Page 24 of Scoring with the Coach's Daughter

We head toward the main lodge, its creaky wooden floorboards groaning under our footsteps. The place smells of old wood, coffee, and faint traces of campfire smoke. The kitchen is bustling with staff preparing breakfast for the kids, the clatter of pots and pans adding to the morning symphony.

As we navigate through the chaos, a tall man with a rugged beard and an easy smile approaches. Mr. Lawson takes my hand and introduces himself as the Director. He’s got the kind of handshake that says he’s spent a lot of time outdoors—firm, calloused, confident.

“Call me Tom,” he says. He has a solid handshake. “You must be Jake Rivers,” he says, his eyes crinkling with genuine warmth. “I’ve heard you were in town. Football, right?”

I nod, offering a modest smile. “Guilty as charged.” I had forgotten the charm of a small town where anyone and everyone knows the latest gossip. I’m sure someone like me make the local headlines. I wonder if they have a Cherry Point Gazette or if they simply flooded the rumor mill.

“Well, Jake,” Tom says, clapping a hand on my shoulder, “we’re a little short on volunteers this week. Any chance you’d be interested in helping out? Maybe coach some of the kids in sports activities?”

Before I can politely decline, Ellie’s eyes go wide, and she grabs my hand with both of hers. “Oh, please, Jake! Please, please, please! It’d be so cool if you stayed! You could teach me football!”

I look down at her hopeful face, her big eyespleading with me. My heart softens, and I let out a resigned sigh. “All right, all right. You win, kiddo.”

Ellie lets out a victorious cheer, jumping up and down. Tom grins, clearly pleased. “Welcome to the team, Coach Rivers.”

And just like that, my spring break plans take a detour. But as I watch Ellie’s face light up, I realize there are worse ways to spend a week.

8

SAMANTHA

My morning runs smoothlybut I miss having my shadow, Ellie. I know she’ll enjoy the camp this week and oddly—Jake is MIA. I wonder what Ellie got him into now.

I sigh. As if he read my mind, my phone beeps with a text. I gave him my phone number before he headed off with Ellie.

I’m the new coach for outdoor sports.

Congrats!

I chuckle. I had a leisurely morning with him taking Ellie to camp and I’m only now tugging a sundress over my head. I take my time walking to the Inn and enjoy the sounds of nature. The dense fog is lifting and soon it will be hot.

The day sails by and I admit I can’t push Jake from my thoughts. My libido has made a rip-roaring come back and I’m horny just thinking about him. I am anxious to see him again.

I text Jake to see if he’s picking up Ellie and he says he’ll bring her home. I find the day isn’t as hurried as normal with him offering taxi service to my young ward. He and Ellie havetaken to each other, and I don’t know what to think of this new development that wasn’t planned.

I’m out of my element. It was serendipitous seeing him at my father’s birthday party and now, to have him here, without the hoopla of the team is—overwhelming in and of itself. We have his undivided attention, and it makes me feel—vulnerable.

Ugh. I hate the word. It’s a gateway to hurt feelings and disappointment. I’ve made Ellie the center of my world. Her, my career, my family, and a few friends are all that matter. I’ve never thought about sharing her with a significant other. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Perhaps we’re just be a one-night stand. A fling. Isn’t that the status quo for men like him? The football jock, the man of the hour, the man who carries the ball into the end zone to the cheers of adoring fans? How can I compete with that?

“What’s on your mind?” Maggie asks as she pulls lasagna out of the oven.

“What?” I ask, being coy.

“You know. Don’t play that card with me. That tall drink of water with the hard body. I’m sure you’ve noticed. How can anyone miss him? And he’s into you.”

“I don’t know about that,” I reply. I shrug off her insinuation that I’m crushing on him.

But I find it’s impossible not to like him. He’s easy on the eye and he’s good with Ellie. And he has a job! But the job is far away and that’s an issue. I have no intentions of leaving Cherry Point.

I carve lasagna and put it in a to-go container under Maggie’s watchful eye.

“Dinner for three?” she teases.

“Maybe,” I smirk. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” I add as I carry the food and grab an expensive bottle of wine on my way out.

“I want details,” she hollers after me.

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