by Kate Kisset
Her feet touched the ground, and she gazed up at him, groping for the right words. She wanted to say something cute and clever to let him know how happy she was to see him, and how truly sorry she was for not recognizing him. “Thanks for helping me down.” So much for cute and clever.
Luca gave her a slow smile, and it lit up his face more beautifully than any fireworks she’d see tonight. “Not a problem.” He climbed back onto the truck, snatched up the cooler and blankets, and jumped down, then closed the tailgate before taking off with the two girls.
Juliet nudged her with her shoulder, pointing her chin at Luca and his companions ahead. “God love the gorgeous Santino brothers. Every one of them.”
A frigid wind rolling off the Napa River pierced through the warm fuzz of her Crushers sweatshirt, chilling her bones. Juliet shifted next to her and huddled closer. The Santino party had broken into small clusters scattered around the park. Straightening her legs, Danica ran her hand over the cool blades of grass and thought about Luca.
He was there, too, somewhere in the crowd, and most likely on the lawn. Was he still afraid of spiders? She stifled a laugh, remembering the time Luca and Jess were lying on their stomachs doing homework at her parents’ house. Her mom and dad were at work. She captured a daddy longlegs spider and crawled ninja-style on her belly and set it loose at the door of her brother’s room. Peeking through the crack of the door, she waited for his reaction, and Luca’s hysterical response couldn’t have been more perfect.
Yelling, he flew off the floor like a maniac, jumping on Jess’s bed hard enough to break it. He caught her spying through the doorway, and bounded off the bed. She didn’t have time to get on her feet and run. He pinned her underneath him and tickled her so hard she almost peed her pants.
“Hot chocolate?” Lulu’s voice came from above.
Although the sun had almost completely set, she spotted Lulu, who was smiling above a stack of orange glow-lights wrapped around her neck. She wore a thick multicolored rug as a wrap, and looked like a cross between an exotic mystic and a medicine man in an old western. Uncle Leo stood next to her clutching a thermos. “Thanks Lulu, I’d love some.” Lulu fidgeted with the stack of paper cups.
Juliet giggled into Danica’s shoulder. “Her crown’s still on.”
“It’s a tiara, and I’m wearing my wonder ears.” Lulu extended a cup for Uncle Leo to fill from the thermos. “Replaced the batteries yesterday.” Lulu passed the cup down to Juliet. “I can hear every word you say from a distance of fifteen feet.” Her blue eyes glowed with an orange hue. “So watch it.”
Lulu passed Danica a cup. “I’d offer a little tipple, but I’m running low.” She nudged Uncle Leo with her shoulder. “See you girls back at the villa.” They weaved through the crowd and moseyed toward the river.
The delicious hot liquid trickled down Danica’s throat, warming her. Sighing, she leaned back on her elbows and soaked up the view. Despite the noisy crowd gathered around it, the glimmering river mirrored the moon without a ripple.
The little boats she usually saw during lunch breaks were gone. Perhaps the waterway was taking a breath and steeling itself for the bombardment of explosions about to light up the sky.
She’d lost sight of Luca after the group’s Frisbee game. Although the Santino clan, and practically everyone else from the gathering, played, Danica couldn’t bear the awkwardness of being around him, and stayed on the sidelines. Even if she had managed to corral enough courage to strike up a conversation with Luca, she couldn’t have pulled it off in front of Michael.
It didn’t matter, though. Luca hadn’t noticed her. She doubted he’d given her a second thought after helping her out of his truck.
Zzeeee-zzzzz. A test firecracker launched over the Napa River, illuminating the rapt crowd with red bursts of sparkle. As if on cue, Luca’s unmistakable silhouette popped up near the river’s edge, flanked by two female forms, one on each side.
Danica shifted on her blanket for a better look. The figure on his right leaned, tilting her face up to his.
Remembering the taste of Luca’s mouth from hours ago, she felt a hot blush sear her cheeks, and clutched the sweatshirt at her neck. Danica wriggled away from Juliet and leaned forward for a better look. What would he do now?
