Hot Stuff

Beside her, Mara stood and collected her things.

'Where are you off to?' Annabelle asked.

'Just to say goodbye to Nick and see if he takes the bait.'

Annabelle nodded. 'Sounds like a plan.'

'You?'

'I thought I'd go back to Vaughn's, check my messages, see if anyone called me back for bookings. I'd really like to get Vaughn's face out in front of the general public again.'

Mara rolled her eyes. 'Are you telling me I just plied you with alcohol, let you watch two gorgeous sweaty guys, and all you can think of is work?' She nudged Annabelle in the ribs with her elbow. 'Surely you can think of something more exciting to do with your evening.'

Annabelle closed her eyes and let her imagination flow. What would she want to do if nothing stood in her way? She asked herself. Spend the night alone with Vaughn. Under the stars in a place where no one would bother them. Not his parents, not her uncle, her sisters or even her pets.

She opened her eyes and began digging into her purse.

'Now what are you doing?'

Annabelle scribbled a note onto a sheet of paper, then folded it in half. 'Do you think you could give; me a ride back to the lodge?' she asked. The rest she ' could handle from there.

Mara sighed. 'Okay, okay. So you learned nothing during our hour together. You're still determined to work.'

Annabelle folded the paper in half yet again. 'One thing about me, Mara. I'm a quick study.' She glanced at the other woman. 'Watch and learn.'

She rose and adjusted her clothing, pulling the waistband of her skirt up a notch, which had the desired effect of raising the hem. Next she shrugged until the left side of her wide-necked top fell casually off one shoulder. She ran a hand through her tousled hair, popped a mint from her purse into her mouth and walked down the bleachers toward her unsuspecting target.

VAUGHN AND NICK dismissed the guys from the huddle. They were a select group of talented high schoolers who'd asked them to coach them throughout the summer and give them pointers before the season started again in the fall. Like Vaughn, Nick always enjoyed a chance to hone a kid's skills and so they'd agreed. But even while busting the guys for being too damn lazy, Vaughn's focus had been diverted more than once by the beautiful blonde hanging out on the bleachers.

He was sure the visit had been Mara's idea but if Nick had been as distracted as Vaughn, he hadn't let it show. And Vaughn was determined to have the same restraint and focus on the players, not the women, until his work here was finished.

'Hey, Todd.'

The kid ran over. 'Yeah, Coach?'

'Good practice today.'

'Thanks.' He glanced down and kicked his feet at the dirt.

'How's the summer going?' Vaughn asked him.

He shrugged. 'Not bad considering I have to mow lawns and work with a tutor instead of hanging out with the guys.'

Vaughn laughed. 'I'm sure you're finding time for your friends too.'

Todd grinned. 'Yeah, yeah.'

'Whenever you get frustrated, just remember the goal. You need an education as a fail safe. Just look at me. If I'd blown out this knee in my first season, I'd be out of luck because I didn't have the help you did to work on the problem.'

Todd glanced up at him, trust and idol worship in the kid's gaze. Vaughn wasn't comfortable with either but hell, if he kept the kid motivated, who cared if he thought Vaughn was a saint?

'I hear ya, Coach.'

On impulse, Vaughn reached out and ruffled the boy's hair, then shoved his hand back into his pocket.

'Hey, Todd, you coming?' One of his friends called.

Vaughn inclined his head. 'Better get going.'

'Yeah. Uh, Coach?'

Vaughn raised an eyebrow. 'What's up?'

'Thanks,' Todd said, then turned and ran to catch up with the other guys.

Vaughn turned back to Nick. 'Man does that kid have talent.'

Nick nodded. 'And he's a damn hard worker. The only drawback to the kid getting ahead is his-'

'Hey now!' A loud voice interrupted them. 'I heard today was practice day and I thought I'd stop by and see how my boy's doing.' Roy strode up to both men.

'Speak of the devil,' Nick said, laughing. 'The kids just left.' Nick pointed to the parking lot.

Roy shuffled from foot to foot. 'I saw 'em go. I didn't want Todd to know I' m here asking about him. It embarrasses him in front of his friends.'

Vaughn shoved his hands into his front pockets. Then why bother him? Vaughn wondered. Although he had always wished his father had shown interest in his games and his athletic ability, Roy's smothering would end up driving his son away if he wasn't careful.

'Todd's a real talent and you should be proud,' he informed his foreman.

Roy's shoulders straightened and his head lifted a little higher. 'He's the best thing in my life.' In the split second that Roy emphasized his relationship to Todd, a flicker of what looked like jealousy crossed the other man's features. For all Roy's talk, did he resent the time Vaughn spent with his son?

Nick slapped a hand on the man's shoulder. I’m sure Todd knows it, too.'

'Todd needs your help,' Roy said, meeting Vaughn's gaze with a pleading one of his own and making Vaughn think he'd imagined the envy.

'And he's got help from both myself and Nick.'

Roy kicked at the dirt. 'Part-time help. Imagine how far he could go if you'd take the coaching job at the university.'

Vaughn caught Nick's look which seemed to say I feel for you, man.

Vaughn clenched his teeth. For as much as Roy loved his kid, it wasn't Vaughn's job to see to it Todd succeeded. He had his own life and problems to deal with.

'Listen, Roy. I love the kids and I'll always be here for them in one way or another, but my focus is on the lodge now,' Vaughn said, trying like hell to ignore the disappointed look in the man's eyes.

'Why don't you lay off Vaughn and go see if your boy wants to throw a few balls with you in the yard?' Nick suggested. 'That's always good for both of you.”

Roy frowned. 'He's busy with his friends.”

'Then give him his freedom,' Vaughn said. 'Boys his age need that, especially with all the demands on Todd this summer. He knows you'll be there for him.'

'I guess. Well I'm gonna go back to work. I'm determined to get you back to your normal schedule despite the problems.'

As he stomped off toward the parking lot, Vaughn and Nick exchanged glances. 'He's got nothing else in his life,' Nick said. 'So he drinks and cheats on his wife and puts all his hopes and dreams on Todd. Don't make it your headache.'

'I hear you.' It was just the stupid pain in his chest he got when he thought about both the similarities and differences between himself and Todd. 'I’m going to hit the road,” he said to Nick.

'You're going to deal with Ms. Jordan first.' Nick grinned, looking across the field.

Vaughn drew a deep breath as Annabelle approached, those too high heels and impossibly long legs drawing his attention with each step.

Mara was right behind her, calling, 'Nick, I was hoping to have a word with you.'

Vaughn chuckled. 'You're not out of the woods, either, my friend.'

Annabelle sauntered up to him, a sassy sway to her hips. 'I knew you coached during the school year but I didn't realize you did it during the summer, too.'