Scoring with the Coach’s Daughter (Maine Megalodons #3)

9. Samantha

9

SAMANTHA

When I wake up the sheets where Jake laid are cold. The house is a bit chilly, but it will warm up quickly. I toss the covers back before I step into my leggings and slip Jake’s large dress shirt over my head.

The first thing I notice is the smell in the air—something warm, buttery, and smelling of melted chocolate and marshmallows. It’s not the usual coffee aroma that dominates my morning. My curiosity gets the better of me, and I follow the scent into the kitchen.

And there he is.

Jake—in a T-shirt with sweatpants that cling to his hips. His muscular six-pack is on display. He’s standing at the stove flipping S’more’s pancakes like he’s been doing it his whole life. I’m impressed by his natural, and fluid movements.

He owns the moment, and he’s perfectly comfortable—like this is where he was always meant to be. I catch him tossing chocolate chips into the skillet. He’s poetry in motion as he twirls around and folds himself over with his hands moving, and when he’s done grand-standing, he straightens into a happy dance with fancy footwork like he just scored the winning touchdown in a playoff game.

I pause in the doorway, caught off guard by the domesticity of the scene as Ellie sits on the stool and leans over the counter mesmerized. He’s humming a tune I don’t recognize but the sound is low and comforting. The light from the window catches the golden edges of the pancakes as he flips another one into the air, his wrist flicking easily like he’s tossing a football. He doesn’t even hesitate as it lands perfectly in the pan.

He finishes his dance and bows to Ellie who claps when he flips it again and her face lights up when he plops it on a plate and slides it across the counter toward her.

“Yeah!” I cheer, giving him a resounding applause.

“How long are you gonna stand there watching me?” he asks before he turns to face me.

How did he know I was here?

I cross my arms, trying to mask my amusement—not really. I’m grinning like a son of a bitch and loving every minute of it. “Until you burn one.”

He checks the pancake in the skillet before he tosses another glance over his shoulder, and flashes me that cocky grin of his. “Not gonna happen. I’m a natural.”

I roll my eyes, stepping closer. “I didn’t know you could cook.”

“There’s a lot you don’t know about me, Sam,” he says, flipping another pancake onto a plate.

He turns off the burner and sets the pan aside, wiping his hands on a dish towel. “But stick around. You might learn a thing or two.”

“You think?”

“Perhaps,” he replies but when I look at him, he runs his tongue over his lips suggestively and I blush .

“Yum, yum,” Ellie smirks as she rubs her belly with her hand, the sexual innuendo is lost on her. Thank goodness!

I take a seat next to Ellie. And it’s only now that I glance at Ellie’s plate and judging by the melted chocolate on her plate, I realize she’s already had a pancake.

“Aunt Sam, Jake makes the best pancakes and they have chocolate chips in them!” Jake comes between us and adds two tiny round pancakes to a plate, sprinkles confectioner’s sugar on top, and a strawberry as a garnish before he slides it to me.

I raise an eyebrow at Jake. “Trying to impress me?” I note that a trail of the powdery mix on the counter leaves right up to the mixing bowl.

“Is it working?” he asks.

I sit at the counter, grab a fork, and take a bite. The pancake is light and fluffy, the maple syrup is warm. I rarely take the time to make it when it’s just Ellie and me. I hate to admit it, but he’s good—really good.

“Maybe,” I say, struggling to keep my tone casual. I’m caught off guard by how easy this feels. Like we’ve been a team forever. He piles pancakes onto a plate for himself and sets it next to me.

Jake refills his coffee and pours one for me before taking the seat next to me. His knee brushes against mine under the counter. I move as if to pull away, but his hand rests on my leg and I give in.

“You don’t strike me as the domestic type,” I say between bites.

He smirks, sipping his coffee. “There’s more to me than football, you know.”

“Really? I had no idea,” I tease.

He laughs, the sound is deep and warm, and it makes me forget about the walls I’ve built around myself. I even forget why I’ve kept him at arm’s length.

“Stick around. I’ve got more where this came from,” he teases, as he nods at Ellie happily eating her food and smiling at us as if she planned this all along. I watch Jake dive into his pancakes and join the banter between the two of them.