Luca adjusted his blanket so his cuddling companions were covered and protected from the cold breeze coming off the water. She’d have to wait for her own up-close view of him next week unless he cancelled their interview.
Even though they’d kissed, she changed her mind about finding another source for the baseball story. It wasn’t professional to kiss the subject of an interview, and god knows she shouldn’t have with Michael. But Luca? Her first kiss? They had too much history between them. She would talk to Mr. Harvey, and if she had to pass the story on to someone else, she would.
BOOM! A spray of red, white, and blue glittery light exploded over the park. A surge of excitement rushed through her.
Luca Santino was back.
Although she wasn’t sitting next to him, after all these years, they were together in the same place, looking at the same sky, seeing the same fireworks, at the same time.
Chapter Four
After explaining her connection to Luca Santino with as few personal details as possible, Mr. Harvey gave her the all clear to continue with the Crushers story. Danica would share the byline with an intern who would check for discrepancies, co-write, and back up Danica’s sources. Doing so would mitigate any conflict of interest.
Mr. Harvey thanked her for bringing the matter to his attention, but in reality, they both knew, the Crushers story wasn’t the kind of article that would attract enquiry or controversy. One day Danica would land a groundbreaking piece, but this wasn’t it. This was tiny town fluff, a features story through and through, meant to excite a close-knit community and garner support for the team.
Since there was no other baseball team in their area, there wasn’t a risk of showing favoritism for one team over another. Without going into details, Danica also suggested she share a byline on the Santino Winery story and, thankfully, Mr. Harvey didn’t ask any questions before he complied.
With her professional bases now covered, Danica spent the quick drive over convincing herself Luca’s Fourth of July kiss meant nothing to him—or her. She already apologized, he’d forgiven her, and all was well. Still, just the thought of Luca Santino brought up enough steamy hot memories to make her break into a sweat.
The hot sun baked her back while Danica scrambled over the brambles in the stadium parking lot. Rubbing the back of her sticky neck, she scanned Arnold field. Some players were on the bases and in the outfield. Others lined up near the dugout. Danica plopped down on the hard metal bleacher closest to the action and under the shade of the overhang. The stadium was almost empty. With her carefully planned interview notes tucked in her bag beside her, she watched the action through the chain-link backstop behind home plate.
All the players wore grey pants with navy trim. Some wore navy shirts and blue caps, others, grey shirts and grey caps. How would she know which one was Luca? They all looked the same, and there were too many.
She adjusted her sunglasses for a better look. Could that be him? One player’s cocky stance seemed very familiar. Squinting, she leaned forward. Luca stood behind second and third base.
The batter at the plate swung and missed. Then he adjusted his jockstrap, tapped his right shoulder, straightened the bat and swung again. This time the bat met the ball, and the player tore off for first base.
“That’s a bad hop,” a man yelled behind her.
Luca ran to the ball, scooped it up, and threw it to the first baseman in one fast motion. Glued in position, Luca glowered at first base.
The coach near first twisted from the bag to the field. “Safe. But good hustle, Danny.”
Each player performed his own little ritual after they picked up the bat and strolled to home plate. Some kissed cr
osses around their necks, a few patted their wrists with their hands, and others tapped the heels of their shoes with the bat.
Head down, in a quick lope, Luca and the teammates on his side hustled off the emerald field. Her heart jumped a little higher with every step bringing him closer and clearer into view. Danica dug her feet into the pavement and lifted off her seat, straining to lock eyes with him. She hoped he’d notice her before disappearing in the dugout below, but Luca never looked up.
She watched the dugout, wanting to see Luca again. Deep, boisterous voices shouted, but she couldn’t determine which was his. Sunflower shells flew out from under the crooked, sun-faded roof, but he remained hidden inside.
