Mylee sank into one of the chairs and fanned herself. “Just take me to heaven right now. Saints above, I love that man. Please say you’re going to date him.”
Emily sat gingerly in the chair next to her friend and watched the practice progress. Harley and Krew were doing great, but it was hard to not focus on Caleb. Just the way he moved made her blood run hotter like Mylee had said earlier. “You know I can’t date anybody until March.”
“No!” Mylee groaned. “That jerk-bait loser …Jeff.” She said his name like a curse word. “I hate that you agreed to that.”
“Would you rather I exposed Krew to a weekend every month and six weeks in the summer alone with the ‘jerk-bait loser’?”
Mylee grimaced and shook her head. “No. You’re right. We can’t let our little man be subject to Mr. Moody Moose. Ooh, I loathe him!” She leaned forward as Caleb scooped a ball off the ground. “Dang it, this bites the big one. Four more months until you can date our new hottie friend?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, at least this isn’t a date. Just keep coming to practice with your son every night.”
“What am I going to do when the snow flies?”
“We’ll find an indoor facility.”
Emily laughed. Despite her backside still smarting from the hit, she loved her friend.
The time flew by as she and Mylee chatted, mostly about Caleb’s patience with the boys, sometimes about how good he looked, occasionally about some neighborhood gossip.
As the sun set, the air cooled, and Caleb, Krew, and Harley jogged their direction. They each downed a water bottle and ate some of the snacks as Krew and Harley chattered excitedly about different moves they’d learned or improved at. “Mama, did you see?” was asked many times. All the while, Caleb kept sharing conspiratorial smiles and glances with Emily.
Mylee scooped up all the garbage and said to the boys. “Daddy just called, and he wants to take you two for ice cream.” Emily smiled, knowing Mylee’s phone hadn’t rung but Vance would be great about taking them for ice cream.
“Yes!” Krew and Harley exchanged fist bumps and started to race for home.
“Thanks, Coach!” Harley yelled. “You’re the bestestest!”
Krew turned back, ran to Caleb, hugged him fiercely around the middle, and said, “Thanks, Coach.” Then he ran back to meet his friend.
Caleb looked a little stunned but mostly pleased by Krew’s impulsive hug. Emily put a hand to her stomach. Krew hugged her dad and brothers when he saw them, but they all lived in Alabama and they didn’t see them often enough. Krew didn’t hug his own father, stayed a fair distance away from him when he visited, and only gave fist bumps to Vance, even though he seemed to be comfortable around his best friend’s dad. Sadly, he hadn’t seen Jeff’s family for a few years, as Jeff was estranged from them.
Emily gave Caleb a wobbly smile. “I’d better …” She was going to saygo.
Mylee interrupted her. “No, no, no. Caleb can walk you home.” Mylee speed-walked after their children but called back, “I’ve got the boys.” With that, she dumped the garbage in a nearby can and ran after them.
Emily stood there, almost frozen. She was far too attracted to him and impressed by him, and her little man had just hugged him. She didn’t know whether to laugh, cry, or throw her arms around his neck and show him exactly how she wanted to kiss his poster.
Caleb eased in closer, granting her a whiff of an intriguing citrus-and-musk cologne and an outdoors scent. She glanced up at him. His eyes were incredible; that bright blue just yanked her right in.
“Th-thank you for being so cute with Krew and Harley,” she said. That was a much safer display of gratitude than seeing how his perfect body and nicely formed lips felt against hers. If she’d promised not to date, she’d dang well better not be kissing. Four more months. Caleb would most likely be long gone by then. She had to keep reminding herself he was not only famous but dated models, actresses, and successful businesswomen. She knew. She Googled him regularly.
“They’re cute kids. It was a lot of fun.”
She wanted to throw herself at him, but she couldn’t do it. Even if she’d promised a snake, she wasn’t going to break her word, especially as it might risk Krew being alone with Jeff. She didn’t think Jeff had any real interest in their son, beyond occasionally using him for publicity photo shoots to make Jeff look good and as a pawn to control Emily.
“I’d better jet,” she mumbled. “Tomorrow night?” she asked brightly, starting to back away.
“I’ll be here.” He eased in closer and murmured, “I’m supposed to walk you home.” The look in his eyes was energizing and a promise of good things to come between them. He was ready to find out where she lived. He was ready to take this to the next level.
She was more than ready, but … “I can’t, Caleb,” she said miserably.
“Can’t let me walk you home?” Caleb reached out and brushed her hair behind her neck. His firm fingers caressed her neck, and she trembled from his touch. “Or can’t let me show you exactly how you should kiss my poster?” His eyes smoldered at her.
Emily’s breath rushed out of her. He’d gone there. Oh my, oh my! How did she explain? How did she stay strong? Krew. She had to do this for Krew. “I can’t date anyone for four more months,” she blurted.
He blinked at her and his hand fell back to his side. “Pardon me?”