by Carol James
Probably not. Meeting her dad was fine, but Sam was most likely the last person Katherine would want to see. He’d embarrassed her last night. She’d expected him to try to kiss her, and everything in him had wanted to, but he hadn’t. He wouldn’t mess that up twice. Although, maybe the first time didn’t really count. They’d only been kids. Plus that attempt had been more like a hit-and-run than a kiss.
Half way across the field, Cassie stopped, placed her hands on her hips, and yelled back in his direction. “Sam? You coming?”
Let the good times roll. “You bet.” He grabbed his bag and jogged over to meet Mr. Herrington.
Cassie hugged her father as he spoke. “Great game, Cass. I’ve never seen you play like that.”
“Thanks! Daddy, this is Sam. He was Beth’s date last night.”
Sam extended his hand. “Hello, Mr. Herrington. Sam Tucker.”
“Call me Jim. Nice to meet you, Sam.”
“The same, sir.” He dropped Jim’s hand and turned toward Katherine. “Good morning, Katherine.”
Her face reddened. “Hello, Sam. This is quite a surprise.”
“Same here.” In the bright morning light, she was even more beautiful than she’d been last night. Clean and fresh looking. He was staring.
As she looked away and focused on the ground, Sam looked back at her dad.
Jim cleared his throat and briefly glanced sideways toward Katherine. “So, I’d heard the team was bringing on a professional soccer player to help coach Cassie’s team for the rest of the season. I’m guessing you’re the guy.”
Katherine’s eyes were still downward as Sam answered. “Well, sir, it’s more of an advisory position. Brad and I were college roommates, and when he found out I was coming to Crescent Bluff on medical leave, he asked if I’d be willing to help. So, Brad and John are still the coaches. But, yeah, I’m the one.”
Jim nodded. “I see. Well, I already respect your advice. I’ve never seen Miss Cassandra play quite like that.” He pulled Cassie close and kissed her on the top of her head. “Well done, sweetie.”
Sam held out a fist toward Cassie, and she bumped it back. “I knew she could do it, and she didn’t let me down.”
“It was fun. Scary, but fun.” Cassie grinned.
“So, who do you play for, Sam?”
“Fulham Football Club in the UK.”
Katherine turned and stepped away.
“Glad to have you on board, son.” Jim shook his hand again. “Cassie, let’s go across the field and get the cooler.”
“But Dad, do I have to? It’s not that heavy.”
“Cassie, I’d like your help, please.” Jim smiled at him. “Nice to meet you, Sam.”
“Same here, sir.”
As Cassie and Jim headed across the field, Sam turned toward Katherine.
She had one camp chair folded up under her arm and was trying to pull the carrying bag up around it.
He stepped toward her. “Here, let me help you with that.”
Her eyes never left the chair. “It’s OK. I’ve got it.” Her words were short, cool.
“I’ll just get this one then.” He collapsed her father’s chair, pulled the bag around it, tightened the cord at the top, and laid it on the ground. “Sure I can’t give you a hand with that one?”
“No.” She exhaled out loud and flipped her chair upside down. Struggling to slip the bag on over the chair feet, she muttered under her breath, “Stupid chair.”
Something had upset her, and most likely, not the chair. As amusing as the scene was, he wouldn’t laugh. She was frustrated enough without making it worse, and besides, she was particularly cute when she was angry.
Her face was a little redder this time, her voice a bit louder. “What in the world is wrong with this thing?”
The question was obviously rhetorical, but he’d answer anyway. “I’m guessing the feet are caught on the cord or something inside the bag.”
As she jerked the bag off the chair, it fell over.
He’d watched long enough. This was his chance. He reached down and picked it up. “Come on, Katherine. Hand me the bag, please.”
“Sam, I said I could do this.” Her face was scarlet.
“I’m not doubting your abilities. It’s not about you. The least you can do is help me feel useful by humoring me. Besides, I minored in chair-folding in college, you know.”
