Page 10 of Stealing Home

“What has Coach done to set up the clinic?” I ask her.

She shakes her head. “As far as I know, nothing.”

“Fuck,” I mutter. “Sorry, I should watch my language.”

Harlow waves me off. “Please, it doesn’t bother me. I think fuck pretty much sums up this entire situation.”

I take a deep breath. “I don’t know if there’s enough time to properly advertise this, but I guess we need to get word out to the schools. We’ll need flyers, and I can call in a favor at the radio station. They’ve been wanting to interview me about the upcoming season. I’ll agree to do it if they let me talk about the clinic.”

She sits back against the vinyl bench. “Wow, you’re a godsend.”

My lip quirks up. “I’ve heard that a time or two.”

Harlow rolls her eyes. “I’ll bet, hotshot. But seriously, I’m in way over my head.”

“Hang on to me, gorgeous, I’ll keep you from drowning. I’ll make room for you on my door.”

Her mouth falls open. “I’m ignoring the gorgeous comment, but you’ve seenTitanic?” Her eyes narrow. “How old are you?”

“Twenty. It’s not like you’re old.”

“Way older than you, and that movie is practically a classic now. Hell, I was too young to see it when it first came out, but at least I was alive.”

“I have a mom and a sister, but that was a very awkward movie night. My parents ended up making out, and Kate Winslett made me feel things I wasn’t exactly prepared for with my family in the room.”

She giggles, and it makes spilling such an embarrassing story worth it. “Oh my god! How old were you?”

“Fourteen. I’m scarred for life.”

Another giggle. I could become addicted to that sound. “I’ll bet,” she says in her raspy voice.

Everything about her oozes sex appeal. Her luscious curves, pouty lips and that voice that makes every word she says sound like an innuendo. Of course the one woman I can’t get out of my mind would be entirely off-limits.

I clear my throat, needing to escape before I have another titanic-sized problem. “I’ll make up some flyers and call the radio station.”

“What should I do?” she asks quietly.

Without thinking, I reach out and take her hand. It’s a mistake, and I regret it the instant her soft skin meets my callused hand. “Take today off. You’ve had enough shit to deal with for one day.”

She pulls her hand free, and wrings her hands together. I worry this is so much more than her thinking I’m too busy to handle this. “I can’t go home and do nothing. Nando will—“ She cuts herself off.

Even though we’re no longer touching, I don’t miss the way she starts to tremble. “What will he do, Harlow?”

She won’t look at me, and my gut tightens. “He’ll just be mad. Don’t worry about it.”

“Do you know how to set up a sign up sheet?” I ask.

Her head bobs, and a look of relief comes over her face. “Yes. I know how to design a website too with a template.”

“Okay, go home and set up a landing page and connect a form to it for parents to sign up their kids.” I grab her notebook and write down my phone number and email address. “Email me the link. Let’s go for Tiger Cubs Youth Baseball as a name, and I’ll mention it on the radio.”

She smiles in relief. “I’ll get straight on it. Thank you for your help.”

“Anything. You’re not alone in this.”

Harlow blinks rapidly. “Just everything else,” she mumbles. I don’t think she meant to say it, or for me to hear it, but I did. It’s not something I’m going to forget soon either.

I’m not sure what’s going on with her, but I’m paying attention now. If she needs my help, needs me, I’ll be there. Consequences be damned.

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