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

by Delaney Cameron

  Julie absently stirred what was left of the whipped cream. “You warned me that there would be consequences. I made the mistake of thinking you would wait until we were alone to retaliate.”

  “That was the original plan. If it’s any consolation to you, I got more than I expected. You made me wish there wasn’t a spoon between us or an audience.”

  She glanced at him over her shoulder. “How can I be angry when you say things like that?”

  “They aren’t just words. I mean the things I’m saying.”

  His eyes were saying quite a few things, too. To keep herself from doing something even more embarrassing, she grabbed a napkin and wiped his chin. “The least I can do is clean up my handiwork.”

  A soft smile tugged at his mouth. “Julie.”

  “Mmm?” she asked as she put down the napkin and stepped back.

  “We need to join the others before I show you how much I like peaches with whipped cream.”

  The color in her cheeks deepened. “Doesn’t that presume that I would let you?”

  He drew her arm through his and started walking back to the house. “I told you before. I don’t presume. I was merely anticipating your willingness to make it a reality.”

  Laughter bubbled up inside her. “What was your major in college? Pre-law?”

  “General studies with a heavy emphasis in history. Are you saying I sound like an attorney?”

  “Is there something wrong with that?”

  “Well, I was going for intelligent with a touch of playful. It’s obviously not working. I’ll have to make an adjustment and try a different pitch, if you’ll excuse the pun.”

  Julie sent him what was for her a provocative glance. “I never said it wasn’t working.”

  He chuckled. “You tell me that now when I’m about to be surrounded by fifty people. How do you expect me to make decent conversation after that comment?”

  ******

  Eric found Matt preparing to leave when he returned to the house after seeing Julie and Jordan into the car. “Where are you going?”

  “Sarah gets off in a half hour. We’re going to get something to eat.” He watched Eric grab a handful of pistachios from a bowl on the counter. “So, how was the shower?”

  “The only thing that made it tolerable was Julie.”

  “Just tolerable?”

  A reluctant laugh was drawn from Eric. “Shouldn’t you be going?”

  Matt came over to stand in front of him. “I kept Jordan in the house with me and let you walk her to the car alone, and you didn’t kiss her. I’m starting to think you need therapy.”

  “If you’ve resorted to spying on me, you might need some, too. I’m going to walk Delilah.”

  “Julie isn’t like Sydney.”

  Eric sighed heavily. “This has nothing to do with Sydney. I want to kiss Julie so badly it’s all I can think about, but I’m trying to do things differently this time.”

  “You’re not built for casual relationships, are you? It’s either all or nothing.”

  “I’m sorry I don’t fit everyone’s image of an incessant playboy looking for my next conquest.”

  “I didn’t mean that. I thought you’d be more comfortable easing your way back into the water. I never imagined you’d want to jump in head first.”

  “Your analogies leave much to be desired. If you don’t get going, you’re going to be late picking up Sarah. That might have an impact on the rest of your evening.”

  “Nothing I can’t smooth over.”

  Eric shook his head. “I know you’re joking, but when you say things like that, you sound like Dad.”

  Matt’s easy smile faded. “It’s funny you should mention him. He called today. He and Brianna are coming into town on Friday.”

  “Where is the happy couple staying? At your apartment, I hope.”

  “My lowly apartment isn’t impressive enough for the father of a millionaire. He wants to bring his new wife here.”

  Eric’s lips tightened. “My mother wasn’t good enough either. She worshiped the ground he walked on, and he cheated on her every chance he got.” He slapped Delilah’s lease against the counter. “Couldn’t you have told him that the house has termites or something?”

  “They won’t stay long.”

  “Twenty-four hours is too long. Opening day is this Saturday. How am I going to keep my father and the thirty-year-old woman he married from giving the crowds something other than baseball to talk about?”

  “You’re worrying over nothing. He won’t be interested in coming to watch you coach.”

  Eric made a disparaging sound. “It’s ironic when you think about it. When I was young, I begged him to come to my games, and he never showed. He was too busy ‘working’. Now I don’t want him around, and he suddenly decides to visit.”

  Matt moved to the door. “We’ll figure out something. Right now, I’ve got to go.”

  As Eric followed Delilah down the path to the lake, the beauty of the night sky failed to move him. His father enjoyed forcing him to entertain the latest woman to fill his mother’s place. There was an added incentive this time because Brianna bore a slight resemblance to Sydney. The implication was fairly obvious.

  He wasn’t so narrow-minded as to believe his father should live the rest of his life alone. If his father was truly in love with Brianna (or any woman), the case would be different. But Eric knew love didn’t enter into anything his father did. Women were trophies to be won. They weren’t people with feelings that could be hurt or hearts that could be broken. Mark Gibson never wasted an opportunity to brag on his successes and harass Eric about not being man enough to keep his reality show wife.

  ******

  As Julie grabbed the portable chair from the trunk of the car, she couldn’t decide who was more excited about coming to baseball practice: her or Jordan. She hadn’t been able to get Eric out of her thoughts since she waved goodbye to him the night before. Those few hours at the couple’s shower had been enjoyable. She’d seen yet another side of Eric – a side she really liked.

