by Jade, Ella
Did you text him?
“Maggie?” her mother asked.
“Yeah.”
“Did she change her mind? Is she eating with us?”
“No, she has a date.”
“He could eat here too. We have enough.”
“Too much, but it smells delicious.”
“Go watch the game with your father,” she said. “I have things to do in here. Maybe you’ll see Pax in the dugout.”
“Am I that obvious?”
“You did talk about him the whole time he pitched yesterday. I haven’t seen you this excited in years.”
“I’m acting like a ridiculous teenager with a celebrity crush.” She washed the flour from her hands. “It’s not like me.”
“We’re all entitled to a crush every now and then.” Her mother hugged her. “I’m sure you’ll get to see him again. He did buy the property across the lake.”
“I heard.”
“You’re neighbors. You’re bound to run into one another.”
SATURDAY’S GAME HAD been long and hard. Pax endured the residual effects of pitching seven innings all night. He was happy to sit in the dugout and cheer his teammates on during the Sunday game. After the usual locker room antics and coach talk, he headed home. Some of the guys were going to dinner before tomorrow’s road trip to Philadelphia but he had other plans. He didn’t think he’d make it until Friday. He needed to see Sophia before he left.
He hadn’t called her since leaving the bar. At first, he didn’t want to appear too needy so he waited, planning on doing it after the game on Saturday. But a few beers with the guys and a card game later, he went home and iced his shoulder. He fell asleep on the couch and didn’t wake up until it was time to head to the stadium on Sunday. Now he was home and restless. A phone call wouldn’t do. He had to see her again. Figuring out what it was about her consumed his every thought. He had no idea how this dating thing worked but he was fairly certain he would have to initiate things.
He walked down the long, winding path to the back of the lake. When he ran into her the other morning she pointed in that direction when she told him where she lived. The area was secluded and there were only a handful of houses back there. Luckily, he’d seen her car in the parking lot the other night, so he knew what to look for. He’d spotted it parked on a side driveway at one of the larger homes in the community.
When no one answered up at the main house, he walked down the path to where he’d seen her car parked. He saw a quaint cottage. The windows were open and the most enticing aroma flowed out of them. Perhaps these people would know where he could find Sophia.
He made his way up the cobblestone path, admiring the colorful spring flowers and rose bushes that surrounded the property. He’d have to find out who the landscaper was and have them come out and spruce up his place. Since moving into his new home, he hadn’t had much time to tend to all of the details that went with owning such a large lot.
Through the screen door of the cottage he could hear her giggling. Just like she had the other night for him. He was in the right place, so he tapped on the door.
“I’ll get it,” she said as he watched her through the screen door.
“Hey.” He smiled when she appeared. “I was in the neighborhood, so I thought I’d drop by.”
“How did you know I lived here?”
As she stepped out onto the porch he took in her appearance. She wore a pair of tight-fitting black yoga pants and a lightweight gray long sleeve shirt. Her feet were bare and he noticed the pale blue polish that covered her toes.
“This was the path you took Friday morning and I saw your car. I knocked at the main house but there was no answer.”
“Mr. and Mrs. Cambridge are out of town. My parents are the caretakers of the property.”
“So you live here?” He nodded toward the charming two-story cottage. “I like it.” It reminded him of a small vacation home they had rented one summer when his father was still alive. His mother adored it. He had many memories of that particular July.
“What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to see you. I meant to call last night, but after the game things got hectic, and then I went home and crashed. This morning I had to get up and get to the field.”
“I watched you pitch yesterday.” She tucked her hair behind her ear.
“What’d ya think?”
“I think you did okay.” She looked into his eyes. “You did let up one run.”
She’s teasing me.
“Everyone’s a critic.” He reached for her hand because he couldn’t resist touching her. “I missed you.”
“I was going to text you, but I didn’t want to bother you.”
It was her awkward shyness that drew him to her. He like the inconspicuous way she had about her. She was nothing like the women who threw themselves at him on a regular basis. Not that he was complaining about the girls in his past. Those women had kept him occupied for years. He hadn’t realized he’d grown tired of the game until Friday night.
“You’d never be a bother.” He wanted her to know she could call him whenever she wanted. “With my crazy schedule, you’re going to have to be the one to text me, especially when I’m on the road.” He bent his head down because he couldn’t resist the urge to kiss her, but before he could make contact, the screen door opened. She stepped back when she realized someone was coming.
“Dinner’s ready,” a pretty brunette who resembled Sophia told her as she came outside.
“Paxton Hughes,” a man said as he came out of the house. “On my porch.”
“Papa.” Sophia gave him a pleading look. “Pax, these are my parents, Stephan and Rosa.”
“Nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Ballis. Sophia has told me so much about you. It’s a pleasure.”
“Hello, Mr. Hughes.” Her mother shook his hand. “Welcome to our home.”
“Please, call me Pax.”
“Great game yesterday,” Mr. Ballis said. “Today was good too. You guys redeemed yourself after Friday night.”
“I’m glad we did.” He extended his hand. “Now we have to sweep Philly.”
