Tough Tackle: A Second Chance Sports Romance (Wild Boys Sports Romance Book 3) Read online

  Table of Contents

  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 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Epilogue

  Just for You

  The Xmas Conquest: Excerpt

  Also by Harper Lauren

  Tough Tackle

  The Wild Boys Sports Romance Book 3

  Copyright 2018 by Harper Lauren.

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechan ical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review

  Author Contact

  Email: [email protected]

  Facebook: @authorharperlauren

  I thought I’ve moved on from Drake Walton after all these years. I was wrong.

  Drake arrives in my clinic still absolutely attractive,

  heir to a fabulous fortune and sporting a sprained ankle.

  Yet, Drake doesn't seem to realize I am the "Geeky Georgie" he once took for granted.

  Huh, wouldn’t you say pay back is a b*tch?

  Now I have the power to make him fall and walked away

  Just like he did years ago…

  The plan was perfect except one thing:

  I didn’t expect to fall for him all over again.

  ***This is a steamy, full-length novel with a happily ever after. No cliffhangers. No cheating.***

  Just For You

  Click Here or scan the QR code to join my readers’ club and download my second chance Novella “Catching Love” for FREE! The main characters Alex and Rosie will appear in this story as well!

  As a member of my readers’ club, you will receive the latest news about my new releases, freebies, giveaways, hot deals and more!

  Content

  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

  Epilogue

  Just for You

  The Xmas Conquest: Excerpt

  Also by Harper Lauren

  Author’s Words

  CHAPTER 1

  DRAKE

  I like football, but I’m not crazy about it. I’m totally good at the sport, but I can certainly live without it--- not like most of my teammates.

  Sometimes, in the middle of a game, I find myself getting bored. I suddenly space out and just sort of play on autopilot. That’s how bad it is. But come to think of it… I haven’t actually found that one thing that gets me really excited and energetic. This is probably why I’m just sort of floating around for now.

  Today’s game was a little different than most. I was running on defense, instinctively focusing on the ball that had just been passed to another player of the opposing team, when I heard a familiar voice shouting from the nearby bleachers, cheering me on. I didn’t have to check to know that the voice belonged to my father—one of the richest men of Windfield City.

  It wasn’t that he’d suddenly inspired me to give it my all. I just felt like I needed to show him that I was doing something worthwhile and that I was actually contributing to this team. And yes, there was that part of me which was dead set on simply annoying the hell out of him by merely playing football.

  Was it really him or was I beginning to imagine things? My dad almost never came to our games, so this was close to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me.

  It was a close fight for the Windfield Warriors that afternoon. We were nose to nose with our number one opponents, the Ridgewood Rhinos. The crowd was going wild as the clock continued to tick, pushing us closer to the edge.

  I dodged huge athletes on the field as I moved rapidly to get to the ball, calculating the leap I was about to take. In one swift movement, I took the jump and tackled the offensive player carrying the ball. I felt him drop to the ground with me and saw the ball flying to our left.

  I felt immense pain shoot up from my ankle all the way to my knee. The other player had landed on my foot with a sickening thud, causing my injury. He stood up and rejoined the game, while I clutched my ankle.

  The crowd went crazy. There was a blend of deafening cheers and boos as their attention turned toward the ball that was now in my team’s possession. I was still in a daze, feeling disoriented, as I attempted to stand up and rejoin the game.

  Everything happened very fast after that. I was taken out of the game while my teammates went on to score two goals after the turnover I had initiated.

  Just as a medic was giving me first aid, I checked the bleachers for a sign of my dad. He wasn’t there anymore. Did I just imagine his voice? Or perhaps he’d already left after I had gotten injured. He probably wouldn’t care, anyway, as long as he saw that I was still alive.

  The buzzer sounded. Windfield Warriors was declared the winner. All my teammates rushed to the center of the field, jumping up and down. It wasn’t the championship, but every win was always reason to celebrate.

  “Good job today, Walton,” our coach said loudly to me, trying to be heard above the roaring crowd and cheering players. He gave me a pat me on the back. “Medic says it’s a sprain. You’ll need to rest for a week or so. Go see your doctor.”

  “Yes, I will, Coach,” I said nonchalantly. “Thanks.” It felt good to be praised because it happened very rarely. Nevertheless, it didn’t mean that much to me coming from the coach. I couldn’t picture myself staying long in this career, anyway.

  “Hey, Drake!” I heard a booming voice call out. “You alright, man?”

  I looked up and saw that it was Alex, our gifted quarterback, who’d been the one to score the final touchdown.

