“Getting embarrassed on the McKinney field of champions.”
“You wish. I can kick your secret soldier as—a-hole, any day.”
“You’re welcome to try.”
—
Stephen hadn’t been in his brother’s kitchen since the night of Gracie’s party, when he’d run in here to escape Hannah. Or memories. Or both, because somehow one brought the other. And because seeing her holding that baby had stirred something he didn’t want stirred.
Matt popped straws into juice boxes and tossed prepackaged snacks. “That ought to tide them over till lunch.” As the kids stampeded out the back door with their booty, Matt pulled a six-pack from the fridge and passed it to Andrew. “Stephen’s going to coach with me next year.”
“If I do, it won’t be as your assistant. Did you even play soccer?”
“I played soccer,” Lizzy said, walking in and setting a covered bowl on the counter.
“Of course he’ll be the assistant,” Matt said. “I’m older.”
Lizzy smirked and grabbed a beer for herself. “And a little old to be pulling the I’m older card, aren’t you?”
As they stepped outside, they argued the merits of being older versus being a woman and therefore naturally smarter.
“Careful,” Lizzy teased. “Better not say anything you wouldn’t want repeated to your wives.”
“Shit. Still got us by the balls.” Andrew shook his head and joined Patrick, already down in the yard throwing with the boys.
More sisters-in-law and kids filtered through the kitchen and to the backyard, tossing out greetings and pleasant smiles. He’d thought to play football, not jump into a family gathering.
“So what’s up with your girl?” Matt asked, eyes on the kids.
“She’s not my girl.” A uneasy feeling spread through the tension in his face to his stomach. She was something, though he didn’t know what that was, or even what it could be. Hannah wasn’t the kind of girl to be just anything to a man. She wasn’t casual. Only an idiot would want her casually.
Matt smiled, looking smug. “Just keep telling yourself that. You know what they say about denial.”
Stephen raised his bottle to his lips, took a long drink, and admitted he didn’t know what the hell he was doing.
“Dad!”
“Coming, bud. So what happened after we left you at the barn? You stay or go?”
“I stayed.”
Matt’s smile grew. “Figured you might.”
“Dad!” Jack shouted again before Stephen could tell his brother to fuck off.
Matt tapped the neck of his bottle against his own. “Ready to get your ass kicked?”
“In your dreams.”
“Hey, Jack, you better be on Uncle Stevie’s team. He doesn’t really know how to play.”
“Dick,” he muttered at Matt’s back.
Matt laughed. “Hey, Mom, you want to know what Steve just called me?”
“Don’t call your brother that, it’s not his name. And no, I don’t.” She settled herself in a chair under a shade tree. “And both of you watch your mouth. There are little ones out here.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
As if to prove their mother’s point, Gracie came flying down the stairs, over the grass, and wrapped herself around Matt’s legs. “Daddy! I rode Hazel again and I’m going to be the best horse rider ever! Hannah said so. Right, Hannah?”
Stephen’s eyes jerked up to the shadowed doorway leading onto the deck.
Abby appeared and waved down at Matt. “Hey, babe. Look who I talked into joining us.”
Hannah followed and moved to the rail next to Abby. Her gaze met his with a tentative smile, and the bottom dropped out of his stomach. If not seeing her caused a knot in his gut, seeing her brought a damn entanglement. And right this second, he couldn’t remember why he’d been so confused.
Chapter 18
Hannah watched the McKinney men divide themselves into teams and huddle up while a battle of nerves and excitement played out inside her. It was obvious from the way Stephen had looked at her that he was as surprised as she was.
“I had no idea he’d be here,” Abby said, joining her on the grass. “By the look on your face I can’t tell if it’s good or bad.”
Neither could she. She’d told Abby he came over for dinner last week. She’d left off the make-out session on the couch and the part when she’d put an awkward stop to it. “I’m not sure. He makes me…”
Abby smiled. “Hot? Tingly?”
“Confused.”
“Yes. That too.” Abby sighed. “Relationships are complicated.”