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  Heart Penalty

  Girl Power Romance Collection

  A.M. Williams

  Contents

  The Girl Power Romance Collection

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Epilogue

  Newsletter Sign Up

  Acknowledgments

  About the Author

  Also by A.M. Williams

  The Girl Power Romance Collection

  The "Girl Power Collection" is a celebration of feminism in an unprecedented manner and will serve as an inspiration for millions of readers across the globe. Over the years, men that have made landmark achievements in different facets of life have often been celebrated with very little stories about bad ass women that have excelled in their respective positions. While there are some works that highlight the fantastic achievements of women in powerful positions, there is no particular project exclusively dedicated to celebrating the "girl power".

  The compilation contains short stories with the theme of Girl Power in whichever way the author defines it for herself and her readers. The 30 romance stories are narrated in a diverse yet entertaining and inspiring way and will be released in regular intervals throughout 2020.

  Copyright © 2020 A.M. Williams

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof

  may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  This novel’s story and characters are fictitious.

  Certain long-standing institutions, agencies,

  and public offices are mentioned, but the

  characters involved are wholly imaginary.

  Edited by: Juliette Williams

  To all the women who are still striving to prove themselves.

  1

  “He totally has big dick energy,” Robin said, slurping her iced coffee through her straw.

  I paused with my breakfast sandwich halfway to my mouth. “What?”

  “He has big dick energy.”

  I looked at my best friend and athletic trainer with confusion. “Who are we talking about?”

  Robin sighed and shook her head, her ponytail bouncing. “It’s like you don’t even pay attention to me.”

  I said nothing because Robin wasn’t wrong. I had a tendency to tune her out when she went on one of her mini rants about whatever it was she was ranting about that day.

  “What is big dick energy?” I finally asked, though I dreaded her response.

  Robin laughed. “You don’t know?”

  I shot Robin a look as I bit into my sandwich. I sighed as the savory flavor of the sausage hit my tongue. Combined with the egg, provolone, and everything bagel, I was in breakfast sandwich heaven. After chewing and swallowing, I asked, “Do I look like I know what it is?”

  Robin looked at me and shook her head again. “No, you definitely don’t look like you’d know what it is.”

  Robin unlocked her phone, and I could hear the tapping of her typing something. A few moments later, Robin turned her phone so I could see the screen.

  I read the words on the screen before looking back at her. “This is Urban Dictionary.”

  “I know. Read it. It has the definition below.”

  I arched a brow, but read the definition on the screen out loud. “It’s a guy that has a big dick and is cocky? Really, Robin?”

  “It’s not just that! I have no way of knowing if Dax has a big dick—”

  “Thank God for that,” I muttered, massaging my temples, a headache already forming. It was way too early for this shit.

  “—but he has that aura about him that makes me think he has a big dick. Why else is he so cocky?” Robin continued, speaking louder to drown out what I was saying.

  I didn’t respond, even though I did happen to know the answer to what she was wondering. I knew Dax in college, after all. I was too tired to navigate the minefield this conversation was likely to become.

  “Robin,” I said, interrupting what she was about to say.

  “Yeah?”

  “Please stop talking.”

  Robin glared at me and slurped her coffee, but she stayed silent. I was grateful. It was too early in the morning to listen to Robin go on about something that I was already worried about.

  Dax Stephens. The newest coach on the Lumberton Lions. Former pro-soccer player for the Los Angeles Landsharks. FIFA World Player of the Year recipient five times. And former college crush of one Pru Sheridan aka me.

  I hadn’t seen him yet, but I knew today was his first day.

  I’d known he was coming for a few weeks, actually. The head coach had pulled me aside to let me know he was able to snag one of the best pro-soccer players to come out of the United States in recent years and he was joining my coaching team.

  While it was quite the achievement for the organization, I worried what it would mean for me, the staff, and the team.

  The head coach assured me I had nothing to worry about as I had a proven record over my five years as head offensive coach of the Lions. But that didn’t mean I wasn’t still worried.

  I liked my job. I liked my staff. I liked my players, even if they were arrogant assholes most of the time.

  Lumberton, though a small town on the coast of California, was home. And I liked it here.

  “Hey, you look deep in thought,” Robin said, pulling me from my thoughts. “What’s on your mind?”

  I shrugged. “Nothing much.” Besides wondering if my career as a professional men’s soccer coach was ending.

  Robin snorted. “Please, you totally have something on your mind. I’ve known you long enough to know what your worried face looks like. Is it Dax?”

  I grimaced at his name. He represented so many things I didn’t want to think about. “Maybe.”

  “Girl, you have nothing to worry about. Your record speaks for itself. And! You’re in the running to be picked as the USA Women’s Soccer team coach. I don’t think you’ll be replaced any time soon.”

