Steal My Heart (Bachelors & Bridesmaids) by Barbara Freethy Page B

Michael said lightly. "You look like you have some young football players here."
    "Cameron and Doug love to play," Tom said. "Joey and Mark would probably rather be building something, but it's a Sunday afternoon tradition." Tom paused, giving Michael a quick look. "Hey, you wouldn't want to throw the kids a pass, would you?"
    "Tom," she protested. "I didn't bring Michael here to play football."
    "I know I shouldn't ask, but Cameron is playing peewee football right now, and he hasn't been doing very well. It would really perk him up to meet a pro player."
    Liz saw the strain behind Michael's smile and knew she'd put him in a bad position. "Maybe later," she said. "I want Michael to meet Dad."
    "It's okay," Michael cut in. "I'd be happy to throw some passes to the kids."
    "Great," Tom said, leading Michael over to meet Greg and the kids.
    She watched as Michael immediately jumped into the game. He demonstrated the best way to throw the ball, then sent the kids a short distance away so they could practice their catches.
    While Tom was helping the kids get into position, her brother Greg came over with a smile.
    "Michael Stafford? Dad is going to love you," Greg said. "Does he know Michael is coming?"
    "It's a surprise."
    "I didn't know you and Stafford were friends."
    "We were in the same grade but not friends. However, I ran into him a few days ago. He's actually competing for the same account. So we're rivals again."
    Greg gave her a thoughtful look. "If you're opponents, why are you hanging out with him?"
    That was a good question. "I thought Dad would love meeting him."
    "Well, that's true. Dad is going to go nuts. He used to rave about Stafford when he was playing for the high school team. I think he wished Tom or I had been even half as good as Stafford, but we did not have the talent." Greg paused. "So now Stafford is in PR?"
    "With his sister's firm. He can't play anymore because of his injury."
    "That sucks. Good for him for moving on."
    Michael was good at moving on, she thought. He was also good at hiding his feelings. She knew the last thing he wanted to be doing right now was playing football with her nephews, but once committed, he'd completely invested himself in the activity. And he was good with the kids, too. He was patient, lighthearted and encouraging. He would make a great coach. Maybe he should really reconsider his stance on the next stage of his career. Not that it was any of her business.
    "Look at Cameron's face," Greg said. "He's over the moon."
    She saw the adoration in her nephew's face as he looked up at Michael, and it reminded her of how often she'd seen people look at Michael that way. As teenagers, she hadn't been as impressed with him, but seeing him now putting himself out for her family, she had to admit she was starting to like him even more.
    Bringing him home had definitely been a bad idea.
    Fifteen minutes later, Michael had an even worse idea.
    "Let's play a game," Michael said, waving her over. "We need you, Liz."
    "I don't think so."
    "Come on, Lizzie, Greg said impatiently. "We can do four against four if you play. And you can be on Michael's team."
    "You can be my receiver," Michael told her with a cheerful smile.
    "Maybe you can be my receiver," she returned. "Or do you only know how to throw a football?"
    "I can catch. Can you throw?"
    "I can throw," she said, meeting his gaze.
    "Well, I want to see that," he returned.
    "Then let me show you."
    "You're on."
    She and Michael lined up with two of her nephews while her brothers faced them with the other two boys.
    Her nephew Cameron hiked the ball to her. Michael dodged Greg with a move worthy of an NFL player and headed toward the far end of the park. He wasn't going to make it easy on her, she quickly realized. Sidestepping Tom, who was closing in fast, she drew her arm back and threw the ball to Michael.
    It had been years since she'd thrown a football, but it was probably the best spiral she'd ever thrown. She was more than a