  “Hey, Alex,” I replied without much emotion. “I’m good. Thanks.”

  “Thanks for that tackle,” he said sincerely, sitting down beside me in the dugout. “We owe you this win.”

  “Oh, no, of course not,” I quickly countered. “You were amazing the entire game.”

  “Thanks, man. It was a team effort, really.”

  “Yeah…”

  Our other teammate Ivan soon joined us, looking excited. He turned to me with a grin. “I heard you’ve arranged for a party at your mansion. That’s real quick, man. Or did you just assume we were going to win?”

  I looked at him blankly. I usually treated the guys after a game at a local bar or during crucial games, I’d have some kind of party organized. But not today. And I never in a million years would have invited them all over to my house.

  Before I could say it wasn’t me, the other football players came to see how I was and also to congratulate me on my “incredible” winning tackle. They were all excited about the par
ty, so I just kept quiet.

  “Well, what are we waiting for?!” Brad yelled with a laugh. “Let’s go party! I hope you invited the cheerleaders, too.”

  Some of them began joking around as they headed to the showers. I shook my head in disbelief, partly amused at their childish ways and partly startled that I could stand being around these “boys.” Alex was one of the few real friends I had in the team, perhaps because he was a lot more mature and serious than the others.

  “I’m meeting Rosie outside,” Alex told me after we’d all changed into our clothes. “Wanna catch a ride? I doubt you can drive at all with your injured ankle.”

  “Yeah, sure,” I said, grabbing my bag. “I’m calling our chauffeur to pick up my car.”

  He helped me walk with the use of the crutches that I had been handed just a while earlier. Apparently, he’d experienced such a sprain before.

  “Thanks, man,” I said as we finally made it to the parking lot.

  His wife Rosie was waiting by his car. She immediately gave me a look of concern. “I saw you out on that field. Are you okay, Drake?”

  “I’m fine, thanks,” I answered with a weak smile.

  On the way to my house, I couldn’t help thinking that it wasn’t a joke. The guys had not made it up. I was throwing a party for them without my knowledge. Talk about messed up.

  Finally, I asked Alex the question that had been playing on my mind. “So who told you that I was throwing a party at my house?”

  “Mr. Walton, of course,” Alex replied without a hitch. “Well, not really your dad himself. He sent a messenger.”

  “Oh,” was all I said. I was very much surprised. What the hell was he up to?

  “Didn’t you see him?” Alex asked as he drove. “He was watching our game, but I think he left before it ended.”

  “I heard him, I think,” I said. “But I wasn’t sure. He hardly comes to our games.”

  “Yes, well, he must be a busy man.”

  “You have no idea,” I said, my mind swirling with images of myself playing alone in a huge, lonely residence.

  CHAPTER 2

  GEORGIA

  Droplets of sweat began to form on my forehead and at the back of my neck. I could feel them trickling down my skin as I continued to clean out the garage, carefully sorting objects and placing them into different boxes.

  “Hey, come take a look at this!” Dad suddenly exclaimed, sounding quite excited. He now sported a balding hairstyle and a grayish moustache, but was still as energetic as I remembered him to have always been while I was growing up. His physique could put a lot of thirty-year-olds to shame.

  I stopped what I was doing and went over to where he was standing, holding a pink photo album that looked familiar.

  “Where’d you get that?” I asked as images of my teenage years flashed back to me. Now I remembered that album. It was one of the few where Mom had kept my high school photos. She had insisted, because I’d always hated having my picture taken.

  “Will you look at that?” Dad said in an amused tone, pointing out a photo of me with my long, dull brown hair in braids and a forced smile that showed my shiny braces.

  I almost choked at the image of myself during my freshman year. No wonder I was immediately labeled a geek. I was practically an outcast then.

  “Dad, those photos are totally disgraceful!” I said, wrinkling my nose as I skimmed over the others.

  Dad laughed and gave my shoulder a squeeze. “Darling, don’t worry. You’ve long outgrown that stage of your life. You’re now what they would call a bombshell!”

  “Dad!” I said loudly, laughing.

  “And not to mention a licensed doctor, too!” Dad added proudly.

  I beamed, happy that I had such supportive parents and a close-knit family, too. Some of my wealthy relatives had actually chipped in to see me through medicine school, though I’d also been fortunate enough to secure a good partial scholarship.

  We continued to laugh together as I flipped one page after the other, reliving memories of my high school days as a certified nerd. We guffawed when we saw Mom and Dad’s outfits and hairdos during that time.

  “Now who looks even worse than me then?” I kidded.

