Page 11 of Calling the Shots

Damn, she’s cute as hell, getting all flustered.I’ve never seen her speechless before.

Until now.

“Uh, hey, Mack. Morning. What are you doing here?” she stammers, arching a suspicious brow at me.

“Outta creamer. Came to borrow some from your mom and she offered me a cup of joe. Real neighborly.”

“Anytime, sugar.” Mrs. Reynolds pats my forearm and Gracelyn’s eyes light on the gesture, but she quickly draws her attention back to my face.

“Mack was just telling me about the Homecoming game coming up. Did you know we’re three-and-oh for the season? Thunder Creek’s undefeated!”

“Early days, Ma. And I know what three-and-oh means.” Gracelyn sashays over to the cabinet, pulling a mug down from the shelf and pouring herself a steaming cup of coffee.

“Defeatist attitude, Grace. The team’s gonna be the best in the state, you watch.” Mrs. Reynolds wags her finger at her daughter, and I barely hold in the chuckle threatening to rumble from my throat. The only woman with more sass than Gracelyn is her mother.

“Hope so, Ma. That would be exciting.” Gracelyn sidles up next to me, bumping her knee against mine as she takes a seat.

She’s as pretty as she was last night, sunbeams streaming through the window and forming a halo around her golden curls. In the daylight, I notice the tiny pattern of cinnamon freckles streaked across her nose, the dimple in her right cheek when she smiles.

Gracelyn lifts the mug to her mouth and I catch the words etched on the cup:Awesome Like My Daughter.

Classic. I’m sure Gracelyn bought that as a gift for her mother.

“What?” She narrows her eyes at me, kicking my foot under the table.

“I was admiring your coffee cup.”

Her face breaks into a wide grin. “Oh, this? I got it for my mom for Mother’s Day a few years ago.”

Of course she did.Called that one.

Mrs. Reynolds rolls her eyes. “Only my daughter would buy me a self-congratulatory mug.”

“You don’t like it?” Gracelyn pops her lip out, acting hurt.

“No, I love it. Exactly what I was hoping for.”

“Geez, tough crowd.” Gracelyn tsks. “What do you buy for a woman who has everything she could ever want? Sorry if I was stumped. Next year make a wish list.”

“I think I will. Good idea. What are you up to today? And why are you here so early?” Mrs. Reynolds smashes her lips together and stares at her daughter.

“I wanted to pop in and say hi. And it’s not that early.”

“Please. You barely make it here for work on time. Anything before ten am is early for you, muffin.”

“Harsh. I’ll have you know that I was, uh, on my way to Pilates and thought I’d stop by to say hello.”

“Hmm. You’re going to Pilates in that?” She waves at Gracelyn’s shorts and V-neck tee.

“Yeah. They let you in, even if you’re not wearing lulu leggings.”

“I’ll take your word for it. Don’t think I’m going to Pilates anytime soon. You had a date last night, right?”

The apples of Gracelyn’s cheeks turn rosy. “Yeah, Mom. But Mack doesn’t want to hear about it, I’m sure.”

I work hard to keep a straight face as Gracelyn shifts uncomfortably in her seat.

“A date, huh?” I goad, nudging her foot under the table. “I wouldn’t mind hearing about it.”

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