Playing for Keeps Read online

  “Yes, I do,” he insisted and with lightning speed he slid his hand across the counter and grabbed the slip of paper.

  “Give me that!” Olivia reached toward him, but he stood up and held the ticket just out of her grasp. “No-ah Fal-con!” Without considering that they were in a public place, Olivia jumped up and lunged toward him. She lost her balance and suddenly found herself flattened against Noah’s chest and clinging to his wide shoulders.

  9

  Check, Please!

  “Would you let go? I bet everybody’s looking at us,” Olivia frantically whispered in his ear.

  Olivia’s back was to the dining room, but she assumed correctly. Everybody was looking at them with curiosity. Silverware stopped clinking and glasses paused in midair. “You’re the one clinging to me,” Noah replied, and damned if he didn’t wish they were all alone and away from prying eyes.

  “Oh,” she said with a little nervous titter and then stepped back. “Right. Well, you were the cause!” She pointed at him, and for a second he thought she was going to poke him in the chest again.

  “You know, you keep doing that,” he said and gave a quick wink to Myra, who was doing her best not to laugh.

  “Doing what?”

  “Blaming me for what you’re already doing.” It was the first time he’d had Livie in his arms since he’d rumbled back into town, but not a day had gone by that he hadn’t wanted to grab her and kiss her once again. It didn’t help that the script itself was chock-full of sexual tension.

  “I don’t do that,” she protested.

  “I beg to differ. She does, doesn’t she?” Noah looked over Olivia’s shoulder at Madison for help.

  Madison put her hands in the air. “I’ve already learned not to get between you two when you argue. I’m staying out of this.” But then she grinned and looked over the counter at Myra and her mother. “Besides, it’s way too entertaining. These two are going to flat-out light up the stage, aren’t they?”

  “I’ll say,” Myra said. “Y’all need to get a room.”

  “Aunt Myra!” Jessica warned and shook her head upward.

  “I’m just sayin’,” Myra answered with a shrug.

  “Well, keep your thoughts to yourself,” Jessica pleaded, but Myra just laughed.

  “Oh, Mom, it’s pointless. Let her go.”

  “Thank you, Madison,” Myra said but then frowned. “Wait—I think I thank you.”

  “See what you’re causing?” Olivia accused Noah with a shake of her head. Her hair slipped over one shoulder, and while the simple white blouse and her usual khaki pants shouldn’t have been provocative, Noah couldn’t stop staring at her. Although her hair was rarely secured in a tight little bun anymore, she still had that prim-andproper thing with sensual undercurrents going on, and tonight in particular it was driving Noah nuts.

  “What?”

  “Trouble.”

  “Who, me?” Noah pretended innocence. Lately it was like getting a double dose of heat every time they rehearsed, and he was holding back but hanging by a thread. Luckily there was a kiss in the next scene, so he had that in his favor. He would just have to mess up so they’d have to do the scene over and over. The thought made him chuckle. He was also amused that Olivia seemed to have forgotten all about the bill. He handed the check and a twenty to Jessica behind his back. “Let’s head over to the Dairy Hut.” He certainly needed something to cool him off, but watching her lick an ice-cream cone might not do it.

  “I just have to pay my bill.” She gave him a pointed look and reached for her purse.

  Jessica waved her off. “It’s been taken care of.”

  When Olivia opened her mouth to protest, Myra stepped in. “Olivia, for pity’s sake let the man buy your doggone dinner. It was only a bowl of soup!”

  Madison pointed her fork at Olivia. “Aunt Myra’s right, Olivia. You’re always staying after school, volunteering your time, and helping others. Allow someone to do something nice for you for a change.”

  “I’ll say.” Myra came around the counter and handed Olivia the apple pie. “Now you two lovebirds head over to the Dairy Hut before they close up for the night. Tell Big Joe I said hi.”

  “See y’all later,” Noah said with a wave. “Hey, and the rock soup was delicious.”

  “We’re not lovebirds,” Noah overheard Olivia whisper to Myra before she turned to leave.

