Page 11 of Scoring with the Coach's Daughter

I chuckle softly, running a hand through her curls. “He did, did he?”

She looks up at me, her expression suddenly serious. “Will he come to visit us?”

The question makes my heart lurch. “I don’t know, Ellie,” I say honestly. “I’m sure he’s busy.”

Her face falls for just a second before she bounces off my lap. “It’s okay. I’m going to draw him again, so we don’t forget! I had fun with him.”

Jake not only infiltrated my thoughts but Ellie’s as well. Can I blame her? She deserves the one-on-one attention of men who are good father figures-esque even if it’s only for a day.

I watch her skip out of my office and notice that her energy is contagious. Her lighthearted, carefree ways are perfect to lift me out of my heavy thoughts.

The rest of the day flies by in a blur of meetings with staff, prepping menus for the week, and looking over guest check-ins. Ellie alternates between her sketchpad and running errands for Maggie. Ellie loves her “assistant to the assistant manager” title.

By the time the dinner rush ends, I’m bone-tired, but there’s a strange sort of peace in the exhaustion. It’s late and Elli is curled up in her booth, and fast asleep under her favorite blanket. The staff is finishing up dishes and Jose is mopping the floors.

Maggie leans against the counter beside me, watching as I tidy up the register. “She had a good day,” she says, nodding toward Ellie.

“Yeah,” I reply softly. “She loves to be included.”

“All kids do. You’re a great Mom. But you look different. Are you okay?” Maggie asks, her voice gentler this time.

I glance at her, then at Ellie before I look out the window where the moon cast long shadows on the lawn. “I think I’m just... tired,” I say, making excuses to myself that this is as good as it gets. And I’m okay with that. It wasn’t until I saw Jake again that I let myself think there could be something more. I blame my mother. She’s in my head. I was perfectly content when I arrived in Maine. Now—now so much.

Maggie studies me for a moment, then nods. “Go home, Sam. Get some sleep. Tomorrow’s another day.”

I nod, grateful for her understanding. Tomorrow is a new day. And with Jake Rivers still lingering in my thoughts, I wonder what he’s doing tonight.

After Ellie is tucked in bed for the night, I steal a minute to lookfor Jake online.

He’s single. His football picture makes me wet between the legs. I remember his manly cologne and cute grin. Then, an article catches my attention. I read more, fervently flipping down the page. It appears he’s missing spring training camp due to an injury. His prognosis is day-to-day.

That doesn’t sound good.

His presence stirred up things I’d put to bed. Damn him for reminding me what it’s like to feel passion. Like how incredible it would be to have a man make love to me again. I miss someone to keep my feet warm at night. I miss someone to bounce ideas off of and someone to break up my moods. And damn it, I miss clam bakes on the beach, too.

I rarely take Ellie because it’s so much work for one person. On top of that, I went a few times with Ellie last year, but the memories of my sister haunted me and made me sad. I tell Ellie it’s too much work for the two of us to make the trip to the beach, but the truth is—I miss my sister and I haven’t been able to go visit the beach without being extremely sad so I avoid going.

Some memories are difficult to shake. I don’t want to forget her—but there are times I wish the memories would take a backseat so I can create new ones.

4

JAKE

I stepoff the plane and into the humid South Carolina air, my knee is aching just enough to remind me why I’m here. The crape myrtle is in bloom and permeates the air with a light, sweet, and slightly spicy fragrance.

Coach’s friend, Dr. Reid, comes highly recommended. I figure if I can’t work, I might as well take advantage of the time off. What better way to break up the monotony of rehabilitation than to come to a new place and make new friends? Or, better yet, become reacquainted with old ones?

But that’s not what’s got my heart racing. It’s Sam’s pretty face and the thrill of seeing her again.

When I looked her up, the Dragonfly Inn popped up the second I typed Cherry Point into the browser. I was sucked in by the picture of her smiling in front of the Scarlet Tomato Restaurant. It’s a business look for sure with her hair neatly tied back, but still, it’s her.I can’t get enough of her evanescent smile that shines through her stern exterior.

Iknew when I left her last night that I couldn’t pass up this opportunity even though it’s taboo to date the Coach’s daughter. Surely, Coach will understand. He must have known I’d lookher up seeing as how she lives one town over from where the doctor he recommended for me lives.

I chuckle at any excuse I think of to explain showing up unannounced. Sure, I have a knee injury, and a doctor’s recommendation that brings me to her doorstep. But she’d see through that. Maybe it doesn’t matter. I can’t tell her I love the sexy mom vibe she gives off, but it works for her.

I’m crazy, flying all this way with no guarantee she’ll even want to see me. But I can’t shake the feeling that she’s special. I have to find out if there’s more to our kiss and how she melted in my arms.

As I drive through the town, I take in the quaint streets lined with colorful storefronts and flower boxes on porches spilling over with blooms. Cherry Point is as charming as it sounds. It’s the kind of place I could’ve settled down in—if my life had ever allowed for settling down.

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