Luck Be A Lady (Destiny Bay Romances-The Ranchers Book 5) by Helen Conrad

wasn’t there. But he didn’t take hints very well. With a sense of dread, she knew she was going to have to come right out and tell him how she felt—and pretty soon.  
    She started to look back at the field again, but something caught her eye. As she turned, before she’d even really seen it, a chill skittered down her spine.
    It was Cody. He stood near the parking lot, his suit coat slung over his shoulder, the long sleeves of his white shirt rolled up to his elbows, a brush of silky black hair falling down over his forehead. Her heart seemed to stop. She stared, meeting his gaze, and waited for him to make some sign.
    He didn’t smile. Suddenly it had been too long and she looked quickly away, murmuring something to Tammy who was just coming off the field. The Unicorns had accrued three outs and Kelly hadn’t even noticed.
    “Okay, girls,” she declared, not really knowing what she was saying. “This is it. Our last chance. It’s now or never. Get out there and show those dressed-up dolls how to play this game!”
    Tammy looked puzzled, but Kelly didn’t notice that she’d acted out of character. Her mind was on the tall, dark man on the other side of the bleachers. Biting her lip, she cursed herself for an idiot and wished with all her heart that she’d thrown him a bright, cheery smile just to prove how little she cared that he hadn’t called for two weeks.
    So he wouldn’t smile at her. Well, who needed him ? She settled the batting order and sat down on the bench, forcing herself to watch the game.
    “I’m back,” said Glenn brightly, looking as though he was about to slap himself down beside her.
    “Uh... why don’t you go out and act as first base coach?” Kelly suggested, unable to bear him there right now.
    “Oh sure. Glad to help.” He trotted out toward first base and she watched him pass Cody.
    “Go away,” she whispered in Cody’s direction, glaring at him. But he didn’t even look her way. She turned toward the game and struggled to pay atten tion. People moved back and forth in front of her, but her mind was on Cody. Out of the corner of her eye she could see where he stood. She closed her eyes for a brief moment.  
    “Go away,” she whispered again. But when she opened her eyes, he was still there.
    Glenn’s daughter Suzy walked. Niki bunted and took first while Suzy went to second. Two on base. If they could just get home, the Rockin’ Robins would have the game won. Kelly began to pay more atten tion.
    Jeri struck out. Suzy tried to steal and got caught at it. Two away. In desperation, the girls looked to the next batter. Penny stepped up. Collectively, the bench groaned.
    “Quiet!” Kelly admonished them. “You give her the same respect you ask for yourselves.” But that didn’t stop the grumbling.
    One ball, then two strikes, and the mood was glum on the bench. Another pitch, and somehow, through sheer wishing, Penny’s bat made a connection with the ball that sent it spinning out into left field.
    “Run, run!” the girls all yelled as Penny hesitated, not sure what had actually happened. “Run!” She ran as hard as her gangly legs would take her. The fielder bobbled the ball. Penny made it to first base.
    “Stick, stick!” the girls yelled, and surely Glenn must have been advising the same.
    But the girls on the Unicorns’ bench sensed a vulnerability, and in chorus, they gleefully yelled, “Run for second! Run for second!”
    Penny spun around. The fielder still didn’t have complete control of the ball. Uncertainty crumpled Penny’s face. “Stick to first!” the Robins were screaming.
    But they were being drowned out by the chant, “Run for second!” from the opposing team.
    Penny looked around, her face confused, and started to run. She hadn’t taken more than four steps before she realized her mistake. The second base player had the ball. She came toward Penny, grinning happily. Penny turned to look back. Suddenly, the ball was in first base’s