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family.
    â€œLorraine’s the best baby I’ve ever seen. I’ve never even heard her whimper.” Raquel scooped up her niece and held her up in the air. “Isn’t that right, sweetie? I’ve been wanting to get my hands on you all night. I thought your poky daddy would never finish feeding you.”
    Lorraine gurgled and Raquel pressed her nose against the baby’s smaller one, then tucked the squirming bundle into her shoulder and rhythmically patted the tiny back.
    And she was good with babies. Perfect wife material. Why did the only woman he’d met who drew him like a moth to a flame have to be his friend’s widow? On top of that, her brother hated him, and his calling was up in the air.
    Definitely not a good time to pursue Raquel. Why couldn’t she just stop being so friendly, so strong, so appealing, so perfect, so beautiful?
    â€œFirst my wife, now my sister. What are you, some kind of stalker?” Brant’s glare could have pierced steel.
    Tori smacked him in the shoulder. “Hush.”
    Busted. Slade hadn’t even realized he’d been staring at Raquel.
    â€œNot at all.” He pushed his chair back. He should have left as soon as he saw Brant on Raquel’s porch. “But I think it’s time for me to go.”
    Hunter looked wide eyed from one man to the other.
    â€œHunter, if you’re finished with your pie, go study for your spelling test.”
    â€œAw, Mom.”
    â€œGo.”
    â€œYes, ma’am.” The boy reluctantly scurried from the room.
    â€œSlade, you haven’t even had your pie yet.” Raquel turned a sharp look on her brother. “Stop being a jerk andbe nice to my guest. Maybe you and Tori could go help Hunter with his studying.”
    â€œI’m not leaving you alone with this guy.”
    Raquel held Lorraine up between them like a shield and the baby squealed and kicked her feet. “Lorraine will chaperone. Now go, before I kick you out of my house for bad manners.”
    Though Tori tugged on Brant’s arm, he clearly wasn’t ready to back down. The phone rang.
    Saved by the bell.
    â€œI’ll get it,” Hunter called from the front of the house.
    â€œI really need to go.” Slade headed toward the back door.
    â€œOh, all right, but at least let me send you a piece of pie home. And I need to talk to you about something soon.”
    â€œSure. Anytime.” He could feel Brant’s glare burning a hole through him.
    Raquel sliced the pie, set it on a disposable plate and wrapped it in foil.
    â€œMom!” Hunter blasted into the room. “Max said Grady said Fletcher said Coach James is quitting us. And when Max asked Coach Quinn, he said it’s true.”
    Great. Just what she needed. A steaming brother and an upset child. “It is true, sweetie. But he has a good reason. Coach James is a soldier and he has to go back to work.”
    â€œBut what about the team?”
    â€œDon’t worry—we’ll find another coach.”
    â€œHey, what about Slade? Will you be our coach?”
    â€œHunter! Calm down and don’t put Slade on the spot like that. Please go back in the living room and study. The team will be just fine.”
    The little boy’s shoulders slumped. “Okay.”
    â€œCome on, sweetie.” Tori patted his arm. “I’m sure your team will find another coach.”
    Hunter and Tori trailed toward the living room, butBrant stayed long enough to shoot Slade one more evil eye. “I’ll be watching you.”
    â€œBrant!” Raquel snapped. “Out.”
    â€œI don’t trust him, Rock. When we ran into him earlier, he made a move on my wife and he’s gone back and forth staring at her, then you all night. Just watch him.” With reluctance obvious in every step, Brant left them alone.
    â€œI’m so sorry.” Raquel covered her face with her hands. “This evening has been a disaster