Chapter 10
CHAPTER TEN
BLAKE
“Hey, Mrs. M.” I knock on the kitchen doorway, the sweet scent of vanilla filling the space making my stomach growl. “What are you up to?”
“I’m baking some cookies. I figured I’d leave you boys something sweet over the weekend.” She looks up, watching me over the rim of her glasses. “Need me to do anything else before I go and pick Levi up?”
“I’ll be picking him up today.”
“You will?” Her brows quirk up, surprise evident in her voice.
I had originally planned to do more things on my own, including dropping the kids at school and picking them up. Still with everything that happened with Savannah, I asked Mrs. Maxwell if she could do it temporarily, until we settled in, to which she agreed.
“Yeah, Levi has football practice, so he asked me to come and watch.”
If possible, her brows rise even higher. “Levi? Playing football?”
I let out a soft chuckle and grab one of the baked cookies, popping it into my mouth. “I was surprised, as well, but he said one of his friends is joining the team, so he wanted to do it also.”
“We’ll see how that goes.” Mrs. Maxwell says diplomatically, returning to her cookie dough. “Levi seems to be adapting well. I don’t remember the last time he was so excited about going to school.”
“He is, isn’t he? He’s been asking me to go and play with Kyle, and school has barely started. It makes me feel less guilty for uprooting their lives.”
My gaze darts to the window and the house across the street. That unsettling feeling growing inside of me and making it hard to breathe. I seriously needed to tell the boys about Savannah and the baby. But it was so damn hard knowing how fragile our life here was. Levi was settling in nicely. Will the news upset him? She was his teacher, after all. And Daniel… Daniel was still struggling as it was. I didn’t know if he could take one more blow. If our relationship could take one more blow.
“Blake?” My head snaps up, and I turn to find Mrs. Maxwell giving me a curious gaze. “Are you okay?”
I run my hand over my face, my stubble prickling my fingertips. “Just a lot on my mind.”
She tilts her head to the side, quiet for a moment, as if she’s weighing her words. “Does it have anything to do with the fact that you’ve been fixing the house across the street this week?”
Shit.
I guess it was too much to expect that she wouldn’t notice it. Not when she was spending every morning here. She never asked any questions, but it was silly to think that just because she didn’t comment on anything, she didn’t know what was going on around the house.
“I’m just trying to be neighborly; that’s it.”
“Mm-hmm… neighborly,” she hums, not buying it in the slightest. I look away, my gaze falling on the clock on the wall.
“Shit. I really have to get going.”
“Try not to meddle too much?”
I grab one more cookie, which earns me a glare from Mrs. Maxwell. “When did I ever?”
“Of course not,” Mrs. Maxwell mutters dryly and rolls her eyes. “Be nice.”
“I’m always nice.”
“I know that but try to be extra nice to whichever poor soul is doing this job.”
I scoff. “You’re exaggerating, Mrs. M.”
“I’m doing no such thing.” Mrs. Maxwell props her hands on her hips. “I know you as well as I do my sons, Blake Walker. Did you or did you not scare the poor man who was coaching Daniel’s football team a few years ago to the grave?”
I cross my arms over my chest defensively. “The guy was useless.”
The look she shoots my way would send a lesser man running. Thankfully, I was used to this kind of behavior by now. “Like I said, be nice .”
“Yeah, yeah. I’ll be nice as long as the person who’s coaching is doing a good job of it.”
Mrs. Maxwell tsks. “Why do I feel like this has disaster written all over it?”
“Now, you’re the one exaggerating, Mrs. Maxwell.”
“We’ll see about that.” She waves her hand dismissively. “Off with you. I’m going to finish these cookies and then prep some dinner.”
“You’re the best.”
