Read Online Last Play: Book 1 The Last Play Series by Taylor Hart - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Taylor Hart
Ads: Link
sigh. “You don’t think this whole town will immediately recognize you? Wait, they might be confused you’re not with your wife. Sara, Sheila—?
“Sheena,” he finished for her.
She turned to face him. “You mean the super model.” Sarcasm washed over her face.
She was jealous? He frowned. “Look, you don’t need to compare yourself to her.”
From the look on her face, he could tell the words meant that he’d meant to soothe her, had only served to tick her off. She leaned forward. “Don’t flatter yourself, QB. There’s only one thing you can bet on in a small town, that people talk. And, well, I have had enough of being talked about for a long, long time. And my son doesn’t need that, either. So, yes, I’m up front and honest with people about stuff because I figure they’ll find out anyway. I may as well be truthful.”
The way her fierce pride filled every word made him grin.
She faltered. “Why are you smiling?”
He didn’t want to admit that he found her pride and fierceness attractive, so he asked about her son. “How did Josh’s report go for science yesterday?”
Obviously, she hadn’t been expecting this turn in conversation. “Fine,” she answered quickly.
“Good.” He turned as Tiffany came back to the table and put down their drinks. She winked at Roman before moving away. “Your food will be out in a sec.”
He took a sip of water and kept his face innocent, even though he felt guilty for some reason.
Katie relaxed, leaning back. The side of her lip turned up. “The frogs somehow jumped out and took off down the hall. It took them twenty minutes to round them all up.”
Roman let out a laugh. “No.”
A grin spread across her lips, and all Roman could think about was how pretty she was. She reached for her glass. “His poor teacher sent a note home for me that asked to please not send science projects to school that could jump.”
More laughter came out of Roman, and he envisioned a bunch of second graders chasing twenty frogs around the school. Thinking of the chaos that would have ensued brought on more laughter.
Shaking her head, she grinned. “Ahh, teachers should be sainted.” She took her spoon and scooped out a piece of ice.
His hand shot out and intercepted the ice. “Can you be trusted not to kill yourself today?”
Leveling him with a glare, she wrinkled her nose and took the ice off her spoon, popping it into her mouth. “Poor Mr. Hansen, he’s a good teacher.”
Happy for neutral ground, Roman nodded. “Sounds like it.”
They both held each other’s eyes and Roman could have sworn that Katie blushed. Feeling a rush of heat on his own face, he turned away.
Tiffany came with their food, piling the table with the extra plates of waffles. She went to a side table and got a pitcher of water, filling up the glasses. She focused on Roman. “Is there anything else I can get for you?”
He nodded to Katie. “Katie, is there anything else you need?”
Katie met his gaze and then gave a mock smile to Tiffany. “No.”
Tiffany returned the mock grin and then put a light hand on Roman. “So, have you had anyone show you the sights since you’ve been here? I know it’s been snowy, but the view from the top of this mountain is breathtaking. If you haven’t been, I could show you after work?”
Uncomfortable, but not taken off guard, Roman let out a sigh. “Darn, I wish I could,” he said, lifting a fork to point at Katie, “but Katie has me busy for the next couple of days.”
Tiffany gave Katie an accusing glare.
Katie took the cue from Roman. “We’re finishing a few things around the inn, but maybe you kids could play next week.”
Tiffany held her stare and then shrugged and turned away. “I’ll be back in a little bit.”
Digging into his food, Roman let out a heavenly sigh. “You were right. These waffles are pretty good.”
Katie took a bite of waffle and flashed a smile. “I told you.”
When they were done, Roman sipped
“Sheena,” he finished for her.
She turned to face him. “You mean the super model.” Sarcasm washed over her face.
She was jealous? He frowned. “Look, you don’t need to compare yourself to her.”
From the look on her face, he could tell the words meant that he’d meant to soothe her, had only served to tick her off. She leaned forward. “Don’t flatter yourself, QB. There’s only one thing you can bet on in a small town, that people talk. And, well, I have had enough of being talked about for a long, long time. And my son doesn’t need that, either. So, yes, I’m up front and honest with people about stuff because I figure they’ll find out anyway. I may as well be truthful.”
The way her fierce pride filled every word made him grin.
She faltered. “Why are you smiling?”
He didn’t want to admit that he found her pride and fierceness attractive, so he asked about her son. “How did Josh’s report go for science yesterday?”
Obviously, she hadn’t been expecting this turn in conversation. “Fine,” she answered quickly.
“Good.” He turned as Tiffany came back to the table and put down their drinks. She winked at Roman before moving away. “Your food will be out in a sec.”
He took a sip of water and kept his face innocent, even though he felt guilty for some reason.
Katie relaxed, leaning back. The side of her lip turned up. “The frogs somehow jumped out and took off down the hall. It took them twenty minutes to round them all up.”
Roman let out a laugh. “No.”
A grin spread across her lips, and all Roman could think about was how pretty she was. She reached for her glass. “His poor teacher sent a note home for me that asked to please not send science projects to school that could jump.”
More laughter came out of Roman, and he envisioned a bunch of second graders chasing twenty frogs around the school. Thinking of the chaos that would have ensued brought on more laughter.
Shaking her head, she grinned. “Ahh, teachers should be sainted.” She took her spoon and scooped out a piece of ice.
His hand shot out and intercepted the ice. “Can you be trusted not to kill yourself today?”
Leveling him with a glare, she wrinkled her nose and took the ice off her spoon, popping it into her mouth. “Poor Mr. Hansen, he’s a good teacher.”
Happy for neutral ground, Roman nodded. “Sounds like it.”
They both held each other’s eyes and Roman could have sworn that Katie blushed. Feeling a rush of heat on his own face, he turned away.
Tiffany came with their food, piling the table with the extra plates of waffles. She went to a side table and got a pitcher of water, filling up the glasses. She focused on Roman. “Is there anything else I can get for you?”
He nodded to Katie. “Katie, is there anything else you need?”
Katie met his gaze and then gave a mock smile to Tiffany. “No.”
Tiffany returned the mock grin and then put a light hand on Roman. “So, have you had anyone show you the sights since you’ve been here? I know it’s been snowy, but the view from the top of this mountain is breathtaking. If you haven’t been, I could show you after work?”
Uncomfortable, but not taken off guard, Roman let out a sigh. “Darn, I wish I could,” he said, lifting a fork to point at Katie, “but Katie has me busy for the next couple of days.”
Tiffany gave Katie an accusing glare.
Katie took the cue from Roman. “We’re finishing a few things around the inn, but maybe you kids could play next week.”
Tiffany held her stare and then shrugged and turned away. “I’ll be back in a little bit.”
Digging into his food, Roman let out a heavenly sigh. “You were right. These waffles are pretty good.”
Katie took a bite of waffle and flashed a smile. “I told you.”
When they were done, Roman sipped
Similar Books
