Out of Her League (16 page)

Mrs. Larson was shaking her head before Evie
finished her sentence. She had to do something.
Any
thing
. If Mrs. Larson uttered the final word, there would be no going back.

Panic made Evie desperate.
“
You want the best person for the job, don
’
t you?
”

Mrs. Larson frowned. She couldn
’
t admit, in front of the school board and assembled parents, that all she wanted was a celebrity coach. Everyone might know that, but she couldn
’
t say it; it would mean publication in the school board minutes on page four of the
Oak Grove Sentinel
next Tuesday or Thursday morning, and invite a scandal
.

“
Of course we want the best
man
, Evelyn.
”

Evie ignored the sarcasm and the
“
Evelyn.
”
“
And you just said you were going to give me the job if I took my team to the championship.
”

“
Correct.
”

“
Bob Cummings broke his leg yesterday. I need a coach for his team.
”

“
That is not my problem, dear.
”

“
No, it isn
’
t. But I have a solution to both our problems.
”
Evie paused.

Mrs. Larson glanced at the crowd. What she saw there made her eyes narrow, but she returned her gaze to Evie and bowed her head with a regal little nod of acquiescence.

Evie drew a deep breath and hurried on.
“I pro
pose that Mr. Scalotta take Bob
’
s place. If his team finishes higher in the standings at the end of the season, the job is his. However, if my team finishes higher, the job is mine. Deal?
”

Mrs. Larson shook her head again; Don scowled and did the same. Evie
’
s heart did a free fall toward her toes. The old lady opened her mouth, but it was Joe
’
s voice they all heard.

“
Deal,
”
he said.

The room went wild.

* * *

“
...
Most
exciting
school board meeting I
’
ve been to in a dog
’
s age.
”

“
...This is going to be one rip-roarin
’
summer.
”

“
...Can
’
t wait to see what those two come up with for round two.
”

The comments, jokes and good-natured laughter swirled around Joe. Since he had agreed to Evie
’
s proposition, the two of them had been surrounded by people, and they had been unable to talk to each other. From the set of Evie
’
s mouth, she wasn
’
t pleased with him, even though he
had
agreed to her crazy notion.

Why had he? Because she
’
d stung his pride, yanked his machismo, thrown down the proverbial gauntlet. Since childhood Joe had been competitive. In fact, his mother said he
’
d come out of the womb expecting to win.

Joe himself though
t that having three older broth
ers who always told their
“
little
”
brother he couldn
’
t play mi
ght have made him more suscepti
ble to challenge than most guys. Naturally, he had to prove that he could. It was a character flaw, but at least Joe knew it.

To have someone announce in a room full of
peers that Joe Scalotta wasn
’
t up to a job... Well, childish though it was, he just couldn
’
t let that go by. Even if he
’
d never wanted Evie
’
s job in the first place.

Why did she w
ant the job so badly anyway, es
pecially when it wo
uld take her away from her chil
dren even more? W
as it any of his business? Prob
ably not. But now that the twins were under Joe
’
s feet half the time and Adam looked to be a new boarder at his house, what went on in the land of Vaughn had suddenly become far too interesting to Joe Scalotta.

He was brought back to the room by an avid slap on his shoulder. Joe looked down into the face of a shriveled old man, too frail to have slammed him that hard. But even as he thought it, the old guy grabbed his hand and pumped up and down with a grip that would rival that of a world heavyweight champion.

“
Name
’
s Norville Hoyt. Good going, son. I haven
’
t had this much fun since they stopped letting me watch that Jeffrey Springer fella on the televi
sion. Said I ge
t too excited and my blood pres
sure—
”

He let go of Joe
’
s
hand and flicked a gnarled fin
ger upward as he whistled through his teeth.
“
I just love a good battle. Especially between a little gal and big guy. Can
’
t wait to see how this comes out in the paper.
”

“
Paper?
”

“
You betcha.
”
He pointed at a young man with
a notepad and pen, who still scribbled madly, at the table near the window.
“
That there is the school board reporter. Not a very important beat, don
’
tcha know, so they give it to a high school kid. But he got an earful tonight. Wouldn
’
t be surprised if he sends the thing to the television station. After all the interest last night, this here meeting will be news.
”

Joe groaned. More publicity.
Grr
.

