It’s intoxicating to feel wanted by Cole. He’s so handsome and charming and freaking sweet. His pictures online get thousands of likes and so many thirsty comments that you could scroll through them for hours.

Men have wanted me before. I’ve known that. I’ve felt that. But it was nothing like this.

I take a step backward, a stumbling kind of movement, and nearly run into Bud.

“Oh,” I say as I jump to the side and press a hand over my heart. “I didn’t see you.”

“I’m sorry, Palmer. I was too busy looking for Katie Evans and didn’t see you either.”

Cole frowns. “Who is Katie?”

“She has a son on the six-and-under team. She volunteered to reorganize the supply shed for me and has been missing all week. Not answering her phone, not showing up.” He sighs. “I’m going to have to come down here Saturday and do it, I suppose.”

I leap at the opening to put some distance between Cole and myself before I go all gaga over the man.

“Hey, I don’t claim to know anything about baseball, but I can organize like it’s no one’s business,” I say.

Bud’s eyes light up. “Palmer, that would be amazing. Are you sure?”

“Yeah. I’m here anyway. Besides, Ethan would love for me to be more involved.”

I mentally pat myself on the back. Good work.

“I didn’t know you wanted a more participatory role,” Cole says, rolling his tongue around his cheek.

Bad work. Very bad work.

“I think the shed will fulfill that need,” I say.

“You know that your team doesn’t have a team mom,” Bud tells Cole. “I don’t know if I mentioned that to you or not.”

Cole’s brows lift. “Oh, really?”

Bud nods enthusiastically. “You really need to find one, Cole. Last year, we had a kid get bopped in the head with a bat because we didn’t have anyone minding them. It really is a safety issue.”

My jaw drops open as I look between the two of them. I don’t know what’s going on, but it certainly feels like I’m the one out of the loop . . . but being pulled right into the middle of it.

“What do you say, Palmer?” Cole asks. “Will you be our team mom?”

I don’t know if his thoughts go back to my “Daddy” comment from earlier this week or if it’s just mine doing that. But as soon as a chuckle falls from my lips, he follows suit.

I should say no to this impromptu offer, but I’m weak. That, and I owe Bud for those free cleats. Besides, Ethan really would love my participation.

“Only if I get a whistle,” I say over my shoulder as I head to the supply shed.