  “I call ’em like I see ’em.” Myra whispered back. “It’s only a matter of time. And take it from someone who has made some mistakes … don’t let something special slip through your fingers.” She added the last a little bit louder.

  When Olivia sent a startled glance his way, Noah pretended not to hear, but Myra was a pretty savvy chick and he wondered if those words were meant more for him than for Olivia. But as he walked toward the front door he had to wonder … Was Myra right? Maybe he was way off base by holding back when he should be going after something that felt so special. Noah had always put his career first, and his father had made it abundantly clear that he should stay focused. Those words, however right or wrong, had stayed with him during his life. But as he watched Olivia smile and wave at people she knew, the thought hit him that he was so much more comfortable with her than with the starlets and models he had dated throughout his career.

  Noah had never felt the strong connection that he experienced with Olivia Lawson with any other woman, and he had a sudden urge to put a possessive arm around her waist. In truth, they were seen together so often lately that he knew people were starting to link them as a couple. He didn’t care, but he hoped the paparazzi didn’t come swooping into town and splash her picture all over the tabloids. He wasn’t exactly tops on the list of celebrities to stalk, but he did get his share of exposure in the rags and he didn’t want Olivia to have to endure that kind of crap.

  He was still deep in thought when they reached the sidewalk outside.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Sure.” Noah looked at her upturned face in question. “Why do you ask?”

  “You had a troubled expression on your face,” she replied with a slight frown.

  Noah shrugged, but he couldn’t tell her his thoughts. He was touched, however, that she cared. It had been such a long time since anyone gave a damn about anything other than what he could do for them. “Hey, I’m fine.”

  Olivia nodded, but then her eyes suddenly widened. “Listen, if it’s because—” she began, but then she stopped and gave a quick shake of her head. “Never mind.”

  “Oh, no, you don’t.” He took her hand and tugged her over to the side of the building away from watchful eyes. “What do you want to know?”

  She glanced down at the ground and then pressed her lips together.

  “Livie …” He tucked a finger beneath her chin and forced her to look at him. “Tell me what’s going on inside that head of yours. Would you, please?”

  “Okay, are you concerned that people are talking about us …? You know, like we are … together?”

  Noah leaned back against the brick wall and gazed at her in surprise. “That sure came out of left field. Why on earth would you think that?”

  She tilted her head to the side. “Well, people were whispering and staring at us in the diner, and we have been seen together almost every night for the past two weeks. This is a small town and people talk. Walking over to the Dairy Hut will get tongues wagging even more.”

  “Ah, so the good old Dairy Hut is still the hot spot in town?”

  Olivia nodded. “Some things are slow to change around here. I just wanted you to know.”

  “Olivia …” Noah shook his head slowly and then sighed. “That’s not what I meant. I realize that people are speculating about us. But why would you think it would upset me?”

  She toyed with the wrapper on the apple pie. “Oh, come on, Noah. I’m not exactly the caliber of woman you’re usually seen with.”

  “Yes, you’re certainly right about that.”

  “I get it.” Sh
e swallowed hard. “You have an image to uphold. If you want me to set the record strai—” Noah dipped his head and cut her off with a gentle kiss and then cupped her cheeks between his palms.

  “We’re in public!” she reminded him breathlessly.

  “Exactly. Have I made my point?”

  She smiled slowly. “Yes.”

  “Damn!” He slapped his thigh.

  “Now just why are you saying that?”

  “I wanted you to say no so I’d have to make my point again.” When Olivia laughed and gave him a playful shove, he grabbed her hand. Although her eyes widened a fraction, Noah was relieved when she didn’t pull away. Holding her hand in public would indeed start tongues wagging, but he suddenly heard Myra’s words in his head: Don’t let something special slip through your fingers. All day long Noah looked forward to their lessons. He thought about Olivia constantly. Just seeing her raised his spirits, even though he hadn’t really known they needed raising and filled a void that he hadn’t known was there. “Wow.” Noah shook his head with a sense of wonder.

