Allie only shrugged, earning Molly’s snort of disapproval. “Hell. Youth is wasted on you girls. What you both need is a mind-blowing orgasm with a hot, virile guy.”
Claire spewed her soda.
Molly pretended not to notice and chugged her coffee—which Allie was certain was heavily laced with Kahlua—and looked around. “I’ve got to use the facilities. I might be awhile.” She hauled herself up. “Tell me what I miss. And if hot-pants over there starts running around the field before I get back, be sure to shoot some video on that phone of yours.” She gave Allie a knowing wink. “The ladies in my bridge club will get a kick out it. And so will I,” she
added waggling her eyebrows, then slung her large purse over her shoulder and tottered away.
“Don’t even think of lighting up a cigarette anywhere near the school!” Allie hollered to her retreating back through clenched teeth. “They’ll skin you alive!”
That was, if there was anything left of her gran after Allie got through with her.
…
Allie’s attention during the rest of the game was torn between cheering on the St. Andrew’s players and admiring the nice backside of her fellow teacher. And after the boys of St. Andrew’s crossed the field to congratulate the opposing team on a game well played, she continued to watch Sam as he interacted effortlessly with the kids, congratulating them on their game. Then he took up a conversation with Tim and two moms who had joined them.
She tried to bite back the jealousy that hit like a sledgehammer at seeing him talk to the women, who were sending him obvious signals of interest. Laughing, touching his arm, twirling their hair.
He was a free man. It wasn’t like she had any claim on him.
“Holy sh—is that the time?” Molly said in a sudden near panic. “We’d better get a move on, chickies. They start lining up at the center for lunch by ten-thirty, and today’s corned beef on rye and apple pie. Don’t want ‘em running out on me.”
Resigned to the probability she wouldn’t get a chance to talk with Sam again, Allie bent down and gathered their blanket.
“Morning ladies,” came a low, definitely male voice laced with an edge of interest, from right behind her upturned rump.
She whipped up and turned to face him. The first thing she noticed besides the shine in Sam’s eyes—which gave her an odd sort of thrill—was that he hadn’t shaved this morning. Combined with the stubble from last night, he looked impossibly better than she remembered.
“Hello, yourself,” Molly jumped in. “Heard you’re teaching at St. Andrew’s with my granddaughter and Ms. Claire here. I don’t recall big-hunk-of-manhood being a prerequisite to teaching English in my day.” She gave him a blatant once-over. “I’m Molly, by the way, Allie’s grandmother, since no one has seen fit to introduce us or anything. Probably afraid I might say something embarrassing.”
Allie cringed. Too late.
“Sam Fratto,” he said and offered his hand to Molly, who took her sweet time looking him over again before finally taking it.
“Nice, strong handshake. Just like I like ’em. No pansy-assed grip like some others I could tell you about,” Molly said and glanced over in Claire’s direction. Claire rolled her eyes, and she and Allie exchanged an exasperated glance. “I don’t see a ring on your finger there, Sam. You’re…single, I presume?”
“So I hear.” His lips twitched.
“How do you feel about ballroom dancing?” Molly continued thoughtfully.
“Never tried it.”
“Too bad. You’d be terrific. Maybe I can teach you a few moves sometime. There’s a class at the senior center every Wednesday night if you’re looking to pick up on one of the surest ways into a woman’s pants,” she said and gave him a wink.
Allie admired how he actually managed not to visibly choke, though his eyes watered a little from the effort.
“I’ll keep that in mind,” he rasped.
Before Molly could say anything more, Allie headed her off. “It’s almost quarter after ten, Grams. Remember? The corned beef? We’d better leave now if we’re going to have time for Claire to drop us off at my car.”
“You know,” Sam said graciously to Molly, “I’d be happy to see your granddaughter gets back to her car. I wouldn’t want you missing out on that corned beef.”
Molly nodded in approval, and Claire looked at her friend askance. “Will you be all right with that, Allie? Because it’s really no bother for me to drop you off. It’s practically on the way.”
Which wasn’t exactly the truth. It was the opposite direction. “I’ll be okay. You guys go on.”
“That’s right gentlemanly of you, Sam.” Molly turned her intense gaze on Allie and winked again. “Remember what I said, toots. See ya around, Sam.” She turned and raced across the field, her purse slapping against her backside.
“I look forward to it,” he said to her retreating form.