Page 47 of The Bad Boy's Homecoming
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The next morningLevi cooked enough bacon, eggs, and pancakes to feed Declan, the twins, Wesley, Gran, Missy, and probably the rest of his baseball team.
“Are you expecting more company?”Wesley asked, filling his plate with another serving.
“No, I just remember you like to eat a lot.”
“Well I don’t mind if I do,” Wesley said, adding another pancake.
Declan and his boys were visiting with Missy at the kitchen table, where the boys couldn’t get too rambunctious.
“I can see why you’d rather stay here than at our house, Aunt Missy.These pancakes are like yummy clouds,” one of the boys said.
Missy laughed and looked up at Levi.His stomach twisted.She looked beautiful with her hair down and rested from a good, pain-free night’s sleep.
“Dude, you better stop looking at her like that with her cousin sitting right there,” Wesley said, so only Levi could hear him.“And you’re going to burn that batch.”Then he walked away.
“Levi, there’s a man here to see you.Says you called him?”Gran said walking into the kitchen followed by a man in a suit that looked two sizes too small.
“Good morning, Mr.Hart, when I received your call I thought I’d better come see you before a dozen other sports agents try to woo you away.”The man had a thick Georgia accent, spiky brown hair, and held out his hand to Levi who held a spatula and was wearing one of Gran’s frilly aprons.
“Hal Carpenter, nice to meet you,” Levi said moving the pan to the side and turning off the stove top.“I was just fixing breakfast.Would you care for any pancakes?”
“Maybe after we talk if you have time now?”Hal looked around the kitchen.“I didn’t realize you had such a big family.I apologize for interrupting.”
“Hal, you know you want to sit and eat these pancakes before they’re all gone,” Declan said, standing up and greeting the man with a hearty handshake and manly hug.
“Declan Shaw, how the heck are you?These must be your boys.I can tell by their broad shoulders and serious faces.Probably both geniuses too,” Hal said.“Boys, did you know your father is the smartest lawyer on the East Coast?”
“Really, mister?”one of the twins asked.
“Yep, I think he has a photographic memory because he could recite every word of law during our mock trials, and no one could ever beat him in law school.”
“Cool, Dad,” the boys said in unison.
“Well you were the one who could persuade the jury, so keep an eye on that, Levi,” Declan said standing.“Come on, boys, let’s give Mr.Levi some privacy to chat with Hal, and we need to get to school.”
One of the twins grabbed another pancake off the pile in front of them and then jumped down from his seat and moved fast over toward Missy.
Levi tensed, unsure what the boy would do, but the young man stopped in his tracks holding his arms up.
“I’m not allowed to touch you, Aunt Missy, or I won’t get any ice cream for a week, but I hope you feel better soon.”
Missy tapped the side of her cheek.“Just one kiss won’t hurt,” she said and the boy gladly obliged.His brother followed suit and then Declan kissed the top of her head.
“We love you, and call me if you need something.Levi, Mrs.Hart, thank you for your hospitality,” Declan said.Then he gave Hal another pat on the back.“Hal, swing by my office later if you have time.”He nodded at Wesley and dropped off his and the boys’ plates in the sink.
“Will do, Dec, see you soon.”
“I better get going too—duty calls,” Wesley said and set his dish in the sink.
“Alright, Mr.Carpenter, let’s talk baseball,” Levi said, and set down the spatula, then took off the apron.He led Hal to the formal living room off the front of the house so Missy and Gran didn’t have to listen to them talk shop.
“So you don’t want to play for Atlanta anymore and you need me to find you a new, better contract?”Hal said sitting in the wingback chair across from Levi.
“And I won’t accept any persona clauses.I won’t play any part; in fact I prefer we specify that my personal life won’t be used for ticket sales.”
Hal nodded.“I see.This issue is becoming more and more of an issue for athletes today.”
