Bobby shrugged. “Coach showed me some things.” Rolling onto the balls of his feet, he looked up at his dad. “David said he’s buying pizza for us all tonight. Can we go?”
“Go ask your mother if she had anything planned.” Bobby took off for the stands, and Lee looked after him fondly. “That was a good game.” He turned back to David. “You’ve done a much better job with the boys than I was expecting.”
Widening his stance, David crossed his arms over his chest. “I wanted to talk to you about that. You’ll be back coaching in a couple weeks, right?”
Lee nodded.
“In the market for an assistant coach?”
Colt’s eyebrows disappeared under his hairline, but David ignored him.
“Will you commit to the whole season?” Lee asked. “I don’t want an assistant who flakes out when the kids are depending on him.”
“When I make a promise, I keep it.”
“And if our relationship changes?” Lee asked. “I don’t want any shit that happens between us to affect the team.”
David’s stomach sank. Lee was going to leave Carelli Construction. Colt was already a smug son-of-a-bitch. This would make him insufferable. David squared his shoulders. Well, he’d have to get Lee back. He’d done it once before; he could do it again. David smiled. And screwing over Colt was going to be fun.
Regardless, whether Lee worked for him or not, it wouldn’t make a difference when it came to the game. “It won’t matter.”
Lee stared at him a moment, and slowly nodded. He stuck out his good hand. “Welcome to the team.”
Grabbing his hand, David shook it until Lee grimaced. “You won’t regret it.”
Lee rubbed his busted shoulder. He looked down the third base line. Bobby was dragging Maureen across the field, and Lee moved to head them off. He tossed over his shoulder, “If you keep buying pizza for everyone, I know I won’t regret it.” His smile disappeared into his thick beard. He kissed his wife on the cheek, and with his good arm scooped Bobby up at the waist so his head and feet dangled over the ground. They strolled to the parking lot, Bobby squirming and yelling that he was too old for that.
David’s heart squeezed. He’d never thought much about having a family before, and now he wondered if he’d been missing something. Colt gripped Sadie’s hand, and the couple shared a look. The vise around David’s heart spun tighter. He looked for Connie, saw the back of her ponytail as she chatted in a group. It was so tempting to march over to her, kiss her hello, and damn the consequences.
“You actually enjoy this, don’t you?”
David furrowed his brow, and turned back to Colt. “What?”
“Coaching. Working with the kids.” Colt tilted his head to the side. “You’re not just bullshitting everyone.”
Sadie leaned into her fiancé’s side. “Colt.”
He wrapped an arm around her waist, and smiled. “Don’t worry, princess. Carelli and I are beyond courtesy.”
David stared at the man’s arm, draped so casually around his woman. Smug bastard. Didn’t even know how lucky he was. David swallowed down his jealousy. The situation wasn’t Colt’s fault. And soon he and Connie could be open about their relationship, too.
Scrubbing the back of his neck, David shrugged. “Yeah, I like coaching. It’s been a while since I’ve played baseball, and I’d forgotten how much I love the game.”
“Huh.” Colt rocked back on his heels. “I was always more of a football guy.”
Figured. Less brain, more muscles. But in the spirit of turning over a new leaf, David kept that thought to himself.
Sadie brushed her bangs out of her eyes. “Are you going to the parade tomorrow?” she asked David.
“I wouldn’t miss it.”
“Then maybe we’ll see you there.” Sadie turned for the parking lot, Colt falling into step beside her. “Good game tonight.”
Colt tossed a casual wave over his shoulder as they walked away. Well, that was an improvement. A month ago, there would have been a middle finger raised with that wave. Maybe David was turning things around in Pineville.
Still didn’t mean he liked the guy.
Strolling over to a group by the fence, David sidled in next to Connie. Her ponytail brushed his nose when she shook her head at something, and a hint of citrus teased his senses.
A couple CCWP members glared at him, and the group fell silent. Judge Nichols intervened. “This isn’t the courtroom, people. Regardless of our differences, we’re still friends and neighbors.”
