Romancing My Grumpy Goalie (Sweet Sports Kisses #5)

Chapter 1

ONE

ANABELLE

It is a truth universally acknowledged that an exhausted, single, soccer mom must be in want of a coffee. Especially if it’s an iced latte with the caramel syrup my friend Josie makes at her coffee shop.

I’ve been doing bookkeeping for my boutique, trying to catch up—and watch the register—while Eliza’s out today.

She provides coverage on my days off—and so I can crunch numbers.

The girl is thinner than I am, but she has the biggest sweet tooth and is usually snacking on Swedish Fish or a treat from the local bakery.

It’s totally not fair. I could never get away with that.

The profit and loss could be better, but I’ll think positive and manifest good things—like being able to take my ten-year-old son, Nolan, on a vacation every year.

The bell over my door jangles, and Aubrey Wheaton sashays into my boutique. “Hey, girl!” she calls out to me, her red hair down and wavy.

I tuck back a strand that’s escaped my messy bun. “What are you up to, Aubrey?”

“I need a new candle for my kitchen. Do you have any of those honey lavender ones left?”

“You’ve been eyeing those for a while. Have you finally decided to buy one?

” I say excitedly. I walk over to where she’s browsing the candles and pluck down the one she’s looking for from the gray wooden shelf I painted last summer.

It had been a flea market find, like most of the shelving in my shop.

“You know I rarely spoil myself.”

“I do know. You’re too busy spoiling everyone else getting married at the Whitmore House. So why now? Do you have a guy coming over or something? You trying to set the mood?”

I was just kidding, but her face turns bright red.

“Oh. Oh ! You do have a guy coming over. Who is it?” Usually, Aubrey is the one trying to set people up. For some reason, I never see her with anyone.

She leans in and lowers her voice. “If I tell you, promise you won’t spill a word of this to my mom. The last thing I need is her breathing down my neck, pressuring me to get into a serious relationship so I can give her grandbabies.”

I gasp and throw a hand to my chest. “Your mom? She would never do such a thing!”

Aubrey rolls her eyes. “So funny.”

“I wonder where you get it from?”

“Me? I don’t—” She cuts off mid-sentence, and a sheepish smile forms on her face. “Well, maybe I have done it a little.”

“So, tell me his name. How’d you meet him?”

She cocks an eyebrow at me expectantly.

“Okay, okay. I promise I won’t tell your mom.” I laugh.

She grins. “His name is Sean, and I met him at Dixie’s Tavern yesterday. He wants to come over for dinner tonight.”

Wait a second—I don’t like the sound of that. My protective sister instinct kicks in. “You’re letting him come over before he takes you to a restaurant? And you’re cooking for him?” There’s so much I want to say. He should be wining and dining her before she cooks for him.

“He did buy me a drink last night, and that counts in my book. I think it’s fine. Besides, you don’t always have to pressure a guy to buy you nice dinners.” She sounds like she’s trying to convince herself.

But hey, it’s her life. I can give my opinion, but ultimately, it’s up to her. Although . . . “Are you sure it’s safe to tell him where you live? Do you know anyone else who knows him?”

“I have a really good feeling about him,” Aubrey insists. “You don’t need to worry about me. I’m a big girl who can take care of herself.”

“You’re right. I tend to be a bit overprotective of the people I love.”

The defensiveness around Aubrey’s eyes softens, and she reaches out for a hug, squeezing me. “Anabelle, you are an amazing friend.” She pulls back, her red hair framing her face.

I take a cloth and begin wiping down the counter.

“Let me know when you’re ready, and I’ll ring you up.

I miss having Eliza here today. She always talks customers into buying three things they didn’t know they needed.

It’s like a superpower.” I can’t help but feel hopeful that Aubrey coming in to buy this is a good omen. I have to keep thinking positive.

Clasping the soy candle, Aubrey wanders over to the homemade soaps one of my local vendors provides. She picks one up and sniffs it and sighs. “I’m such a sucker for a good homemade soap.”

Truthfully, I am, too, which is why I was excited when I found my soap vendor at the Maple Creek Fall Festival last year.

“Your boutique is so adorable. It’s one of my favorite places to shop. Whenever I come here, I feel like I can unwind from how stressful work can be.” Aubrey brings the soap and the candle to the register with a look of bliss on her face.

“That’s exactly what I want it to be. Eliza says the same thing—she always jokes that it smells better than therapy in here.” This is a big reason why I decided to open the shop. And I’ll do whatever I can to make sure it grows and survives. Because I can’t bear to lose it . . .

