town, getting to the field with ten minutes to spare. Parents and families lined the bleachers, wearing the various colors of each team. The kids huddled in the dugout, preparing to take the field. Josh barely put the truck in park before getting out and stepping around to the bed. In case of emergency, he always kept spare, bright yellow Hornet’s gear in the toolbox.
“Here.” Josh tossed Reggie a baseball cap with yellow and black stripes and a hornet embroidered on the front.
She caught it with one hand, her mouth opened in a small ‘o’. “You want me to stay for the game?”
He pulled off his shirt and tossed it in the toolbox. “Yeah. Why not?”
He noticed her eyes trailing over his chest, moving down to his stomach, before moving back up again. Not a linebacker by any means, but Josh kept himself in pretty good shape. Had to, considering his line of work. Being outside, sweating, constantly doing heavy lifting, it helped, but he’d never be on the cover of a magazine. Reggie’s tongue shot out of the side of her mouth before hiding away again. She sucked on her bottom lip and Josh smirked.
“You okay there?” he asked.
Reggie cleared her throat. Crimson speckled her cheeks like she’d missed different spots with the sunblock. “Fine.” She ran her fingers through her hair, smoothing back the fly away strands at her temples and pulled the cap on. “Never been to a little league game is all and I don’t want to intrude on your family.”
Josh decided not to tease her and pulled on a Hornet’s t-shirt, the word coach embroidered across the left breast. “What do you mean you’ve never been to a little league game before? You never played? No friends or family that played?”
A wave of uncertainty passed through her gaze and she pressed her brows together before shaking her head. “Not a sports family.”
Pulling on his cap, Josh decided not to press. Wasn’t his business, and he had a game to coach. “Well,” he said, smiling. “Guess you’re in for a treat, then.”
She looked over her shoulder uncertainly. “I can walk back to the bunker.”
“It’s over an hour away,” Josh said, gesturing to the road. “And a taxi will cost a fortune. Just come and relax. You’ll still get paid for the afternoon.”
Putting her hands on her hips, Reggie looked one way and then the other, then across to the bushes, as if she were searching for something. The roar from the bleachers got louder as game time closed in, but Josh waited patiently, not wanting to push her. He didn’t understand her reluctance. It was just a little league game. It hadn’t gotten past him, though. How often she looked around, noted her surroundings.
Taking a deep breath, Reggie looked back to him. “All right then. I guess I’m going to my first Hornet’s game.”
Grinning, Josh winked. “You won’t regret it.”
He walked her over to the bleachers. Sylvia sat near the end, decked out in Hornet’s gear. She smiled at Josh and leaned over to kiss his cheek. “Hey there. You’re cutting it close.”
“I’m right on time. You didn’t think I’d miss the game, did you?”
She laughed and shook her head. “Never had a doubt.” Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, she looked past him. “This must be Reggie?”
Stepping to the side, Josh nodded. “Yeah, in order to actually make it on time, I needed to have her come along with me. Thought you could keep her company?”
“You’ll have to excuse Josh,” Sylvia said. “He was raised with my wife and clearly neither of them have any manners.” She held out a hand to Reggie. “It’s nice to meet you. I’m Sylvia.”
Taking a step forward, Reggie dipped her head in recognition and shook her hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“I swear, you’d think they were raised in a barn.”
“Don’t let mom hear you say that,” Josh said. His gaze roamed the over the bleachers and then to the dugout. He didn’t see her anywhere. “Speaking of where’d she go?”
“Doctor’s appointment,” Sylvia said.
He frowned. “She didn’t mention anything about a doctor’s appointment earlier.”
Sylvia shrugged. “She dropped off the gear and said to wish the kids luck.” She looked past Josh and chuckled. “Come on, Reggie.” She patted the empty spot on the bleachers beside her. “Have a seat. I can feel Carrie glaring at her brother while he fraternizes instead of coaches.”
Josh adored Sylvia. She had such an easy-going nature that people found themselves comfortable around her. He hoped Sylvia could work her magic and melt Reggie’s tension away. He’d call his mom after the game, make sure everything was okay, but for now, he needed to focus on the Hornets.
“Good point,” he said. “I should go.” He jabbed his thumb over his shoulder. “I’ll see you guys after the game.”
Turning on his heel, he jogged over to Carrie and the Hornets, who were all buzzing with excitement.
“About time,” Carrie said. “What’s she doing here?”
“Didn’t have time to drop her off,” Josh said. “Sylvia will keep her company.”
Carrie narrowed her gaze. “You left a stranger with my wife?”
“Yes,” Josh drawled. “I left Sylvia alone in a dark alley with a woman she doesn’t know, no witnesses, and absolutely no way of obtaining help should she need it.”
“Don’t be a smart ass.”
“Come on, Carrie,” Josh said, grabbing the clip board. “She’s not an ax murder. Now, get your head out of the bleachers and into the game.” He looked at the kids. “We ready to play?!”
A collective ‘yeah’ roared through the dugout and Josh winked at his two kids, who both had genuine smiles on their faces.