With a wave in her direction, I make my way out of the house and jump into the truck. My gaze fixes on Savannah’s house as I pull out of the driveway. Savannah’s car was nowhere in sight, then again, school hadn’t let out yet. Would I get a chance to see her? Just the thought of it has excitement swirling inside of me, and I press my foot against the gas. The short interaction we had the other night wasn’t nearly enough. I wanted to be patient and give her the time she needed, but damn it, that wasn’t in my nature. I wanted to be there for her. I wanted to take care of her and make sure she was alright. I messed up so many things in my life, and I didn’t want to mess this up, too.
It was unnerving. I don’t remember the last time I was this excited to see a woman. Probably not since college, but there was just something about Savannah that drew me in.
Before I know it, the school appears in front of me. I bypass the pickup line and go straight for the parking lot. The entire time, I look for a flash of blonde hair, only to come up empty. I try to swallow down my disappointment as I park the truck. The sound of the kids yelling greets me the moment I push open the door.
Great, I was late, and they’ve already started.
I follow the cacophony of noises toward the smaller football field, my eyes taking in the space. A few parents, mostly moms, are sitting in the stands talking amongst each other.
One of them spots me instantly, and then a few more curious gazes turn in my direction. Tilting my head in greeting, I find an open space on the bleachers, sit down, and shift my attention toward the field. The kids are running drills, jogging from one side of the field to the other, each of them holding a football tucked in the crook of their elbow. When they get to the yard line, they bend down to touch it before running back to the start and moving one-yard line further.
Levi is standing between a boy and a girl his age. His teeth are gritted as he runs, cheeks red from straining.
I lean my elbows against my knees, bending forward as I watch them. The group has only ten kids, seven boys and three girls, but I guess when you have a town the size of Bluebonnet Creek, it’s not really that surprising.
The loud whistle pierces the air, making the kids turn around. “Okay, guys, that was amazing. How about you pair up, and we’ll work on some tossing drills?”
That voice.
The hair at my nape rises as I turn around and just stare at Savannah. She’s standing on the sidelines, dressed in a pair of leggings and a baggy tee that does little to hide her bump, a clipboard in her hand. A deep purple ball cap is sitting on top of her head, shielding her face, her blonde ponytail swaying with each movement as she pairs the kids and gives them instructions.
“What the hell is she doing here?” I mutter softly, my gaze locked on her as I watch her interact with the kids. The way she lowers down to talk to them. Her hand falls to the top of their heads, ruffling their hair or patting them on the shoulder. Easy, natural, motherly.
I can’t take my eyes off of her. This was her element, and she was excelling at it.
A little girl tosses the ball to the boy opposite her, the ball barely reaching the kid, making me wince.
Savannah tells something to the girl and jots down a note on her clipboard before moving away to the next kid.
“That’s not how it’s done!” I yell loudly.
Even from here, I can see her shoulders stiffen. Slowly, she turns around, and although her ball cap is throwing a shadow over her face, I can feel her glare fixing on me.
Pushing from the wooden bench, I make my way to her until I’m standing right in front of her.
“What the he— heck do you think you’re doing?” she hisses softly, tilting her head back.
The corner of my mouth twitches upward at the anger flashing in her eyes and making my own blood boil in answer. I wanted to lean down and press my mouth against hers so I could erase the annoyance from her face and hear her moan my name. I wanted to know how she’d taste and feel like against me.
“The better question is, Blondie, what the heck are you doing?”
“I’m trying to coach football, Mr. Walker. Now if you’d turn around, get your behind seated in the bleachers section and stay quiet, maybe I could actually do that.”
Like hell, I will.
I cross my arms over my chest. “You were doing it wrong.”
She grinds her teeth. “And what, pray tell, was I doing wrong?”
I tilt my head to the side in the direction of the girl. “Her stance is all wrong. You didn’t correct her.”
Savannah steps closer, so our bodies are practically touching, her finger jabbing into my chest. “Number one, I didn’t correct her because it’s our first practice, and I’m trying to see what I’m working with here. Number two, they’re six . We’re not getting ready to play at the Super Bowl. And she’s not freaking Tom Brady.”
“And how do you know anything about Brady?” I pull my brows together, the irritation spiking.