I laughed softly at their barbs while feeling the warmth of a man who is becoming a part of our routine—and our family.

Jake insists on cleaning the kitchen and I disappear to my room to prepare for the day. I run my hand over the bedsheets and smile contently as his fresh smell clings to the pillowcase. Perhaps this could work. We’re a team, the three of us, and Ellie adores him. I admit that I’m smitten.

When I return downstairs, I find the kitchen is spotless. I refill my coffee cup and walk to the porch and Ellie rushes past me with her backpack to the truck to join Jake.

“Where are you running to so fast?”

“Camp!” she beams at me.

“No hugs?”

“I love you, have a great day,” I call after her.

“I love you, too,” she chirps, then she leaps off the porch steps and races to Jake who waves at me.

I wave back. “Have fun!”

She wraps her arms around me and I lean over to embrace her, kissing the top of her head.

He nods and helps Ellie into the truck and they drive off.

Maggie walks up.

“Good morning,” she says, giving me a telling smile. She reads me like a well-read novel.

We stand on the porch of my house and my gaze drifts to the neighboring building, the Dragonfly Inn.

“He’s really good with her,” I murmur as I watch the two of them drive off.

Maggie nods, her expression thoughtful. “It’s good for her, you know. Being around new people, learning new things. It’s expanding her horizons.”

I chew on my lip. “I’m just... not used to sharing her. It’s always been just us.”

“And that’s why it’s good,” Maggie said, her voice gentle but firm. “You’re both allowed to have more people in your lives, Sam. It doesn’t take anything away from what you already have.”

“I suppose not. But it’s an adjustment.”

“One that’s needed if you ask me. It’s been years since you’ve had a date and it looks like he’s serious.”

“That’s what scares me. I wasn’t going to get involved. I can’t risk Ellie having another adult leave her.”

“You don’t want to risk another adult leaving you either, but it happens. You can’t stand on the sidelines forever because one day, that little girl will have a life and family of her own. And where will you be? I love this town, but I hope you leave it one day. It’s easy being a large fish in a small pond. You’re talented enough to swim with the sharks in the ocean.”

“I don’t want the chaos or the traffic of his world. I don’t want to feel like I have to compete with the runway models.” I’m suddenly self-conscious of the fact that I could lose a few pounds.

“You’ve been to a large city before Sam. You can do it again. There’s nothing to prevent you from moving to be with him.”

“It’s too soon. Jake's been great. Ellie is infatuated with him. He gives her all his attention when he’s with her. But, our life is here.”

“You think your life begins and ends right here, but these are modern times. Besides, Ellie might like a change of scenery. This is idyllic, but is it preparing her for the real world? You can’t keep her in a bubble forever. Some man will break her heart and you’ll be sitting helplessly on the sidelines. She’s growing up and you can’t change that.”

“No, I can’t.”

“I have to get to the restaurant,” she says, observing my face for signs of what? I’m not sure. “You like him,” she smirks.

“Of course,” I chuckle. “The man has the body of a Greek God and he’s talented on the field and between the bedsheets,” I smirk. “And I have news for you, the celly in the endzone is nothing compared to what he can do with his tongue.”

Maggie laughs hysterically. I’m sure she’s shocked by the fact I’m discussing my love life.

“I never doubted it,” she chuckles. “I’ve noticed that townies have been in this week, hoping for a glimpse of Jake. You’re going to make every female in town jealous. It’s clear he only has eyes for you.”

“Mm.”

Maggie chuckles as she heads to the Inn and I duck inside, drop my coffee cup in the kitchen, and grab my purse. I have to visit the butcher.

By the time I get to the meat market, I’ve managed to regain my footing. The butcher greets me with a nod as I approach the counter, his hands already reaching for a fresh slab of ribeye.

“You’re early today,” David says. We went to high school together and he knows my routine.

“I have a lot to get done,” I reply, scanning the display case. My eyes land on a cut of beef, but when he points to a piece of meat, I shake my head. “Not that one. The one behind it.”