Hoyt slapped him on the arm.
“
This is going to be a great summer. I just love them baseball games, but now, with you two goin
’
at it—
”
He whistled again, the sound shrill and loud above the noise.
“
It
’
s goin
’
to be a doozy. I bet the crowds are huge.
”
Stepping closer, Hoyt nudged Joe in the gut—hard.
“
She
’
s a pretty little thing, ain
’
t she?
”

Joe rubbed his belly.
“
Who?
”

“
Coach Vaughn.
”

Joe followed Hoyt
’s gaze to where Evie stood sur
rounded by several parents. The dress she
’
d worn to the meeting was plain and simple, but perfect for her, and Joe caught himself admiring her shapely shoulders and smooth skin, which the thin straps of her dress revealed.

Hoyt
’
s whistle this time was of the wolf variety and drew Evie
’
s attention from the group toward them. She frowned at Joe, and he shrugged and pointed at Hoyt. Her frown turned into a genuine smile of affection, and she excused herself from her circle to join them.

Evie kissed Hoyt
’
s wrinkled cheek, and the tough
old guy blushed.
“
Good show, girlie. I
’m im
pressed.
”

“
I aim to please.
”

“
Well, I
’
m leaving before Merlene comes lookin
’
for me. You know how she gets when I
’
m late. I
’
ll see you at practice, Coach.
”
He walked off with a spring in his step that belied the years on his face.

“
Practice?
”
Joe asked.

“
He
’
s my assistant.
”

“
Hoyt? He must be eighty.
”

“
Eighty-three. He played with DiMaggio.
”

“
No way.
”

“
Yes, way. He knows more than I do. But while the mind is willing, the body just can
’t keep up any
more.
”

“
He
’
s got a grip like a sumo wrestler.
”

“
That he does.
”
She looked over Joe
’
s shoulder.
“
I guess they
’
re waiting to lock up.
”

Joe followed her gaze. The custodian stood in the doorway, jingling
his keys. Everyone else had dis
appeared.
“
I
’
ll walk you to your car.
”

“
No need. Thi
s is Oak Grove. The most danger
ous thing wandering the streets at night is a stray cat.
”

“
I think we need to talk.
”

“
Oh.
”
She colored.
“
Of course.
”

He followed her from the room, down the long hallway lined with lockers and out the door that emptied into the parking lot. Only his car remained, with no sign of Evie
’
s.

“
Your car?
”

“
I walked.
”

“
Walked?
”

“
Yes, walked. It is summer.
”

“
That must be two miles.
”

She laughed.
“
Don
’
t sound so surprised, he-man. Walking is good for the lungs, and even better for the mind when you rarely get to be alone. Besides, Adam took the car to your house.
”

Joe tensed. How could he have forgotten his baby was home alone—or rather
not
alone? Joe resisted the urge to jump in his vehicle and tear out of the lot to rescue his little girl. When he looked down at Evie, she was smiling.

“
What?
”

“
You might be Iceman, but when you think about Toni—everything you feel is all over your face.
”

He shrugged and turned away, embarrassed.

“
It
’
s one of your appealing qualities.
”
She sounded both amazed and amused.

He turned back to her with a raise of his brow.
“
I bet you figured I didn
’
t have any.
”

“
You
’
re right.
”
She walked across the parking lot.

He caught up with her in two strides, his long legs eating up the ground much more quickly than hers.
“
Any others come to mind?
”

“
Not that I can dredge up offhand.
”
Her tone was sarcastic, but the way she ducked her head, shy and embarrassed, made Joe think she liked other things—guy-girl things, man-woman things—and the secret attraction that he
’
d tried to deny since the
first time he realized she was a woman and not a child sprang to life.

They reached his car, and she slowed.
“
Do you want a ride home?
”
he asked.

“
No, thanks. I
’
ve seen how you drive.
”

“
Really, I can drop you off.
”

“
Really. No, thanks.
”