks, she’d struggled to even motivate herself to get dressed, but that day felt like a new start. She’d never get over what Cash had done, but she had to find a way to come to terms with the fact they’d broken up. She had her whole life in front of her. She couldn’t let a brief affair with her childhood idol define her entire future. She wouldn’t allow that.

  Unable to face breakfast, she threw on workout gear, tucked her iPod into the back pocket of her running pants, and headed down to the seafront. She’d always hated exercise, but these past few weeks she’d found solace in running. When she ran, she became so focused on controlling her breathing and the heavy ache in her legs that she momentarily forgot about Cash, which gave her a temporary reprieve from her constant companion—heartache.

  Brighton seafront always had plenty of joggers running up and down, but because it was Saturday, Tally found herself having to dodge more people than usual. Despite the early-morning chill, it wasn’t long before sweat dampened her T-shirt. She stopped to remove her jacket and tie it around her waist.

  She ran towards Hove for about two miles before turning around. She was slowly building up endurance, although she hadn’t quite cracked the five-mile mark yet. When she arrived back in Brighton, she headed for the pier, bought a bottle of water from one of the stand sellers, and mingled with the tourists while she caught her breath.

  She finished drinking, tossed the bottle into a nearby recycling bin, and set off for home. The cool air chilled her skin as she walked. She couldn’t wait to get into the warmth, take a hot shower, and drink an even hotter cup of tea.

  She turned into her road and removed the front-door key from the back pocket of her running pants. The gate creaked as she opened it, and as it closed behind her, she promised to pop a bit of oil on it later. She inserted the key in the lock as the gate creaked again. She glanced over her shoulder. Her breath hitched, and all the blood drained from her head. She let go of the key and gripped the handle as she sagged against the front door.

  “Hello, Natalia.”

  The sharp pain in her chest couldn’t have been any worse if someone had cracked open her ribcage, reached inside, and torn out her heart.

  “Leave me alone, Cash,” she croaked to the man she’d adored since she was fifteen.

  “I can’t do that.”

  She tightened her grip on the door handle, certain if she let go she’d crumple to the floor. “Don’t you think I’ve been hurt enough?” she whispered.

  Cash bowed his head, and his shoulders drooped. “I don’t want to cause you any more pain.”

  “Then go away.” She turned her back on him and opened the door.

  “Please, Natalia. Can we go inside and talk?”

  She rested her forehead against the doorframe. “No,” she said in a wavering voice. Tears pricked behind her eyes. She dug her fingernails into her palm as she swallowed past an uncomfortable lump in her throat.

  “I can explain,” he said, his hand lightly touching her arm.

  She spun out of his reach but kept her back to him. “I said no.” Her chin trembled, and she clenched her jaw to stop the involuntary movement. “I’m not interested in anything you have to say.”

  “I know I’ve fucked up. Please, let me inside. I’ll tell you everything. About Gracie, about my mother and father. Everything. It’s what I should have done already.”

  “Cash, please.” She faced him then, her voice cracking as the tears she’d desperately tried to hold back spilled down her cheeks. “Why are you doing this?”

  “Oh, baby,” he said, reaching for her again.

  She staggered backwards and stumbled over the step. Her ankle twisted as she tried to save herself. Cash shot out an arm and pulled her against his chest. This time, she didn’t have the energy to resist. She slumped against him as he dug around in his pocket.

  He produced a crumpled tissue and wiped away her tears. “You’re freezing. Let’s go inside and get you warmed up.”

  Before she could protest, he ushered her through the door and into the tiny hallway. He walked straight ahead into the kitchen like he owned the damned place and then flicked the kettle on.

  “Go and get a shower. I’ll have the tea made by the time you get out.”

  She wanted to tell him no, that she could make her own bloody tea, but the words wouldn’t come. She trudged into the bathroom and locked the door. She wouldn’t put it past Cash to follow her, and she craved control even as she sensed it slipping out of reach.

  She’d thought Brighton would be a refuge, a place to heal, but he’d found her so easily. Once she’d showered and dressed in clean clothes, she would be able to deal with Cash. She would listen to what he had to say and then politely ask him to leave.

  And then she was going home to London.

  2

  Cash watched Natalia as she disappeared into the next room. He’d barely been able to contain his shock when he saw her. She’d lost so much weight. Her oval face had hollowed out, and her beautiful midnight-blue eyes had dulled—no doubt because of the pain he’d caused. She obviously hadn’t been taking care of herself. His chest tightened uncomfortably. He closed his eyes and dragged in a shuddering breath as remorse gnawed at his insides. He’d fucked everything up, and now he had no choice but to share the very thing he’d kept hidden for so long. He was taking a monumental risk, but without it, he wouldn’t have a chance of getting her back—and damn, he wanted her back.

  Feeling an urge to take care of her, he opened her fridge. Inside, he found a couple of eggs, half a bag of spinach, and a small piece of cheese. He’d watched his housekeeper, Anna, make quite a few omelettes, so cooking one shouldn’t be too difficult for his piss-poor culinary skills.

  He beat the eggs in a bowl, grated the cheese, and tore up the spinach. The shower went silent. A couple of minutes later, the hairdryer started up. When it switched off, he poured a little oil into a frying pan and tipped in the eggy mixture.

  Sensing rather than hearing Natalia behind him, he glanced over his shoulder. She was hovering in the doorway, nibbling on her fingernails.

  “I made you an omelette,” he said, pointing his chin at the small table in the corner, indicating for her to sit.

  “Will it be edible?”

  He gave her a crooked smile. “I hope so. It falls within my narrow repertoire, but then again, it’s egg based.”

  Natalia didn’t return his smile. Instead, she dug into the pocket of a coat hanging on the back of the kitchen door. She pulled out her phone and sank into a chair at the small table.

  “Are you calling Pete, Emmalee, or the police?”

  She met his gaze, but instead of the soft, loving expression she used to look at him with, her eyes held a hard edge. “I’m not calling anyone. I said I’d hear you out, and I will. But after that, I want you to respect my wishes and leave.”

  His insides tightened and fear congealed in his chest as he flipped the omelette over and slid it onto a plate. He put the food and a cup of tea in front of her and sat down opposite.

  “I’m hoping when you’ve heard me out, you won’t want me to leave.”

  She made a derisive sound as she sliced a piece
of the omelette with her fork. “Sure of yourself as always, Cash?”

  “No,” he said quietly. “But sometimes things aren’t as they seem.”

  She snorted. “Still sticking to the same story, I see.”

  Her harsh tone made his heart clench. “It’s not a story. It happens to be the truth.”

  She laughed, the sound short and bitter. “If you say so.”

  Cash didn’t bite. It wasn’t worth it. He needed her full attention and to tell her everything from the beginning. Then she’d know he hadn’t cheated.

  She finished the omelette, put her knife and fork together on the plate, and picked up her tea. “That wasn’t bad.”

  “I must be improving.”

  She sipped her drink, peering at him over the rim of the mug. “How did you find me?”

  “Private detective. His name’s Frank, and he’s excellent.”

  She pressed her lips together in a tight line and glared at him. “Stalking women isn’t something to be proud of.”

  She was being belligerent, but he could hardly blame her. He reached for her hand, but she snatched it away. “Don’t.”

  He withdrew, ignoring the pang in his chest. She rose from her chair and, without saying a word, carried her tea into the next room. Cash took a deep breath and followed her. When he walked into the living room, Natalia was sitting on a chair, her feet tucked beneath her. She was nibbling at the inside of her cheek.