  Julie had dated numerous guys since high school, but none of those relationships ever went beyond infatuation and only one lasted more than a few months. She and Gavin had been together for most of the previous year. Looking back, she knew it had merely been a convenience for both of them. They would probably still be dating if he hadn’t met Lily. Julie hadn’t believed in love at first sight until she witnessed the meeting between those two.

  When her eyes found Eric’s tall figure leaning against the fence talking to Coach Tillerson, her heart nearly jumped out of her chest. It was as if she’d merely been filling in time until now. Was this what falling in love was like?

  The sound of Jordan’s voice faded into the background. The grass under her feet changed to concrete and the sunny sky gave way to a starry night.

  They were almost to her car. Any minute Jordan and Matt would join them. Eric was talking about Teresa and Thomas’ wedding, but, in truth, Julie wasn’t listening. She was remembering the touch of his lips on her neck and imagining how they’d feel against her mouth. A shiver coursed through her.

  “I shouldn’t keep you standing in this cool air.” He opened the car door. “I had a great time today. I hope that little trick I pulled on you didn’t ruin the shower for you.”

  “It didn’t, but I hope no one thought to take a picture.”

  He laughed. “Me, too, or there’ll be no hiding how I feel about my team mom.”

  “I didn’t even think about that.”

  He stepped closer, running his fingers lightly down her face. “Don’t look so worried. We’re not breaking any rules.”

  Her heart started to pound. Was he going to kiss her? And then it happened. The thing she’d unconsciously been dreading. The front door opened, and two figures emerged. They were no longer alone.

  Eric smiled faintly. “Goodnight, Julie.”

  The smack of a ball hitting a bat recalled her to her surroundings. She looke
d up to find Eric watching her. Had he been as disappointed as she was by that interruption?

  “Good evening, Miss Evans,” he called to her in a friendly, but impersonal voice.

  “Hey, Coach Gibson,” she returned, hoping her blush wasn’t noticeable to anyone else.

  Once she got past him, Julie let out the breath she’d been holding, and went to her usual spot to sit down. After exchanging hello’s with several parents, she took refuge in a book and did her best to appear as if she was really reading instead of listening for his voice.

  His love of the game, and his affection for the boys was evident. She’d been wrong about him being like other sports stars. He wasn’t arrogant and self-centered. He didn’t just go through the motions; he cared about the feelings of others. As Matt had alluded to, he was a man who acted from his heart.

  Having come to know him better, Julie found it impossible to believe he was capable of the kind of deception he hadn’t tried to deny. The silence he’d maintained about his marriage had at first struck her as an admission of guilt, but now she knew his reticence on that subject had been driven by something else. It was no longer important for her to know what it was. She trusted him to have acted with integrity.

  When practice finally wound to an end, Julie watched with a sinking heart as several parents lined up at the fence to talk to Eric. Should she hang around or leave? As she stood undecided, he looked up suddenly. A faint, but unmistakable gleam appeared in his beautiful green eyes before he turned away. As short and seemingly insignificant as it was, that small action sent her spirits soaring. It told her that even in the midst of everyone demanding his attention, he hadn’t forgotten her.

  ******

  Eric strolled into the dugout to get his wallet and keys. He’d never heard so many complaints about nothing, and they hadn’t even played their first game yet. As he closed the gate to the field, Adam got up from the bleachers where he’d been an interested spectator.

  “You truly have a gift for handling agitated parents. I’d be pulling out my hair by now.”

  Eric shrugged. “I’ve had years of practice dealing with the press. This is nothing.”

  “How was yesterday?”

  “It was all right; not something I’d want to do again. Now I just have to get through a rehearsal dinner and a wedding.”

  “Randy Stolz came into my office this morning. He said you created quite a stir by coming with a date. I couldn’t imagine who it was until he described her.”

  He should have seen this coming. “When we found out that we’d both been invited, it made sense to go together.”

  Adam nodded. “Now I know why you didn’t tell me about Julie being Jordan’s aunt. You had your eye on her, too.”

  Eric picked up the other bag and started walking to the parking lot. “It wasn’t like that. I got to know her at the pool party.”

  “So, after warning me about the danger of getting involved with a player’s relative, you decided to do your own experiment.”

  “I didn’t plan anything. It just sort of happened. I’m not even sure she likes me.”

  “From the tortured glances you two exchanged during practice, I don’t think you have anything to worry about.”

  “Tortured? Really, Adam?”

  “I can’t decide whether to punch you or shake your hand.”

  Eric laughed as he lifted the bag into the back of his truck. “If you’re going to punch me, avoid my face. We’ve got team pictures in a few days.”

  “You know I can’t stay mad at you. Not after all the times you covered for me in college. I would have flunked out if it hadn’t been for you.”

  “I had to help you. I couldn’t let my catcher get kicked off the team. See you on Thursday.”

  ******

  When she got home, Julie decided to call her parents. They loved talking to their only grandchild. Once Jordan ran out of news, she took the phone and sent him to take a shower. She was anxious to find out how her father’s visit to the cardiologist had gone. There had been talk of them coming to opening day, but Julie didn’t hold out much hope. In this she was right because the doctor confirmed that her father wasn’t strong enough yet to travel. This meant Plan B would be put into motion: taking video of Jordan’s first game.