“Are you okay?” Aubrey scrutinizes me.

Did my face betray me? I paste on my signature smile. “Honestly, the shop is struggling. I have a loan I need to pay back, and I’m not sure I can continue to make these payments at this rate. But I’m sure everything will work out. It always does, right?”

Aubrey’s eyes widen. “I had no idea. Everything is so cute here, and I always see people coming in and out.”

I shake my head. “It’s not quite enough, but I’m sure it will be soon.” I smile cheerfully and change the subject. “Hopefully, that candle brings you good luck,” I tease her.

Her cheeks turn red. “Me, too. He’s got quite the pair of shoulders on him. And these huge biceps.”

It’s been a long time since I put my hands on a set of nice biceps. My ex-husband was rocking the dad bod, and I haven’t dated anyone since our divorce finalized last year.

“What about you, girl? Isn’t it about time you found a man?” Aubrey has that inventive grin on her face, like she’s up to something.

“Oh, no, no, no. You aren’t playing matchmaker with me.” I shake my head furiously.

“Come on, it’s been a hot minute since you and Jeremy split. You’ve got to be in the mood for some kissing.” She puckers her lips and shakes her shoulders.

“Ew, never say that again. And stop that.” I wave at her little demonstration.

She cocks her head to the side. “Don’t you think Nolan wants a baby brother or sister one day?”

“Speaking of Nolan,” I say, desperate to change the subject. “Did I tell you I signed him up for a soccer mentorship?”

“No, you did not. How’s that going?”

“There were a lot of applicants, so I’m not sure if he got in, but I hope he does because he really needs this.”

Her brows knit together. “I know he’s taken Jeremy’s move across the country really hard. Do you know when he should be due back?”

“I have no idea. He said he’d only be gone a few months on this work trip, and it’s been six months already.” I finish ringing her up, and she sticks her card in my reader.

“Has he come back at all to see Nolan at least?” Aubrey asks.

I shake my head, my stomach tying in knots at my least favorite subject. “Not once. And he’s not great about calling or answering his phone either.”

Aubrey’s mouth turns downward in a sympathetic frown. “Poor kid. I know he worships the ground Jeremy walks on. I can’t understand why Jeremy would move so far away from his kid.”

I shrug, and that old, familiar pang hits my chest. The helplessness and anxiety I fight so hard to bury.

But sometimes it still takes over. “He was sick of living in Maple Creek. During our entire marriage, he complained about living here, but I refused to leave. I grew up here. All my closest friends are here. My family is here. There was no way I was giving any of that up.”

“I never knew about that. You’ve always been so closed off about the subject,” Aubrey said.

“I’m ready to be more open about it. I need to stop protecting Nolan’s dad.” Something unburdens in my heart as I say it. By protecting him, I’m not allowing myself to heal because I’m not facing the reality of what he did to me.

“Maybe you truly are ready for love,” Aubrey teases.

I twist up the rag I was wiping the counter with and snap it at her.

She laughs in response and leaps away from me. I chase her around the shop and get her a couple of times before putting the rag down.

We’re both laughing so hard we’re out of breath. “It’s time for me to close up for the night. I have to get Nolan from my mom’s and take him to soccer practice. Do you want to grab some coffee with me? I’m so tired I’m not sure I can make it to bedtime.”

“Girl, you know I’m always down for a coffee date with you.” She gathers her bag of purchases while I go to the office to get my purse and laptop. After soccer practice, I’ll do some more research on how to find success for my store. Another reason I need coffee this late.

We get in our own cars and meet up at Josie’s Coffee Shop.

“I’ve been craving this all day,” I tell her as I park on the curb in front of Josie’s.

It’s the most popular spot in Maple Creek for a cup of Joe, and Josie went to high school with Aubrey and me.

She’s a big part of the reason everyone loves it so much.

Aubrey pulls the door open, and we step into the cozy atmosphere.

Wooden tables and chairs cover most of the floor, and Josie stands behind the counter with her red hair up into a messy bun.

A chalkboard behind her lists the menu, and a glass case displays various baked goods like Josie’s famous muffins.

“Hey, ladies!” she calls to us. “What are my two favorite people up to today?”

“Hey, girl,” Aubrey says when we get closer. “We were talking about how Anabelle needs a man.”

Josie shoots her brows up at me. “Are you on the prowl?” She scans me up and down. “You are looking good today,” she says in a saucy voice.