As she looked over at him, he grinned. Uh-oh, no corresponding smile.
Lips pursed, she handed him the bag. “Whatever.”
Opening the bag all the way, he slowly slipped it down over the chair. Then he flipped the chair upright and tightened the cord. “There you go. See, as I said, I’m a trained professional.”
“Yeah, so I heard.” She spat out the words as she glared at him.
Something more than chair-folding was going on here. He reached down and picked up both chairs and then looked straight into her eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?” All he’d done was help fold up a couple of chairs.
“Never mind. I don’t think this is the time or place to go into it.” She crossed her arms and looked away.
The sidelines were filling up with onlookers for the following game.
She was right. He stepped closer and lowered his voice. “When, then?”
“Hey, Sam.” Cassie’s voice broke through the tension as she and Jim set the cooler on the ground. “My dad’s grilling out tonight. Can you come eat dinner with us?”
“Yeah, we’d love to have you, son.”
Cassie’s eyes sparkled, Jim’s were warm, Katherine’s...icy. “Sounds great. Thank you, sir.” He stepped away from Katherine. “Let me carry the chairs to the car for you.”
She grabbed them out of his hands. “No, thanks. We got them here without your help, and we can get them back just fine.” She turned and marched away, one bag hung on each shoulder.
Jim flashed his palms up in the hands-off position, and shook his head.
The two read each other’s mind. Women...
Sam called out, “Tonight, then, Katherine.”
~*~
She sank back into the wicker rocker in the upper seating area of her mother’s garden. She hadn’t come close to getting everything on her list done today, especially since she’d had to run to the grocery store and then prepare all the side dishes for tonight. The make-believe headache she’d used as an excuse last night had blossomed into a full-blown reality. Enveloping herself in the dark womb of her bedroom and the silkiness of the chenille throw at the foot of her bed sounded like heaven. But no. Time instead to put on a happy face for company.
The mockingbirds echoed the cheerful call of the cardinals, and somewhere in the distance a couple of squirrels gossiped back and forth. Before long, the grating summer music of cicadas would be all she could hear in the evenings. She closed her eyes, leaned her head back, and breathed deeply. The soft scent of jasmine and roses flowed over her. Mom had poured so much of herself into this haven.
When she’d been a child and the Sunday School Bible story had been about the Garden of Eden, Katherine had always envisioned this spot. Truly, she couldn’t imagine how paradise could be any more wonderful. Except for the weeds...surely there they would be nonexistent.
Before long, everything would be in bloom, and then she’d have her hands full. She’d never been interested in gardening, but out of love for her mother she’d do all she could to keep the yard in shape while she was home.
Today had been a disaster, starting with seeing Sam at the soccer game. She’d acted like a spoiled child at the field this morning. But she’d been, and still was, angry with him. He’d lied to her. Just one more in the list of traits she wasn’t looking for—short, bald, and dishonest. Neither was smug, as far as she could remember.
Yet, she hadn’t exactly earned the kindness award today. For some reason, he seemed to bring out the worst in her. But no matter how he’d behaved or what his character was or wasn’t, she owed him an apology.
&nbs
p; From around the front of the house came a deep-throated rumble. James Bond had arrived.
Normally, she would have gotten up and let him in the house, but Cassie would take care of that. Young girls always seemed to have crushes and dreamed of relationships that could never be. Maybe they saw a maturity in older men that boys their age lacked. Or maybe Cassie saw some of the characteristics in him that she wanted in her future husband. Plus, knowing the relationship could never develop made it safe. She could love from afar without the strain of commitment or the mess of a breakup when she found out he wasn’t The One.
She’d have to talk with Cassie and set her straight.
The fresh scent of his cologne blended in with the garden potpourri. He came out the patio door and down the steps from the deck behind her. His deep voice sounded. “Hello, Katherine. Lovely evening.”
British. A mixture of British and Texan. No wonder she hadn’t been able to place his accent last night. She turned and looked up at him. “Hi, Sam.”
