Ah well. Back to business it was.
At least I knew what the scowling was for. Cameron didn’t know I was coming to practice today. Technically, because I should—probably—be resting. That was why I’d called Josie, who had called Gabriel, who had asked his husband, Isaac, to pick me up from Lazy Elk and drive me to town. It was some complicated chain of favors I didn’t understand, but like Isaac had said the moment I’d complained and profusely apologized for being an inconvenience, This is how things work in a small town, honey. He’d also told me to shush it before going into a ramble about how he’d been spending a lot of time in Charlotte for work—because of his useless, turdy boss—and complimented me for my look. Although his words had been I can’t believe you’re making it work, while glancing from my dress shirt to the hiking boots on my feet. I liked Isaac, and I got the impression he’d liked me, too.
Unlike someone currently in the middle of a practice field, surrounded by nine-year-olds and the one seven-year-old in a tutu, and sporting a newly trimmed beard that made him all the more handsome.
Cameron muttered something to Tony, the Green Warriors’ new assistant coach, and stalked in my direction.
My stomach dropped. And it wasn’t with dread. It was with something fuzzy and bubbly that made me feel light despite the fact he was looking at me with murder in his eyes.
“How’s the new hire?” I asked when he came to a stop in front me.
Cameron snagged the box out of my grip with one quick, outraged motion. “Adalyn,” he barked, sounding all angry and… soft. Ugh. I hated when he did that. “This weighs a ton.”
I forced myself to roll my eyes, the bubbly riot in my stomach getting worse by the second. “I know,” I admitted. “And before you ask, yes, I’m here. And yes, I’m fine and ready to work. And no, my ankle doesn’t hurt. And yes, the boots you insist on me wearing all the time are actually, shockingly comfortable for something so ugly. And no, I’m not going to sit this one out or live like a recluse any longer after missing so much time with the team. And by the way? I might return to my cabin today.”
Cameron stared back at me for a long moment, then he said all confident and smug, “No you won’t.”
I narrowed my eyes. “What did you do?”
Cameron shrugged.
“What did you do to the cottage, Cameron?”
“There’s water damage in the bathroom.”
I gave him a bland look. “Did you go in there with a bucket just to make sure of it?” Cameron smiled and yes, my heart toppled to my stomach at the sight. I sighed. The truth was that I was comfortable in Cameron’s cabin. With him. I didn’t want to leave, either. “Do you always get away with what you want?”
He took a step forward, getting so close I had to tip my head back to meet his gaze. “Hopefully.”
My thoughts scattered. I had questions. I knew I had them. Important ones about the cottage. But his tongue peeked out and licked his bottom lip, dragging my attention there. “You trimmed your beard.” His mouth twitched and my hand reached out. Unconsciously. Thoughtlessly. I stopped myself. “It looks good.”
The fingers of his free hand wrapped around my wrist. “You can touch me.” He brought my hand closer to his face, and my breath caught in my throat. But I closed the rest of the distance on my own, and when my palm reached his jaw, I cupped his face. My fingers grazed the surprisingly soft beard. The skin on his cheek and neck, too.
Cameron’s eyes fluttered shut.
I moved my hand, my fingers brushing the side of his face with my nails.
“That feels so good,” he hummed.
It did for me too. I—
A whistle was blown close behind.
I dropped my hand. “The uniforms have arrived.” Green eyes reappeared. They were as dazed as I felt. “Finally,” I croaked. “That’s what, hmm, is in the box. I should stop petting your beard and… check them.”
Cameron huffed out a laugh. “Fecking hell, darling.” He shook his head. “You thought you were petting me?” Another chuckle. “Way to shoot a man down.”
My cheeks warmed. But I refused to let this man sidetrack me again. “Did you just say ‘fecking hell’?”
“I don’t curse around the girls anymore. Manager said it was unprofessional.”
Oh. “That’s, um.” All the air seemed to escape out of my lungs. “That is sweet. Thanks for going the extra mile, Coach.”
Something flashed behind his eyes. Then Cameron shook his head, as if in… disbelief. “Ah Christ.” Another one of those laughs toppled out. “I think you’ve broken me, love.”
I frowned. I also blushed even further at that love.
Luckily, before I could say or do something strange like, let’s say, drop to the grass in a tangle of emotions I didn’t understand, I was being tackled from the side.
“Careful there,” Cameron said in a gentle but firm voice, one of his hands falling on my shoulder. He stabilized me, and his fingers brushed the back of my neck. Tingles spread down my arm.
I looked down to find María hugging me.
“I’m just so happy you’re okay,” she mumbled against my side. She glanced up, a serious expression on her face. My chest tightened at the sight. “Did you get our card? Did you see that Brandy and Tilly also signed? I painted their paws and made them sign with them.”
So the weird smudges of ink had been the goats.
“Yes,” I admitted weakly. “I loved it. I…” I wasn’t going to get emotional. I really wasn’t. “It was beautiful. Thank you so much.”
“We’re just glad you’re okay,” Juniper said from the group, obtaining a wave of nods from the rest of the girls.
“I’m also glad, ma’am—Adalyn,” Tony said from Cameron’s side. Then added, “I told them they could take a five-minute break, Coach.”
Cameron only lifted his eyes off me to give Tony a nod.
María released me, taking my hand before stepping away. “So what’s in the box? Is it gifts?” She frowned. “You should have told us you were coming today. We could have thrown you a welcome party.”
“That’s really okay,” I assured her, with a squeeze of her hand. The kid’s smile turned wider. “And yes, I’ve come bearing gifts. It’s a surprise. For everyone in the team. I just hope you like them.”
“I looove surprises,” María confessed. Followed by a long ohhhhh from the rest of the girls. She took a step forward and poked at the box in Cameron’s arms. “Do you love surprises, too, Miss Adalyn?”
“Sure,” I said, feeling the weight of Cameron’s gaze on the side of my head.
“That’s perfect,” María answered. “That way we can exchange surprises today. It’ll be like… Christmas. But in fall. Oh, by the way, are you coming to the fall fest? Will your foot be okay? We can go apple picking, or pumpkin bowling, or even sign up for the haunted corn maze race.” María was beaming, vibrating with so much excitement that it was impossible for me to do anything but nod. “Awesome!” She returned her attention to the box. “Let’s exchange surprises now then.”
“María,” Cameron warned. “What did we talk about earlier today?”
But María had never been intimidated by this stoic and secretly gentle man, so she went ahead and said, “I know you said it wasn’t ready, but I think Miss Adalyn deserves her surprise now. She’s been in pain, and surprises always cheer me up when I’m sick or sad. Plus, she brought gifts for the team, and we don’t have a welcome party for her like you promised we would when she returned.” The nine-year-old shot Cameron a hard look. “You’re being a grumpy grump again, Coach Cam.”
Cameron sighed.
I gaped at the kid. “Hey, you called him Coach Cam.” María rolled her eyes. “Although you also called him a grumpy grump,” I teased, looking at Cameron. He rolled his eyes. “Which I’m not against.”