Finally, the top of Luca’s head appeared, and the rest of his magnificent body swaggered into view. The world slowed down. Her heartbeat thrummed in her ears, remembering how his full lips devoured her, and how warm and delicious he tasted. She’d always loved the way he kissed, and she scolded herself again. Danica could understand why she didn’t recognize his face, because Luca had changed so much, but even after all these years, she should’ve known his kiss. Relishing the fact that he couldn’t see her staring at him, she examined every inch of his perfect build while he strutted to the plate.
Now, only a few feet in front of her, Luca gripped the bat. His biceps and the muscles in his shoulders rippled. After adjusting his hat, even though it didn’t appear crooked, he stretched, bringing the bat out straight in front of him, and pulled back. He waited for the pitch and swung hard.
The man behind the plate clenched his fist. “Steeee-rike.”
“Go, Luca!” Her voice echoed off the metal rafters. “I mean—Danny.” She’d never get used to calling him that.
Luca tapped the dirt with the balls of his feet and suddenly craned his neck to look in her direction. Her gaze locked on his. Contact. She swallowed a breath.
Swiveling back to the pitcher, Luca stretched his arms out straight with the bat fully extended again. Then he wiggled his butt a little and settled into a stance. The ball flew past him, and he didn’t swing.
“Steeee-rike Two!" the man behind the plate shouted.
Bat in hand, head down, Luca sauntered out of the batter’s box and looked up. She caught him sneaking a peek at her, but he quickly looked away and brushed something off his shoulder. He stepped into the batter’s box again and waited for the pitch.
She shouldn’t have felt nervous, yet she held her breath, wishing he’d smack the crap out of that little ball.
He swung hard, missing the ball by at least a foot. Casually, he passed the bat to another player and strutted to the dugout without so much as a glance in her direction.
Unfortunately, he didn’t get up to bat again, and stayed hidden in the dugout for the rest of practice. Danica bided her time by mindlessly watching his teammates play for another hour or so, until the pretend game ended.
She grabbed her bag and got to her feet, and the little hairs on the back of her neck stood up too. How would he react to her? How could she possibly be professional and impartial around him, someone she’d known forever? Someone who’d shared her first kiss? Would she remember any of her questions, or sit there like a bumbling idiot, reminiscing? Danica waited for the players to file out of the park, but they ran to the far field instead.
Keeping her purse in her hands, she put her butt back down on the bleachers. What were they doing out there? The players took a knee and gave the coach their full attention. From his serious tone, and the melodious way he raised and lowered his pitch, his speech sounded like a sermon.
Then, all at once, the team stood up and formed a circle, each athlete placing a hand in the center. A deep-voiced command she couldn’t decipher came from the middle. Loud shouts erupted from the group in unison. Danica couldn’t decipher their cheers, because their voices were so deep and muffled. She imagined it was the same kind of rally cavemen made before a hunting expedition.
Finally, Luca, looking like a cool drink of athletic hotness, sauntered toward her off the sunny field. Eyes hidden from the shadows of his cap’s brim, he leaned over the gate separating the bleachers from the field a few feet away. “You wanna do it here?”
Get your mind out of the gutter, Danica…
“Ready.” Danica weaved out of the bleachers, feeling his stare.
Luca Santino took off his cap and wiped his forehead with his arm. All the years spent trying to forget her had only brought him back to Danica Vargas. Sure, he’d known when he signed with the Sonoma Crushers he’d probably run into her eventually, but not like this. It sickened him to think of anyone being hit by a ball, but why, out of all the fans in the stadium, did it have to be her, and with his ball?
“Could we do the interview there?” Danica asked pointing to the dugout.
“Sure.” He stole a quick glance. Did she have to wear shorts? She ambled toward him, carefree, with shiny hair and no makeup, looking as fresh-faced and lovely as she was in junior high. But she wasn’t the same. This was the new, improved-with-age version of Danica. The one who almost gave him a coronary when he saw her in the hospital. Even in that dingy, baggy hospital gown, she’d taken his breath away.
Sexy and a handful back then, he couldn’t imagine what a relationship would be like with her now, although, truth be told, it’s all he’d been imagining. He fumbled with the metal latch and opened the gate.
