Rose found herself staring at the stranger for a second too long.
“That,”Danisaid, leaning across the table, “isDeclanRowe.Hemoved into the oldLangleyplace last week.Camein for a tire rotation and ended up talking myUncleJoe’sear off about vet care and boarding.”
“Hotandan animal lover,”Tashamurmured.“TheLordis testing me.”
“Tasha!Seriously?”Roseasked, arching an eyebrow.
“Definitely serious.”Tasharesponded, licking her lips.
Rose glanced over to see if the man in question was watching the interplay at their table and seenTasha’smove.Luckily, she got only a view of his broad shoulders tapering to a narrow waist and a very nice backside.
As if on cue,Declanturned and caught sight of their table.Hiseyes landed onRose.Hissmile widened.
Rose felt her cheeks heat and cursed her fair complexion that made blushes stand out all the more.Maybeshe could blame it on the heat.
“Uh-oh,”Maggiemuttered.“He’scoming over.”
Rose barely had time to stop berating herself for the blush beforeDeclanapproached.Everyeye in the place tracked his movements andRoseknew they’d be a hot topic of conversation later.ButDeclanacted like he didn’t notice.
“Excuse me,” he said, voice smooth andSouthernwith a lilt that hinted he wasn’t fromthispart of theSouth.“MindifIinterrupt?”
Tasha smiled.“Interruptaway.”
Declan turned to the table a few feet away with an unoccupied chair.“MayIborrow this chair?”
Of course, it was the table whereAmosandSarahwere sitting, eyes still glued to the stranger in their midst.Roseheld her breath.Amosnodded toRoses’srelief.Andsurprise.
Declan smiled, placing the chair at the end of the booth table.“I’mstill learning the lay of the land.Dianeat the counter mentioned this was the famousPickwickPirateQueens.Women’sleague champs?”
“That’s us,”Maggiesaid proudly.
Rose raised a brow.“Youa fan of slow-pitch softball?”
“I’m a fan of team sports, community engagement… and charming company.”
He looked at her when he said it.Rosefelt the warmth bloom up her neck again and immediately hated how her heart skipped a beat.
“Well,”Rosesaid slowly, “we’re just grabbing supper, but you’re welcome to join us.Ifyou don’t mind sitting next to the loud one.”
“I’m notthatloud,”Tashasaid.
“You are,” said the entire table.
Declan laughed and scooted his chair closer to the table, his cologne faint and woodsy, like cedar and something wild.
So much for discussing game strategy.Astranger at the table might mean a spy.Shelaughed silently at herself.Geta gripMcAlister.Thisisn’t a world series level game.Noone is here to steal your playbook.Butstill maybe she needed a distraction.Thegirls obviously thought she was way too tense about the upcoming games.
“I’mDeclanRowe,” he said, holding out a hand.“Newguy in town.”
“RoseMcAllister,” she said, shaking it.“Coach.Local.”
“I gathered.”Hiseyes held hers for a second too long.“Youlook familiar for some reason.”Thenhe laughed.“Wow.Thatsounded like the worst pick up line in history.Butyou do look familiar.”
“WasRileyMcAlisteryour real estate agent?”Tashaasked.
Declan moved his gaze fromRosetoTasha.“Yes.”
“That explains it then.RoseandRileyare twins.”
