I see what he means. I have high hopes for you. Very high hopes.”
There was something about the way Brad’s grandmother said those words that unsettled her. The door opening left no time to consider it, however.
“The walk is shoveled, and I’m guessing the dirt’s been dished, so give me another piece of that cake fast. We have a game to get to.”
****
They registered, dropped their things at the hotel, stopped for burgers as promised, and were climbing the bleachers, looking for seats, as starting lineups were announced.
As they climbed over a gray-haired man who’d staked out the aisle seat and wasn’t giving it up, two men about Brad’s age greeted him by name from two rows up. Both looked at her curiously.
They were assistant coaches from two rival teams, and she’d met them when their teams played at Ashton. Clearly they didn’t recognize her.
Brad had told her he was primarily here to connect with a senior forward who’d already committed to Ashton – a courtesy call. But it was also an opportunity to watch a hot young guard named Eric Bridge.
There’d be no contact with Bridge, since he was a sophomore. But it was good to let him see Ashton’s interest, preparing for when they could communicate with him this summer.
Brad was making notes at halftime when Katie noticed the man on the aisle, who’d stood to stretch, look longingly toward the concession stand.
“We’ll be happy to save your seat, sir,” she offered, leaning around Brad. He accepted with thanks.
Almost before he’d vacated the seat, the two rival assistant coaches showed up.
“Spencer,” said good-looking Heath Taub. “Not hard to guess why you’re here.”
Brad grinned. “Wouldn’t think it would be hard for even you to guess, since I’m here to see our freshman-to-be, who also happens to be the player you most wanted to sign last go-around.”
“Hah. On to greener pastures, now, Spencer. Don’t try to tell me you’re not drooling after Eric Bridge.”
“Hi, Katie,” said the other man, pleasant and solid. “Sorry I didn’t recognize you right off. Guess it was seeing you out of context.”
“Hi, Walt. Good to see you. How’s your family?”
Heath snapped his fingers, “Katie – Coach Draper’s Katie. I didn’t recognize you. You look great, Katie.” His voice dropped on the last sentence, as if it were private and sexy.
She stifled a chuckle. “Hi, Heath.”
He reached past Brad to cup her shoulder and rub. People sitting beyond her didn’t leave enough room for her to avoid the caress. Brad resolved the issue by batting away the arm stretched in front of him.
“I’ll be sure to tell C.J. you were drooling over her,” he said coldly.
The other man straightened, alarm in his face. Walt laughed. “Not even Taub’s willing to risk the wrath of Coach Draper. And my family’s fine, thanks for asking, Katie.”
“Good. Your daughter’s all over that flu?”
“Don’t encourage him. Take pity on me, Katie. I’ve already heard all that family stuff.” Heath Taub pretended to shudder. “What matters is you and me. How’d you like to go for a drink with me tonight?”
“No. Thank you.”
“She’s not going anywhere with you, Taub.”
“Don’t tell me I’m intruding on a budding relationship here.” He said it with mock dismay, but avid eyes.
“No,” Brad said. At the same time she said, “Not at all.”
“Because I’d hate for you to have your heart broken, Katie. You know Spencer has quite the reputation. Yes, I see you do know. So come out with me after the game and I’ll make sure you’re armored with all the facts. And, who knows, we might find time for a few other things.”
Brad made a sound low in his throat.
Heath smiled. “Talk only, of course. Unless …”
“It’s moot,” she said briskly, “since I already declined.”
“You could change your—”
“She said no, Taub.”
“Why’re you sticking your oar in, Spencer? It’s none of your
There was something about the way Brad’s grandmother said those words that unsettled her. The door opening left no time to consider it, however.
“The walk is shoveled, and I’m guessing the dirt’s been dished, so give me another piece of that cake fast. We have a game to get to.”
****
They registered, dropped their things at the hotel, stopped for burgers as promised, and were climbing the bleachers, looking for seats, as starting lineups were announced.
As they climbed over a gray-haired man who’d staked out the aisle seat and wasn’t giving it up, two men about Brad’s age greeted him by name from two rows up. Both looked at her curiously.
They were assistant coaches from two rival teams, and she’d met them when their teams played at Ashton. Clearly they didn’t recognize her.
Brad had told her he was primarily here to connect with a senior forward who’d already committed to Ashton – a courtesy call. But it was also an opportunity to watch a hot young guard named Eric Bridge.
There’d be no contact with Bridge, since he was a sophomore. But it was good to let him see Ashton’s interest, preparing for when they could communicate with him this summer.
Brad was making notes at halftime when Katie noticed the man on the aisle, who’d stood to stretch, look longingly toward the concession stand.
“We’ll be happy to save your seat, sir,” she offered, leaning around Brad. He accepted with thanks.
Almost before he’d vacated the seat, the two rival assistant coaches showed up.
“Spencer,” said good-looking Heath Taub. “Not hard to guess why you’re here.”
Brad grinned. “Wouldn’t think it would be hard for even you to guess, since I’m here to see our freshman-to-be, who also happens to be the player you most wanted to sign last go-around.”
“Hah. On to greener pastures, now, Spencer. Don’t try to tell me you’re not drooling after Eric Bridge.”
“Hi, Katie,” said the other man, pleasant and solid. “Sorry I didn’t recognize you right off. Guess it was seeing you out of context.”
“Hi, Walt. Good to see you. How’s your family?”
Heath snapped his fingers, “Katie – Coach Draper’s Katie. I didn’t recognize you. You look great, Katie.” His voice dropped on the last sentence, as if it were private and sexy.
She stifled a chuckle. “Hi, Heath.”
He reached past Brad to cup her shoulder and rub. People sitting beyond her didn’t leave enough room for her to avoid the caress. Brad resolved the issue by batting away the arm stretched in front of him.
“I’ll be sure to tell C.J. you were drooling over her,” he said coldly.
The other man straightened, alarm in his face. Walt laughed. “Not even Taub’s willing to risk the wrath of Coach Draper. And my family’s fine, thanks for asking, Katie.”
“Good. Your daughter’s all over that flu?”
“Don’t encourage him. Take pity on me, Katie. I’ve already heard all that family stuff.” Heath Taub pretended to shudder. “What matters is you and me. How’d you like to go for a drink with me tonight?”
“No. Thank you.”
“She’s not going anywhere with you, Taub.”
“Don’t tell me I’m intruding on a budding relationship here.” He said it with mock dismay, but avid eyes.
“No,” Brad said. At the same time she said, “Not at all.”
“Because I’d hate for you to have your heart broken, Katie. You know Spencer has quite the reputation. Yes, I see you do know. So come out with me after the game and I’ll make sure you’re armored with all the facts. And, who knows, we might find time for a few other things.”
Brad made a sound low in his throat.
Heath smiled. “Talk only, of course. Unless …”
“It’s moot,” she said briskly, “since I already declined.”
“You could change your—”
“She said no, Taub.”
“Why’re you sticking your oar in, Spencer? It’s none of your
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