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“Oh, right,” The clerk’s gaze went to her phone that buzzed three times in quick succession. “Rough Hollow is owned by the Ramsey family. Mr. Everett is still in charge since his son, Clint, went into baseball and then, all of his grandsons went into baseball and the granddaughter…well, she left Last Stand long ago. Cal’s been in the majors the longest, and I like,neversee him around here even though I’ve worked here since last fall.”
So Cal had been keeping secrets from her—of sorts. Or had he assumed she knew about his family full of athletes? His job explained the expensive car and clothes, the body toned like a machine, maybe even the wariness that dogged him. She imagined pro players were hounded by hangers-on who wanted to be a part of their world for selfish reasons.
But not her. She’d prefer to put ten paces between herself and anyone who was remotely famous. She needed to avoid the spotlight at all costs until the trouble at home died down.
The phone vibrated three more times and the girl burst into laughter. “Sorry!” she apologized to Josie. “I knew Darlene would go nuts when she heard.” She picked up the phone and flipped it over, eyes scanning fast. “She wants a picture? Oh God, how can I get a picture?”
Josie figured she’d lost her audience, but since the coast was clear, she couldn’t resist asking one more question.
“You said he got cut this season?” she asked, wanting to be sure she’d understood. “As in, lost his spot on the team?”
The clerk nodded. “It was so awful—”
“Josie, let’s go.” Cal’s voice startled them both as he came through a back door on the opposite end of the store.
She scrambled back from the counter while the teen dropped her phone. Josie hurried past the blueberries and melons to the archway where Cal now stood, his expression stony.
Had he overheard her question? Guilt swamped her even as she kicked herself for not being more careful.
“Ready,” she announced brightly, peering past him into the greenhouse that connected the barn to the farm stand.
“Are you certain?” His voice was low, just for her ears, before he took her hand and tugged her into the greenhouse behind him.
A fan whirred overhead, conditioning the air that smelled like potting soil and growing things. He tipped a metal door closed behind them. A door that closed silently and reminded her how thoroughly he’d startled her when he re-entered the store.
“Absolutely.” She wanted to say it with conviction. To move on and see the beehives. But her heart was beating too fast with him holding her hand.
And standing too close to her.
His green eyes probed hers, his nearness making her recall his very intriguing male physique. Was it really her fault she felt a flare of feminine interest when he was a professional athlete and had the body that went with it?
“Make sure you know what you’re in for, Josie, before you say yes.” His voice lacked the geniality that she’d heard him use with the young baseball fan. It was all gritty-edged and hard now.
And did something wicked to her insides. Something she couldn’t allow herself to feel so soon after another man had deceived her.
Nerves made her blurt the first thing that came to mind.
“I signed on for beehives.” She’d been very clear about that from the outset, hadn’t she?
Cal released her hand, but he didn’t back away. “Except now you’ve broken our truce by asking questions. So in return, I’ve got a few questions of my own.”
Chapter Four
“Idon’t knowwhat you’re talking about.” Josie looked right into his eyes and lied to him.
Even if he hadn’t overheard her asking the store clerk about his situation with the Atlanta Rebels, Cal would have recognized the falsehood because of the way she rushed the words out of her mouth.
“You’re a terrible liar,” he informed her, fuming mostly with himself for bringing her with him today, for driving her here in his convertible that looked more at home in the team parking lot than in Cal’s small Texas hometown.
Was it any wonder they’d drawn stares?
Not that it even mattered she knew about his career or that he’d been cut by the team. Big deal. He’d known she’d hear about it eventually, but he’d been enjoying the anonymity of being with her. Of being a regular guy.
“You’re right.” She caved quickly enough, the humidity of the greenhouse already pulling dark curls from the braid where she’d tried to tame her hair. “Idoknow what you’re talking about, but you’re wrong about me breaking the truce, since I didn’t ask you a single question today.”
She had the audacity to look self-righteous about that. It might have had something to do with the way she pressed her lips together.
He debated kissing the expression away. Slowly. He could see the way the pulse at the base of her throat throbbed, her nerves all too obvious. Because of him and the thread of attraction that connected them? Or because she didn’t want to reveal anything about herself? He guessed he’d better press his advantage now and work on that kiss later.
