Page 18 of Shot on Goal at a Second Chance
“Why?” She eyes me suspiciously.
“In case you need help with Jack.”
“Oh, that.” She sighs. “That would actually be nice.”
“Then I’ll be there.”
She fidgets in her chair. “Thank you.”
“I’m glad to help, Rebecca. Iwantto help.” I sound like a broken record, but I’ll keep repeating myself until she believes I’ll do anything I can to assure her success.
Our gazes lock until she blushes and looks away.
After I take care of the bill, despite Rebecca’s insistence that she pay for herself, we leave the restaurant and drive back to her place.
When I open my door to walk her up, she touches my arm and shakes her head. “Don’t get out. I’m right there. I’ve got it.”
The temptation to cover her hand with mine almostoverwhelms me, but I see this for what it is. She thinks I might try to kiss her. And she wouldn’t be wrong.
I push a smile onto my face. “Then I’ll see you in the morning.”
Although she’s smiling, disappointment flickers in her eyes before she pulls her hand away. “Thanks again for today. You really helped a lot.”
Something warms, then swells in my chest as I give her a quick nod. I didn’t expect her appreciation to affect me that way. I feel like I just earned a small place in her world.
She slips out of the car and walks the short path to her front door, then gives me a brief wave before she goes inside.
I barely sleep, but I don’t care. Thinking about Rebecca is definitely my new favorite thing to do.
CHAPTER 9
Rebecca
When I pull up to the arena with Gabe and his wife Olivia in the car, Zach’s already there, waiting for us, his easy smile in place as he welcomes them.
Before following them inside, Zach lifts a brow at me as if to ask what I thought so far.
I return the gesture, holding my thoughts to myself, though I suspect he already knows my first impression of Gabe ranks high on the charts. He has a quiet strength about him and is intentional with his words—a quality I find refreshing. And his wife is adorable.
As I walk past Zach to go inside, he rests his hand on my lower back, sending sparks up my spine. I’m riding high on anticipation of the team’s interaction with Gabe and have a good feeling this will pan out well, so I’m attributing the buzzing bees in my stomach to that. Not his touch.
I take the lead toward my office, pointing out parts of the arena and the remodeling underway. Harper shouldhave the pastries I asked her to pick up from the local bakery arranged on the coffee bar, along with coffee and tea selections.
Once we reach my doorway, I gesture everyone in. “I thought we’d start with some questions first, and since you flew out so early, I had some pastries brought in to enjoy with coffee. Or tea.”
But when I trail behind and glance at the table, nothing is set up for our meeting. No decorative box, filled with tantalizing baked goods, sporting the Bake My Day logo.
Zach shows Gabe and his wife to the couch while I peek my head out the door in search of Harper. Her chair is empty, but before I duck back into my office, formulating my apology, she turns the corner down the hall and heads toward me.
“Good morning, Rebecca.” She smiles as if everything is normal.
I keep my tone even, despite the frustration burning in my throat. “Harper, did you forget something?”
Appearing confused, she blinks at me. “No, ma’am.” She pats the folders she’s holding. “I’m working on those letters for you right now.”
I resist rolling my eyes at her use of ‘ma’am’ again. I really need to break her of that, but not today. After glancing over my shoulder, grateful to see Zach acting as a consummate host and getting Gabe and Olivia coffee, I step closer to Harper. “I asked you to pick up some pastries from the bakery. Where are they?”
Her mouth opens with her surprise. “Um, I’m sorry,but I was under the impression your meeting was canceled and told not to worry about it.”