“Neighbors, maybe,” someone muttered.
Sue and another member of the Citizen of the Year committee joined the circle. “Oh, I don’t know about that.” She looked around the crowd, eyebrow raised. “But maybe some of us could be friendlier to our helpless dogs and cats.”
“No discussion about the lawsuit tonight,” the judge said sternly. “I’ll make anyone who mentions it take a turn in the dunk booth tomorrow. Got it?”
There was some muted grumbling, but no one dared contradict him. Smaller groups broke off into conversations.
“Are you okay?” David said in a low voice. Faint lines etched the corners of Connie’s eyes. “Any sightings?”
She shook her head. “Nothing. And Jerome has the police and firefighters keeping an eye out. He even contacted animal control and told them to call me if they catch him instead of destroying him.”
“Well, that’s something.” Reaching out to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear, he remembered where they were and jerked back with a frustrated huff. “No goat execution in his future.”
“He could still get hurt. There are wild animals and bad drivers.” Clutching her purse tight to her body, Connie bit her lip. “I chased him away with oral hygiene.”
A bark of laughter escaped his lips. “What?”
“Are you talking about your goat?” Sue pushed between Connie and him. She wore tight slacks and a cleavage-baring, vee-neck top. Just what his pre-pubescent boys needed to see when they ought to be concentrating on their game. David shook his head.
“I heard you took in a stray goat. And promptly lost him.” Sue curled her lip. “Did you even get him checked out with a vet?”
“Uh…” Connie dragged the toe of her sneaker through the dirt, drawing a straight line.
“Of course not,” Sue said. “Do you have any idea how many diseases your goat could be spreading right now?” Tucking her fingers into her front pockets, Sue narrowed her eyes. “Which is why I’ve told animal control to destroy the animal if they find it.”
“What? You can’t do that!” Connie stepped forward.
“I can and did. That animal is a threat to the domestic animals of Pineville.” Sue snorted. “And apparently also a threat to people, attacking them on the street. Probably rabid.”
Connie’s nostrils flared. “But Jerome said—”
“Animal control listens to me, not some beat cop who wasn’t speaking for the police department.” Sue turned her back on Connie. “David, do you have a minute? Bob and I need to speak with you.”
David snapped his jaw shut. Sue’s pronouncement shocked even him. Threatening to destroy an animal just because she didn’t like Connie. He knew the shelter meant a lot to the woman, that she cared about her pets. But she must save all her concern for dogs and cats. Poor Milo just wasn’t her kind of animal.
Even though it turned his stomach, he smiled at the shelter manager. “Of course.” He wanted to stand next to Connie, tell off his co-defendant. But he didn’t yet have that right. If Sue knew he and Connie were together, she could end Connie’s career.
So instead of offering her comfort, he turned to Connie and lightly said, “I’ll see you later.” He tried to convey in his gaze all that he wanted to do. Hold her. Let her know he wouldn’t let her goat be hurt. Not surprisingly, his attempts at telepathy failed miserably.
Connie nodded dully. “Bye.” She trudged toward the bleachers, her shoulde
rs rolled forward.
He watched her until she sat with a group of parents chatting in the bleachers. The smile she gave one of her clients was as wobbly as a drunk on a balance beam, and David bit back a growl. “What did you want?” he barked at Sue.
“Bob and I want to talk to you about an opportunity that’s come up.” She waved over the other member of the awards committee.
David swung his head around to glare at Sue. “You want to talk to me about business? Now?”
Bob chuckled, the sound loud and abrasive. “There’s no time like the present, that’s what I always say. When Sue here mentioned the deal you were giving her to build the shelter, because you’re so civic-minded and all”—the man either had a nervous twitch or had winked at David—“I thought of you for a deal I’ve been working on.”
“Why don’t you call my assistant to make an appointment? I’m sure we can—”
“Hear him out, David.” Sue laid her hand on Bob’s forearm, her red nails stark against his pale skin. “It’s a brilliant idea. Just brilliant.”
