“See, Ron?” Rachel said. “Derek thinks you should go to the recital, too.”
It wasn’t exactly what he’d said, but Derek wasn’t about to argue. Ron didn’t need to hang around because of him.
The older man thought for a moment, then nodded. “You’ve convinced me.”
Rachel breathed a sigh of relief. For a second she’d thought the older man might insist on staying. Family was important to Ron. After losing his son in a motorcycle accident last year, he’d made his loved ones even more of a priority. Still, instead of immediately hightailing it for the exit, the event coordinator turned back to Derek.
While the two men talked, Rachel stayed silent, listening, amazed at Derek’s commitment to youth mentoring. It was a far cry from what she’d read and heard in the media recently. In fact, the media had her believing the only thing Derek Rossi cared about was himself.
“Rachel, I’m hungry,” Joy whined when Ron finally strolled off. “When are we going to eat?”
“I’m a little hungry myself,” Derek said.
Rachel turned. His eyes were blue, like hers. But while hers were average run-of-the-mill blue, Derek’s reminded her of the color of the ocean off a Caribbean island.
They were the eyes of a man who’d left a trail of broken hearts in his wake. Clean-shaven, with dark hair cut stylishly short, the former professional baseball player had a lean muscular build and a classic handsomeness that most women would find appealing.
She, on the other hand, preferred her men bigger, more rugged and bulky.
Like Tom.
Her heart gave a little ping.
“How about we all get something to eat?” Rachel said without thinking.
Derek’s gaze turned speculative. “What about your husband? Will he join us?”
“I’m not married. Not anymore.” Rachel spoke in the even tone she’d perfected the past three years. “My husband died.”
Confusion clouded his eyes. “You’re wearing a wedding ring.”
Rachel glanced at her left hand. Should she try to explain? He wouldn’t get it. Even her friends didn’t understand. How could they? They’d never had a husband murdered. Never kissed their spouse goodbye and had a sheriff show up less than an hour later with devastating news. They hadn’t gone into early labor from the shock and been consumed by guilt because the baby, their long-awaited first child, had been too small to survive.
“Wearing it makes me feel like Tom is still with me, close by,” she said unapologetically. “It probably sounds crazy to you—”
“Not at all,” he said with such conviction that she almost believed him. “My father passed away from cancer when I was a little younger than Joy. My mother wore her wedding ring until I was out of high school.”
The empathy in his voice took her by surprise. Oddly, it made Rachel feel better to know another young widow had also sought comfort in the familiar….
“I think Rachel likes pizza,” she heard Joy say.
Rachel pulled her thoughts back to the present, wondering when the conversation had made the jump from rings to food. “Pizza is good.”
“Great. Let’s meet at Perfect Pizza.” Derek turned and headed toward the door.
“Wait.” Rachel hurried across the shiny hardwood after him, Joy trailing behind her. “You shouldn’t drive. Not yet.”
He paused and turned. The hand holding the ice pack dropped to his side. “I told you, I’m fine. Once the Tylenol kicks in, I’ll be ready to pitch a no-hitter.”
Rachel couldn’t keep her eyes off the large hematoma on the side of his head. This was her fault. She should have watched Joy more closely, made sure the child didn’t throw a ball to someone who wasn’t looking.
“It’s not your fault,” he said softly as if he could read her mind. “Or anyone’s fault. That’s why they call ’em accidents.”
He seemed quite sincere. Gracious as well as handsome. It was a potent combination. Rachel could see why women liked him.
“Seriously,” he said. “I’m more than capable of driving myself.”
The easy thing would be for her to agree. After all, he’d probably be okay. Then again, he’d taken a hard hit. He’d been confused and unsteady. No, she couldn’t in good conscience let him get behind the wheel. Not yet, anyway.
“How about you humor me and ride with us over to the restaurant,” she said. “Depending on how you’re doing after we eat, you can either drive yourself home or I can drop you off.”
Derek’s quicksilver grin flashed. “You are bound and determined to get me in your car.”
Although her heart skipped a beat, Rachel ignored the charm this guy seemed to have in abundance.
“I’m not going to let this drop.” She resisted an unexpected urge to banter. “I don’t want anything to happen to you on my watch.”
His lips twitched. “Your watch?”
“Say yes,” Joy said, finally speaking up. “I want to eat.”
Derek thought for a moment, then nodded, shifting his gaze to Rachel. “Ms. Milligan, you’ve got yourself a date.”
A date? All she’d done was offer to drive him for pizza. Because they were hungry. Not because she wanted to get to know him better like you would if you were…dating…someone.
Rachel opened her mouth, then shut it. There was no point in getting hung up on semantics. They both knew it wasn’t a date. If the guy once voted “The Sexiest Player in the Major Leagues” was going to jump back into the dating game after his engagement scandal, it wouldn’t be with her.
Buy now to enjoy the rest of this heartwarming romance It Started with Joy
Also by Cindy Kirk
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