Team Mom: A Sweet Contemporary Romance (Finding Love Book 1)

by Delaney Cameron

  “It doesn’t feel right to enjoy the rewards of another man’s success.” A half-empty water bottle whizzed by Matt’s left ear. “You missed. How did you strike so many people out?”

  “You can’t hit what you can’t see.”

  “Since you do have more sunglasses than any one man needs, it would make sense to keep at least one pair in your truck.”

  Eric retrieved his water bottle and closed the tailgate. “I took them off at practice yesterday and ended up leaving them at the field. I’m going to run by there as soon as I can convince you to leave the scene of your latest triumph in landscape design.”

  Matt turned to look at the sculpted bushes and flowering plants lining the sidewalk. “It does look nice, doesn’t it? As far as your sunglasses go, you’re wasting your time. Some kid is walking around with three hundred dollar Oakley’s.”

  “Have a little faith, Matt. Not everyone is like you. What have we got tomorrow?”

  His brother reached inside the cab of the truck and grabbed a clipboard. “Two straight cuts, no trimming. We should be done by noon. I’ll be over at your place by seven.”

  “You better get going if you’re planning to see your sweetheart tonight.”

  “Sarah’s cousin is in town. We could make it a foursome.”

  “No, thanks.”

  “Your divorce has been final for what, ten months? In case you didn’t know, that means you’re single. You don’t have to spend your evenings alone.”

  “If it doesn’t bother me, it shouldn’t bother you.”

  Matt shook his head in exasperation. “You can’t avoid women forever.”

  “Ten months is hardly forever. I gave my heart to a woman who confessed on live television that she never loved me. Do you blame me if I don’t care to get mixed up in that again?”

  “Did you really think you were going to find your soul mate on a reality show?”

  Eric walked around to the driver’s side of the truck. “I never planned to be on the show at all. I was a last minute substitute for someone else.”

  “You should have refused.”

  “Well, you know what they say about pride coming before a fall. When you treat love so callously, it’s only fitting that you end up alone.”

  Matt kicked at the dirt with the toe of his work boot. “I’m sorry, Eric.”

  “Get out of here before I decide Sarah is the answer to my lonely evenings.”

  “Now I know I’ve touched a nerve. You’re threatening to steal my girlfriend.”

  “According to the woman who claims to know me better than anyone else, I’m incapable of making another person happy. That makes my chances with Sarah or anyone else pretty slim.”

  “You’re gonna believe the spiteful words of an attention-grabbing gold-digger?”

  “It isn’t so much that I believe them; it’s that I can’t forget them.”

  ******

  Julie and Jordan walked into the dugout of the only available field at the ballpark. She surveyed the dirty concrete floor and dust-covered bench with disgust. “I wish I had a broom. This place is a mess.”

  “It’s a dugout, Aunt Julie. It’s supposed to look like this.” He pulled a plastic bag out of his backpack.

  Wiping ineffectually at the bench with her hand, she asked, “Where did you get all these baseballs?”

  “Coach Gibson gave them to me.”

  Naturally. Who else would have thirty or forty baseballs lying around? “He thinks of everything, doesn’t he?”

  Jordan nodded. “He said he might have a party at his house for the team. He’s got a baseball field in his yard and a swimming pool. He showed me some pictures of it on his phone.”

  “That sounds like fun, but it will have to warm up a little before we could think about swimming.”

  “The pool is heated.”

  Of course it was. What was she thinking? It was probably Olympic size, too. “That’s nice.”

  Jordan slipped on the glove and motioned her to follow him. “He told me he’d talk to you about it.”

  “Why does he need to talk to me?”

  Jordan stopped and turned to look at her. “You’re the team mom, aren’t you?”

  “Oh, yeah, I forgot. Okay, where should I stand?”

  “I think it would be best if you stand between the mound and second base. That way you won’t have to hit the ball very far.”

  “Don’t get your hopes up. I may not be hitting the ball at all.”

