Page 21 of The Bad Boy's Homecoming
Finally, she showed some emotion and let out a breath.She allowed her shoulders to fall and met his eyes.
“You’ve taunted me and been rude to me since you arrived.I’m as relaxed around someone I don’t know, or trust, as I’m ever going to get,” she said then continued to peel the carrots with calm strokes.
“Okay, let me try another tactic.What’s your favorite treat?”
Her peeling paused and she met his eyes again.He fought every urge to laugh.
“It’s an easy question.Your favorite guilty pleasure, the one thing you let yourself have every once in a while.”
She started peeling again.“Your grandmother loves butter pecan ice cream, so sometimes we have that after our walk on the beach.”
“No, I want to know what you like.What do you crave?”
Missy shook her head and then set down the carrots and rested her hands on the island, mirroring his stance.
“Why?”
“Because I want to contribute to dinner, so if you’re cooking, I’ll get dessert.But I don’t know what you like.”
“Why are you here?”
“This is my family home.”
“But why are you here now?You’re a professional baseball player and spring training started this week.So why are you here?”
He met her inquisitive stare.“Because my team won’t give me a new contract I’m willing to sign.”
“Are you quitting baseball?”
“I’m not sure.I may not have a choice.”
“So you’re here indefinitely.”
Her shoulders seemed to stiffen but then she released them and picked up the knife to chop the carrots and toss them in the pot.
“I guess I am, so we may as well get along.One big happy family.Maybe you can give me a job making frames.”
A smile tugged at the side of her mouth.“My cousin said you’re a beast at the plate,” she said waving her knife.“Can’t you just sign on with another team?”
He couldn’t help but like hearing she’d talked about him with her cousin.“Do you like baseball?”
“I’ve never watched it.I’m not really into sports.”
“I bet you were in the art club in high school?Maybe drama too?”
“And you were captain of the baseball team?”she guessed.
His phone dinged again with a message from his agent, asking if he’d read the contract.
“Did you make it through contract law in school?Any chance you enjoy reading persona clauses in sports contracts?”
“No, I think they cover vanity contracts in the third year of law school,” she said, now slicing celery.
“Maybe I’ll visit your cousin when I’m in town picking up dessert.”
“He’s the best.”
“Last chance to make me cut those onions for you.”