“Everybody knows about Tom Brady.” Her gaze darts over my shoulder, cheeks turning pink. She lowers her voice. “Now sit down, Walker. You’re making a scene.”
“Not until you tell me why the hell you are doing this.”
She’s pregnant, for fuck’s sake. She should be slowing down, not taking on more obligations. Obligations that could get her hurt.
Savannah presses her lips together, that pink turning into a deep red. “Because,” she grits, jabbing her finger into my chest, “there is nobody who wants to do it, and the kids like it. Besides, it’s peewee football. Now, sit. Down. I don’t need you hulking over me.”
“Blondie…”
“People are watching, kids are watching.”
I lift my gaze, and sure enough, all eyes were on us—kids and parents included.
Fuck, she’s right.
Not waiting for an answer, she spins on the balls of her feet and goes back to the kids. Like a glutton for punishment, I watch her retreating back, the sway of her hips, the curve of her ass…
Get a grip, Walker. You’re here to watch your kid’s practice, not his teacher’s sexy ass.
Shaking my head, I turn my attention to the field just to catch Levi waving at me, a big smile on his lips. I wave right back and go back to my spot on the bleachers.
The practice resumes, and this time, Savannah actually corrects the kid she’s talking to, although her own stance could use some work. Something I could totally teach her, if?—
“Hi there. I don’t think we’ve met?”
I turn around at the sound of the sultry voice to find a blonde woman standing next to me. Her hair is so pale it almost looks white, nothing like Savannah’s golden strands. Her brown eyes have more makeup on than some women wear when they’re going partying. And then there is the dress and heels. Why would somebody wear high heels to a football practice? Especially a kid’s football practice?
“Umm, I don’t think so.”
I start to turn my attention back to the field, but she slips on the bench next to me so close her leg is touching mine.
What the hell?
“I’m pretty sure I’d remember your face. Are you new in town?”
“Yes, we just moved here.”
“Well, that’s nice. Welcome to Bluebonnet Creek…” She lets her sentence hang in the air, waiting for me to finish it.
“Blake.”
“It’s so nice to meet you, Blake. I’m Lucy Donovan.” She tilts her head to the kids. “Which one’s yours?”
Just then Savannah stops next to Levi. “The one with Bl—” I catch myself at the very last second and clear my throat. “The one next to Miss Parker.”
I might not want to hide the fact that Savannah and I knew each other, but I wasn’t about to blurt out our business in front of a stranger. Especially a stranger who’s her student’s parent.
Levi looks over his shoulder and beams at her, his mouth moving quickly as he chats away. Her arm rests on his shoulder, and she nods at whatever he says, which only makes him smile harder, and I can feel my chest tighten.
My boy was hungry for female attention. And apparently, it wasn’t just any female attention. He liked Savannah.
“Oh, my David is just across from him.” She points in the general direction of the kids. “I don’t know why she paired him up with that girl when he’s so talented at football.”
Oh, so her kid was the one throwing the ball with too much force to the poor girl.
Why am I not surprised?
“If good players don’t practice with weaker ones, they’ll never get better,” I say non-committedly because what was there to say?
The woman—Lacy? Luce? No, Lucy—lets out a long sigh. “I guess there is that. Your wife isn’t coming today?”
My head whips toward her at the sudden change of subject, but she blinks innocently, an easy smile plastered on her face.
“I don’t have a wife.” Before she can ask anything else, I turn my attention back to the field, just in time to see her kid throw the ball. But instead of using the force in his arm, his whole body shifts, making the trajectory of the ball curve.
Right toward Savannah.
“ Shit! ”
I’m on my feet before I know what I’m doing. Thankfully, the field is small, so I cross the distance in no time whatsoever. Savannah’s eyes widen as she sees the ball coming, her face draining of all color. I jump at the ball at the very last second, my palms burning from the impact as my body rolls to the ground. The fall is hard, knocking the air out of my lungs and making my ears ring.
