Page 1 of Love's Home Run

CHAPTER ONE

Melissa Hendrickson removed her chef’s toque and shook her hair out from the rubber band that had held it in place. Letting out a sigh of fatigue, she unbuttoned her coat and tossed it into the laundry basket in a room behind the kitchen. She had a satisfying, creative job working as a chef at Fins, her parents’ restaurant, but she was frustrated by her lack of time with friends and her lack of a meaningful relationship. Many people, some from her old summer gang, were moving into town, and she wanted to be part of all they were doing. And though she hesitated to tell anyone else, she hoped to be subtle in convincing one newcomer to see her as wife material. If she only dared.

She was a popular social group member but was more comfortable with the guys than the women. She was a tall, trim, wiry woman who, growing up, had been a tomboy interested in sports and “guy” things. Her mother had always wanted her to be more like the charming Gilford girls and had continually pointed out all her faults. It left her feeling insecure about herself. She felt like two different people.

In the kitchen, she was strong, competent, and sure, orchestrating the work of the staff. And, after graduating from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, she’d proved to have a brilliant gift when combining herbs, spices, and sauces to create spectacular entrees and desserts.

In a social setting, she tended to be quiet and a bit awkward when it came to dating. The men she knew loved having her as a friend who got their jokes and was a pal. It was both nice and annoying now that she was ready for something more in a relationship.

“Are you off to Jake’s?” her mother asked, coming into the kitchen. “Better freshen up.”

Melissa looked up at the wall clock. 10 PM. “I’ll see if anyone is still there. If not, I’ll go home. Thank goodness, it’s my day off tomorrow.”

She went into the bathroom and checked the mirror, making sure she was presentable. The face reflected there had pleasant features, brown hair that held a hint of red, and gray eyes that assessed her harshly.

Melissa grabbed her purse, anxious to leave.

She walked down Main Street, passing its numerous cute shops to Jake’s, the neighborhood bar her friends in town used as a gathering place.

She loved living in the beautiful New Hampshire Lakes Region, in the scenic small town of Lilac Lake, where outdoor summer and winter activities were readily available.

By anyone’s standards, Melissa was financially successful, with a job that brought her recognition and an excellent income. She’d just built a house in The Meadows, an upscale development created by Collister Construction at the far end of Lilac Lake and owned by two of her male friends, Aaron and Brad Collister. But she wanted the more important things in life—a husband and children, a family of her own. At thirty-three, she was beginning to wonder if that would ever happen.

As she stepped inside Jake’s, she heard someone call her name and turned to see Ross Roberts wave at her. Smiling, she went to say hello to him and two of his buddies sitting at the table the locals called their own.

“ ’Evening,” said Melissa. “Is this all that’s left of the gang?”

“We’re it,” said Ross. A famous former baseball player for the New York Yankees, he was a pleasant man everyone liked. Though he couldn’t play ball any longer because of a knee injury, he was still featured in television ads where his sandy-haired handsome looks, blue eyes, and boyish smile captured audiences.

“Come join us,” said Mike Dawson, who once had been a rising tennis star. Now, he ran tennis clinics in Florida and was talking to Ross about opening a sports center in Lilac Lake where people could play tennis and/or participate in baseball clinics.

“Nice to see you again,” said Ben Gooding, who used to play on the Yankees baseball team with Ross. With his stocky, sturdy body, Ben still looked the part of a catcher.

Melissa returned his smile and sat down. She was looking forward to a glass of red wine. Working at the restaurant, she limited alcoholic drinks to having one occasionally. Working with food and wine most of the time, she was careful not to have too much of either.

Ross raised his hand, and a waitress came right over to them. “My friend will have a glass of your finest pinot noir,” he said, indicating Melissa.

She smiled her thanks. Ross lived next door to her at The Meadows, and she quickly stifled any romantic thoughts. Melissa knew Ross dated gorgeous women. She was much more comfortable keeping their relationship as friendly neighbors.

“What are you doing in town?” she asked Ben. “Here to make trouble for Ross and Mike?”

Ben laughed. “I’m thinking of investing in their sports complex. I love Lilac Lake, but I have my job in Washington, D.C., and don’t plan to move.”

She turned to the others. “Did Dirk show up?”

“He was here earlier with David Graham. They left a while ago,” said Ross. “How’d it go at the restaurant?”

“It was busy, as usual. But that’s good. A profitable summer means being able to shut down for a couple of weeks in the winter. My parents love going to Florida and testing out new recipes.”

“I imagine once you’re into the food scene, it’s hard to get out,” said Mike. “Florida is a great place to discover new meal ideas with its diverse collection of cuisines.”

“Yes. We must add new menu items each year to keep people coming back.”

“Speaking of coming back,” said Ross. “Sarah Miller, Bob and Edie Bullard’s daughter, is moving here next week. I only met her once, but she seemed nice. It’s unfortunate her husband died, leaving her with twin girls.”

“It was such a shame. Sarah is lovely. I’m sure her parents, like mine, love the idea of having their daughter close,” said Melissa.

“Isn’t it hard to work for your parents?” asked Mike.

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