Play Date (Play Makers Book 3) by Kate Donovan Page B

jumped up and joined Bannerman, and she could see why the children thought the visitor was a giant. It was almost comical, yet the disparity—the sheer wall of muscle next to that breakable little frame—jolted her back to duty.
    “Okay,” she said, stepping between the two males, then eyeing Bannerman coolly. “This is just a demonstration. No rough stuff.”
    “I’ll be careful. I promise.” To Kyle, he added, “You heard the teach. No rough stuff. Plus, I’ve got a bad back, so go easy on me.”
    “Your back hurts?” she asked, genuinely sympathetic.
    “Yeah, someone jumped me at a wedding.”
    “Oh, be quiet.” She felt her cheeks blaze with embarrassment. “Let’s just get this over with.”
    “It’s never over, Ms. Gillette.”
    “Oh, really? Because it’s definitely over for me.” She forced herself to glare straight into his laughing eyes. “So let’s play ball, shall we?”
    “Sure thing.” He handed the ball to Kyle, then told the class, “Here’s how we’ll do it. Cargo Boy’s my quarterback. He tosses it to me, then I try to get past my opponent—who in this case is the lovely Ms. Gillette. If I connect the ball to the back wall, my team wins. If she stops me, she wins. Got it?” He leaned down to Kyle and showed him how to position his fingers on the laces, not that it was really possible. Even a junior football was too big for these children.
    Still, he seemed determined, so Bannerman said, “Okay, on three. One, two, three.”
    Kyle ended up using two hands to toss it to the halfback, who strode toward Rachel. She stepped out of the way, allowing him to reach the chalkboard on the back wall. “You guys won,” she said, beaming at Kyle.
    “That’s cheating,” Bannerman told her cheerfully. “Let’s get a few more players up here. How about you, Flip-flop Girl?”
    Alicia sprang to her feet and joined him. “Yay, me.”
    “That’s the spirit. Cargo Boy’s gonna toss it to you, you toss it to me, then Ms. Gillette will block me. If she doesn’t try this time, we’ll be very disappointed in her, won’t we?”
    The entire class confirmed with a happy shout.
    Rachel rolled her eyes, but braced herself. She wouldn’t actually try to stop him, but maybe she could put on a show for the children, because they really did need to know the importance of trying.
    The ball went from Kyle to Alicia to Bannerman, who flashed a mischievous grin then advanced on Rachel, bulldozing her gently until her back was against the blackboard. “Nice try, teach.”
    “What are you doing here?” she demanded softly.
    “I wanted to talk to you. And you said not to phone. So it’s your fault.”
    She wriggled away and gave the children a reassuring smile. “I think I won that one. Right?”
    They shuffled indecisively, then Tommy told her, “Try to take the ball away from him.”
    Bannerman nodded in approval. “I like how you think, kid. What’s that on your shirt? A monkey?”
    “It’s a tiger,” Tommy insisted.
    “Okay, Tiger Boy. You’re up. And we need someone else.” After scanning the students, he pointed to Mary Enniston. “Let’s take a look at you.”
    Rachel’s heart sank. Mary had worn an eye patch the last few months, and the thought Bannerman might pin a corresponding label on the poor child made her physically ill.
    But instead the halfback said, “Leave the purse behind, purse girl. This is the NFL. Let’s see your muscle.” He flexed his arm, and when Mary did likewise, he nodded approvingly. “I like your stuff. You’re my QB. Tiger boy, you’ll receive it then lateral to me. Then I’ll obliterate Ms. Gillette. Let’s get this done.”
     
    • • •
     
    By the tenth time he backed her up to the board and grinned down at her, she was his for the taking. Not only had he given each student a hilarious nickname, diligently including even the shyest of them. Not only had he been scrupulously careful about their well-being. About her well-being.
    But he