To Mitch’s horror, Simon teared up.
“Oh, that’s just great. Bring up Dad, why don’t you?” Simon slammed out of the kitchen with Rebecca chasing after him.
Mitch heard nothing but silence. Oh yeah. That went well.
Rebecca returned with a somber expression. “Sorry about that. Between puberty and missing his dad, he’s become a real handful.”
What could he say to that? “Yeah.”
She stared at the floor a moment, getting back her composure. When she lifted her gaze to his, he saw that familiar spark of attitude her son wore. “If he gives you any more lip, let me know. I’ll handle it.”
“You going to beat the sass out of him?”
“What? No.”
“Then good luck getting him to relax. Look, I don’t have kids, but I remember being a teenager. All those hormones, the need to prove myself. Add to that emotional issues with his father, and he’s a powder keg about to explode.”
Great. Now she looked stressed out.Way to go, Mitch.
“I don’t know what to do with him right now.” Then she glared athim,as if it were all his fault. “And this is not your business. I’ll handle it, Coach Flash.”
“Just Mitch, okay?” He rubbed his hand over his hair. “I’ll talk to him at practice, man-to-man, about football and school. Nothing else. I can help if you’ll let me.”Keep your distance. This boy is not your problem. Focus on football, damn it.
But her wounded gaze pulled him in, made him want to help. Rebecca Bragg was different. Real. Not bowled over by his wealth or fame. In fact, she didn’t seem to like him much.
Was that why he felt so pulled toward her? A perverse need tomakeher like him?
She gave him a stiff nod. “Fine. Talk football to him. Maybe he’ll listen to you.” She paused. “Romeo.”
He groaned. “Yeah, I can see it’ll be a piece of cake to get him to respect me.” But he’d been a smartass in his younger days too. “Then again, he mouths off, I’ll bench him. Don’t worry. We’ll get Simon back on the straight and narrow.”
It was like someone else had taken command of his vocal chords, because Mitch found himself saying things he’d had no intention of saying. He’d come down here to ask her to talk to her son, because clearly Simon had something going on. But offering to help settle a grieving kid was way beyond his paygrade.
Then she smiled at him.
His heart raced. His palms sweated. And the Amazing Flash felt something in him respond. Something foreign, scared, and excited at the same time.
“Okay, Mitch. You get my son to listen and straighten up in school, and I just might be able to keep Linda Madison off your tail.”
He narrowed his gaze on her. “Youdidhear me talking about her at the game.”
She shrugged. “Well, I heard her talking about you, at least. And she’s got a big crush.”
He felt ill thinking about that woman again. “Mrs. Bragg, you get that woman to leave me alone, I’ll have your son going to class and being the most respectful kid on the team.”
“Deal.” She put her hand out. “And it’s Becca.”
“Becca.”
They shook.
Connected.
Mitch quickly dropped her hand, turned, and did his best not to run from Simon’s mother, not sure of what the heck he’d just agreed to.
He passed Nora as he left.
“No sweets for you, Coach?”
Just the beauty in the back.
“Nope. I’m off sugar.”For sure. And off single moms with mouthy kids. No relationships for this guy until I figure out what the hell I’m doing with my life.“Gotta run.”
“I see that.” Before the brunette could grill him, a line of customers who’d been talking amongst themselves gathered around him.
“Hey, Flash. What’s up? Tough game, Friday.”
Mitch nodded, conversed, and pretended he’d forgotten Becca Bragg stood a few feet away in her kitchen. And that she had a fourteen-year-old son who didn’t like him much.Oh man. What have I done?