  ******

  Eric recognized Julie’s car parked near the gate. Had they thought there was a practice tonight? When he rounded the corner of the concession stand, he spotted them. Julie was trying to hit the ball, but it was obvious she’d never done it before. He remembered her comment about playing tennis. That explained her unusual technique.

  As he walked over to join them, he wondered how many mothers would give up their evening to do this with their sons. One thing was certain: Sydney wouldn’t have.

  “Hey, Coach Gibson,” Jordan called out.

  Julie swung around so quickly she almost fell down.

  Eric knew better than to smile or comment. He directed his remarks to Jordan. “How’s the new glove working out?”

  “Well, I haven’t been able to catch very many so far. Aunt Julie is having a little trouble.”

  Aunt Julie! The words bounced around in Eric’s brain like a ping pong ball. Even though she’d corrected his assumption about being married, she was linked in his mind with Jordan’s father. An attractive laugh brought his wandering thoughts to order.

  “Just say it, Jordan. I’m terrible.”

  Eric mechanically held out his hand for the bat. Inside he was still trying to reconcile this new and somewhat unsettling view of Julie. Why was he so relieved that she wasn’t Jordan’s mother? It didn’t necessarily mean she was available. And why did that suddenly matter anyway? “I’ll hit him a few while I’m here.”

  “Would you really?” she asked with a sweet smile. “I know Jordan would appreciate it and truthfully, so would I.”

  All the air seemed to rush from Eric’s lungs. Her lovely smile slowly faded, and he realized he was staring – at her mouth of all things. What was he doing? “I think you’ve earned a break,” he replied, hoping his voice sounded more normal than he felt.

  Julie noticed the streaks of dirt on his shirt and shorts. “What have you been doing? Digging ditches?”

  “Holes, actually. Lots of little holes.” Eric turned to Jordan, glad to have a reason to give his thoughts a more appropriate direction. “Are you ready out there?” He tossed the ball into the air and hit it over the area where Jordan was standing.

  “How did you do that?” Julie asked.

  It was ridiculous to feel so pleased by the admiration in her voice. Anyone familiar at all with baseball could hit fly balls. “I used to play for a living.”

  “I know, but you said you were a pitcher.”

  He grinned boyishly. “I was, but I can hit, too.”

  She squinted up at him, the setting sun dancing over her hair and face. This time he got caught staring at her eyes. They reminded him of the intense blue of a tropical sea. Taking a deep breath, Eric slowly turned back to Jordan. What was happening to him? He’d almost forgotten why he was here. “That was just a warm-up. You’re going to have to run for the next one.” The ball sailed high in the air, but this time it was about twenty feet to the left of Jordan. Eric watched him run over and station himself under it. “Your first step should always be back. It’s better to have the ball drop in front of you than let it get behind you and roll to the fence.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Julie walked into the dugout and sat down, glad she’d worn jeans. Now if only she’d thought to bring some water. Reaching into her purse, she drew out a hand mirror and stuck out her tongue at her reflection. She looked awful. Her cheeks were flushed, and her hair was all over the place. It was a good thing she wasn’t trying to impress anyone. Coach Gibson, on
the other hand, looked good even with dirty clothes and sweaty hair. It wasn’t fair.

  Twenty minutes later, Jordan came running into the dugout. “Did you see me, Aunt Julie? I only missed five.”

  “I did see. I think that new glove is just what you needed.” She looked at Eric, who was standing just behind Jordan. “How much do I owe you?”

  “Nothing. I told you I’d take care of the glove.”

  Julie’s eyes flashed with annoyance. She picked up her purse and slung it over her shoulder. “We’ll be discussing this again, Coach Gibson.”

  It was all Eric could do not to laugh. She reminded him of his mother, a fiercely independent woman with a heart of gold. Would he have made so many mistakes if she’d still been alive? “Will we? Now there’s a thought to keep me awake tonight.”

  Her lips twitched and again he found his eyes drawn to them. He needed to get a grip on whatever madness had seized him. He had no business behaving this way toward a player’s aunt. Clearing a sudden constriction in his throat, Eric looked at Jordan. “Don’t forget about practice tomorrow.”

