Page 49 of Home Field Advantage
“Coolest thing ever.” Ally beams. “Did you get the cinnamon crunchies?”
Sage shakes her head. “I got the rainbow marshmallows!”
Both girls cover their mouths and laugh together.
“MissBarlow,” Dallas drawls out, and I swear I could melt right here in front of everyone, hearing my name in any form out of his mouth. “It’s nice to see you again.”
Dammit, I feel the same way, and I most definitely shouldn’t.
So much for avoiding him.
I nod in response, offering a tight-lipped smile.
“We were just talking about you,” Mindy says in a flirty tone.
My eyes drift to where she places her hand on his shoulder. It’s covered in a black sweatshirt with bold letters that readSan Fran, but I know she can feel the broad, rock-hard muscleunderneath the fabric. I know it’s there because I couldn’t stop staring that night at the bar.
“Yeah?” Dallas raises a brow, focusing his eyes on mine.
“I was tellin’ them about your job as a baseball daddy,” Nan cuts in.
My eyes widen, and Dallas nearly chokes before facing Nan. “What?”
“Did I say that out loud?” Nan winks.
“Nan was just telling me about your job,” Mindy says. “I think that’s amazing. I’m ahugebaseball fan.”
Dallas still doesn’t look at her, but instead faces me again. He looks at me as if he’s watching the most intense sports game in history, and if he blinks, he’ll miss it. It’s a look that sucks all the air from my lungs because I like how he does it. I like how it makes me feel to be seen by someone like him.
“Is that so?” he answers.
“We should meet up at Seven Stools one night for a drink and talk more about it. I’d love to hear more and get to know you,” Mindy says, stepping closer to him.
Finally, he gives her the time of day by turning his gaze on her. “Did you have a day in mind?”
What?
Poppy, you have no right to be jealous right now.
“What about Friday?” Mindy asks.
“I can’t, I have plans that night.”
“Saturday?”
“Also have plans.”
“Oh.” She giggles. “You’re a busy guy. What are your big plans?”
Like she has a right to know.
“Nothing big, honestly.” He shrugs. “I just plan to sit on my back deck and hope my neighbor emerges from her house so I can talk to her. It’s been a couple of weeks, and I want to make sure she’s okay.”
My. Jaw. Drops.
I hear Nan choke beside me because she knows he only has one neighbor in direct view of his back deck. I hold my breath, watching Mindy to see if she pieces together what he’s saying. The last thing I need is a mom like Mindy, who’s heavily involved in school activities, to spread the word around town that I’m involved in anything with the parent of one of my students.
When I’m most certainly not.