David rubbed his forehead. Christ, she laid it on thick. Too thick. No way was Bob going to buy her BS. David should teach her the art of subtlety.
Bob’s barrel chest swelled, and a pleased smile creased his face.
Or maybe he would buy it. Sucker.
“I have a friend who knows someone on the Appropriations Committee,” Bob said. “My friend’s not a politician himself, you understand, but when he talks, the Michigan legislature listens. You get me?”
Oh, yeah. David got him. Bob’s ‘friend’ was the money-man. When he wanted something, he held his wallet in front of the politicians’ noses and watched them dance to his tune. David swallowed down the sour taste in his mouth.
“What does this have to do with me?”
“You’ve heard about the new bridge they’re voting on?” Bob asked. “The one between Detroit and Windsor?”
David nodded. He’d heard. The fight in the state senate had been on the news for the past couple of weeks. No one debated that the old bridge was in bad shape. But one side wanted to repair the existing bridge, and the other wanted to construct a whole new one. Something that sounded like it should be unpolitical had turned into a vicious fight, with one senator accusing another of taking kickbacks, and another accusing her colleague of adultery.
Politics as usual.
Bob crossed his arms. “The new bridge is going to happen. They have the votes. Now it’s only a question of who gets the contract.”
David couldn’t help it. He laughed.
“What’s funny?” Sue narrowed her eyes.
“You thinking I could get that contract.” That was the type of project David wouldn’t even bother bidding on. Something of that size went to international firms. “The government would never consider me for something like that.”
“Which is why having friends in high places is useful.” Sue blew out an exasperated breath. “Now would be a good time for you to shut up and listen.”
Not something David had ever been good at. “And say I did land this bid.” A contract like that would move Carelli Construction into a whole new stratosphere. His heart tripped at the thought of what that all would mean. “What would you want in return?”
Bob blustered. “It’s not what I’d want in return. But before I could recommend you, I’d want to work with you, see first-hand if you’re as good as Sue claims you are. I have a redevelopment project in mind that she said you’d give me a reasonable price on. You understand?”
David understood he wanted to plant his fist in the man’s big white dentures. If David scratched his back, gave him a below-market price on his redevelopment project, then the man would scratch David’s. He turned to Sue. “And what do you get out of this?”
“I’ve been wanting to start a project, a joint boarding facility, pet store, groomer, and clinic.” Her lips pressed into a hard line. “The board of the Crook County Animal Shelter said they don’t want to branch out, even though the profits would fund the shelter and then some. They have no vision,” she muttered. Rolling her shoulders, she exhaled in a long stream. “But nothing in my contract says I can’t branch out on my own. Bob’s redevelopment would have a spot for my business.”
At below market rates, David was sure. All if she could bring Carelli Construction on at a discount.
“The Citizen of the Year ceremony is tomorrow,” Bob said. His white-toothed smile turned shark-like. “There’s still time to change the name on the plaque. Larry at Ace Awards has done rush jobs for us before.”
Meaning if he didn’t agree to this, the award would be taken away from him? Or if he agreed, his name would be put on the plaque? Either way, David didn’t know if he believed Bob. There were five other committee members besides Sue and Bob, and getting all of them to agree to a change at this late date didn’t seem likely.
“I’m not interested.” And he wasn’t. David rocked back onto his heels. Well, damn. His business model just got a make-over, apparently. No more quid pro quo. No more greasing palms to get the deal. He had enough money to make sure his family was secure. And Connie deserved better than a man who bought influence instead of earning it. He deserved better.
“Not interested?” Sue blinked. “How can you not be interested?”
“Look, Sue, we’re in the middle of a lawsuit—”
“Is that what’s bothering you?” She waved a hand through the air. “Don’t worry about that. I hear Connie Wilkerson won’t be a thorn in our side for much longer. And Evers says he’s confident he can get the TRO dropped if they ask for an extension.”
“What are you talking about?”
“Well, if they get a new attorney to take over, they’ll probably have to ask for an extension of time for the trial so the new guy can get caught up,” Sue said.
