“Be silly to miss them, Percy. Not often we get the caliber sportsmen like these wanting to come to Cherry Lake.”
Dakota turned around and waited. “Don’t tell me you’re a sports nut, Rach.”
“Are you kidding? I was in school with Adam and used to sit glued to the bleachers when he was playing. I’d give anything to go and see him play in Seattle but with the way the shop is, I can’t afford the time off.”
“Let’s get hotdogs and make the most of it then.” Together they grabbed hot food and climbed up the stands until they found two seats together.
“Oh my, look at those hunky men. I didn’t realize Adam had so many of his teammates coming in for this. Thought it was only one guy coming down.” Rach leaned forward in her seat, the smile on her face growing by the minute. They sat enthralled for the next hour while the youngsters learned from the best.
Rach nudged her. “Did Adam ask you to be his date at the gala?” She had a sparkle in her eyes.
Dakota looked at her, saw the secretive little smile on her lips. What was she up to? “Yes, he did. Why do you ask?”
“Because I made the suggestion that a school friend of ours would be a good match for you. Not that he is mind you. Reggie is a computer nerd in Polson and never leaves the house but Adam doesn’t know that.” She giggled behind her hand, let out a whoop as the player she had her eye on kicked a goal, showing a group of boys how to angle the kick just so. “That man is so damned cute. I wonder if Adam will introduce us?”
Dakota gasped. “Oh, you sneaky thing. If he figures out what you did, I don’t like your chances.”
Rach continued to watch the field, her attention split between the conversation and the man with Buzz on the back of his shirt. “But it worked, didn’t it?”
“Yes it did.” She glanced over at the man in question. He was running some of the boys through a track of poles now while the other players tried to get the ball from them. Cory made it to the end of the row without losing his ball and a cheer went up. The teen blushed when a couple of the guys patted him on the back.
“But?”
“I’m not that sure he’s ready for anything that remotely resembles a relationship. He has things to deal with first.”
Rach leaned back in her chair, her head closer to Dakota’s. “Are you prepared to wait until he sorts it out? Look, don’t think I’m being overly nosy, Dakota. I think a lot of Adam, always have. We go back too far for me to be that mean to him but he needs something and I think it might be you. A burden shared is a burden halved in my opinion.”
“Oh my goodness, look at the way that man can juggle the ball on his feet.”
“Stop trying to change the subject, Dakota. You forget I’ve seen the two of you together.”
Dakota sat and watched the men teaching the teens how to balance the ball on their foot, tap it to land up on their shoulder and toss it around just like she’d seen in the movies.
*
When the time came for the parents to get involved, Adam hated it but he had to turn some away. It seemed as though everyone wanted a chance to play the team of professionals and teens. He was trying to sort out a sensible way to organize them when he spied Dakota sitting with Rachel up in the stands. He lifted a hand and smiled.
“Okay everyone. Line up and we’ll do this the easiest way I know how.” He walked down the line giving each alternate person the bad news that they couldn’t play. They groaned good naturedly but returned to their seats to watch.
By the end of the day the smiles on the teens’ faces had made it all worthwhile. Adam had offered his teammates dinner and drinks at the Lake Hotel. He searched for Dakota. Even though she had work to do, he was hoping he could convince her to join them. He grabbed Cory as he ran past. “I need you to do me a favor.”
Cory grinned as he held tight to the signed shirt he’d been given by the team. “Anything.”
“I want you to find Dakota for me. Tell her we’re having drinks and dinner at the Lake Hotel and I want her to join us. I’d find her myself but I can’t see her anywhere and I promised to help sign posters with the guys.”
“Sure. I can do that.”
Adam patted him on the shoulder. “Thanks, I appreciate it, Cory.”
Cory ran off and Adam took his seat at the table alongside Ryan Jones and grabbed a marker to start signing.
In between excited participants asking for photo opportunities and parents greeting him, Ryan managed a word to Adam. “Any chance I can take those special items home tomorrow? I haven’t told the wife but it would be nice to surprise her if I can. She wasn’t that thrilled at me leaving on the weekend when she’d already made plans for us.” He accepted another poster to sign and posed for a photo with a youngster.
“I certainly hope so. Dakota did say she’d do it. If they’re not ready, I’ll mail them to you before Christmas. Promise.” Adam accepted thanks from a star struck parent and turned to Ryan again.
“Thanks, man. Knew I could count on you.” He signed another poster, pushed it into the hands of a fan. “The wife loves her work and to have something special like that will blow her mind.”
“I’ve asked Dakota to meet us for dinner tonight. Not sure she will because her workload is huge right now as you can imagine with her new