  “I won’t. Aunt Julie and I wrote down all the practices on a big calendar in the kitchen.”

  “I do that, too. It helps keep me organized. You haven’t run across a pair of sunglasses, have you?”

  Jordan shook his head. “Where did you leave them?”

  “That’s the problem; I’m not sure. I might have hung them on the fence by the other dugout. That’s the one we were in yesterday.”

  “I’ll run over and see if they’re still there.” Jordan took off, leaving behind another awkward silence.

  “I have no intention of letting you pay for that glove,” Julie said in a low voice.

  “And I have no intention of taking money for a glove that cost me nothing.”

  She put her hands on her hips. “Since when do sporting goods stores give away gloves?”

  “When the person who needs the glove is me.” He saw her expression change. “No, it’s not what you think. Tim Watson, the owner of Watson Sporting Goods, was my high school coach. He refuses to let me pay for anything. Not even a pair of socks. So I repay him in other ways.”

  “What other ways?” she asked suspiciously.

  “I send business his way. For example, he’s the supplier of the little league uniforms.”

  “The ‘good old boy’ network is alive and well.”

  Eric noticed Jordan making his way back. “That’s not how I think of it,” he added quietly.

  Julie was suddenly ashamed of herself. What had made her say that? He was paying a debt in a way that wouldn’t embarrass his former coach.

  “Here they are, Coach Gibson. They had fallen off the fence into the grass.”

  Eric took the glasses from him. “Thanks, Jordan. Are you guys heading out now?”

  “Yes, sir. Aunt Julie said we could only stay an hour.”

  “It was nice of Miss Evans to come out here with you.”

  “I told you to call me Julie.”

  Eric blew the dust off his sunglasses, avoiding her glance. “I can’t do that. I have to treat all the parents the same or things will get messy in a hurry.”

  “Are you kidding?” she asked.

  “I wish I was. If this is your first experience with kids’ sports, you’re in for a surprise. Adults take this stuff very seriously.”

  “I don’t get it. At this age, they’re still learning the game, and this is supposed to be fun.”

  “We live in a society that’s focused on winning. If I’m any good at teaching the fundamentals, and if I can inspire the boys to work hard, we’ll win a few games. Will that make all the parents happy? Probably not, but hopefully, the kids will enjoy it. That’s who I’m out here for anyway.”

  The three of them left the dugout and made their way to the sidewalk, passing on the far side of the concession stand. Mounted on the outside wall were three bronze-cast plagues.

  “Is your name on any of those, Coach Gibson?” Jordan asked.

  “No, I played at a different little league park.”

  “Do they have a statue of you somewhere in town?”

  Eric chuckled. “Not that I know of. I wasn’t very good at baseball when I was your age. I was clumsy and ran like I had cement in my shoes. I spent lots of games sitting on the bench. But I loved baseball so much that I just kept at it. I practiced hard and little by little, I got better. Anything is possible if you work at it and believe in yourself.”

  “That’s what my dad always tells me.”

  Eric turned to Julie. “Do you have plans for after practice tomorrow, Miss Evans?”

  The craziest idea flitted through her head before sanity returned. He wasn’t going to ask her out. For all she knew he was married, and if he wasn’t, he couldn’t possibly be lacking in the girlfriend department. “Just washing my car.”

  “I need to go over some of the things you’ll be doing as our team mom. It shouldn’t take too long.”

  That sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach was hunger, not disappointment. “No problem.”

  “Great. I’ll see you tomorrow at three.”

  ******

  Eric’s phone hummed as soon as he got into the truck. He glanced at the screen and sighed. Why wouldn’t they leave him alone? He wasn’t looking for another relationship. A bitter laugh escaped him. Could he even call what he had with Sydney a relationship?

  “Hey, Sarah.”

  “Didn’t Matt tell you? My cousin Jillian is here. She wants to meet you.”

  “He did tell me. I haven’t even been home yet. I still need to eat, take a shower, and change clothes. There won’t be time for me to come by.”

