“Come on, Coach, you know he’s too small—just because you want him to take your team to state doesn’t mean it’s what’s right for Jeremy,” Wes said.
“I’ll need a decision tonight—just remember I’ve already got a star quarterback on the JV team,” the coach said then walked away.
“So, we either let Jeremy play on varsity or he won’t get much play at all?”Andy said, reading between the lines.
“He’s just trying to pressure you.Jeremy is still the best quarterback he has on either team,” Wes said.
“I hope you’re right.Thanks for your support.”
Wes just nodded.“I’m going to go say hi to Sara, then I better get back to work.”
Which left Miranda standing with Renn in the late afternoon sun.He had a ball cap pulled down so she couldn’t see his eyes, a crisp white T-shirt, and running shorts on.It was undeniable how fit he was.Every muscle looked carved from some beautiful tan stone.
“You always stare at your friends like that?”
Red-hot embarrassment rushed up her neck.“Sorry, I was just thinking.Never mind.”
“Oh no I think I’d like to hear it,” he said moving closer to her at the fence so that their arms touched.
She could feel him looking at her and tried not to squirm with excitement.
“Do you always attend practice?”she asked, trying to will her heart to stop thumping.
“I was getting a run in and saw Wes,” he said, tipping his ball cap back so she could see his eyes shining with mischief that made her want to lean in closer to him.
“Well, guess I better get going, so much to do in preparation for the big show.”
“If I didn’t know any better, I’d think you were running away from me.I might get my feelings hurt.”
She stepped away.“I’m not running.Just casually walking away from my new ranch hand before I say or do something inappropriate.”
Renn’s smile lit up his face and one hand reached out to grip her arm as she stumbled with her backwards steps.
“I’ll take that as a compliment.And I doubt very much I would find anything you want to say or do to me as inappropriate.”
Miranda just took a few more steps backwards and clapped her hands.Knowing she would not be telling him what she was thinking, because if he knew she was wondering what his honey brown skin tasted like after he was sweating from a run in the afternoon sun, then she had a feeling they would run right over theirjust friendsagreement.And she literally couldn’t afford the type of distraction Renn would be if she let herself have him every time she wanted him.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
Renn
Family Affair
The Hart housewas much noisier than Renn expected as he pulled into the drive with his windows rolled down.Mrs.Hart said he better show up for dinner tonight, so he’d stopped to pick up some flowers for her on his way.It was strange but he knew his mama would be happy to know he’d connected with the Hart family.Even if it didn’t last.He still wasn’t convinced they’d want to keep in touch for long, but if he was going to have a bossy grandmother he may as well bring her flowers and enjoy some home cooking.He didn’t spot Jeremy slumped in the porch swing with his football between his hands, until he’d climbed up the steps.
“I bet you sleep with that ball too?”he said, before sitting across from Jeremy in a wooden rocker on the porch.
Jeremy just nodded.“Not that it matters.”
“Is this about getting on varsity?”
Jeremy’s body language screamed he didn’t want to talk about it, and he just grunted.
“Two hundred and ten pounds,” Renn said.
“What?”
“The kid who broke one of my ribs my sophomore year of high school.He was a senior, eighteen, and two hundred and twenty pounds of pure muscle,” Renn said, setting the flowers down on the side table.
