With a sigh, she sat back and glanced around.
Abby, Christa, and Loni and Lori—famous local bakers she’d seen on TV—sat in lawn chairs in the corner by the kids, watching the little ones play with the toys Amanda had brought for them. The colorful balls were a big hit at school, so she knew Noah, Dillan, and Mindy would enjoy having some here today too.
It had been another great week at the preschool, but she was enjoying the downtime…and observing a certain handsome neighbor of hers as he out-spiked, out-saved, and out-served every single player, including her sister, Mel, and Lyndsey.
And those women were amazing.
She flicked her gaze over the male players. Every last one was easy on the eyes.
“What’s the frown for?” Rylee asked.
Amanda wanted to be like her when she grew up. The gorgeous woman was Dex’s wife, Gabe’s sister, an ESI operative,and mother to little Sophia, currently asleep in her arms. In other words, Superwoman.
Instead, she was just frumpy Amanda, the boring, single schoolmarm.
She shrugged. “Just realized how dull my life is.”
“Dull?” Stef raised a brow.
Another Superwoman. Stef was married to Mac, owned her own graphic design shop, and was mother to Matthew, currently sleeping in her lap.
“Didn’t you just get back from teaching abroad?” the woman asked.
“Well, yeah.” She sipped her drink, trying not to think about why she left.
“Takes guts to move to a new country without knowing anyone,” Rylee pointed out.
Stef nodded. “That’s certainly not boring.”
She shrugged again. “I guess.”
Her gaze wandered back to the volleyball game, and she decided to use it to change the subject.
“All the ESI guys are handsome,” she said. “Is it a prerequisite or something?”
Her friends chuckled.
“Or something,” Stefanie muttered with a grin.
Rylee motioned toward her brother. “Gabe is handsome too.”
She flicked her gaze to the tall, muscular sheriff with gorgeous blue eyes manning the grill. “I agree. So is Holden, and neither of them work for ESI, so the handsome trait must be part of a different prerequisite.”
Stef sipped her lemonade before quietly setting it on the table. “You think the guys are handsome now, wait until it gets warmer, and their shirts come off.”
Amanda’s pulse hiccupped at the thought of seeing Dante’s, no doubt, delectable torso. She could tell it was well-defined by the way his T-shirt spread across his broad shoulders and chest as she watched him jump up and spike the volleyball.
He was wearing mirrored sunglasses today and he looked dead-sexy in them. Her pulse had yet to level off.
Seeing him shirtless?
She blew out a breath. “Not sure I could handle that.”
“Oh, you’ll manage.” Stef grinned.
Rylee chuckled. “Yeah, just like us—with a big smile on your face.”
Her chuckle echoed with the others.