  “That’s what you said last time and the time before that. You could at least make your excuses a little more creative.”

  “All right then, here’s the truth. I’m tired, and I don’t feel like meeting anyone.”

  “You’re in a rut, Eric; a dangerous one. Jillian is smart, beautiful and loves baseball. I think you should summon the energy to meet her. She’ll make you forget all about being tired.”

  He laughed. “That’s a tall order. Can you deliver on that promise?”

  “You don’t have to stay long. If you won’t do it for yourself, do it for me. I told her you’d stop by. Think how silly I’ll look if you don’t come.”

  “You’ve been with Matt so long you’re starting to sound like him.”

  “I can’t believe you’d rather spend the evening with a dog.”

  “Delilah doesn’t expect me to dress up, comb my hair or watch what I say. Life doesn’t get any better than that.”

  Sarah groaned loudly into the phone. “You are the most annoying man sometimes.”

  “But you still love me, don’t you?”

  “Love you? In your dreams. I put up with you for Matt’s sake. He’s worried about you.”

  Eric started the truck and turned on the air conditioner. “I know, and I appreciate it. But throwing every available female at me within a fifty-mile radius isn’t helping.”

  “Jillian isn’t just any available female, but I can see I’m wasting my time.”

  She didn’t wait for his reply.

  Okay, maybe he hadn’t phrased that very tactfully, but their interference in his social life (or lack thereof) was getting old.

  He was almost home when he heard the phone again. Here was Matt to put his two-cents-worth in. His glance fell to the display, and his lips twisted into a cynical smile. This is what he got for complaining. Talking to Matt was ten times preferable to talking to her.

  “What can I do for you, Sydney?”

  Feminine laughter filled his ear, the same seductively sweet sound that had drawn him to her all those long months ago. Something so pleasing and playful had to belong to a woman worth knowing, right? He paid dearly for that mistake. Like the fools in Homer’s Odyssey, Eric had been taken in by a siren, a woman who cared for no one but herself.

  “You don’t sound ve
ry happy to hear from me.”

  “I’m sorry. I’ll try to do better next time.”

  “No, you won’t. Did you ever play ball with Marshall Dresden?”

  “Yes,” he admitted reluctantly. What had she done now?

  “I met him at a party. We’ve gone out a few times. He didn’t realize I was your ex-wife.”

  “I’m sure you were quick to enlighten him. It never gets old, does it? You love telling everyone how you made a fool of me.”

  “This will surprise you, Eric, but you’re not my main topic of conversation. You might be somebody in that hick town you live in, but you’re irrelevant everywhere else.”

  “That’s what I love about you, Sydney. You know just what to say to make a man feel good about himself.”

  “I certainly knew what to say to you.”

  “I can’t argue with that.”

  She sighed loudly. “If Marshall calls and asks about us, can you be decent for once and not ruin my chance with someone else?”

  He snorted in disgust. “What’s left for me to tell him? You revealed every intimate detail of our life to every news outlet that would listen to you.”

  “No one believes that stuff.”

  “You’re wrong about that,” he said firmly. “If you tell people something often enough, they believe it whether it’s true or not. I need to go. It’s been a long day.”

  “Thanks for nothing, Eric.”

  “Nothing is all I have left.”

  That comment did what all the others failed to do. It got rid of her. With any luck, he wouldn’t hear from her again.

  ******

  Hanging around with his brother after they finished a job was usually enjoyable, but today Eric was glad he had an excuse to leave. He was still getting the cold shoulder from Matt for not meeting Jillian. After stopping by the house for a quick shower, he loaded the truck with baseball equipment and drove to McDonalds. When he walked inside the restaurant, he noticed Coach Tillerson sitting at one of the tables. He got his food and went to join him.

  “Ready for practice?” Eric asked as he sat down opposite him.

  “I guess so,” Adam admitted with a smile. “I can’t believe you talked me into this.”

  “What else would you be doing today?”

  “I could be lying around the pool at my condo enjoying the view.”