“Good luck with that.” Mr. Ballis arched his brow and Pax saw a bit of Sophia in him as well. “They have a good defense.”
“Yes, they do, but the Crushers have a few tricks too.”
“I’ll be watching for those tricks.”
“I see where your daughter gets her baseball knowledge from.” Pax smiled at Sophia. “She knows her game.”
“I’ve been watching it with her since she was born.”
“Have you eaten, Pax?” Mrs. Ballis asked. “We’re about to sit down, and we’d love for you to join us.”
He hadn’t but even if he had he still would have said no. Not only might he get a chance to taste whatever that deliciousness was coming from the kitchen, but he’d get to spend some time with Sophia before he had to leave for the next five days.
“No, ma’am, I haven’t. I came from the stadium.” He glanced into the house. “It smells great, but I don’t want to intrude.”
“Nonsense,” she said. “We have plenty.”
“If you’re sure?” He looked at Sophia because he didn’t want her to feel uncomfortable. “I didn’t mean to just show up.”
“I’m glad you did.” Sophia opened the screen door. “We’d love to have you stay for dinner.”
Thank you.
Chapter 5
AFTER DINNER, PAX AND Soph took a walk down to the dock and sat by the edge of the lake. She still couldn’t believe he had eaten dinner with her family. Her mother had swooned over the tall, dark, and tattooed athlete with the irresistible accent. Soph couldn’t blame her. He was definitely swoon-worthy. Her father was in a dreamland. A major league baseball player in his very own kitchen, breaking bread with him. Now that was something. During all of those years of cheering for the team, he never would have imagined having dinner with a member of the team. Even growing up in the baseball crazed town
, she would never have dreamed she’d get so friendly with a team member. Some of the girls she grew up with used to hang outside the stadium waiting for the players, hoping to catch their attention. Some of the more outgoing ones did. That had never been Sophia’s style.
“Your parents are great,” Pax said as he plopped down next to her. “Do you eat like that every Sunday?”
“Pretty much. We always seem to have a guest or two for dinner.”
“My mother likes to cook too. Three hungry boys in the house kept her busy.”
“I’ll bet. It must have been fun having brothers.” Sophia had always wanted siblings but her parents had a hard time conceiving her. By the time they finally had her, they were in their early forties and had no desire to try again.
“We were a wild bunch. My youngest brother started college, so my mother is feeling the emptiness of the house. I’m trying to convince her to come and stay here with me.”
“Doesn’t she want to?”
“Both of my brothers attend Texas State. They live on campus, but they aren’t too far from home. I don’t think she wants to leave them behind. They still need her.”
“She must be a proud woman to have three smart boys. Do they play sports too?”
“Cliff plays for the college baseball team. He’s in his junior year. He’s good but not as driven as I was. He’s majoring in sports psychology. I think it’s a good fit. My youngest brother, Drew, played in high school but wasn’t interested in pursuing it. He’s as good as I am but sees the life I lead and the road doesn’t appeal to him. I’m happy he went to college. I practically had to force him there. He’s not real motivated, but he’ll be all right. He’s young.”
“You keep after them?” Sophia could tell from their conversation at the bar the other night that Pax took on the role as the authority figure after his dad died.
“I’m a few years older. My mother dedicated her whole life to my career in high school and college. Now she’s trying to do the same for Cliff. She wants to be at all of my games, but I think it’s more important for her to be there for them right now. My brothers traveled around the country with us during the summer while I played and met with different scouts. We’re tight and I’d do anything for the three of them.”
“You’re a good guy.”
“Did you think otherwise, sugar?” He tapped the tip of her nose. “What kind of impression do you have of me?”
“You are in the papers a lot.”
“You shouldn’t believe everything you read.”
“So all that talk about you being a wild cowboy isn’t true?”
“I didn’t say that.” He winked. “Just that you don’t have to believe everything.”
“You seem to keep busy while on the road.” What he did in his spare time shouldn’t be of any concern to her. She had no right to want anything from him.
“It can get lonely and boring.” He leaned into her, taking her chin between his fingers. “I won’t lie, I do pass the time.”
She shivered when he ran his mouth along her jaw and to her ear.
“I can’t be held accountable for the things I did before I met you.”
As his warm breath traveled into her ear, she bit her lip in an effort to suppress a moan.
“That wouldn’t be fair, would it?”
She shook her head because she couldn’t form a coherent thought when he slipped his hand down her throat and moved his fingertips along her collarbone. His touch was tender but calculated. She could see the lust building in his eyes as he dipped his hand inside her shirt just where the lace of her bra met the top of her breasts.
“I’m not sure how I pitched as well as I did yesterday.” He nipped at her bottom lip as he caressed her skin underneath her shirt. “I couldn’t get you out of my head. All I kept thinking about was the next time I could do this.” He captured her lips between his, pressing his mouth to hers. He didn’t take his time building the kiss. His eagerness took over.
She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling closer. Her nipples hardened under the cool evening breeze. Arousal dominated her. Never before had she been so attracted to anyone. She whimpered when he pulled away. She hadn’t wanted to lose the connection that quickly.