  “What?” she asked in a breathless voice that suggested she was feeling the same emotions. At least he hoped so.

  “Are you ready?” Noah asked, and he wasn’t really talking about ice cream.

  “I most certainly am,” Olivia answered.

  Olivia’s sweet, genuine smile took aim at Noah’s heart and he smiled back. “So am I.” He tugged on her hand and led her over to his Corvette. “Let’s put your pie in the car,” he suggested. He took the plate from her and placed it on the passenger seat. He wanted a reason to come back to the car and perhaps entice her to go for an evening ride before taking her home for his acting lesson. Or then again, perhaps he could convince her to take a night off.

  “It sure is a nice night out,” Noah commented while they waited for the traffic light to change.

  “Oh, I agree.” She smiled up at him. The unseasonably warm evening carried the sweet scent of blooming flowers and freshly cut grass. “Spring has always been my favorite season.”

  “Yeah, me too. It means baseball,” he said and then was surprised at his own response. Baseball was his past, not his future. Until coming back here he’d tried not to think much about spring training.

  “I imagine that you must really miss it,” she said as they crossed Main Street.

  “That part of my life is over.” Noah shrugged, feeling a little confused. “I don’t really know where that came from.”

  “What do you mean? Baseball is in your blood.” She patted her chest. “A part of who you are, Noah.” She looked at him as if surprised at his admission and tugged on his hand for them to stop in front of the city park. They sat down on the brick wall overlooking the playground. Little children played on the swing sets with their parents watching. A group of teenagers laughed and shoved each other, and an elderly couple walked their dog.

  “You’re right.” Noah inhaled a deep breath and then grinned when after three misses a little boy wearing a baseball glove finally caught a pop-up.

  “Great catch, son!”

  “Thanks, Daddy! Hit me another one! Higher this time.”

  “Okay, be ready!”

  Noah recalled doing the very same thing with his father and was swamped with an odd sense of longing that he didn’t quite understand. After a moment he turned his attention back to Olivia. “For most of my life baseball defined who I was. I lived it and breathed it. When it ended I felt lost. Without any real purpose. In some ways I still do. And after I was booted off of Love in the Afternoon, I started leading a lifestyle that left me feeling empty.” He squeezed her hand and said, “You are the only person I’ve admitted that to.”

  Olivia looked at him with sincere eyes. “You’re back in your hometown, with so many memories. And you’ve been working out with the Cricket Creek baseball team. It’s only natural to have some melancholy feelings.” She extended her arm in an arc, taking in the park. “This is where it all began for you. Your roots.”

  “And it’s a good thing I came back here. This little town helped me get my sorry ass back on track.” Noah tilted his head. “Did you ever think of moving away from Cricket Creek, Livie? Pursuing that acting career that you wanted so much?”

  Something of a shadow passed over her features, but she gave him a firm negative shake of her head. “Never, except for college, and Cooper isn’t very far away. I could have commuted, but my father wanted me to experience campus life. Like I mentioned, I was a barnie and did summer stock but never very far away. This is my home. I choose to bloom where I was planted. I don’t need to run off searching for something better,” she answered with a touch of bitterness that was at odds with her usual gentle nature. He had a feeling there was more to her answer than what she was giving him. Acting was in her blood like baseball was in his. There had to be a reason that she decided not to go after what she was so passionate about. “There is such a sense of community here. Strong family values. We’re not just a dot on a map, Noah. This town is worth saving. If not, all of these little storefronts will soon be swallowed up by big business. Cricket Creek will become pretty much a ghost town.”

  “No more butter cookies,” he said and then squeezed her hand.

  “Nope,” Olivia answered with a small smile. “And that would just blow,” she continued hotly.

  Noah tipped his head back and laughed.

  “How is no more butter cookies funny?”

  “Oh, believe me, it’s not. But prim and proper Miss Lawson saying ‘That would just blow’ is hilarious.”

  “Why does everybody laugh at the things I say?” she grumbled.

  “Because you’re funny. Nothing wrong with that, is there?”