  I blew out a breath, feeling better at Robin’s words. “I hope so.”

  “I know so. You done? We need to set up for morning drills.”

  I stuffed the last bite of my sandwich into my mouth and nodded. We gathered our trash and tossed it into the trashcan beside my desk. When we first started at the Lions together, we made it a habit to get together before practice started for the day. We were the only two female staff members on a men’s soccer team. To say it was a hard transition was putting it lightly. Breakfast out of necessity slowly morphed into us just enjoying breakfast before it got too busy.

  “Ready?” Robin asked.

  I nodded and grabbed my things as I finished chewing and swallowing my sandwich. “Let’s do it.”

  We walked down the hallway, our steps echoing around us as we walked toward the field. We pushed through the door and I squinted at the bright sunshine that assaulted my eyes as soon as I stepped outside.

  I slid my sunglasses down over my eyes and looked over the practice field. Many of the men were already on the field stretching and getting ready for their morning practice.

  We varied what they did each day depending on what the upcoming schedule looked like, but normally we ran drills in the morning along with running a few miles. In the afternoon, we concentrated on offense and defense before coming back together for short games against ourselves.

  It was exhausting, and I wasn’t even the one playing anymore. So I could only imagine how the players felt at the end of the day.
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  But it worked. We had a fantastic record over the last few years and I was proud of the work I’d put in with the players.

  “Hey, coach!” was called out as Robin and I walked over to where the players were stretching.

  “Morning, guys,” I said with a smile.

  “I’m going to go check that we’re set to go,” Robin said as she turned toward the sideline.

  I nodded, but Robin was already gone.

  “Miles,” I called out a few minutes later, “lead everyone through warm-ups.”

  The captain moved to the middle of the loose circle the men had made and started walking them through their normal stretching routine, loudly counting out the seconds for them to do the dynamic stretch.

  While he did that, I looked over my game plan for the day. The head coach would run the morning drills, but this afternoon I’d need to be ready to put them through the paces and introduce the new coach.

  My mind flashed back to the first time I’d seen Dax play professionally. It was like poetry in motion watching him dribble the ball. He was the top striker for his team, so he was not only a good player, but a natural leader on the field as well. With his addition to the offensive coaching staff, I was excited to see what he’d bring to practices.

  I couldn’t help the bit of worry in the back of my mind, though. Dax was good. Damn good. He didn’t win player of the year five times because he was a shitty player.

  Even though I knew he’d be a great asset, I couldn’t help but worry that his coming to the team marked the end of my time here. Would the owner or other coaches want him to move into the head offensive coaching spot? Should I be looking for a new job and figuring out my next steps?

  “Okay, coach,” Miles called out, pulling my attention back to him.

  I tucked my clipboard under my arm and looked at the loosely gathered group of men standing in front of me. “Let’s start with a three-mile run around the field. You know the drill. Run as much as you can and limit your walks. I want you to outrun anyone in a game.”

  Some men grumbled, but it was mainly the new players. It was always a hard change for them when they realized how much they had to run and that they were taking orders from a woman.

  While they ran, I glanced around and noticed the rest of the coaching staff standing around the field setting up for the morning. The head coach was standing to the side talking to the owner and the other assistant coaches were setting up workout equipment at mid-field.

  The players were completing their first lap and as they came back around to in front of me, I noticed a lot of them looking my way. Even from mid-field I could see the shock and awe on their faces. A few slowed like they wanted to stop, but their teammates kept them going.

  “What’s up with them?” I muttered.

  “Coach Sheridan?” a male voice asked from behind me.

  I froze and heard someone suck in a loud breath.

  There was only one reason the players would act the way they were and people would gasp behind me. It had to be the new coach.

  Dax Stephens was here.

  2

  I sucked in a fortifying breath and turned to face Dax.

  My eyes widened when I saw him. I’d been around plenty of professional athletes before, many of them more popular than Dax Stephens, but none of them made me feel like he did.

  He was attractive, something I’d known by looking at a photo of him and seeing him at a live game as well as going to college with him. With his black hair and bright blue eyes, he was a heartthrob. And he made for some pretty pictures.

  My belly fluttered, and I pressed a hand there, trying to calm it. What the hell was that? I’d wonder if I wasn’t getting sick, except it hadn’t happened until he’d walked out. Was I attracted to him? Still, after all these years?

  I hoped not. I needed to consider him the enemy until I knew what was going to happen with my job.

  He’d only spoken those few words to me and had done nothing else, but I was quivering.

  His presence was larger than life and I could only imagine the number of panties he melted just by smiling at someone.