He nods, lifting the steak I pointed to. “This one?”

I inspect it closely, noting the marbling, and the thickness. “Perfect.” It will feed the three of us. “Did you get my order?”

“Sure did.” He hollers through the small window behind him and a teenager bustles through the door carrying a shopping bag of meat.

“Miss Sam, is Jake as nice as they say?”

“I don’t know, what is being said?” I’m curious what the rumor mill has been spewing.

“He’s helping at the camp. The kids love him,” he grins and it’s clear he’s a fan of the team even though it’s not our local team. “It’s caused quite a stir, him being here, a famous football player and all.”

“He’s very nice—genuine, you know?” I smile.

He nods and smiles before he disappears into the back.

I’m finalizing my order when my phone buzzes in my pocket. I glance at the screen and groan.

The fish delivery is delayed.

“Problem?” David asks.

“Just a minor hiccup,” I muttered, slipping the phone back into my pocket. “Thanks, David.”

I leave the market, already reworking the restaurant menu in my head. It’s a small setback, but it throws me for a minute. I’m glad Ellie is in camp as I have to oversee the kitchen. I’m anxious to have a family dinner tonight and I don’t want anything to go wrong.

Maggie oversees the staff breaking down the breakfast buffet and I enter the walk-in to take an inventory. Maggie makes a dinner suggestion, and I tell her to run with it. I find it’s easy to delegate knowing Jake will be around tonight and I can’t wait to see him.

I pop over to my house and season the steak, covering it with plastic wrap, and leaving it sitting out so it will reach room temperature before I cook it.

I visit my garden pick lettuce for a salad and cut an assortment of flowers for the dinner table. I busy myself setting the table for dinner, flicking a tablecloth over the wooden oak table, and straightening the four chairs. I return to the sink and cut the bottoms of the pink tulips and lilacs, putting them in a cut glass vase that’s been in the family for generations. I place it on the table with pride making sure the flowers are perfectly arranged, and the vase is centered.

I walk over to the restaurant and check in with Maggie to make sure she has everything she needs for tonight before I enter my office to pay bills and work on the schedule for staffers and my phone pings.

How is your morning?

Great. You?

The kids are cute. However, someone kept me up all night.

I wonder who.

I’d like a repeat.

Me too. Dinner tonight?

You read my mind.

His cute texts make me smile. He wants me.

Jake will be heading to his doctor's appointment. I’ll have to ask how that’s going. I know he doesn’t have a checkout date at the inn. I oversee the bookings even though I have a high schooler who helps out daily.

The day passes in a blur and I’m filled with excitement waiting for Jake and Ellie to return.

I have the house straightened and dinner is prepped when I sit on the porch sipping sweet tea when Jake pulls up. My heart lurches. I watch him and Ellie joking with each other .

“Hi, Aunt Sam,” she beams. Her cheeks are flushed from the warm air and she wears a glow from the afternoon sun—or is it from Jake’s attention?

I hug her before she disappears into the house.

“Thanks for picking her up,” I say, observing the fact that Jake is quieter than usual.

“How did the appointment go?” I ask, sipping my tea as he leans against the pillar of the porch.

He runs a hand through his hair, his expression thoughtful. “It went well. Dr. Reid says everything’s on track, but... these kinds of injuries can be tricky. I’m nervous.”

“That’s normal, isn’t it? To be nervous?”

“Yeah,” he says, his voice drops. “But it’s not just about me. If I don’t heal right, I let the team down.”

I reached out, my hand brushing his. “You’ll recover. You always do.” I know enough about the team to remember he’s been out in the past. He’s young and resilient. Besides, he has to be okay, doesn’t he?

He looks up at me and his eyes are so full of emotion I’m speechless. I get the impression he’s speaking from his heart. “I hope when I return to Maine, you’ll think about joining me.”

But Ellie bursts through the screen door like a cyclone, breaking the moment we had as her feet make a loud thud on the wood planks of the porch before she’s in the kitchen and skids to a stop, standing before me.

“Aunt Sam!” she says, her voice filled with excitement and direction as she puts her hands on her hips like a supervisor. Her eyebrows come to a peak. “You’re cooking—again.”

