“Way to go,” Ben said to him.
It had been forever since anyone had called him out publiclyfor doing something good. He wasn’t at ease listening to Finley brag on him. But he didn’t hate it, either.
“He streamlined payroll and automated all of our administrative practices,” Finley said. “We no longer need a physical filing system.”
“Wow,” Dad murmured.
“He’s also helped us tighten security,” Finley added. “At one particularly memorable staff meeting, he terrified us all with crime stats. We now follow his guidelines to the letter.”
Mom beamed. No doubt she was glad to hear about his work but probably even more glad to see evidence that he had two friends.
“I hadn’t realized he’d accomplished all that here,” Dad said.
“Luke’s not very forthcoming,” Finley admitted.
“That’s the truth.” Ben grinned.
Blair snorted. “He’s pretty forthcoming with me.”
“That’s because you make me mad,” he said.
“And Finley doesn’t?” Blair asked.
“I do sometimes.” Finley smoothly saved Luke from having to answer. “But I try not to.”
“I wishyou’dtry not to make me mad,” Luke said to Blair.
At the exact same time, Blair said, “I’ve given up trying not to make him mad.”
On Wednesday evening, Akira sat in the wooden bleachers at Misty River’s community baseball diamond, watching the closing minutes of practice for Ben’s league team.
She and Ben had planned to meet here, then go to the school supply store to pick up some items for the after-school program’s next science unit. She’d purposely arrived fifteen minutes early, in hopes of seeing him in action on the field.
Ben was the picture of athletic grace. She watched his bat crackagainst a pitch. The ball sailed into the outfield. Another pitch.Crack. Hitting the ball was as easy for him as picking up flu germs had been for her.
He turned, met her eyes, and smiled.
Her heart actually contracted.
“Be there in two minutes,” he called.
“No hurry.”I could sit here for hours.
Watching him interact with his teammates was slaying her. Sometimes he smack-talked with them and made them laugh. Other times he complimented them or clapped them on the shoulder. She’d bet that if she asked any of these men who their closest friend was on this team, they’d all say Ben. He was magic with people. Others couldn’t help but respond to him with warmth.
She was legitimately crushing on him, which terrified her.
She didn’t view herself as the type of woman who had what it would take to win the heart of Ben Coleman. She wasn’t like Leah Montgomery. She wasn’t confident enough, or beautiful enough, or impressive enough. It would be so, so much safer for her to find contentment in her friendship with Ben. Shewouldfind contentment in it. And why not? Their friendship was superb. An unexpected gift!
She didn’t want to risk either their friendship or her heart by attempting more with him. Yet these swoony feelings were growing every time she saw him.
Too soon, the practice finished. He tossed his equipment into a duffel bag that he hauled over his shoulder. Once he’d said good-bye to the others, he approached her.
She clambered down from the bleachers. “You’ll be pleased to know that I didn’t find anything about that practice the slightest bit romantic.”
His eyebrows shot up. “No? What about now? I’m going to give you my smolder.” He imitated a male model’s serious face. “How ya doin’?” he purred.
She shook her head. “I’m impervious to that.”
