Free A Maverick's Heart by Roz Denny Fox Page A

row of different kinds on her kitchen windowsill. He thought Lila had salt and pepper shakers on hers.
    Beyond the violets he spotted blooming rosebushes. He could picture one on Lila’s porch bringing color and welcome to her and her guests. He liked red, but then spotted a bush with a profusion of salmon-colored buds. They would look really nice against the weathered-gray siding of the house. The container, too, was made of wood. Beautiful but not too fancy. Pleased with his decision, Seth picked up the rosebush and carried it to the front of the store.
    “Ah, you found something.” The flower lady dusted her hands on her apron and motioned to the counter where there sat an old-style cash register. “A very nice choice,” she said, peeling the price off the bottom of the wood. “Would you like me to tie a satin bow this same shade around the pot?” she asked.
    “Thanks, but I’ll take it as it is,” Seth told her and handed over his credit card. “It’s not for any special occasion. I just think it’ll look nice by the front door.”
    “The roses have only recently come out of our hothouse. We shouldn’t have another freeze this late in the spring. But one never knows. If the weather turns, set the pot inside and you’ll be all right.” She smiled as she rang up his purchase and gave him the sales slip to sign.
    The first thing he did after parking in his usual spot beside the bed-and-breakfast was to set the rose next to Lila’s front door. He descended the steps again and admired it. The bush looked exactly as he’d imagined, inviting and colorful.
    He checked his watch and saw he’d wiled away most of the day. Even if Lila left the café shortly after it closed, he still had a good hour or more before she and Rory got home.
    Going to his room, he changed out of his slacks and boots and into jeans and sneakers. He had plenty of time to take Ghost for a run and still tape the handle of the wooden bat he’d bought Rory.
    * * *
    S OME FORTY MINUTES LATER , he was sitting on the top porch step taping the bat handle to ensure a better grip, when Lila drove in. The other guests had stopped by, bubbled over with news of the fish they’d caught and how delighted Doreen Mercer had been to get them. The women in the foursome admired the rosebush. Seth had smiled at their delight and also chuckled because neither of their husbands had noticed the potted plant.
    Rory didn’t, either. He zeroed in on the bat in Seth’s hand and the ball in a mitt on the porch. “Oh, wow. Oh, wow,” the boy shouted, running up the few steps to shed his backpack and plop down next to Seth.
    “Are these mine?” he asked, his eyes huge and his freckles standing out against his pale face.
    “They are. And it’s still light enough for us to try them out,” Seth said, glancing at Lila, who moved at a much slower pace toward the steps.
    “Kemper has green bats,” Rory announced, touching the sleek, dark wood of the bat Seth had taped and was now tearing off the excess and smoothing the edges down.
    “This one is made of solid hickory,” Seth said. “It meets all League regulations. Some pro ball players still prefer wooden bats.”
    Lila had reached the steps. She shifted her purse to the other shoulder and seemed to take in everything before stepping up. “Oh...oh...that rose is beautiful. Where did it come from?”
    “I passed a nursery after I left the sporting-goods store. The rose called to me,” Seth said, deliberately making light of the agony he’d gone through to choose it.
    “It’s perfect there,” she said, her eyes shining with tears. “I don’t know why I never thought to buy something to decorate the porch. It’s the very touch needed to greet guests. I’ve no idea what it cost, Seth, but you must let me reimburse you for the rose and Rory’s equipment.”
    “The rose is a gift.” Seth’s tone brooked no argument on that score. “Hey, why don’t you change into jeans and come toss the ball