Page 63 of Always a Bridesmaid
An unattractive snort-laugh escaped, and Ford glanced back at her. “What?”
“You reward them the same way you do the puppies. Speaking of, I have your cupcakes so you can give them their big treats afterward.”
Ford crooked a finger and motioned her closer.
Her heart beat double time as she pressed against the chain links, the light rattling of the fence echoing through her ears.Don’t get carried away. He probably just wants to tell you where to put the cupcakes.
Ford stuck a finger through a gap and hooked her by the belt loop. Then he gave it a tug, throwing her emotions wholly off-balance. “Hey, you. It’s been a while.”
Butterflies stirred inside her, stretching their wings and preparing for flight. “I thought maybe I scared you at the bridal shop. I saw the way you looked at me when I was holding up that wedding dress.”
“Oh, you did.” Ford exhaled, his gaze dropping to the ground, and she kicked herself for bringing it up. Then his green eyes slowly returned to her face. “But I can’t stop thinking about you. Even today, when I went into the bakery, I couldn’t help searching for you.”
Violet’s heart went from beating too fast to forgetting how to function.
The crowd behind them grumbled as the ump called the batter’s third strike.
“That’s okay, kids,” Ford pivoted and yelled. “We started strong and put a few points on the board. Let’s call the ball while we’re in the outfield, and we’ll be batting again in no time.”
As soon as Ford returned his attention to her, she said, “You didn’t mention this job, either.”
He shrugged his big shoulders. “This is more like play than work. Easton and I do it for the community. And so we can talk shi—crap later.” He checked the vicinity, as if to ensure no one had heard him almost swear.
Shelby’s son Dylan stood in right field, wearing his catcher’s mask. It wobbled as he bent to pick a dandelion. He tossed it in the air and caught it in his mitt, the ongoing game miles from his radar.
Violet stifled a giggle, already feeling a bond with the kid she’d never met. “I’d better let you get back to coaching. Looks like your right fielder might have about as much focus as Trouble and I do.”
The tenderhearted smile Ford gave Dylan melted Violet that much more. She began backing away from the fence, and Ford stepped closer and curled his fingers through the loops. “Hang around after the game for a bit, will ya?”
For a moment, Violet hesitated. She was supposed to be smarter. More careful. And wasn’t there something about reinforcing her walls?
But then Ford’s eyes met hers, and she found herself saying, “Okay.”
Chapter Thirteen
After making sure the kiddos from both teams had the right cupcakes—they had one allergic to gluten and a diabetic who required low-sugar—Ford sought out Violet.
The sight of her talking to Gunner made his blood run cold. He and his brother weren’t exactly estranged, but they weren’t close. Nor was Gunner close to his ex-wife and her son from a previous relationship. That was what happened when you picked alcohol over your kin, which was something that ran in their family.
Ford strode over, and at the shameless interest on Gunner’s face, jealousy surged to the forefront. He wrapped an arm around Violet’s shoulders, securing her to his side. “Sorry that took so long.”
Violet’s gaze met his, her brow crinkling as she studied him and then smoothing. “No worries.”
“Ah,” Gunner said. “I see you’ve already met my brother. He’s the good egg. But if you ever want to come to the dark si—”
“I think that’s enough.” It’d been a while since Ford had been embarrassed of his family. While he wanted to insist it no longer bothered him, an unmistakable burn germinated in his gut.
As the youngest, it’d taken a while for Ford to overtake his brothers during their competitions. By that time, he’d also realized he wanted more out of life than the ability to brag about chopping wood the fastest or downing the most shots. Or whatever other gladiator event Dad created to pit them against one another.
All so they wouldn’t gang up on Dad or question his rules. At least Gunner’s and Deacon’s mothers stuck around to share custody, another splinter that used to dig at Ford and fester resentment.
As he got older, he understood all too well why Ma had jumped at a clean break, although he couldn’t quite forgive her for leaving him behind. Eventually Ford had called Grandma Cunningham to ask if Ma was ever coming home. And discovered she’d already moved on with some rich dude.
Just swept him, Dad, and his brothers under the rug like dirt that’d fallen from her shoe.
An ache that had bothered him as a kid stabbed at Ford’s chest, the blades too dull now to do much damage anymore. He reckoned he never would’ve fit in Ma’s world anyway, and in the city, he wouldn’t have had his sanctuary near the lake.
“That’s right. I forgot for a minute that you’re better than the rest of us.” Gunner’s cheek popped out as he switched his wad of chew to the other side. “Thanks for reminding me.”
