She refused to squirm. “What?”
“Are you seriously asking about my finances?”
A few people had parked their carts nearby, pretending to browse the canned beans. Please. As if she couldn’t see them listening in.
She frowned. “Finances? I was asking about your love of the game.”
He grinned, and the transformation took him from handsome to drop-dead gorgeous.Damn it.
“I’m filthy rich.”
She sighed. “Not what I was asking.”
“Hey, I’m an open book. You want to know something, just come straight out and ask. No need to beat around the bush.” He wiggled his brows. “And yes, I’m single.”
“I can see why.” She didn’t find him amusing anymore. He made her feel… She didn’t know how he made her feel. But she didn’t like it. “And you wonder why I called you an ass before.”
“What kind of ass? A jackass? A horse’s ass? Can you be more specific?”
She hated how hot her face felt. “Okay, I really need to get going. Great talking to you.”Not.
She wheeled away as if the chased by the hounds of hell.
One aisle over, she moved with deliberation, as if not at all trying to escape from such an annoyingly attractive man. She took deep breaths, forcing her racing heart to slow, and dithered over a box of crackers. She loved the things, but Simon had a tendency to eat them all in one sitting. Hmm. Maybe she’d hide them.
And maybe she could pretend crackers were the most fascinating things on the planet to ignore the fact that Mitch Flashman stood one short aisle over from her. What if he followed her? What should she do?
“Well, you caught me.” Though he didn’t yell, his voice was deep enough to carry.
A woman answered him. “Wonderful to finally meet you, Flash. I’m Marsha Gaines.”
Oh boy. Becca felt for him. When Marsha was in the mood for a feature article for the paper, nothing could shake her.
Marsha gave a light-hearted laugh. “I’ve been dying to get an interview with you. You’re all anyone talks about, lately.” Happily married and part owner of the local paper, Marsha wrote the local foodie column, which kept her stocked in free treats from the smart eateries in town—including Bragg’s Tea. She also wrote whatever editorials she wanted, and apparently, she wanted an inside interview with Mitch.
“Oh, right. Marsha Gaines. The woman who’s been leaving me messages day and night.”
Marsh ignored his dry tone. “Can I get that interview soon? I— Hold on. That’s my cell.” After telling whoever she’d been talking to good-bye, she said, “I need to go. Accident on Broadway. Hey Mitch, can we do the interview tomorrow? By phone is fine if that’s easier.”
“Yeah, that’ll work. Call the school and they can put you through to me in the gym. Say, three thirty, okay?”
“Great. Thanks a ton.”
Becca glanced down the aisle to spot Marsha running past the check out lines.
Then a voice she could have done without hearing said, loudly, “Oh,Flash.Funny running into you here.” Linda Madison sounded positively swoony.
Becca bit her lip to keep from laughing, now buoyed at the thought of the poor man having to deal with Linda after braving Marsha.
“Ah, well, with a town as small as this one, I’m bound to run into all the football parents at one point or another. Nice to see you again, Linda. How’s Davey doing?”
Becca gave him credit for trying to steer the conversation into a safe zone. He obviously didn’t know Linda well.
“He’s great now thatyou’recoaching him. Thanks so much.” That breathy voice did nothing to Becca but make her long to hand Linda an inhaler. She wondered if Mitch thought it sexy. Then wondered why she cared.
“Excuse me,” a woman said, trying to get to the crackers Becca was blocking.
“Sorry,” she mumbled and moved back, angling toward the cookies. She studied them, listening hard to the conversation on the other side.
Linda doggedly pressed for more one-on-one time to discuss her son. Mitch kept deflecting, at one point telling her straight up that he didn’t feel comfortable giving any one boy too much attention. Plus, Davey was a terrific kid and didn’t need as much help as Linda thought he did.
Becca started to grow annoyed on his behalf. For all that he’d come across as egotistical at first, from all that Simon had said about him and hearing him gently refuse Linda’s advances, Mitch seemed like a decent man.
Plus, her son was going to school and getting along better with the team. She owed Mitch for that. Hadn’t they made a deal?
She found herself hurrying to rejoin him without any idea of what she intended to say. But seeing Linda’s hand on his arm irritated the crap out of her.
She called out to him, “Oh, there you are.” As if she hadn’t just left him five minutes ago.
Linda glared at her, and Becca made a decision she knew she’d regret.