I nod to her. “Yep. Imagine that!”

She smiles and her dark eyes dance. I cast a smile at Jake as we move into the kitchen.

“Now, what are we having for dinner?” I tease Ellie with my dry banter as I reach into the refrigerator, pulling out vegetables to chop.

Ellie pulls up a stool and rests her chin on her hands, watching me from the other side of the counter. “Camp was fun,” she says after a moment. “Can we go to the beach tomorrow?”

I pause, focusing on the steady rhythm of the knife against the cutting board. “Maybe,” I say, knowing how that word sounds to her.

She frowns. “Maybe?” her face perks up. “You always say no.”

“Ellie—”

“We have to go! Jakes here, so you have help,” she argues hopping off the stool and looking at Jake as he pours tea into a glass of ice. “Will you take us, Jake?” He doesn’t know that I tell Ellie it’s too much for me to take her to the beach by myself but that’s a half-truth.

She has me tongue-tied. The weight of her words pressed down on my chest. I stare at the carrot on the cutting board and my stomach twists.

Ellie’s not wrong. I do say no—too often. It’s just… it’s always been the two of us. The thought of letting her world expand beyond that scares me in ways I can’t put into words.

“If it’s okay with Sam,” he says, challenging me to say nix the event.

“I think it would be great,” I breathe because I’m outnumbered. Maybe having Jake there will help me reacquaint me with my favorite pastime.

“Yeah!” Ellie exclaims as she hugs Jake’s legs. “I’m going to pack for a day trip,” as she excitedly dashed out of the room.

“You’re on a slippery slope, Jake. She’ll expect this when you’re no longer here. It’s a long day for me which is why I don’t take her myself. ”

“A clam bake,” he grins and I have to admit it melts my heart. He’s handsome and rather adorable as he’s drooling over the possibility of our first family adventure. He’s so energetic and carefree, he’s a lot like Ellie, and I admire that.

I wish I could be more like him, but I have to be the mature adult—the one who makes the tough decisions. Being a mom makes it difficult for me to be the parent who’s fun and exciting, but Jake brings that in spades. “It’s been years since I’ve been to a clam bake,” he says as his eyes twinkle.

“I love them,” I dolefully murmur.

I wonder if my dad has mentioned this to him in the past, or is it a coincidence? It is popular for the locals to do this often, but then again, I’m sure he’s used to acclimating wherever he finds himself due to his extensive travels. He’s on the road most of the year and knows the local color of every city he plays in, just like my father.

For example, it’s BBQ in the South, beef in the Midwest, and deep-dish pizza in Chicago— that sort of thing. Dad knows what the locals eat in every city where he coaches. I’m a bit envious of the fact he can travel guilt-free now that he doesn’t have kids at home. These days, his time is dedicated to his career without distractions.

The languid late afternoon has us secluded in the kitchen as the afternoon rain pours. I stand on the back porch listening to the rain hit the seventy-foot trees that surround my property. Lightening cracks overhead and Jake comes up behind me and wraps his arms around me, nuzzling my neck. I lean into him.

“It’s beautiful here,” he murmurs, “but it pales against your beauty. You’ve created a great life for you and Ellie.”

“What else was there to do?”

“I didn’t know her well, but I think your sister would be proud of you both.”

I smile. “She would, you’re right.”

“You can loosen up a bit, you know?”

“You bring the fun, I’m the parent.”

“Ouch. I can be a drill sergeant!” he chuckles.

“Doubtful,” I murmur.

“Well, not that severe but you get the point.”

“I do,” I smirk as the humidity covers us like a swarm of no-see-ums. “I need to finish the salads for dinner,” I reply. I turn and his lips cover mine in a stolen kiss. I kiss him and then I try to push him away as I glance inside to see if Ellie saw us.

“Relax, she’ll adjust.”

I shrug as I open the door.

Dinner prep is a blur of activity as I busy myself with the familiar motions of making a salad to still my raging heart.

“Hey,” he says, pulling me into his chest in the middle of the kitchen. He leans in to kiss me. His lips brush against mine, soft and warm, but I pull away before the kiss can linger.

