That was too direct.
I mean, she does look great in her blue jeans and sweater with her long hair down her back, but that compliment definitely feels blunt and burns hot on my cheeks.
“Thank you.” She tilts her head away from me, like she’s not quite accepting the compliment. “I’m excited for the season. They did an incredible job on the arena.”
“They did.” I stuff my hands in my pockets, rocking back on my heels. “I couldn’t be happier.”
She smiles at me, and I’m about to say something when Noah walks up beside her. He’s got a foil-wrapped cheeseburger in one hand, and he pulls another foil-wrapped burger out of his Granite Ice jacket pocket. “Here, Mom. I know you prefer to snack but,” he says, handing the burger to her like it’s a prize, “I got this for free.”
She raises an eyebrow but takes it. “Yougotit for free?”
“Yup,” he says, clearly proud of himself. “The concession stand worker said since I was on the team, it was free for me.”
I bite back a laugh as Noah digs into his jacket pocket yet again and removesanotherfoil-wrapped burger. This one is flattened, and he holds it out to me. “You want one, Bill?”
I glance down at the burger, then at his jacket pocket, then back at him and wag my head. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m not sure how I feel about pocket burgers.”
Ruth chuckles as she nudges Noah with her elbow. “I don’t know how many more you have in there but maybe don’t take any more. Save them for someone else.”
He shrugs while still holding the extra one. “It’s not a big deal. They’re free.”
Ruth looks at me and then back at Noah. “They’re not free. I’m sure Bill is paying for them.”
I hold up both of my hands in a stop motion. “Hey, you know what? You keep eating them, and I’ll just deduct them from your salary.”
Noah blinks, and Ruth laughs again. The sound of her sweet laughter sticks with me, like something I heard in a dream. I catch her eyes for a moment before she grins at her burger while shaking her head.
“Excuse me, Bill.” A man wearing a concession T-shirt taps me on the shoulder. “I’m sorry to interrupt you, but I can’t seem to find Cleo. I don’t have a key to the pantry, but we are completely out of hamburger buns, and I need to get in there to get more. Would you have a key?”
“Out of buns? You don’t say.” I shoot a suspicious glare toward Noah, who raises his hands in innocent surrender, before I add, “I know we ordered enough buns to feed the entire town and half of the next one over.” Pulling my giant key ring out of my pocket, I fidget until I find one that I have no idea what it belongs to and figure I can start with that one. Then I look over at Ruth. “Excuse me. Bun crisis.”
“Of course,” she says quickly with a tight smile.
“I’ll bring them over to the stand.” I tap the concession guy on the forearm as I step aside. I can’t help but give Ruth one more glance and freeze as I catch a flicker in her eye.
Is that flicker for me?
Or maybe it’s just the bright lights reflecting…
If only I had at least a few more minutes with her. Shaking my head, I stride toward the hallway, muttering, “This wouldn’t have happened if people weren’t taking eight extra hamburgers for their pockets. Now I must leave Ruth during my one chance to talk to her in months. Who knows when the next time will arise that I’ll be able to run into her. Maybe it’s no use.”
twelve
Ruth
The moment Bill fades down the hallway, muttering about burger buns, I allow my shoulders to drop.
Phew.
Not that I’m upset, but I was distracted. Like my body is too aware when he’s near, and I have the hardest time relaxing. He kept looking at me like he was about to bring up something more personal. I don’t need Noah to overhear anything.
I can’t risk it.
Everything has been going so well for Noah. He has been managing his anxiety disorder, thanks to some new meds. I hate to be the cause of a flare-up if he starts to worry about all the things that didn’t happen between me and his boss.
Yep, it’s best I stay away from Bill Baker.
Coach Carlon claps loudly, aiming his attention toward the players. “Guys, take your places at the signing tables, so this can be somewhat orderly.”