Fucking hell.
I blink a few times and start to push upright when Savannah’s face appears above me. “Are you okay?”
My body falls back in surprise as she leans over me. She takes me in, scanning my body for any injuries; her blue eyes wide as she nibbles at her lip. She cups my cheek, her thumb skimming over my skin, and sending a shiver run down my spine. The scent of flowers, fields, and sun surrounds me instantly. Fuck, she smells nice.
“Blake? Talk to me. Did you hit your head? Should I call a doctor? Maybe you have a concussion and?—”
“I’m fine,” I say, my voice coming out rough as I push upright. Her hand slips down, and I miss her touch almost instantly.
“Are you sure? You fell down really hard?—”
“I’m sure. This isn’t my first rodeo.” I push to my feet and extend my hand to help her upright, but I don’t let go of her fingers instantly. “It’s cute you’re worried about me, Blondie.”
Her lips part. “I’m n-not…” she stutters but is saved by one of the kids.
“That was so cool! You were so fast.”
I turn around to find the boy—David—watching me with excitement dancing in his eyes. “And you jumped so high. I want to be able to do that.”
My fingers clench around the ball as I fight my need to yell at the kid.
He’s just a child, I remind myself. Just a kid. He didn’t know better.
“I had to be fast because otherwise the ball could have hit somebody, and they would have ended up hurt.” I look around the group, noticing all the kids’ attention is on me. “In football, we don’t throw the ball around without thinking. You have to visualize where you want it to go.”
“Visualize?” a little girl asks, her brows furrowing in confusion.
“Yes, football isn’t just about how strong one can throw the ball, but you have to see the field. You have to know where your teammates are, what their strengths and weaknesses are, and who will be able to get that ball to the end zone so you can win. But in order to do that, you need to know how to do it properly.” I lift the ball in the air. “Who wants me to show you?”
Little hands shoot up in the air eagerly.
But before I can say anything else, Savannah steps in front of me, those blue eyes blazing as she glares at me and hisses softly, so only I can hear. “What are you doing?”
I cross my arms over my chest. “I’m going to teach these kids how to properly throw a ball, so somebody doesn’t get a concussion in the process.”
“You can’t do that.”
“And why not?”
“Well…” She tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear. “You’re not the coach. I am.”
I quirk my brow at her. “And what exactly is your experience?”
She opens her mouth, but no words come out.
“I’m a retired NFL player. Who better to teach these kids how to play football than me?”
I move closer, that intoxicating flowery scent filling all my senses. My eyes fall to those full lips, and I can feel my muscles tighten in response to her nearness.
“You know this would be the perfect solution, Blondie,” I whisper, my voice coming out raspy. “I know the game. I have experience playing and working with kids. Lonestars occasionally organized summer camps for kids, and we’d go there and help around. So this wouldn’t be anything new for me. Let me help you with this.”
Plus, helping her meant spending more time with her. Getting to know her. Which is a win-win in my playbook.
I watch those pretty blue eyes widen slightly. They fall to my mouth before she lifts her gaze to meet mine, tongue darting out to sweep over her lower lip.
Fuck, she’s killing me.
“Blondie…”
“Dad, are you going to coach football?” Levi asks as he joins us, glancing between Savannah and me.
The corner of my mouth tips upward. “You’ll have to ask Miss Parker. She doesn’t think I’m good enough.”
Savannah glares at me. “I didn’t say that.”
Levi takes her hand, drawing her attention to himself. “He’s the best, Miss Parker! He played in the NFL, and he even won the ring last year. Right, Dad? Did you tell her about the ring?”
A different kind of ring pops into my mind, and I’m not the only one. Savannah takes a step back, a mask of indifference slipping firmly in place. “Fine, but you’ll have to take it up with the principal.”
“Blo—”
She shoots me a death glare, so I press my lips together.
“Okay, Miss Parker. I can do that.”
I’ll do whatever I have to if it means I get to have this time with her.