She snorted.
Justlike her son.
“And before you say this is somehow about me not understanding him because I’m the new guy, you need to know that Simon has been acting out and is pretty much annoying most of the team.”
She studied him in silence.
He wondered what she saw. Did she see the regular guy who’d rather be running down a field or hiding out in his home, reading history books and watching movies? Or did she see the confident, laughing playboy everyone thought him to be?
“Come with me.” She turned and walked into the back of her teahouse.
He followed her toward the sweet smells coming from a small kitchen. Entranced by the scent of vanilla and cinnamon, he took a big sniff. “What are you making?”
“Sticky buns, my version of cinnamon rolls. Hold on.” She took a few steps toward the doorway and shouted, “Nora, can you watch the front? I’m in a meeting.”
Nora laughed and said something he couldn’t make out but apparently Rebecca could.
She flushed and returned, putting the center island between them. He wondered if her husband had a hard time dealing with her moods, then thought the lucky guy probably didn’t much care. A woman who could bake and looked like her? A win-win…until she opened her mouth.
“Well?” She waited.
He just stared.
“What?”
“I’m trying to figure out how to say this without you getting offended. I would have called your husband, but Simon wouldn’t give me his number.”
Something that looked like pain flashed across her face. “My husband is dead. Now what did you want to talk about?”
Wow. Talk about stepping right into it. Might have been nice if the kid had explained his father was no longer alive when Mitch had mentioned the guy. “Sorry. Simon didn’t tell me.”
She sighed. “So what has my son done that brings the ‘Amazing Flash’ to my lowly shop?”
He ignored the heat on his face. “You know, if you’d heard the whole conversation, you might not be so quick to judge.”
“You’re here to talk about Simon?”
Fine.He wouldn’t explain himself to this sexy, stuck-up viper. Wait. Where hadsexycome from? Rebecca Bragg was more girl-next-door…with a side of sexy. Damn her full mouth.
She cleared her throat, and he dragged his gaze back to hers.
“Look, we both know your kid is an exceptional athlete. He’s a natural. Knows how to move, how to read the defense, and he’s good with his hands. I think if he wanted to, he could go far. Like, college scholarship, pro ball, far.”
She blinked. “Really?”
“Yeah, that’s if he can keep his smart mouth shut.” At her glare, he hastened to explain himself. “I’m not saying anything the other coaches haven’t. Simon started out a terrific team player. But now he’s trying to tell the other boys what to do. He’s pointing out everyone’s faults and coaching the coaches.” Personally, he’d found it amusing…until the kid had done it to him. “Worst of all, between you and me, he’s right about most of what he’s saying.”
She groaned. “That’s Simon.”
“But he’s making more enemies than friends, and coaches, especially high school football coaches, don’t like to be told what to do by their fourteen-year-old players.”
“Simon can be a stickler sometimes. But his father died close to Halloween, and it’s a tough time for him, especially now.”
For us,she should have said. He could see a suspicious shine in her eyes and had to fight the urge to offer comfort she clearly wouldn’t want. Instead, he gave her some space and studied the confections on the metal table in the center of the room.
After a moment, he said, “I’m sorry for that. But if Simon doesn’t watch himself, he could find himself sitting the bench, or worse, off the team. I’m just helping out this season. I’m not really a coach. My brother asked me to handle Simon’s issue because it’s not official yet. I’m just a guy mentioning what might help the kid.” He paused, noticed her recovery, and added for good measure, “He’s smart but sarcastic as hell.”
She didn’t look surprised. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
