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Chance turned to face her, definitely hiding a grin, before looking back at Emmett. “That’s because she found you. Now you have to take your punishment because you didn’t listen.”

“I was only gone for a minute,” Emmett started to tear up.

“Doesn’t matter. What if I wasn’t nice and was mad you interrupted me? Then I could be yelling at you or your mom or something,” Chance explained.

Tori leaned on her basket and watched the interaction. Based on his actions on the field, she never would have guessed that he would be this good with children. His temper was usually running the show when she watched him play.

“I’m sorry, mom.” Emmett ducked his little head.

“Thank you,” she told them both.

Chance stood and held out his hand for her to shake, and she stepped around her basket to do so.

“Tori Atkins. It’s nice to meet you,” she said.

“Chance Lawrence. Though something tells me you know,” he teased.

“We were at the game last week,” Emmett told him.

Chance made a face like he didn’t want to hear that. “Don’t do what I did, dude.”

“Mom says you have to be nice even if the ref needs to open his damn eyes,” Emmett repeated her word for word.

Tori gasped and slipped her hand over his mouth. “Sorry.”

Chance threw his head back and laughed. “It’s nice to know someone was actually watching the game.” He winked at Tori and then looked down at Emmett.

Tori let Emmett go but kept him close to her in case he said anything else.

“Your mom is right, though. It’s not my place to settle things on the field like that. We let the video review do its job and keep playing.” Chance looked at both of them as he spoke.

That was the moment she melted. He was hot as sin and also knew how to talk to her son. It was a wonder her legs continued to work.

“That guy shoved you, though,” Emmett protested.

Chance nodded. “He did. But I could have let the ref handle it and let him get carded. Instead, I lost my temper and let my team down because they had to play down a man. It wasn’t right.”

“Okay,” Emmett said after a minute.

“I’m sure your mom appreciates your understanding.”

He turned the full force of his grin on her, and she had to remind herself to breathe. It wasn’t every day someone got the undivided attention of a star they liked.She was entitled to be overwhelmed, she told herself.

“Thank you,” Tori blushed and walked past him. “It was nice to meet you,” she added, taking the cart and her kid and walking away.

“Tori,” Chance called out.

She stopped and turned back to him.

“It was nice to meet you, too.”

“Mom,” Emmett tugged on her arm.

“Not now,” she said through clenched teeth.

“But, mom,” he pressed.

Tori shot him a look that made it clear she didn’t want to hear it and he stopped.