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Spenceindicated the clipboard he held. “GladCoachtold them we’d stop by.Don’twant any surprises.”
AfterToddandEricleft,Spencesettled in the lobby and scanned his messages and email.How’dImissKim’smessage?Gladshe’s spending the weekend withCassie.Hetyped a response, wishing her a fun weekend and promising he’d call when they returned.
Whenhe set his phone on the clipboard,Spencequestioned the relief that spread through him.DoIfeel pressured to text several times a day?Kimdidn’t ask me to…Justan emoji ifIgot the chance.Lowexpectations for our relationship?Ineed to show herI’mnot likeHendricks…Afterthis team crap plays out.
Spencehad little time to ponder that as he watched teammates trickle out the door or head to the pool.Makegood choices, guys.Hetook the clipboard to his room, changed, and joined his teammates at the pool.Nowfor a quiet, boring night.
Cassierecounted the story of her first date withTomon the way toBistroby theBay. “Atthe time,Iworked as a live-in nanny forJennaandDaniel—and crushed onTomsince the momentImet him.Ofcourse,Iknew he wouldn’t look at me twice—younger, his brother’s employee, andLauren’sniece.”Cassieshook her head with a rueful smile. “Talkabout forbidden territory.Besidesthat, he was a neurologist, andI’dtaken a gap year to decide whatIwanted to do whenIgrew up.”
“DoIget the details?”KimwatchedCassie’shazel eyes sparkle with mischief.
“Maybewhen we get to the house, after a couple of glasses of wine.”Cassieindicated a table near the wall of windows that showcased theBay. “Wesat there.Quiteromantic for this sheltered kid fromVancouver.”
“So, perfect first date?”Kimguessed.
Cassiesmiled. “Upuntil we left the restaurant—Tomreceived an urgent notification to report to the hospital.Hewasn’t on call, but with a huge crash on the interstate, everyone got an alert.”
“Howawful!Forboth of you.”
“Muchworse forTom.Hedidn’t come home for days… he napped at the hospital when he could.Somany head injuries.”Cassieshook her head in memory. “Weonly exchanged a few texts, but somehow, when the crisis passed, we had this incredibly close bond.”Sheshrugged. “Lifethrows these unexpected obstacles your way.”
Kimtouched her hand. “Lovehas a way of overcoming those roadblocks.”
“Icall it fate,”Cassiesaid with a grin.
Kimenjoyed getting to knowCassiebetter and, by the end of the weekend, felt that they had a sister’s bond.Whynot?Theyshared ties to the people they felt close to—DaveandLauren.
Afterchecking the homes onSaturday, they relaxed by the lap pool in the attached lanai. “Thisis our happy place when we can’t get to the beach,”Cassiesaid. “Tomswims laps, andIreallyenjoy hanging out here pretending to read whileI’mogling him.”
“Ihaven’t thought about him that way,”Kimsaid, trying to keep a straight face.
“Well, youdohave that hot, hunky baseball player—not thatInoticed.”
WhenCassieasked aboutSpence,Kimshared the pressures on the team, especially its captain and co-captains, since the night whenSpence,Eric, andTodddelivered the intoxicated players to theER.
“Ihad no idea that had happened.I’mnot sureTomknows all the fallout.HowisSpenceholding up under the stress?”
“I’mnot sure.Wespend some time together, and then he goes silent for days.Whenhe gets in touch, he’s apologetic.Iknow he’s sincere, butIdon’t want to add to the burden.”
“Maybehe doesn’t think of it as a burden?”Cassieoffered.
“Oh,Iknow he does.”Sheshared their recent interactions and her surprise and disappointment whenBarbinvited her to go with her to the studentBeachandBaseballweekend inWestPalmBeach. “Iknew nothing about that.Ididn’t plan to say anything toSpence—when he called yesterday to apologize,Iknew it hadn’t occurred to him.Witheverything going on,Iunderstand…Itold himIdidn’t want him to feel obligated to call or text.”
“Whatdid he say?”Cassieasked.
Kimshrugged. “Notmuch.”Shenodded toward her phone. “HeknowsI’mspending the weekend with you.Ithink he’s relieved, andI’mhappy if that removes some of the stress.”
“You’rea good person,Kim.Talkabout obstacles.”
“No,I’mselfish.”Sheshrugged atCassie’squizzical expression. “Rememberat the coffee shop?Ihadn’t seen or heard from him in a while.Everythinggoing on with the team…”WhenCassienodded, she continued.
“Hecalled and asked to see me the next day.Cassie,Irealized how muchI…like…maybe love… him when he pulled me against him and kissed me senseless.”Shesmiled at the memory. “Isound like a romance novel,Iknow.But, he apologized, andIthought—no,Iknew—he was about to suggest pausing our relationship.Ipanicked and…” she coughed in embarrassment. “Ikind of distracted him.”
Cassie’seyes lit up. “ShouldIask you to define ‘distract?’”
Shefelt her face flush. “I... sorta convinced him to… join me in my bedroom.”
“KimMartin, did you make him an offer he couldn’t refuse?”
