Somebody Like You: A Small Town Single Mom Romance (The Heartbreak Brothers Book 4) Carrie Elks (free reads .TXT) 📖

“Sorry, I need to grab a soda and get back to the field.” Cam gave him a nod. “Maybe you could make an appointment with Coach Carter. I know he’d be pleased to advise you.”

Mia had just turned the corner, heading away from the refreshment stand. He had to run to catch up with her. “Hey,” he called out. She turned to look at him, her hands full with a soda and popcorn.

“Um, hi.” She gave him a small smile. “I didn’t know you were going to be here tonight.”

Cam shifted his feet. “Yeah, I just wanted to tell you I wasn’t aware your son was on the team. I didn’t want you thinking I’m stalking you. Not after last Sunday.”

Her cheeks pinked up. “About that. I’m sorry. You took me by surprise and I wasn’t very diplomatic.” She blew out a mouthful of air. “I’m usually very polite.”

“It’s okay. You were honest. I can live with that. It was Michael I wanted to talk to you about,” Cam told her. “He looked embarrassed when he realized I’ll be helping the teams out with some coaching. Do you think it’ll help if I speak with him?”

“You’re going to be coaching the team?”

“For a few weeks. The JV and Varsity team. He’s JV, right?”

“Kind of. He’s been on the freshman team, but he was moved up. He was so excited.”

He couldn’t help but stare at her face. Her skin was so damned perfect. In the harsh light of the floodlamps it was almost translucent.

“He had a sour face when you were introduced over the PA,” Mia continued. “I guess he’s worried you’re gonna be pissed with him.”

“I’m not. I’ll treat everybody the same. The coach thinks he has a lot of talent. Wants me to work with him, but if you don’t want me to, I’ll bow out. No hard feelings.”

She took a deep breath. Her green eyes looked clouded with thoughts. “You know what?” she said, that smile still ghosting across her lips. “This is stupid. You’re an NFL player. He could benefit so much from learning what you have to teach. Let’s try to make him more comfortable.” She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth, and he couldn’t stop looking at it.

“How should we do that?”

“Are you free tonight? After the game?” She swallowed hard, and of course his eyes were drawn to her throat. Damn, he needed to get a hold of himself.

“Yeah, I’m free.”

“The boys and I are planning to eat at the diner. Maybe you could join us if you’d like? No pressure. If you don’t want to be seen with us, that’s fine, too. Or if you have a better offer…”

“Mia.” His gaze caught hers. “I’d love to come to dinner with you all. Michael and I can talk about the game, or whatever else comes up.”

Her shoulders relaxed. “Okay. Great. I’ll have to wait for Michael, so if you get there before we do, just hold a table, okay?”

A loud roar came from the crowd. “I should get back,” Mia said, inclining her head at the bleachers. “I’ll see you later.”

“Yeah,” he murmured, as he watched her turn and walk up the stairs, her golden hair catching the floodlamps. “You will.”

Chapter Nine

As the game played out, Mia’s mind was somewhere other than the football field. Sure, she was staring straight ahead, her eyes fixed on the game, but it was like there was an invisible curtain between her vision and her thoughts. Had she really asked Cam Hartson to join them for dinner? What happened to avoiding him?

She scooped up some popcorn and pushed it into her mouth, but the kernels tasted like ash as they hit her tongue. Wrinkling her nose, she washed it down with a big gulp of soda, then looked at the family next to her.

“Would your little girl like my popcorn?” she asked the mom, who was wearing an Eagles shirt, a blue stripe of paint smeared across her nose. “There’s nothing wrong with it, I’m just not that hungry.”

“Can I, Mom?” the little girl asked, a smile bursting out on her face.

“Okay. But be sure to say thank you.”

The girl took the carton in both hands, holding it like it was some kind of prize. “Thank you,” she whispered.

“You’re welcome.” Mia winked at her.

As the Eagles made a play, her mind was still a mess of thoughts. How could the man get more attractive every time she saw him? It was so unfair. Her body needed to be put in a time out. Because she had no time or inclination to deal with this attraction she felt toward him.

Not even if her body heated up every time their eyes met. He was so damn tall it was stupid, dwarfing her five foot three frame. For a moment, she pictured him sliding his hands beneath her, hitching her body against his. She could almost feel the iron of his muscles against her soft skin.

Stop it! He’s your son’s coach.

When the game finally ended – with the Eagles winning 26-20 – Mia rushed down the steps and waited at the bottom for Josh. Families filed past her, young children hitched on their dads’ shoulders or clinging to their moms’ hands, laughing and talking as they made their way to the parking lot.

For a moment, her heart clenched, because that had been her family once. The four of them, walking away from Michael’s games, talking about where they’d be going out for dinner.

She pushed the thought away. That was old news. And the good times had been so few and far between, anyway. Instead she painted a smile on her face, nodding at the friendly glances she was sent.

“Mom! Mom!” Josh came barreling down, and her smile widened. “Noah says I can stay over at his house tonight. They’re getting pizza. Can I go? Please?”

“What does his mom