A Sweet Spot For Love, page 25
He rocked on his heels and she took the time to slam the door in his face. Did she nearly get her own fingers? Sure. But it was worth it because he was gone.
Swallowing a sob, she went to the kitchen and gripped the counter as she sucked in shallow, rapid breaths.
She took her anger out on the dough for the bread she intended to make. Even so, she made sure not to over knead it. After splitting it into five sections and covering the pans, allowing it to rise a bit more, she started cleaning.
Emma had finished the kitchen when pounding on the door blasted through the house again. Jaw set in a line, she stomped over and yanked it open. “I told you to leave me alone. Why don’t you—”
Maria and Dawson stood there, eyes wide and on her like she was a wild animal who might attack any moment.
“Can we come in?”
“Sorry,” she said, stepping back to allow them entrance.
“Thank you. The weather today sucks.” Maria shrugged out of her coat and hung it on the hook by the door.
“Care to explain what that was all about?” Dawson questioned as her jacket joined Maria’s.
“Nope. Sure don’t.”
Both women hugged her and they all migrated to the kitchen. One, it was warm, two, it smelled delicious, and three, it was where the food and drink waited.
They soon had coffee and were sitting around her small table.
“What are you two doing here?”
“We wanted to check on you and from how you answered the door, I’m guessing Linc’s been by?”
“I don’t want to talk about him.” She sipped her coffee, refusing to wince when the scalding liquid left its mark on her throat as it went down.
“Fine. Just listen then.” Dawson curled her hands around the mug. Her fingernails were painted a sparkly purple with a streak of gray through each. “He knows he fucked up. He lost Stevenson as an investor.”
Try as she might, she couldn’t quite dredge up sorrow for that. “He doesn’t need someone like him.”
Maria smiled. “Yeah, he wasn’t happy when he found out one of those guys made advances on you.”
“How did he even know about that? I didn’t tell him.” She frowned at them. “I didn’t tell you either. How did you know?”
“Carlos.”
She shrugged. “Seems like even if he knew, Linc shouldn’t. They’re not exactly friends.”
“Sweetie,” Dawson said, patting her hand. “Men are odd creatures. Doesn’t seem all that logical to those of us looking in on the path they take. All I can say is they’re friends now. Or at least not killing each other, and Carlos has donated to the center.”
Her heart twisted. “Good to hear.” She rose from the chair when the timer went off. After pulling the towels off the bread, she slid the loaves into the oven and set another timer.
“None of this explains what the two of you are doing here. I mean, I love that you stopped by, but if this is to get me to give Linc a second chance, don’t waste your breath. I don’t have the patience or a give-a-damn left in my body.”
Maria took her hand when she sat down, giving it a squeeze. “Actually, we were going to take you out tonight. Thought you could use a change of scenery.”
“I can’t. Greer has a game tomorrow and I have to make sure I don’t look like a raccoon before I face the mothers who will take great delight in telling me I didn’t belong with Linc anyway.” She pasted a smile on her face. “But thank you for the offer.”
“Like you can get rid of us that fast. Greer is at the center for a few more hours. When the bread is done, we’re going out.” Dawson finished her drink and rose to refill her cup. After she’d doctored it how she took her coffee, she rejoined them at the table, a large smile on her face.
An hour later, Emma found herself wearing a VR headset and playing the new Jurassic Park game at the arcade. Screaming when the raptor snapped at her, she dissolved into peals of laughter when her own cry was echoed by Maria and Dawson.
She pointed to the left. “Blue! Follow Blue.”
“But there’s a freaking T-Rex!” Dawson’s voice didn’t sound any better than hers.
“Where?” Whipping around, she didn’t see anything.
“There!” Maria grabbed her arm. “Right there. What is that, noon, midnight, six? I don’t fucking know but it’s there. About to go up our ass.”
“It’s on our six,” she said, heart thudding in her chest.
“Whatever,” she wailed. “I said that number too. Move, move, move!”
They ran for a bit until she bent at the waist. “This is too fucking real for me. I’m exhausted. What the hell are we here to see?”
Her friends sucking air beside her took a moment. “Apatosaurus, or something like that.”
Both she and Dawson looked at Maria. “What?”
“You can remember that mouthful but not a number? And do you even know what kind of dinosaur that is?”
“Not a clue, other than the name. More importantly, I’m good with mouthfuls. Just ask Brian.”
“I’m not asking your husband about your blowing skills.”
Maria popped her thumb in her mouth and pulled it out with a loud moan. “He’ll never complain.”
“Neither does Tully,” Dawson chimed in. “You know, in case anyone was wondering.”
“No one was,” Emma griped, looking around the image on the ocular. “I think we’re about to get eaten.”
“I don’t complain about that either,” Maria chortled.
Damn them. She thought back to the first time Linc had gone down on her and her entire body flushed with the recollection.
“Won’t hear one from me about that. What about you, Emma? Linc as good at that as I bet he is?”
“Yes.” The answer rolled from her mouth before she could even pretend to corral it and stuff it into the box it should be in.