  It felt like a ball was lodged in my throat as I scanned his body, taking in the workout gear he was wearing, not unlike my own.

  He looked ready to go.

  I realized I’d been staring, and I needed to get it together. I jerked my eyes back up to his face and caught his amused stare.

  I cleared my throat and stuck a hand out for him to shake. “Dax Stephens. Pleasure to meet you. I’m Pru Sheridan, head offensive coach.”

  He nodded at me as he shook my hand, narrowing his eyes. I held my breath as I waited to see if he’d comment that he recognized me. “Nice to meet you.”

  I breathed a sigh of relief. Okay, he didn’t recognize me. That was good. I couldn’t help a small twinge of disappointment at the thought that he didn’t recognize me though. Was I such a small blip on his radar that he couldn’t remember that we knew each other from college?

  We lapsed into an uncomfortable silence. I realized that I was the head coach here and should be the one talking and could have kicked myself.

  I was making a great second first impression on Dax.

  “Right, well. As you can see, they’re running. We usually start our practices off with a few miles before moving on to drills and then eventually a short scrimmage.”

  Dax nodded and came to stand next to me, his feet planted wide and his arms crossed over his chest. He slid a pair of sunglasses onto his face and he watched the men that were currently circling the perimeter of the field.

  “I’m helping with offense?” he prompted after a few moments.

  “Yes. You have Zach and a few interns to help you out.” Normally, I’d want him working directly with me for a few practices, but I wanted distance this time.

  “Anything I should know before we work together?”

  I arched a brow. “What would you like to know?”

  He turned toward me, but the sunglasses hid his eyes, so I couldn’t know exactly what he was looking at. It was unnerving.

  “Any team dynamics I should know about?”

  “Not really. We have the same issues that other teams do. Pro athletes with big egos not wanting to listen to a coach on how they should play.”

  That was putting it lightly. One of our starters had a major chip on his shoulder and he could be a raging asshole if he didn’t get his way, but he was contained most days. We’d all learned to steer clear of him then. If all else failed, we’d send Miles or one of the other captains in to handle him.

  I thought about warning Dax since he was on the offensive side, but decided I’d rather let him figure out team dynamics.

  “Hmmm,” was all he said. “I’m sure there are some things you won’t tell me. But I’m good with figuring it out myself. I need to make sure I earn my place and my respect here.”

  My eyes widened in surprise and I was thankful for the sunglasses hiding my own eyes right then.

  I was shocked because I thought he’d come in strutting like a peacock, throwing his weight around because he played professional soccer for so long.

  I hadn’t seen that side of him. He was polite and even humble.

  Not that he’d ever been a cocky asshole in college, at least not the few times we talked. But playing professionally changed people, I knew this firsthand. Yet he still seemed the same.

  Maybe things wouldn’t be so bad.

  I looked at the players and saw that they were now walking, starting their cool down. I checked the time and saw that we needed to get a move on to stay on track.

  I blew into the whistle I wore around my neck and the men made their way over to me.

  I glanced behind me and saw that the rest of the coaching staff and interns were already standing with me.

  When I turned back around, the players were clustered before me in a semi-circle. I looked at them one-by-one and noticed that many of them seemed to be looking at Dax, who was still st
anding beside me. I couldn’t blame them. He was a legend amongst soccer players.

  “Before we get ready to run drills, I need to introduce you to our newest coach.” The head coach, Coach Mills, said as he stepped forward. He beckoned Dax forward. “I’m sure many of you recognize him, but this is Dax Stephens, Coach Stephens, and he’ll be working with Coach Sheridan on offense.”

  He paused, and I watched the ripple go through the men. A few of them nudged each other at his words and I had a feeling I’d need to keep my eye on a few of them. It was hard enough being a female coach on a male team that was predominantly run by men. Adding in another man to my staff that was a professional soccer player would likely make it worse.

  “Let’s have a good practice and show him what we’re made of.” Coach Mills clapped his hands, signaling he was done, and the men scattered, going to their normal stations.

  Defense went to one end of the field while offense went to the other. The defense immediately started running drills while offense huddled around me and Dax. I knew I needed to say something to set the tone, but was already drawing a blank.

  I sucked in a deep breath before saying, “Coach Stephens is here to mainly observe today.” I looked at him as I said this and caught the small nod. I looked back at the players. “However, he might jump in and correct something or ask you questions. That’s fine, just make sure you’re listening, paying attention, and are ready to give it your all.”

  I glanced at Zach, and he stepped forward, telling the players what they were doing first. I was a fan of letting the interns and other coaches run the drills while I observed for the first part of the day. It let me see who was hurting, who was struggling, and anything else I might need to know before we moved onto team play.