Page 12 of The Pickleball Girl Finds Her Match

He inhaled and then blew out a thin stream. “Whoa,” he whispered, captivated. He didn’t know the last time he’d seen anything so achingly breathtaking.

But then Sebastian saw that chonker of a little dude push his way next to the beautiful girl in the neon T-shirt and slip his hand into hers… . Well, that tugged at his heartstrings so much that it just about killed him.

8

Endy stood next to the patio railing overlooking the entirety of the racquet club. In front of her, four couples dressed in all white played croquet on the world-famous lawns that had hosted many national and international croquet tournaments. Directly in front of the deep-green clipped lawn was the sunken stadium tennis court, lined with seating. To her right were the lesson and practice courts, where both tennis ball machines were in use, shooting balls toward the pros and young amateurs with a sound like a thuddingpop.To her left were the dozens of tennis hard courts next to the many pickleball courts, filled and boisterous as usual. But farther out, just past it all were Whisper Hills’ famed grass tennis courts. These were the only grass courts in the area, and they were meticulously maintained, clipped tight like carpet, and striped with gleaming white chalk. The grass was especially favored by the older tennis crowd because of its more forgiving impact on players’ bodies.

The door to the pro shop flung open, and Maria rushed outside to Endy, a bag of ice in her hand. “Joel just called. Looks like another injury, and he needs this ice right away.”

Endy grabbed it from Maria’s hands. “Which court?” she asked, already moving from the patio.

“Grass court one,” replied Maria.

“Grass?”Endy turned, questioning. “Not pickleball?”

“Pickleball already has a torn rotator cuff and a snapped wrist this week. About time tennis took a turn.”

Endy ran down the steps and jumped into her golf cart. By the time she arrived, she could see Joel bent over someone sitting on the grass court, one leg stretched out.

“Hey,” she called out. “You needed ice?” She strode toward them.

Joel stepped aside, and Endy looked down at the player on the ground. She inhaled sharply. Sitting on the grass was the extremely handsome guy she’d seen playing against Collin Park. The same guy who had rescued Rusty. The one with the gorgeous brown hair and intense light blue eyes that belonged to … the one she’d slammed into the day before when she’d darted out of the pro shop because she was late.

“Are you okay?” she stammered.

“Well, now that you’re here,” he said, his full lips pulled up on one side, “more than okay.”

Endy’s heart pounded in her throat. She froze in front of them, the bag of ice dripping down her leg.

“Could I have that? Or did you want to keep it for yourself?” he asked, a smile still playing on his lips.

“Oh my gosh, of course. Here.” She stuck out her hand and then stood still, her eyes wide, her heart still skipping.

Joel crossed his arms and looked from Endy down to the injured player. “Uh, Sebastian, this is Endy Andrews, our assistant director of racquet sports.” He lifted his chin toward Endy as an introduction.

Joel’s eyes shifted between the two, sensing a chemistry between them, and a sour expression crossed his face. The sound of tinkling wind chimes from the yard across the street carried to them in the warm breeze.

“Endy, this is Sebastian Hall. We were just hitting, and he turned his knee after I aced him.”

“That was not an ace,” groaned Sebastian. “Your ball was so out, it wasn’t even close to being near the line.”

“So why’d you lunge for it?”

“That was not an ace,” repeated Sebastian.

“My signature shots have always been out wide, painting the lines.” Joel smiled, relishing the argument. “Itabsolutelywas an ace.”

“Bullshit,” replied Sebastian.

“So, then why’d you try to return it?” Joel asked, laughing.

Sebastian rolled his eyes and then held out his hand to Endy. “Help me get over to the bench?” She grasped his strong hand in hers and a shock of electricity jolted between them.

In a fluid move, Sebastian got up from the grass and stood, gingerly testing his injured knee. He was a head taller than Endy, with long legs and broad shoulders. His dark brown, chin-length hair was again pulled back with an elastic headband, accentuating his high cheekbones. And his eyes … they were hypnotic.

Joel shoved himself between Sebastian and Endy. He took Sebastian by the arm, leading him off the grass. “Dude, I’ll help you,” Joel grumbled and slid a glance at Endy.

From the edge of the grass court, two dogs got into a barking, snarling skirmish and lunged at each other while their owners yanked at their leashes, trying to keep them separate. With the jealous way that Joel was acting, Endy hoped that she wouldn’t have to pull him and Sebastian apart as well.

---