Free The Perfect Blend by Allie Pleiter Page B

throws (they throw backward?) and I’ve no idea what a scrum or a line out is, although he told me. What I did hear was the word tackling.
    There will be no tackling.
    I heard the word maul somewhere in that description, too, and it didn’t do much for my sense of calm.
    â€œSorry I could only get half the team here, but I think you’ll get a feel for the game anyway.” Will says after introducing each of the giants by name.
    That’s only half of them?
    â€œReady?”
    â€œNo!”
    â€œBrilliant. Now take the ball…”
    Â 
    When it is all over, Will points a muddy finger at me. “Admit it. You had fun.”
    â€œI’m filthy.”
    He picks up the sack of equipment and hoists it over one shoulder. “But unharmed. And you had fun.”
    I adopt a poor mimic of Will’s accent. “Despite all odds, I found myself rather enjoying the afternoon.”
    Will laughs. I feel the sound in the pit of my stomach. He is muddier than I—which is saying something—and his hair hangs down playfully in his eyes. His chin boasts a reckless smudge of dirt. “You did.” After a moment, he adds with a quiet grin, “I did, too.”
    Did I have fun? I had a wonderful time. I saw an energetic, lighthearted side of William Grey that tugged at me in ways I didn’t expect.
    I want to know more about this man. His past, what he thinks about God. About his politics and what his favorite music is. Where he got that scar above his right eye and what his family thinks ofhim being so far from home. I find myself asking God to let me know he’s a man of faith, because my attraction to him is growing faster than I can handle if he isn’t.
    Before I can stop myself, I reach out and pull a leaf from his hair. Our eyes lock, frozen by the moment.
    â€œMaggie,” he says after what feels like an hour, his expression undecipherable.
    â€œMmm, hmm,” I’m too stunned to attempt an actual word.
    â€œI find you—” he shifts the bag on his shoulder and shuffles a foot in the grass “—far more appealing than I should, given our situation.”
    What does a girl say to that?
    â€œI shouldn’t even be seeing you outside of class, but…” he doesn’t finish the sentence. He doesn’t need to.
    He feels it, just as I do. I’m suddenly dizzy and my stomach just left the county. “Will…”
    â€œThis is dangerous. Maggie, the consequences of this are enormous. For both of us. Whatever is…happening…between us…well…it’s not a very good idea. You see that, don’t you?”
    â€œYes,” I reply far too quickly, spooked by the fact that he feels this spark between us. “I mean, of course I see that. And there really is…nothing…happening…” my voice just trails off because that’s ridiculous, we both know there is something happening. A very big, very scary something neither of us invited.
    â€œIt’s not just the business side of things,Maggie.” Will lets the bag of gear slide off his shoulders and looks straight into my eyes. Oh, those eyes. They could pull you right inside them if you weren’t careful. “We are both people of faith. I know we haven’t discussed it, but it is the case and it means that we need to be careful.” He shifts his weight and continues, “I hope it doesn’t surprise you that I take my faith as seriously as you do. We shouldn’t be casual about this. Not that I don’t…” He pushes out a breath. “I’m speaking in rubbish here. What I’m trying to say is that…I think we need to be very cautious about how we spend any time with each other outside of class.”
    Will Grey is a man of faith. Genuine, deep faith.
    He’s my banker. He’s my teacher. Oh, Lord, how could You? How could You send someone into my life who’s so right and so wrong all at