“Um—thanks for doing this.” Her nervous little smile hit him in the gut. Damn, is she pretty.
“Sure. Come on in.” Vanilla and spice wafted up from her hair under his nose. Thirty years could go by, and he’d still recognize her in an instant. Why hadn’t she recognized him? Since they were years older now, and finally on the same footing, because their age difference wasn’t such a big deal, he’d thought...maybe this time. He didn’t know what to think now.
They walked in silence to the rickety enclosure. “Have a seat.” He scratched at his throat and gestured to the worn-out bench. “Although, you should know, no one wants to ride the bench.”
“Got it,” she said stepping carefully across the sunflower shell-covered floor and taking a seat. “What happens in here during the game?” She pulled a notebook and pen from her bag.
“We rest. Watch the game.” Luca sat next to her. Even in the shade, her skin seemed to glow. He scooted back on the bench, trying to ignore the intoxicating scent coming off her. Side by side, they faced the empty field. “We need to get out in a few minutes for the cleanup crew. So go ahead, ask away.”
“Question number one.” She furrowed her cute little brow exactly the way she used to when she worried. “Are you still mad?”
Intrigued, he straightened his back. “About my strikeout?”
She scribbled something in her notepad. “About me not recognizing you.”
“That…” Luca let out a laugh mixed with relief, happy she brought it up so he didn’t have to. He wouldn’t have kissed her at the party if he’d known she wouldn’t recognize him. “No. Not mad, but thanks for apologizing.” He leaned forward, resting his forearms on his knees. “Should have known, Danica.” He bumped his leg against her.
She scooped a handful of her hair and lifted it off the back of her neck flashing the delectable little patch of skin right behind her ear. He used to love kissing her there.
He adjusted his position to get a better view. “Are you warm? Uncomfortable being so close to me?”
“No. It’s ninety degrees. By the way, we were really young, Luca, and you were about five feet shorter back then.” She dropped her hand and smoothed the front her shorts. “And, as long as we’re getting into this now, I guess I should also apologize for taking advantage of you back then."
“Whoa! What?” He couldn’t help laughing. “You did not take advantage of me."
“So you're not mad?"
"Not anymore. Forget about it.” Luca folded his hands behind his neck. Cradling his head, he leaned back. “Fire away."
She glanced at her notebook and resolutely returned her attention to first base, straight ahead. “Why did you decide to play baseball professionally and not go into the family business?”
“You have no idea what a loaded question that is. Long story short, I stick with a plan until I get what I want. Besides, I’m really good at baseball.” He tilted his face towards her so he could see her expression. “Was I really good at kissing?”
He loved playing with her, especially when it made her cheeks the shade of pink they were now.
Danica looked down at her notes. “Where did you go to college?”
We will get back to the kissing subject. “You remember, I did all those showcases in high school, must’ve done a million camps, kept my grades up somehow, and got a full ride at Arizona State.”
“You were pretty good as I recall.”
He inched closer, nudging her with his hip. “You came to one of my high school games?”
She scooted away laughing. “No, at kissing. You were pretty good at it.”
“Really? Do tell.” He reached over and traced a line with his finger over the soft skin on the top of her thigh. “So you were trying to make up with me by wearing shorts… Now tell me exactly what you remember.”
“I don’t remember anything,” she explained, unfortunately brushing his hand off her leg. “I was just saying you were a good kisser back in the day. I was in junior high. I barely remember.”
“No, technically you were out of junior high and were about to start high school. And pretending you don’t remember isn’t going to work, Danica.”
Reaching toward her because he couldn’t resist, he touched her chin, nudging her to look at him. “We were pretty hot.” He’d never forget his first kiss and all their kisses that came after. “Do you remember the time Jess and I were hanging out, and you lied about making a snack or something, and then pulled me into the linen closet on my way to the kitchen?”
“I don’t think I had to drag or pull you anywhere…”