Lucca flicks his gaze to the ceiling as I refrain from bowing for my quick thinking.
“Excuse me,” I say, both hands around my glasses. “I need to get back to mydate.” I’m not even sure why I say it. To rub it into playboy Lucca Cruz that I can date, too. Yeah… stupid. And not effective. Especially when my date is on the FBI’s most-wanted list for stalking tall women all over the country.
Lucca turns around and scans the crowd. He nods, right at my table. Right at Reggie. “Mousy face. Black cap. Looks like your kind of guy.”
I huff like he has no idea what he’s talking about and yet… How can I walk back to that table and sit next to that man with Lucca watching? “He’s taller than he looks,” I say, my voice cracking. “And hot. Beneath that beany is some seriously hot hair.” I swallow down the lie. “And his personality is…sexy.”
He’s still staring at Reggie. “I highly doubt that.” He sighs, this time a true laugh falling from his lips. “Mouse Man.”
“He isn’t a mouse. He’s a human being.” One who is possibly wanted for multiple crimes—that’s just what my gut is telling me. There’s a slim possibility I’m wrong. “You could attempt to be more respectful. Besides, I’d pick my worst date over sitting at this bar with you any day.”
“You wish that were an option.”
“Next time, spare me the joke or the pain of having to talk to you. Next time you see me, pretend you didn’t.” I stand, diet sodas in hand, and walk toward my sister, toward my date, whoisquite mousy as well as guilty-looking. I walk away from Lucca stinking Cruz, set a drink in front of Reggie, and scoot my chair right next to his. We are side to side, my head towering over his—all for Lucca.
I pull in a breath and?—
Awesome. I’m snuggled up to Reggie, the criminal, who smells of sardines.
Six
I stepout of the team van, nine of my teammates following after me. I don’t mind community service like this. It’s soccer-related. I love soccer. And kid-related. I don’t mind kids. However, we normally keep our service toourcommunity, Tesoro or Reno. The Red Tails owner always has us doing something to support the public. While Canyon Falls is less than an hour from Tesoro, it’s also in a completely different state.
“Are you freaking out yet?” I say to Roman. I stare at the tiny soccer net big enough for a toddler just a few yards away from us.
He turns to stare at me. “What? Why?”
“You’re having a kid,” I say. “You’re about to be in charge of another life. A dad.”
“Oh. That.” My friend clears his throat, his eyes locked on that baby net. “Kind of crazy, right? A year ago, I never would have thought?—”
“Oh, believe me,” I say. “A year ago, none of us would have guessed you’d be hitched with fatherhood on the way.” Wehold back, letting the other guys go ahead, watching as Callum walks out to the center of this large community field. There are several small soccer fields set up over the vast area. “Where’s he going?”
“He’s the liaison. I’m sure he’s asking Maggie where she wants us.”
“Maggie?” I say. I don’t think I’ve ever dated a Maggie.
“Yeah.” Roman smirks. “Why the goofy smile?”
“Maggie,” I repeat with a shrug. “Sounds cute.”
“Are you serious?” He shakes his head, but he’s laughing at me. “You really don’t know who I’m talking about?”
I shrug. “Why would I?”
“Maybe because you complained aboutMaggiefor half the drive here.”
My brow furrows and I search the ground, trying to make sense of Roman’s words. “No—I complained aboutMcCrae.” Another bogus call last night, all because that woman has it out for me.
“Yeah.” Another chortle from Roman. “MaggieMcCrae.”
“Maggie? It’sMargaret.”
“Except that it’sMaggie. It’s a nickname for Margaret. It’s what she goes by.”
How does Roman know what she goes by? How do any of my friends know that?
I flick my gaze back to Callum. Searching. And there she is.McCrae. I watch as Callum talks to the woman. She smiles at him. He’s laughing at something she’s said. “They aren’tfriends, are they?”
