Harlequin Special Edition August 2013 - Bundle 2 of 2: It's a Boy!\His Long-Lost Family\Date with Destiny by Victoria Pade

Author:Victoria Pade
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2013-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Nine

Tryouts for the soccer team started the following week, each day for an hour after school with the first cuts being made on Wednesday. Jack was there every day to help Adam run drills and evaluate the players, as he’d been doing in each of the past few years. But this was the first year he had a vested interest in any of the students who were trying out for the team.

When practice was finished and Ava picked up her backpack, he went over to her. “Adam said there’s no tryout tomorrow night because of something going on at the school.”

“Yeah, it’s a Meet the Teacher thing for parents.”

“What’s a ‘Meet the Teacher thing’?”

“It’s where parents go to the school...and meet the teacher.”

“Should I go?”

“Do you want to go?”

Apparently they were both playing their cards close to the vest. He decided to lay his hand on the table. “Yes, I would like to go to your school to meet your teacher.”

She blinked at the unequivocal response. “Really?”

“Unless you don’t want me to go.”

“No, I want you to go,” she said. “If you want to go.”

“What time?” he asked.

“Six o’clock.”

“I’ll come by around five-thirty so we can walk over together.”

“Sure.”

As she wandered off with Laurel, he went back to the bleachers, where Adam was making notes on each of the players.

“We’ve got impressive new talent this year,” he said to Jack. “That Cooper kid, in particular, has some good moves.”

He nodded his agreement, proud that his own assessment had been accurate, even more proud because Ava was his. And more than a little annoyed that she was “that Cooper kid” rather than “that Garrett kid.”

“About her...”

Adam’s gaze didn’t shift away from his papers. “Don’t worry—I know.”

“What do you know?”

“That she’s yours.”

The teacher did look at him now, and grinned at the surprise Jack didn’t doubt was evident on his face.

“There was whispered speculation in the teacher’s lounge,” Adam confided. “But no confirmation. I was skeptical myself, until I saw her. Then I saw her with a soccer ball, and any lingering doubts vanished.”

“It’s not public knowledge,” Jack told him.

His friend laughed. “You only think it’s not.”

He scowled at that.

“I do have one question, though,” Adam said.

“What’s that?”

“You and Kelly Cooper—old news?”

His scowl deepened. “Aren’t you dating Melanie Quinlan?”

“Not exclusively.”

“And isn’t there a rule against dating the parent of a student?”

“She’s not my student.”

Adam’s immediate response proved that he’d already given some thought to the ethical implications. A realization that didn’t sit well with Jack.

“You’re her coach.”

“Only for a few weeks.”

Jack didn’t bother to respond, because he was confident that before the championship tournament was over, no one would be wondering if he and Kelly were old news.

* * *

Kelly’s worries about Ava’s transition to Parkdale Elementary School had apparently been for naught. Her daughter had settled into the routine of seventh grade with little difficulty. At home, they’d also settled into a routine. After school/work, Ava would do her homework—if she had any—while Kelly got dinner ready. Following the meal, they did dishes together and packed lunches for the next day.

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