His daughter was on Paige’s team, and Eileen had carefully avoided him and thus further embarrassment since the beginning of the new season. Now here he was, right in front of her. He looked relaxed in his jeans and T-shirt. His arms were a bit muscular, she noticed, and his dark hair, windblown and a little messy, fell across his forehead. He was tall, over six feet for sure, broad chest, bright brown eyes. Samuel Cramer was a very attractive man. She hadn’t seen this last year. Or maybe she hadn’t cared to see it.

“So.” He shrugged. “Does that work for you?”

Eileen suddenly snapped out of her personal appraisal. “What? I’m sorry.” God, he must think she was a complete idiot. “My mind.” She laughed and pointed at her head. “So scattered right now.”

He laughed, not at her, but in a sweet way. Like he found her adorably hilarious…or something. “The girls.” He nodded in the direction of the three who were quickly approaching, one of which Eileen could now see was Kimmy, his daughter. “They have cooked up ordering Chinese food and having a sleepover at our house. Is it all right with you?”

“Oh! Yes! Of course. That will be fun…except—” Eileen sighed. She suddenly remembered that it was Eric’s night and he was picking the kids up later. “I’m sure it will be fine. I just need to check with her father. It’s his night. But I’m sure he won’t mind.”

“Ah, say no more. I completely understand. We’ll just keep the plans loose until we know for sure.”

“Thank you.”

“I’ll give you my number so you can call when you know.”

“Oh.” She waved her hand. “I already have it,” she blurted before she remembered to be embarrassed about the time he gave her the number. Eileen cringed inside at the thought of her causing the escalator crash last year.

Samuel smiled and nodded. “Right.”

Thankfully, the girls arrived and filled the awkward moment with their voices and energy, and they all moved off the field in a pack toward the parking lot. She popped the trunk on her car and dumped her chair and Paige’s bag into the back.

“Eileen?”

She closed the trunk and turned. It was Samuel again.

“Hey. So I was wondering, you know, if Paige does end up coming over tonight…would you maybe be interested in getting dinner with me? Or even just an appetizer, or a drink? Maybe coffee or something some other time if you’re busy?”

He was asking her out. Eileen Greyden. Soon to be a divorcee. Twenty pounds heavier than she’d like. Three kids deep. She was being asked out by this very attractive man who had been so kind to her on multiple occasions when he could have just as easily have walked away.

“Thank you, but no,” she heard herself say.