He was dressed in long, baggy shorts, a formfitting royal blue t-shirt, and flip flops, a glass of ice tea in his hand. The color of the shirt only enhanced the rich blue of his eyes.
As her stomach fluttered, she gestured toward the chair next to hers. “Please, have a seat.”
“Thanks.” He dropped down in the companion rocker.
“Where’s your shadow?”
“Pardon?”
“Cassie.”
“Oh, my biggest fan?”
When he grinned, her heart jumped.
“Your father has her busy helping him.” He sat up and turned toward her. “He’s a nice man, your dad.”
Katherine smiled. “Yes, he is. My mom was a nice lady, too.”
“I imagine she was.” He leaned back in the chair and focused toward the trellis across the way. The rocker creaked against the stone patio as his feet pushed it back and forth. “Is this the time and place?”
He certainly jumped right to the point. No easing his way in.
The rocking stopped as he looked into her eyes. “I’ve obviously done something to offend you, and I’d like to apologize for whatever it is.”
She took a deep breath. “No, Sam. I’m the one who needs to apologize for this morning. What you did shouldn’t have had any bearing on my behavior. I’m responsible for my actions, and I let them get out of control.”
“I didn’t realize helping you fold up some chairs was off limits.”
“It wasn’t that.”
“If you’ll tell me exactly what I did, I’ll see if I can fix it.” His eyes were warm.
Her heart beat faster. Here we go. “You lied to me.”
“What?” His eyebrows knit together as if she’d spoken Greek.
“Last night you told me you were in PR, and then this morning you tell my dad you’re a professional soccer player. And from what I observed at the field today, that’s the truth. Why would you lie to me?” Her heart pounded even faster, and a lump formed in her throat. She hardly knew him, and his actions shouldn’t affect her like this, shouldn’t even matter.
He ran a hand across the top of his head as if smoothing his hair...if he’d had hair to smooth. “That’s it?” he asked, a smile spreading across his face. And then he chuckled.
So, he thought this was funny. Not to her.
His words were gentle. “I didn’t lie to you.”
“Oh, so you lied to my dad, then.” Either way he was dishonest.
“Whoa, there. Don’t go deciding guilt or innocence without all the facts.” The smile was gone. In silence, he stared again at the trellis and then turned back toward her. “May I approach the bench, Your Honor?” The smile was back.
How could he be so flippant? “I’m serious. Honesty is important to me.”
“Me, too.” He cleared his throat. “May I approach the bench?” This time the words were spoken slowly, stressed as if they’d not been understood the first time.
So now he was making fun of her. “I guess. Something tells me it wouldn’t really matter how I answered.”
“Probably not.” He paused. “I’m under contract to play football for Fulham through the end of next year. Instead of breaking the contract when I destroyed my knee, management moved me to PR until I could return to the field. Right now, I’m on a six month leave to recuperate. And I came here because I needed some time away and thought a change of scenery would be good.” His eyes reached deep into hers.
Her face was on fire. Not only had she insulted him, she’d made a fool of herself.
He took a long drink of his tea. “The verdict, Your Honor?”
“Not guilty, Mr. Tucker. I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have been so judgmental.” If only she could hit the rewind button. “I hope you’ll forgive me.”
“I don’t know, Katherine,” he replied, looking down at his feet. “Having one’s integrity called into question can be quite insulting.” When he looked back into her face, his eyes twinkled. “Maybe some penance would be appropriate here.”
“Penance?”
“Yeah, penance.” His forehead wrinkled and he pursed his lips. “Another Two Step lesson ought to do it. I may never be able to forgive you, otherwise.”
The breath she’d been unconsciously holding escaped as she relaxed back against the chair cushion. If he’d been Clark, she’d never have heard the end of it. But he wasn’t. Sam seemed to have a good heart, even though he wasn’t her type. Having romantic feelings toward him was out of the question, but maybe they could become friends. Seemed as if they both needed one right now.
“I don’t see how I could go on if you were unable to forgive me.” She smiled. “Penance, it is.”