  After Julie finished talking to her parents, she went to knock on the bathroom door. Jordan seemed to think there was an unlimited supply of hot water. Then she returned to the kitchen to make their lunches. She was licking jelly off her fingers when her phone chimed.

  It was probably Devon. He usually tried to call before Jordan’s bedtime. Rinsing her fingers, she glanced around the kitchen. Where had she left the phone? After a few seconds, it chimed again. She walked over to the coffee table and reached underneath a pile of papers. When she glanced at the screen, her breath caught. The text wasn’t from her brother.

  You deserted me again.

  How could four insignificant words make her so happy?

  I can’t help it that you’re so popular.

  More like unpopular because I moved a few players to new positions. Anyway, are you busy tomorrow night?

  No, but I still have Jordan.

  I’m not likely to forget that. This invitation is for both of you to come with me to a high school baseball game.

  More baseball?

  I know – I’m not very original or creative. If you don’t want to go, I understand. Jordan and I can gut it out on our own.

  Is that what you’d prefer?

  It’s not nice to tease me like that. Especially after the way you threw yourself at me last night. I couldn’t sleep a wink after you left.

  I’m not the kind of girl who throws herself at a man.

  Really? I could be wrong. It’s been so long since something like this has happened.

  How long has it been?

  I really don’t want to say. It’s kind of embarrassing.

  I understand. Isn’t it awful when someone deliberately embarrasses you?

  Are we back to that? I thought you’d forgiven me.

  I have, but I reserve the right to bring it up every now and then.

  Fair enough. Will you come tomorrow? Please say yes. I miss you.

  You just saw me a few hours ago.

  That’s like throwing crumbs to a bird. I need something more substantial.

  Well, if you put it like that. What time should we be ready?

  Six-thirty. I liked the ponytail by the way. Did you do that for me?

  I did it because it was hot outside.

  That’s what I thought. See you tomorrow.

  Julie put down the phone and leaned back against the cushion on the couch. It amazed her how easily Eric fit into her life, almost as if he’d always been there. Her eyes settled on the stormy scene depicted in the painting on the opposite wall. It reminded her of the ones in Eric’s living room – the ones painted by his mother. He had talked many times about his mother, but never about his father. Why was that? Had his father not been part of his life?

  Chapter Eight

  By the time they arrived at Dellwood High School, the regular parking lot was full. Eric finally found a spot big enough for his truck in the overflow area behind the football field. As they passed row after row of cars, Julie said, “I can’t believe all these people are here to watch this game.”

  Eric laughed. “There’s an outfielder playing today that I want Jordan to see. It will give him an idea of some of the things I’ve been talking to him about. Hopefully, you won’t find it too boring.”

  Did he really think she would be bored in his company? “I’m actually starting to like baseball now that I understand it better.”

  He smiled down at her. “I’m glad to hear that because even though I don’t play anymore, it’s still a big part of my life.”

  “Coach Gibson, what’s that building over by the bullpen?” Jordan asked.

  “The indoor batting cages.”

  Julie looked at the two-story structure. “Do
they get enough from ticket sales to pay for something like that?”

  He shook his head. “Most of the big projects are financed through the boosters. Is anyone else hungry? I was thinking of getting something from the concession stand.”

  Julie had a suspicion that her companion was one of those contributing boosters.

  “Can I see what they have, Aunt Julie?”

  “You ate right before we came.”

  “That was just a sandwich,” Jordan informed her with a grin.

  “It was two sandwiches, but I get the picture.”

  Jordan ran ahead, anxious to check out the menu. To her surprise, Eric took her hand as they followed behind.

  “How did I do at practice yesterday?” he asked in a low voice. “Did I give myself away staring longingly in your direction?”

  “Your eyes never left the field.”

  “Are you sure about that? I noticed that Mr. Carter didn’t leave your side for almost twenty minutes. I didn’t mind him talking to you, but did he need to get so close to you while he did it?”

  “He didn’t mean anything.”

  “Yeah, right. You’re talking to a man, remember. That’s how it starts.”

  “I didn’t realize you were the jealous type,” she whispered as they walked up behind Jordan.

  “That’s the funny thing,” Eric whispered back. “I never was until recently.” He released her hand to tap Jordan on the shoulder. “What looks good to you, bud?”

  Jordan turned around. “Nachos with hot peppers.”

  Eric looked at Julie. “What about you?”

  “Nothing for me, thanks.”

  Her companions more than made up for her lack of appetite. By the time they sat down, their order had grown to include not only nachos but also boiled peanuts and an assortment of candy.

  Julie noticed a familiar face in the dugout. “Isn’t that Coach Watson? I didn’t realize he was still coaching.”

  Eric reached for his soda. “He’s only forty. Why wouldn’t he be?”

  “I don’t know. When I saw him working at the store, I assumed he wasn’t doing it anymore.”

  “They’ll have to fire him to get rid of him.”

  “They wouldn’t do that, would they?”