Second Chance Mom. Emilie Rose
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Название: Second Chance Mom
Автор: Emilie Rose
Издательство: HarperCollins
Жанр: Контркультура
Серия: Mills & Boon Superromance
isbn: 9781474049825
isbn:
Pam nodded. “Matt was a football star before—”
“In college,” Matt interrupted. “Rachel knows that.” The others around the table exchanged looks. What did Matt not want her to know?
“I moved home to take the job at Johnstonville High when my old coach retired. I might have stayed gone if I’d known Mom’s evil plan.” His teasing grin was a shade too tight.
“Do you follow sports, Rachel?” Jake asked.
“Baseball. I’m a Braves fan.”
“You catch many games?” Bill asked.
“I have season tickets.”
Pam’s husband whistled. “Expensive.”
“But worth every penny. I use them to motivate the kids in my neighborhood. If they stay drug free, out of gangs, and work hard to earn good grades, I reward them with tickets to a game.”
“Does that work?” Pam asked.
“It’s been so successful I’ve had to recruit businesses from the surrounding communities to sponsor blocks of tickets at progress report time.”
She caught Matt’s speculative gaze. “Inner-city kids?”
“They’re often the ones who can’t afford to attend.”
“You’re missing games while you’re here,” Jake said.
“I’ve left the tickets in good hands.”
“You’ve never followed football?” That earned Jake a fierce scowl, and from the way he jumped, Rachel suspected Matt had kicked his brother under the table.
“No. As a missionaries’ kid, I didn’t have an opportunity to watch or play sports. I didn’t get into baseball until I was older.” And after Matt, she hadn’t watched a single football game. She’d always been afraid she’d see him on the field, or worse, with some cheerleader in his arms after a game.
Bill’s cell phone rang. He glanced at it. “Looks like the mayor doesn’t get a day of rest even on Sunday. Excuse me.” He left to take the call.
Matt’s dad was the mayor?
The bantering continued, but the atmosphere had changed. Was it because of the phone call? Or the conversation before it?
By late afternoon Rachel was emotionally exhausted from being on guard. It was a relief when Pam rounded up her kids.
After she and Chastity said their goodbyes, Matt walked them to the car. He leaned in the window while she buckled her seat belt. His handsome face was close enough for her to see the silver flecks mingling with the blue of his irises, close enough for her to be overwhelmed by the scent of sunshine, aftershave and man. Close enough for her to lean forward and brush his mouth with hers—if she dared. But she didn’t.
“Thanks for coming,” he said.
Her heart and respiratory rates increased. “I— We had a good time,” she replied huskily and surprisingly, meant it.
Chastity pushed the button to lower the convertible top, making Matt spring back and breaking the connection between Matt and Rachel.
“See you at school tomorrow, Coach.”
“But not in detention.”
“No, sir. Second offenders get litter patrol, and I’m not real keen on picking up trash.”
“And third offenders get stuck cleaning the boys’ locker room after practice,” he warned.
“Eew. Gross.”
“You have no idea,” he added with a comical face.
He had an easy way with the kids that Rachel envied. Would she ever be that relaxed and comfortable with her daughter?
Rachel drove away, watching him in the rearview mirror. He was still standing where she’d left him when they turned the corner. Chastity deserved a family like the Johnstons, but giving her this one meant taking away so much more. Everything Chastity believed about herself was based on lies.
Why did doing the right thing feel so wrong?
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