He grinned as he stood, held up his left hand, and opened his right in invitation.
“Now? Here?” Her palms became clammy just as they had yesterday evening.
“Sure. Why not? Or is this not the time or place again?”
“Well, I just...I mean, I hadn’t planned on this tonight.”
“Oh, I see. So your penance needs to be planned. OK, how about if we plan on next Friday night? Say about five o’clock? With some dinner afterward? Is that planned enough?”
4
Katherine leaned back against the smooth porcelain of the bathtub and closed her eyes while the steamy water blanketed in citrus and vanilla scented bubbles rose up to her chin. What a week. Thank goodness it was over. Dad had left for Southeast Asia last night, so maybe things would be calmer now that she’d gotten him out the door. Sam should be here in about an hour, and she was soaking in this tub until the last possible minute.
She hadn’t seen him since Saturday night when she’d apologized, and he’d arranged her “penance.” That evening’s headache had grown so intense she’d ended up excusing herself from dinner, leaving Dad and Cassie to entertain him for the rest of the evening. But that was OK. After all, he’d been their guest. Not hers.
She’d figured he’d call the house sometime this week to confirm tonight, but he hadn’t. Maybe he’d forgotten and wasn’t coming. If so, that would be absolutely fine. Displaying her fledgling dance skills in the middle of the sea of people at The Cantina again wasn’t really her idea of a fun time.
“Beth?” Cassie’s voice squeezed under the bathroom door.
“Yes, sweetie.”
“You just got a text. Want me to bring your phone in?”
It had to be someone in Dallas. She hadn’t given her number to anyone here in Crescent Bluff. Well, except Brad. Maybe it was something about soccer. Or it might be from Clark. He’d promised he’d contact her if business picked back up.
When she’d turned down his proposal and suggested they take some time apart, he’d granted her wish by laying her off. Although he’d assured her the temporary layoff was simply a business decision and nothing personal, the dismissal had been very personal to her. The message certainly could be from him.
“Beth? Did you hear me?”
“Sorry, Cassie. Can you see who
it’s from?”
Cassie’s voice rang with excitement. “It’s from Sam.”
“Sam? How did he get my number?”
“He asked for it last night at soccer practice, and I gave it to him. I meant to tell you, but I forgot.”
“Cass, I’d prefer that you not give out my phone number to just anyone.”
“Sam’s not just anyone. He’s your boyfriend.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.”
“You’re dating, aren’t you? Want me to bring your phone in?”
Katherine sighed. Cassie would continue to argue any reply she could offer. “Why don’t you read it to me, please?” Maybe he’d texted to say he’d forgotten or was canceling. She crossed her fingers and would have crossed her toes if she was capable of that feat.
“It says, ‘Planning on our plan for your planned penance.’ What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Just that he’s coming at five. That’s all. Thanks, sweetie. I’ll be out in a few minutes.” Katherine ran a little more hot water into the tub and grabbed her loofah. No more relaxing.
~*~
Katherine glanced sideways at Sam as he pulled up to the intersection where the truck had honked at them last Friday. Tonight, he didn’t ask which way she wanted to go.
He simply turned left toward The Cantina. He looked really nice in khakis and a light blue, button-down shirt. In the soft evening light, his eyes were more the icy turquoise of those glaciers on television’s nature channel than the deep blue of the Caribbean. He must know what blue did for his eyes. He’d worn it three of the four times she’d seen him. When he looked her way and smiled, electricity coursed through her body, causing an involuntary shiver.
Raising his eyebrows, he reached to turn down the air conditioning. “Too cold?”
She was anything but cold. “No,” she replied. “I’m fine.”
They sped by the cutoff for The Cantina. “Sam, you missed the turn.”
“No, I didn’t,” he said, grinning.
“But what about my penance?”
As he reached over and squeezed her hand, the warmth from his touch flooded though her. “No worries. Planned is what you wanted. Planned is what you’ll get.”