  “Yes! People are laughing at me!” She grumbled louder, but then her eyes widened. “Omigod, watch out!”

  “What?” Noah watched in amazement as Olivia suddenly raised her hand in the air and then dived forward from the wall and snagged a fly ball in an ESPN-worthy catch marred only by the girlie yelp she gave when the ball smacked her bare hands. She landed facedown in the grass and rolled to her back, but to her credit she had the ball still clutched in her right hand.

  “Olivia!” Noah quickly knelt down beside her and felt a stab of alarm. “Wow, are you okay?”

  She nodded, but when she tried to verbalize her wellbeing all that came out of her mouth was a wheeze and two blades of grass.

  He put his hand against her cheek. “You got the wind knocked out of you.”

  She nodded and tried to gulp in some air.

  “Great catch!” Noah said and got a wheezing laugh in return. A moment later the young father and son came rushing over. When Olivia tried to sit up, Noah put a gentle hand on her shoulder. “Sweetie, slow down and breathe,” he advised her. “You’ll be fine in a minute or two.” He knew she would be okay, but seeing her in pain had his stomach in knots.

  “I am so sorry,” the dad said and gazed at Olivia with concern. “I hit that one a little too hard.” He looked back at Noah. “Is your wife okay?” he asked and then recognized Noah. “Oh, wow, you’re Noah Falcon!” He turned to his little boy. “Adam, this is a major-league baseball player and he’s from Cricket Creek. We just moved here this spring and thought it was so cool.”

  “Wow! ” Adam’s eyes widened. “Are you really, really Noah Falcon?”

  Noah nodded. “Last time I checked.” He always found that question amusing.

  “Did you know that your name is on the sign down the road?” Adam asked in a high-pitched, excited voice, pointing over his shoulder with his glove. “Hey, will you sign my baseball and my glove too?” he asked and then peered down at Olivia. “Can I have my ball back, please?”

  When Olivia wheezed a weak “Yes,” Adam reached down and plucked the ball from her clutches. Noah was happy to see that color was returning to her pale face. “Want to sit up?” he asked, but she shook her head. “You’ll be okay in a minute. You hit the ground hard.” He was willing to bet she had never had
the wind knocked out of her before, and he put a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

  The young dad looked at her with sympathy. “I’m so sorry, but, hey, that was quite a catch. It saved Noah from getting smacked in the head. Do you guys have kids?”

  “Not yet,” Noah said with a grin down at Olivia. “Honey, we need to work on that.”

  Sputter. Wheeze.

  “Well, when you do you’ll have one heck of a baseball player on your hands.”

  “Who speaks correct English,” Noah added and had to laugh, but his smile faded when Olivia tried to sit up but then flopped back down with a breathless groan. Her shoulders rose with the effort of trying to get air back into her lungs. Noah quickly signed the baseball and glove and handed it to Adam.

  “Thanks!” Adam gushed with a wide grin. “Dad, isn’t this awesome! Look, it has my name and everything!” He then looked up at Noah with adoring eyes. “This is the bestest day ever. Hey, will you come to one of my games?”

  “Adam,” his father said with an apologetic shake of his head at Noah, “I’m sure Mr. Falcon is busy.”

  “I can’t promise for sure I can be there,” Noah answered, but then he tilted his head at Adam and said, “but when and where, Tiger?”

  Adam’s eyes got round. “Cricket Creek grade school fields on Tuesday nights. Um, what time, Daddy?”

  “Six thirty.”

  “I’ll try my best.” Noah gave Adam a high five and shook the dad’s hand.

  “I’m Dan Forman, and I have been a fan forever. Thanks for coming back here to Cricket Creek to be in the summer play. I hope it’s a big success. I know I’ll be attending.”

  Noah nodded. “It’s good to be back. Spread the news about the play,” he said and then turned to Adam. “Keep your eye on the ball and practice hard, okay?”

  Little Adam shook his head so hard that his too big baseball cap slipped sideways. “I will!” he answered so seriously that Noah hid his smile and put on his game face.