It Started with a Crush...

The driver’s door opened. Ryland.

Her heart thumped.

It won’t be long. I promise.

Tingles filled her stomach. He hadn’t let her down. He was still the same nice guy he’d been in high school.

Ryland rounded the front of the truck. He wore a white polo shirt with the Fuego logo on the left side, a pair of khaki shorts and the boot on his right foot. He wore a tennis shoe on his left. His hair was nicely styled. He’d shaved, removing the sexy stubble.

Even with his clean-cut look, she knew not to let her guard down. The guy was still dangerous. The only reason she was happy to see him was Connor.

A little voice inside her head laughed at that. She ignored it.

“It’s him.” Awe filled Connor’s voice. “Ryland James.”

“Yes, it’s him,” she said.

Ryland crossed the sidewalk and stood near them on the lawn. “Hello.”

Lucy fought the urge to step back and put some distance between them. “Hi.”

He acknowledged her with a nod, but turned his attention to the kid with the stars in his eyes. “You must be Connor.”

Her nephew nodded.

Lucy’s heart melted. Ryland knew how important this moment must be for her nephew.

Connor wiped his right hand against his shorts then extended his arm. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. James.”

As Ryland shook his hand, he grinned. “Call me Ryland.”

Connor’s eyes widened. He looked almost giddy with excitement. “Okay, Ryland.”

He motioned to the soccer ball. “Looks like you’ve been practicing. It’s good to get some touches on the ball every day.”

Connor nodded. The kid was totally starstruck. Lucy didn’t blame him for being wowed by Ryland. She was, too.

Better be careful.

Ryland used his left foot to push the ball toward Connor. “Let’s see you juggle.”

Connor swooped up the ball and bounced it off his bony knees. He used his legs and feet to keep the ball from touching the ground.

“You’re doing great,” Ryland encouraged.

Connor beamed and kept going.

Ryland glanced at her. “He reminds me of Aaron.”

“Two peas in a pod,” she agreed.

The ball bounced away. Connor ran after it. “I’ll try it again.”

“The more you practice, the better you’ll get,” Ryland said.

“That’s what Aunt Lucy told me.”

His gaze met hers. Lucy’s pulse skittered at the flirtatious gleam in Ryland’s hazel eyes.

“Your aunt is a smart woman,” he said.

Lucy didn’t feel so smart. She wasn’t sure what to make of her reaction to Ryland being here. Okay, the guy was handsome. Gorgeous, really. But she knew better than to be bowled over by a man and sweet talk.

So why was she practically swooning over the sexy soccer star? Ryland showing up and the way he was interacting with Connor had to be the reason. Nothing else made sense.

She straightened. “I thought you were going to call.”

“I decided to stop by, instead.”

Warning bells rang in her head. “The address isn’t on my business card. How did you find this place?”

“I went into the café for a cup of coffee and asked where Aaron lived,” Ryland explained. “Three people offered directions.”

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