“Jake,” I murmur wondering what Ellie will think. But when I glance at her at the kitchen table she’s watching a movie on her electronic device.

His eyes follow mine. “She’s fine. I'm pretty sure she wants us together,” he says.

The words catch me off guard. I don’t respond right away, and he doesn’t push. But the weight of what he has implied lingers.

“Would you like to grill the steaks?” I ask, changing the subject.

“Sure, I’ll fire up the grill,” he says, before he exits through the screen door. The grill is old and falling apart. I roll it into the shed before winter, but the summer rains and sun take their toll.

“Please set the table, Peanut.” I grab two steak knives and place them on the table. I open a bottle of red wine and pull two glasses .

“Okay,” she chirps as she bustles into the kitchen and opens the utensil drawer. She opens the cupboard where her cups are kept and makes herself a lemonade.

Dinner is filled with Ellie telling me stories about her friends at the camp and Jake adds to the new mix. He’s fit into the community and it’s obvious the time with the kids has kept him from dwelling on his injury. His face lights up when he talks about the kids.

Ellie clears her plate and disappears into her room. I pour another glass of wine and Jake helps me clean the kitchen. I close the back door and lock us in for the night.

Ellie returns to the living room with a board game and we play three with her before it’s her bedtime. After she’s dressed for bed she shows up with a thick book under her arm that makes her look like a scientist. A few curls fall perfectly around her heart-shaped face

“What have you got there?” Jake asks.

“A book with magic!” Her face lights up as she hands it to Jake.

“You want me to read it to you?” he asks.

She nods emphatically. I stand and Jake follows us to her room. She tosses the worn book into Jake’s stomach and leaps into her bed which is fit for a princess. I swear there are so many pink ruffles attached to her duvet. Not to mention the tiny purple lightbulbs that are strung at the top of the walls that create an inviting and soothing atmosphere. She snuggles under her pink sheets and pulls the covers up to her chin.

“She reminds me of my younger sister, Sarah,” Jake volunteers.

“I didn’t know you have a sister,” I state.

He nods. “She’s five years younger than me so I learned a lot about girls watching her grow up. I helped to raise her. My Dad wasn’t around much, outside of my games.”

I nod, and I figure it might explain why he’s so great with Ellie, and why he had to excel in sports. The only time he got attention from his father was when he was on the gridiron.

“Are you ready?” Jake asks Ellie.

“Yup!”

I sit in the chair closest to her queen bed and I lean over his shoulder and open the book to where the purple, felt bookmark lays in chapter ten.

“All right,” he says before reading.

Ellie yawns and when I touch Jake’s hand, he glances at Ellie who is now sleeping.

The sexual tension between us has my inner goddess puddling in my lacy panties because seeing him as a dad is the greatest turn-on.

“Jake, remember we have the beach tomorrow,” Ellie says.

“I thought you were asleep!” I exclaim.

“Almost!” she chirps.

“I’m on it!” Jake says, giving her a thumbs-up as I turn her light off and close the door.

The excitement of making love to Jake again is untenable so I grab his hand and we slip into my bedroom like bandits. I find myself wrapped up in Jake’s arms and we go at it like horny teenagers who have limited time to fuck their brains out.

His lips are all over mine, and it’s hot. My lips are plump under his as our make-out session continues, and his hands are in my hair. Jake makes everything else melt away. And then, he decides to tickle me. I squeal as I roll over the bed in an attempt to get away from him.

Of course, he caught me and I have to say, making love to him was surreal. As I lay in bed afterward, his arm draped over my waist, I wondered if I could push aside my fears and consider a future with him .

The idea terrifies me—but it also makes my heart race with a kind of hope I hadn’t felt in years.

What if I stopped running and started building something new with him? The thought excites and terrifies me, but it also stirs something deep inside—a flicker of hope that there can be more than just Ellie and me.

Then, I remember Maggie's words and I know she speaks the truth. I’ve been pushing men aside for years. When Jake leaves, he’s not only leaving Ellie, he’s also leaving me.