Free Heaven's Touch by Jillian Hart Page B

she met Cadence’s gaze. “Still single after all these years.”
    â€œNo, really?” Rachel leaned closer, greatly interested. “How strange, because Ben isn’t married either.”
    â€œA coincidence. Some might say that was a sign from above,” Amy added.
    No way. Cadence knew exactly where this wasgoing. “I haven’t met the right man at just the right time. I’m in no hurry.”
    â€œLove happens when it happens,” Amy said sagely, radiating happiness, the diamond engagement ring sparkling on her left hand. “It’s even sweeter the second time around.”
    Pain cracked like a broken rib in her chest, and Cadence spoke before the well-meaning sisters could take this one step further. “I’m not interested in getting married. I figure if it hasn’t happened yet, it probably won’t. I love my life exactly the way it is. Although I’m happy for you, Amy.”
    â€œCome have pizza with us,” Paige invited, speaking over her sister. “When your game’s done, just come on over. We’re going to the restaurant just on the other side of the park. I’m told everyone goes there after their games.”
    â€œNo.” Her gaze shot past Paige’s shoulder. “This is your family time.”
    â€œYou’re like family,” Rachel piped up. “At least stop by so we can catch up. We can be friends like we used to be.”
    Cadence’s chest cracked a little more. After all she’d been through, how could she say no to that? “I’ll stop by, if I can find you. The restaurant gets packed.”
    â€œGood enough.” Paige beamed with approval. She was a beautiful woman with a gentle smile that seemed to be reassuring.
    Cadence could feel the wings of disaster fluttering overhead. “I’ve got to get back. It was good seeing you all.”
    As their cheerful and rather hopeful-sounding goodbyes rang in the air behind her, she spun on her cleats and ran back to her game. Hurt welled up over the what-ifs in her life, the places where so many times the forks in her path could have brought her marriage and family and hadn’t.
    Her team was up, and she weaved through the spectators toward the barrier fence behind home plate. She felt Ben’s gaze on her all the while, like a lasso wrapping tight around her throat as if to haul her back. But she was stronger than that and kept on going. She took her place in line with her team.
    â€œLucky that guy wasn’t hurt much,” Peggy commented. “People have really gotten hurt that way.”
    Cadence nodded, focusing on the opposing team as their pitcher wound up—she had a killer slow-pitch. She kept her thoughts on the game where they belonged, because as much as she’d once loved the McKaslin girls, they hadn’t become her family. As much as she’d loved Ben, he had never loved her the same in return.
    So much time had passed and so much life had happened to both of them that now Ben McKaslin was just some guy to her. It was all he would ever be.
    As if an angel touched her on the shoulder, sheturned to the exact position where she could see the McKaslin family meandering through the busy park, talking amicably the way a family should. The little boy skipped ahead, followed by Ben on his crutches, the metal glinting sharply in the sun as he moved. His strong arm muscles bunched and rippled as he went.
    With any luck, the restaurant would be too crowded and there would no need to see him again. And if she did, there was no reason to think things could be any different this time. Life wasn’t like that.
    She’d learned that the hard way, too.

Chapter Six
    W hy did his gaze find her the instant she strolled into the restaurant? Ben wondered. Especially when he’d intentionally chosen a table as far away from the front door as he could get and sat with his back to the front of the restaurant?
    â€œSee?