David clenched his fists, but tried to keep a lid on his temper. “That’s not what I was asking,” he said through gritted teeth. “Why do you think Connie won’t be on the case?”
“Oh.” Sue tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “While I was getting my oil changed yesterday, Fred told me that Pete told him that he’d overheard Connie and Allison talking about it. Apparently she has a new job in Detroit.”
“Is that so?” His gaze landed on Connie in the bleachers, and his body went cold. “Excuse me.”
He ignored Sue calling after him, his path a straight arrow to Connie. She looked up when he was twenty paces away, her smile faltering. He jerked his head to the side, indicating she should follow him around to the parking lot. They didn’t need witnesses for this conversation.
He waited between the bathrooms and a dumpster. A location that seemed fitting to his mood. She hurried toward him, a line creasing her forehead. David crossed his arms over his chest. “How long have you known?”
“Known what?” She rested her hand on his arm. “David, what’s wrong?”
“How long have you known that you’re moving to Detroit?” He spoke slowly, enunciating each word.
She jerked back, as if she’d been slapped. The flush that clawed its way up her face told David everything he needed to know. Sue had been right. Connie was leaving.
“How did you hear about it?” she whispered.
“Does it matter?”
Biting on her lower lip, she shook her head. “No, I guess not.” She paced beside the dumpster. “It’s not certain yet. I didn’t want to say anything until I was sure.”
His fingers tingled, and he relaxed his fists. Maybe he had a chance. He had to still have a chance.
“Why didn’t you tell me you had another job offer?” he asked. It wasn’t the time to let his hurt show. He needed to stay calm, make the deal.
She shrugged one shoulder. “It wasn’t your business.”
He slumped against the concrete wall of the bathroom. An icepick to the heart wouldn’t have hurt as much. She didn’t think her life was his business. That he wouldn’
t care if she stayed or left. He didn’t know who was the bigger idiot, him or Connie.
Two families strolled past, heading for their cars. One of the women gave them a curious glance.
David pushed off the wall. “I’ve got to go.”
Grabbing his hand, she stopped him from brushing past. “Wait! Talk to me.”
He laughed, rough and mean. “Talk? That’s rich, coming from you.” She flinched, and David turned from her. Shame twisted through his gut, and he pulled his ball cap low. “I have to go,” he repeated. Before he was an even bigger ass, and said something it would be hard to take back. Before he did something that would send her running to Detroit. He needed some space to calm down and make a plan.
He strode to his car, the throbbing in his temples keeping pace with his footfalls. Slamming the door shut, he let his anger vent and pounded the steering wheel. Son of a bitch, it was always one step forward two steps back with Connie. He was like a goddamn billboard advertisement for bad timing.
He blew a stream of air out of his nostrils. He couldn’t fault her for looking to advance her career. That she’d kept that nugget of information to herself, however, was on her. It was something they’d have to have a discussion about. But first he needed to make sure she stayed in his life. And to do that, he needed to make her options here more appealing than Detroit. And a half-assed, secret relationship didn’t strike David as being much of an incentive to stay.
He started the ignition, and peeled out of the parking lot. To make their relationship public, David needed to bring the lawsuit to an end. And Sue had given him an idea when she’d mentioned the board of the Crook County Animal Shelter. Using the steering wheel controls, he called his assistant. “Braden, I need some phone numbers and addresses. And I need them five minutes ago.”
Connie might not know it, but she’d just become the biggest deal of his life. Bigger than the ballpark even. And all his high-minded ideas about turning over a new leaf were officially on hold. David was only too happy to fight dirty to make sure he landed her.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Connie broke across the finish line of Pineville’s 10K only a couple of runners behind the winner. Her time was good, but her heart hadn’t been in the race. She’d run through town, not even noticing the early morning risers lining the streets to cheer her and the rest of the runners. The banners and bunting that adorned the storefronts and light poles had been nothing but a blur.
Why Did It Have to Be You? Page 23