“Yeah, doesn’t surprise me.” Dawson huffed. “We’re going to have to run again.”
“Wait, I thought we weren’t supposed to run from a T-Rex. I thought it was supposed to be standing still for that one.”
“Who said that?” Maria questioned.
“Jeff Goldblum.”
Both laughed. “So, you were staring at the man on the screen, not hearing what he was saying.” Dawson slugged her in the arm. “I’m about to die by dino teeth because you were thinking with your ovaries about Goldblum.”
Emma tossed her hands up. “It’s his walk—that damn swagger. Don’t judge!”
Those bitches were judging. Totally.
Chapter Nineteen
Linc hefted the bats and helmets from the bed of his truck and carried them to the dugout. This was the last game of the season for his kids and it was an away game. No doubt the stands would be filled. He dreaded seeing Emma cheering on their girl. And yes, despite his colossal fuckup, Greer was their girl. Much like Emma was his woman.
“Hi, Linc.”
Dropping the gear, he turned to find Melissa Towery, mother to Karly, one of the high schoolers who helped out at the center, standing there.
“Mrs. Towery. What can I do for you?”
“I just wanted to stop by before others arrived and tell you how sorry I am that you and Emma broke up.” She settled a hand on his arm, her bloodred nails curling to dig into his skin. “I’m around if you need anything.”
He removed her hand and walked by her. “Thanks.”
At his truck, he began reaching in for the cooler when a pair of arms came over the side and pulled it out. Adam.
“What are you doing here?”
“It’s baseball. Where else would I be?” A grin. “Besides, I wasn’t about to turn down an opportunity to meet the woman who kicked your ass and turned your world upside down.”
His heart ached. “She’s probably not coming.”
Adam snorted. “Man, I’ve already met her and Greer. Tully and Mitchell were right. She’s far too good for you.”
Tell him something he didn’t know. Then it hit him. Adam said she was at the game. Immediately he scanned those gathered, searching for her. It had been nearly a week since he had gone to her house. She was polite if they saw each other at the center but she did a damn good job of not running into him.
There.
It wasn’t just a visual that told him he’d found her. His entire body reacted to her. Heart pounding hard, breath coming faster and, of course, soul sighing in relief. She crouched by the bleachers, speaking to Greer, who wore her uniform and had her long hair braided down her back.
After a nod to her mother, the child scampered over to the dugout and vanished.
“Take that for me, will you?”
“Sure,” Adam called out with a chuckle.
Linc was over by the bleachers before it sank in what he was doing. What the fuck am I doing? Approaching her?
Too late to move away, he was beside her and she looked up at him when he cleared his throat. It was fast how she masked her true emotion, but he saw it. This time. Before, he had missed it, but this time, it was as plain as the nose on his face. She missed him and still had feelings for him.
“Emma.”
“Mr. Conner.” A slow blink. “Something I can do for you?”
“Could I have a word with you?” He noticed how many gazes were on them. “In private.”
Hard to ignore the people who snickered behind their hands. Emma took a deep breath and gave a small nod. Linc held out his hand to her and the depth of pain that lanced him when she ignored it almost brought him to his knees.
Dawson watched him, her expression cold and calculating. That woman would be the first one to Emma’s side if he fucked up any more than he already had.
She walked with him until they were barely out of earshot of those doing a shitty job of pretending they weren’t trying to eavesdrop on the conversation. Tipping his head, he scowled when he noticed she wouldn’t meet his gaze.
“Say your piece, Mr. Conner. I have to get back and watch my daughter play her last game.”
“I’m sorry.”
She glanced up at him, expression blank. “Is that all?”
“Freckles, please. I’m trying to fix this.”
She walked away and he cursed before turning to watch her climb the bleachers.
He couldn’t, wouldn’t, give up on her. He had to apologize and make this right. She was the one for him. That was obvious and it should have been sooner. Like before he opened his mouth and accused her of shit that, had he been thinking rationally, he knew she wouldn’t ever do.
But, right now, he had a game to coach.
The game was long but his kids rocked it. They won and as they took a team photo with everyone holding their trophies, he smiled. In the bleachers, he spied his best friends, his father, the guys he had missed far more than he’d ever admit, and Emma. His Freckles.
Heart lurching as he stared at her, he barely took his gaze from her. As the kids spilled from their position held for the photo, he noticed she was no longer in the bleachers. He didn’t worry. Greer was still around, which meant so was her beautiful mother.
In the dugout, he began stuffing gear into the bags. Normally, he would insist the children do this but they were enjoying a celebration. A small hand pushed a helmet into the bag by his left leg.
“Greer? Everything okay? Why aren’t you out with your friends?”
“Mama said I have to help clean up after every game.”
“I think your mama would be okay if you skipped this once.”
She dragged over two bats and placed them in the designated bag. “Do you not like her anymore? Is that why you’re not marrying her? Was it me?”
He winced as her words gutted him. He never wanted to make her feel that way. Linc dropped the helmet and reached for Greer, tugging her closer to him. Once she sat on the bench he crouched before her.
