Free Pitch Perfect by LUANN MCLANE Page B

Fatigue often made her testy, causing Cam to stay out of her way as often as he could. He had played lots of sandlot baseball, since his mother couldn’t afford a real uniform on a Little League team, and yet he attributed his real love of the game to that experience versus squabbling parents and only-playing-to-win coaches.
    “Here’s your water and your salad.”
    Cam looked up in surprise. “Oh . . . thanks.” He had been so engrossed in his thoughts that he’d failed to see Mia approach his table. She seemed a little flushed, and when she gave the rowdy group of guys a nervous glance, he frowned. “Are those dudes getting out of line?”
    “They’re just a bunch of arrogant . . .” She paused and got a thoughtful look on her face before rolling her eyes and adding, “Ass clowns!”
    Cam arched one eyebrow. “Ass clowns?” Even though Cam found her assessment of the
ass clowns
amusing, he wasn’t convinced that they weren’t bothering her, but he firmly reminded himself not to get involved. Odd, but after first meeting Mia, Cam would have thought that these guys were the type she would have hung around with, and yet she seemed annoyed. “Really?” He observed her expression closely, but she scrunched up her cute little nose and nodded.
    “Absolutely.” Mia gave him a slight grin, but he thought it looked a little bit forced. “Have you decided on your entrée?”
    “I think I’ll have a bowl of Stone Soup.”
    “That’s all? Soup and salad?”
    “You might be able to convince me to have dessert.”
    “I recommend the apple crisp. Myra made some early this morning. The kitchen smelled so amazing that I was afraid that simply inhaling would put on weight.”
    Cam was about to tell her that she didn’t have anything to worry about on that score, but one of the ass clowns was flagging her down.
    “Hey, this Coke is diet,” he complained and shoved the glass in her direction.
    “I’m sorry, I thought you asked for diet.”
    “Well, you’re wrong again. And this ketchup bottle is empty.” He shoved it at her as well.
    “I’ll get you another one.”
    “Hurry up. We’ve got places to be.”
    “I will.”
    When Cam noticed a little quaver in her voice, he stabbed his fork into a cherry tomato with more force than needed.
    “And you forgot the extra pickle on my burger.”
    “Okay.”
    “And how about some hot sauce, baby,” one of them said in a smarmy tone that set Cam’s teeth on edge.
    “Coming right up,” Mia said and turned on her heel.
    “You’d better hurry or you’ll get stiffed. But then again, maybe you’d like that.”
    Mia stopped in her tracks and whipped around so fast that Diet Coke sloshed over the rim of the glass. “That’s enough!”
    “Really?”
    “Yes. This is my first day on the job, but I have had enough of you!” Color was high in her cheeks, but she stood her ground. Cam held his breath, hoping the asshats would shut up.
    “Oh, baby, it’s never enough. Come sit on my lap and find out.” He put his hand suggestively on his crotch.
    Well . . . damn!
Cam felt anger thump against the inside of his chest and barely refrained from springing to his feet. “Hey, treat her with respect or leave.”
    “Fuck off, dude.”
    “I mean it,” Cam warned in a calm tone, but his heart was pounding. He simply could not sit back and listen to them any longer, but the last thing he needed was a damned fight. He didn’t want to get injured or land his ass in trouble! Plus, there were three of them and one of him . . . not that it had stopped him before. Cam held his breath and hoped they would shut the hell up.
    “Cam, it’s okay,” Mia said in a worried tone. “I think they’ve been drinking,” she added in a stage whisper.
    “We have,” the streaky blond one said. “And we’re just getting started. My boat is docked at the marina. Wanna go out with us, babe? I’d love to see you in a bikini.” He curved his palms suggestively and licked