Mandy's He-Man Read Online Free PDF

was to be singing at Mia’s Restaurant—her regular job—and reminding Brodie that he was fine with the arrangements to look after Riley afterwards, but added he would need another seat for dinner as he was bringing a date.
    “So I assume your unusually cheery mood this morning has something to do with that dark-haired friend of Cait’s then?” Brodie flicked a dirty football sock at JT. “Lucky I stayed over last night, mate. If I’d turned up to take Riley to squad and seen your car at Caitlin’s, I might have jumped to all sorts of wrong conclusions.” He laughed a deep, chuckling laugh. “Wouldn’t have worried for long, though. My angelhas better taste than to hook up with a beast like you, JT. So how is Mandy, anyway?” Brodie winked and elbowed JT good-naturedly.
    “Mate, she is a bloody beauty—definitely a keeper.” JT smiled broadly and winked. “But that’s all the information I’m giving you, Brodes. A gentleman never brags. I’ll catch you later. Say hi to Caitlin and let Riley know I’m looking forward to another arm wrestle.”
     
    * * * *
     
    With the day’s training session behind him and a skip in his step, JT strode up the path to the house he shared with his father. Thinking about all that had happened the previous night brought another broad smile to his face. It had been amusing to see the young players suffering at the training session, so hung-over and ill from last night’s celebration, while he was so alive, fit and raring to go.
    He was happy to find his father sipping coffee in the airy, light-filled kitchen. A fresh pot had just brewed, and the comforting aroma roused his senses. JT sat down to have a chat with his old man. By the end of the pot, he had filled his father in on the previous night’s adventures with Mandy. Well—not all of the adventures in detail!
    JT also wanted to get some advice from the retired policeman as to how he should handle Mandy’s violent ex.
    Jon Senior was quick to recommend that Mandy get an AVO—Apprehended Violence Order—which would stop the violent man from coming near her. If he did, he would be arrested, JT’s father explained.
    “It should be easy enough to do, son, what with your eyewitness evidence. Pop on down to the station with your young lady. I’m sure Detective Morrin will help you out.” JT’s father was referring to a long-time friend and former co-worker. As he stood from the table, Jon Senior also had a final warning for his son. “Violent ex-partners often don’t want to let go, JT. Make sure you watch out for your lady friend.”
    Rugby league had been taking a hiding in the press lately, but so had a lot of sports and sportsmen. That was why JT and Brodie kept a close eye on their younger teammates, trying to keep them on the right path while they got used to the lifestyle and flickering, fickle limelight. “Yeah, okay, some young upstarts should be given one on the chin for the way they act, disrespecting the public in displays of uncouth behaviour—but hey, people are not all angels. Just ’cause you can play sport doesn’t make you a nice bloke or good role model, just sporty ,” JT had often commented. It wasn’t only high-profile types that knocked their missus or kids around. Those lowlife types existed in all walks of life, and JT despised them all. If JT ever saw that dirtbag who had hurt Mandy again, he hated to think what he might do.
    He had always tried to be a good role model, but then, that was more to do with his father and the way he had been raised than anything to do with playing rugby league. He despised men like Mandy’s ex-boyfriend, who were able to knock a women around but always ran scared when it was someone more their size. JT was not going to let anything happen to Mandy, that was for sure, and he was going to discuss his father’s advice with her later tonight.
    Recently JT’s life had been a solitary one when it came to women—a celibate life, what with training,