Summer in Good Hope (A Good Hope Novel Book 2) by Cindy Kirk Read Free Book Online Page B

moment, the two stood a respectable distance from each other. Prim wondered if Max would kiss her good-bye. She expelled the breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding when he merely extended his hand. The woman laughed, gave it a shake, and flashed a brilliant smile.
    Once the brunette’s roadster disappeared from sight, Max turned. His gaze met Prim’s and her heart stuttered.
    Prim returned his smile and lifted her hand in a friendly wave.
    Apparently taking the polite gesture as invitation, Max sauntered over. The first thing she noticed was that his shirt—advertising last year’s 5K Spring Color Run—made his eyes look as blue as the walls in Muddy Boots, her brother-in-law’s café. The second was those eyes held more than a hint of amusement.
    When his gaze dropped to her mouth, she felt a punch. Prim moistened her suddenly dry lips with her tongue and forced herself to breathe. As their gazes remained locked, her heart began to thud against her ribs.
    Not until Callum shoved his brother against her did the fog lift. She stumbled and might have fallen without Max stepping forward.
    After shooting Max a grateful smile, Prim whirled on her son. “Callum, how many times have I told you not to shove your brother?”
    The boy’s lip jutted out. “He wouldn’t give me the ball.”
    “It’s mine.” Connor held the glove protectively against his chest. “Mom threw it to me .”
    “She threw it to the sidewalk,” Callum corrected.
    “If I’d known there was baseball action going on in the neighborhood, I’d have brought my glove.” Max rocked back on the heels of his battered boots and shot Prim a wink. “You know how I feel about playing.”
    She’d loved watching Max on the baseball field. He always gave one hundred percent, whether it was fielding a pop fly, solving a difficult equation . . . or kissing her with a sweet tenderness that took her breath away.
    Heat flooded her cheeks. She cleared her throat. “You still play?”
    “Second base for the Hawks,” Max said, referring to Good Hope’s amateur team.
    The boys exchanged a glance.
    “You could get your glove,” Callum suggested. “We can wait.”
    His brother nodded. “Yeah, we can wait.”
    Max appeared to be hiding a smile when he turned to Prim. “The glove is in my garage.” He angled his head. “I could have them get it for me?”
    “That’s fine.” Her heart did a slow roll. He actually wanted to play catch with her boys. “I’ll be able to see them from here.”
    Max looked from one twin to the other. “My glove is hanging on the garage wall. It’s not far up. You should be able to reach it.”
    “I can jump high,” Connor told him, his thin face serious.
    “I can jump even higher,” Callum boasted.
    “No jumping necessary.” Max slipped the phone from his pocket, tapped a couple of buttons. The garage door slowly rose.
    “I’ll get it.” Excitement reverberated through Callum’s voice. The words had barely left his lips when he took off running.
    “He was looking at me ,” Connor protested, sprinting after his brother.
    “You don’t have to play ball with them.” Prim touched Max’s arm. “I’m sure you’ve lots to do.”
    “Have you forgotten I was Good Hope High’s standout second baseman?” His teasing tone had her relaxing. “Baseball and I, we go way back. In fact, she was my first love.”
    Prim realized she was staring at his mouth and lifted her gaze to those amazing blue eyes. “I thought your first love was math.”
    “Anytime you fall in love with something new it’s a first time.” Something she couldn’t quite decipher flickered in those liquid blue depths. He cleared his throat. “You know what I recall about those days? You cheering in that short skirt.”
    She tilted her head. “Were you looking at my legs, Mr. Brody, when you should have been keeping your eyes on the ball?”
    “Guilty as charged.” His lips lifted in a slow smile.
    Prim’s blood turned to warm