  “What’s this commotion all about?” a female voice suddenly interrupted us. It was my mother, looking a little bit wrinkled but still beautiful and slim. She was holding a tray of my favorite chocolate chip cookies.

  “Mom! I told you I was on a diet!” I said with a groan, but I remained smiling.

  “Well, you can always just watch us munch on these yummy cookies,” she said jokingly as she approached and set down the tray on a pile of boxes.

  “On second thought…” I muttered, giving in quickly and putting a cookie into my mouth.

  “Well?” Mom asked, waiting for my reaction.

  “It’s still as heavenly as I remember it!” I said, hastily finishing the first piece and grabbing another one.

  “You don’t need to lose weight, honey,” she told me, looking me over. “You’ve got an amazing figure. How I wish I was like that at your age!”

  “You were!” Dad said teasingly, putting a loving arm around her shoulders.

  She pushed him gently away with a giggle. It was at that moment that I really felt nostalgic, especially since I hadn’t visited home for a long time. I just had so many wonderful memories growing up in this cozy but love-filled home, even though I was their only child.

  Mom joined in on our laughter as we went through the other photos.

  “Oh, take a look at this, Georgia!” she exclaimed. “Senior prom night!”

  I leaned over her shoulder to check out the photo. It was quite revolting to see myself looking silly in a pink frilly dress, with a stupid grin on my face. All at once, the memory I’d buried for years resurfaced, along with the negative emotions that had faded over time.

  “Wasn’t this the son of that business tycoon?” Mom wondered aloud.

  “Yes,” I said with a frown as I looked closer. The teenage guy standing beside me looked like a movie star, but had a bored expression on his face. Anyone could tell he’d just been compelled to go to the prom with me.

  “He’s very handsome,” Mom commented. “I think I’ve seen his present photos in the paper, along with his father… Uh, what’s his name again—that rich man who founded the largest pharmaceutical company in California?”

  “You mean Roger Walton?” Dad said.

  “Yes, that’s it!” Mom said. “And his son is…”

  She turned to me for help. I groaned again. How could I ever forget?

  “Drake Walton,” I muttered, feeling the annoyance and disgust creeping through my body just by mentioning his name.

  Mom was asking about how Drake had ended up as my date and what had happened afterwards. I didn’t want to get into the details. I just wanted to forget about it, so I smoothly changed the subject into what I knew would grab her attention—the house renovation.

  Naturally, she began talking about the kitchen décor she really liked. I smiled in amusement and relief as I listened. I’d actually come home to help them clean and sort out things in the house before the renovation was scheduled to start.

  “Thank you so much, Georgia,” Mom suddenly said, giving me a hug. “This is the best anniversary gift ever!”

  “Yes, we really appreciate it,” Dad added. “You’ve certainly gone a long way.”

  It was a good thing I didn’t have a lot of student loans like others, thanks to my wealthy relatives. Thus, I was able to pay off my debts at once, complete my specialization, and earn well as an actual physician.

  It was just a simple way of giving back to my parents. After living in a different state for some time, I was more than glad to be back home in Windfield City. This time, I planned to stay for good.

  CHAPTER 3

  DRAKE

  The pain in my ankle was throbbing despite the medication I’d been given. It was late in the afternoon, but still early for a party.<
br />
  I had my misgivings about my father’s intentions. I don’t think I’d be able to bear facing him while I was in pain. Besides, I’d been advised to have an x-ray done as soon as possible. Hence, I asked Alex to drop me off at the hospital.

  “You know, you’re right,” Alex said as I climbed out of his car. “It’s still early. Rosie and I will probably hang out first before going to your place. How about I pick you up after an hour?”

  “No, man, it’s fine,” I said. “I’m not sure how long it’ll take. I’ll just ask the chauffeur to pick me up.”

  “Alright, see you later!” Alex said. Rosie waved goodbye, too.

  It seemed to take me forever to reach the third floor even with an elevator. I was having difficulty using crutches, and I was moving very slow in the hallways.

  When I got to Dr. Anderson’s clinic, his secretary Alice greeted me politely, even showing concern over my injury. She was fairly new on the job, a middle-aged woman who seemed to be competent enough.

  “Please take a seat first, Mr. Walton,” she told me, handing me a magazine.

  “Where’s Dr. Anderson?” I asked, surprised that the doctor wasn’t around at this time. “He usually stays here until seven, right?”

  “Uh, yes, but Dr. Anderson is on an indefinite leave,” she informed me. “His replacement, Dr. Hill, is on the way now.”