“Kid, this has nothing to do with you. Or anything your mom did. It’s all about me and the fact I made a mistake.”
“So you still like her.”
He nudged up her chin. “I love both of you, Greer. I was so proud watching you play today and I want to be at your mom’s side when you win, to lift you on my shoulders and let everyone know how full of pride I am. I want to be there when you lose to offer comfort.”
She blinked and he waited, knowing that she moved at her own speed with words.
“Why don’t you apologize? Mama says when we do something wrong we have to apologize.”
“She’s right. And so are you. I’m working on it.”
“Work faster. Mama is talking about moving and I don’t want to go.” She flattened her lips, a move so much like her mother, Linc smiled.
“Greer,” Emma called out. “We have to get going.”
He lifted his gaze to find Emma at the edge of the dugout. “I got this, kid. Go on.”
A soft brush on his arm had him glancing down to Greer. “I was excited to get to call you my dad.”
His heart nearly exploded. She got off the bench and gave a small smile. “Bye, Mr. Conner. We’ll see you at the party.”
She skipped off to where her mom no longer faced him. Regardless, he didn’t take his eyes off her as Greer slipped her hand into Emma’s and the two of them walked away.
Tully walked in as he finished picking up the rest of the gear.
“Not making the kids do this?” His friend swung one of the bags over his shoulder with ease.
“Last game. You know we didn’t have to, either.” He hefted the bat bag and they walked to his truck. “Although Greer stopped by to help out for a bit.”
“Did she now?”
“Yes. What’s the look for?”
“I was going to ask you the same thing.” Tully slammed the tailgate and Linc noticed that his cooler had been put in already.
He braced against the side panel and held Tully’s gaze. “She told me she’d been excited to call me Dad.”
“Shit,” he said.
“Until she said it, I never realized how much I want that. Christ, Tully. I’m a fucking idiot. I let the best thing in the world get away from me because I have trust issues and want to do it all myself.”
“What else did she say?”
“That I should apologize. That’s what Freckles tells her to do when she messes up.”
“From the mouths of babes.”
“Let’s go, man. I have a woman to win back.”
Tully pumped a hand in the air. “Finally!” He whistled and jumped into the truck, pounding on the roof. “Saddle up and let’s go get her.”
After making one last pass visually to ensure nothing had been left behind, he got behind the wheel and headed to Rock Falls and the community center where the end of season party was happening. He parked in the back, like always, and frowned when he didn’t see Emma’s car.
“She came with Dawson.” Tully hopped out and tossed him a hurry-up look over one shoulder.
“You always have my back.”
“Always will. And you can make it up to me by making me the first godfather. Not Mitchell.”
“How about I get the girl back, marry her, and have a child before you start demanding who is first.”
“I am.” Both his friends said that as one. He hadn’t even seen Mitchell come out. The three of them headed in together, laughing.
His old teammates had hung out and were taking photos and signing autographs. All had signed a waiver that photos could be posted. People drifted in and out of the cafeteria where the tables were full of chips, sandwiches—from TC’s—drinks, ice cream, and more.
Making his rounds, he congratulated the kids and spoke with parents. But no Emma. His father walked by him, giving him a look he understood all too well. He’d disappointed his old man. He’d disappointed himself far more. And if he could just track this woman down, he would make it up to her.
His father pointed at the painting of Palisade Glen, then continued on his way. For a second, he thought the man was telling him she was at the bridge. But no, Greer was still at the center, which meant her mother would be as well. Walking down the hallway, he paused outside the room he used to teach his painting class.
Sure enough, there she was. Off by herself, like normal. She didn’t push to be the center of attention and he admired that. She did what she did and didn’t ask for any recognition. At the moment, her shoulders were slumped and he hated that look on her. More so when he was the ass who had put it on her.
He rapped his knuckles on the door twice before opening it.
…
Emma hoped there weren’t any lingering traces of tears in her eyes as she turned to face whoever was coming through the door. Not that it mattered, her body tingled as it did around Linc and she had her answer before her pivot had her facing the entrance.
He looked so handsome it hurt. Linc stayed in the doorway.
“Everything okay?”
“Fine. I should get going.” She curled her fingers so they vanished inside her sweatshirt.
He didn’t get out of the way. In fact, he rested one shoulder against the frame, blocking her in.
“I was talking to Greer today after the game when she helped me pick up the gear.”
His dark gaze moved slowly over her body, taking in every inch, every curve. She didn’t doubt he saw the circles beneath her eyes as well.
“I would have explained to her why she can’t play again next year.”
He pulled away like she’d struck him. “What? No, Emma. It wasn’t anything like that. I told you she was welcome.”
An unamused snort escaped. “Right, because the magnanimous person you are doesn’t punish the child for the sins of the parents.”
His bow-shaped lips thinned and a muscle flexed in his jaw. She didn’t have the energy to do this again. Nerves were already strung taut from the underhanded comments she’d endured before Dawson arrived.