“The more I see you, the more I want.” He moved his hot tongue along her neck, lower and lower until his lips were on her t-shirt covered nipples. “I’m not used to waiting.” Guiding her down to rest on the dock, he kissed her chest as his hands roamed underneath her shirt, feeling the flesh of her stomach.
“Why are you waiting?” She arched her back, thrusting her breasts forward, offering him more.
“You don’t seem like the type of woman to have a one-night stand.” He kissed his way back up her neck and to her lips. “I felt it as soon as we started to dance.”
“I’m not usually.” She scratched her fingernails along the back of his neck. “But you make me want to.”
“Isn’t that something?” He sat up, taking her with him. “You don’t have meaningless sex but you want to with me.”
“I...I guess.”
When he pulled her into his lap, she gasped at his strength and speed.
“I’m no stranger to casual sex, but with you it didn’t seem right.”
“Oh.” She looked down at her lap, feeling inadequate. Maggie was wrong. Pax wasn’t interested in sleeping with her. What did he want with her?
“Don’t look so disappointed.” He tilted her chin so she had to look at him. “When I have a one-night stand that’s exactly what it is, sugar. There isn’t a repeat performance.”
“Isn’t that the point?”
“Yeah.” He laughed. “With you it’s different. I see many repeat performances.”
“You do?”
“It will be anything but meaningless too. You’re one hell of a woman. Enough of a woman to make me go out there and pitch yesterday without relieving my needs.” He kissed her again, lingering at her mouth as he stared into her eyes. “I’ve never done that before.”
“If this isn’t what you’re used to, why did you come to see me today?”
She didn’t want to be insecure but she had to make sure she understood what he was looking for. If not a laid-back fling, then what? She’d already allowed herself to get in too deep with a guy who had no intentions of returning her feelings. It wasn’t fair to compare Pax to her failed relationship but she wanted to be sure. She wished she could be more like Maggie, carefree and able to let go, but that wasn’t in her nature. She needed to figure things out and be prepared. She’d be willing to try some new things with Pax, even if it was just to have fun, but she needed to know going in what the expectations were. Then she could protect herself from getting hurt.
“Because I wanted to see you.” The way his fingers played at her hips made her wild with desire. “I needed to see you.”
“I’m glad you came.” She sighed against his mouth. “You have a reputation. That scares me a little. I’m not what you’re used to.”
“Don’t worry about what I’m used to.” He swept his lips along hers. “Maybe I’m not looking for the same old thing.”
“I can’t think when you’re this close to me.”
“Don’t think.” He twirled a strand of her hair around his fingers. “This is new territory for me. There’s nothing for you to be scared of. Let’s see what happens. Is that fair?”
“Yes.” She pressed her lips to his as she ran her palm along the stubble of his jaw.
“Hmm...” He deepened their connection as he continued to twist his fingers through her hair. “I have an early flight tomorrow.”
“Okay.” She tried to hide her disappointment over him leaving.
“You’ll get to see me on the pitcher’s mound or in the dugout. I have to wait until Friday to see you.”
“Friday?”
“I’ll be home early that morning. It’s a travel day for the team. We don’t play again until Saturday night. Would you like to have dinner with me at my pl
ace?”
“Sure.” Warm energy coursed through her when she realized he wanted to see her as soon as he got home.
“I’ll text you my address. We can eat in and hang out in the hot tub. After a three game away series and traveling back home I try to stay low-key. I hope I’m not too boring for you.”
“I’m a homebody, so that works for me.” Spending time alone with him sounded like the perfect evening. “I guess I should bring my bathing suit?”
“It’s optional, darlin’.” His lips curved into the bad boy smirk that made her want to drop to her knees.
As he stared into her eyes all she could think about was doing nasty things with him. She wondered how many women resisted him. She knew the answer—not many.
AS PAX WALKED THROUGH the path that led back to his house he thought about the past few days. He’d only seen Sophia three times, but in that time they’d developed a bond. He wasn’t sure what it was, but he had to pursue her. When they were together nothing else mattered. She stirred emotions in him he’d never experienced before. Her beauty haunted him, with her flawless skin, olive-colored completion, and full pink lips. Then there were those alluring brown eyes. They called to him. Every time he looked into them he gave a piece of his soul to her.
What the hell has gotten into me?
He needed a cold beer and a good night’s sleep. He had to get his head out of the clouds and focus on this next series. There was a reason he didn’t have a steady girl. Baseball life wasn’t easy. The days were long and the nights even harder. No woman should be expected to wait around while he traveled the country. Most women complicated things. They wanted more than he could offer. He was a player. Always had been. Up until now things had worked out fine. What was so different about this one? What made him want more?
The Greek goddess with the infectious giggle. That’s who.
Chapter 6
THE PAST FIVE DAYS had been the longest of Sophia’s life. She’d never anticipated wanting to see someone as much as she wanted to see Pax. He’d called her after every game. On the night he pitched, she’d mustered up the nerve to text him what she had wanted to last weekend. He replied that he liked when she called him cowboy.