Page 24 of Summer Weddings
Jeff blinked as if he thought he’d misunderstood. “You want me to throw you a few pitches? You’re sure?”
“Positive.”
The look on her son’s face defied description as Cole jumped over the hedge. Jeff’s smile stretched from one side of his face to the other as he tore to the opposite end of the yard, unwilling to question Cole’s generosity a second time.
For an awkward moment, Robin stayed where she was, not knowing what to say. She looked up at Cole, her emotions soaring—and tangling like kites in a brisk wind. She was deeply grateful for his offer, but also confused. Thrilled by his presence, but also frightened.
“Mom?” Jeff muttered. “In case you hadn’t noticed, you’re in the way.”
“Are you going to make coffee and invite me in for a chat later?” Cole asked quietly.
Her heart sank. “I have some things that need to be done, and…and…”
“Mom?” Jeff shouted.
“I think it’s time you and I talked,” Cole said, staring straight into her eyes.
“Mom, are you moving or not?”
Robin looked frantically over her shoulder. “Oh…oh, sorry,” she whispered, blushing. She hurried away, then stood on the patio watching as the ball flew across the yard.
After catching a dozen of Jeff’s pitches, Cole got up and walked over to her son. They spoke for several minutes. Reluctantly, Robin decided it was time to go back in.
She busied herself wiping kitchen counters that were already perfectly clean and tried to stop thinking about the beautiful woman she’d seen with Cole on the Wharf.
Jeff stormed into the house. “Mom, would it be okay if Mr. Camden strings up an old tire from the apple tree?”
“I suppose. Why?”
“He said I can use it to practice pitching, and I wouldn’t have to bother you or Kelly.”
“I don’t think I have an old tire.”
“Don’t worry, Mr. Camden has one.” He ran outside again before she could comment.
Jeff was back in the yard with Cole a few minutes later, far too soon to suit Robin. She forced a weak smile. That other woman was a perfect damsel to his knight in shining armor, she thought wryly. Robin, on the other hand, considered herself more of a court jester.
Her musings were abruptly halted when Cole walked into the kitchen, trailed by her son.
“Isn’t it time for your bath, Jeff?” Cole asked pointedly.
It looked for a minute as though the boy was going to argue. For the first time in recent memory, Robin would’ve welcomed some resistance from him.
“I guess,” he said. Bathing was about as popular as homework.
“I didn’t make any coffee,” Robin said in a small voice. She simply couldn’t look at Cole and not see the beautiful blonde on his arm.
“That’s fine. I’m more interested in talking, anyway,” he said. He walked purposefully to the table and pulled out a chair, then gestured for her to sit down.
Robin didn’t. Instead, she frowned at her watch. “My goodness, will you look at the time?”
“No.” Cole headed toward her, and Robin backed slowly into the counter.
“We’re going talk about that kiss,” Cole warned her.
“Please don’t,” she whispered. “It meant nothing! We’d both had a hectic week. We were tired… . I wasn’t myself.”
Cole’s eyes burned into hers. “Then why did you cry?”
