by Lexi Scott
“I’m dead serious when it comes to baseball.” That smile. It’s all over her face. It’s making my own lips curl up. It’s contagious. “And Ally is going to have a hard time keeping her hands off you. Now my long-held suspicions are officially confirmed. Cohen Rodriguez, you are hot.”
I wish it were weirder than it is, that she says that. I wish there was some real tension, that it felt like she crossed a line.
But she sounds friendly, helpful. Like Whit when she assures me I look all right for a date.
I’m feeling genuinely let down that I’ve been friend-zoned by Maren right out of the gate.
Maybe Maren’s friend’s single friend will be amazing. Too bad I’m having trouble remembering the girl’s name already.
“Thanks.”
I want to tell her that I haven’t felt so attracted to a girl in…ever maybe. Damn. She’s not as movie-star beautiful as Claire. She’s not as sexy as Tracey. She’s not as polished as Kensley. She just looks…so good. Really damn good.
But while a girl can say crap like that to a guy, it doesn’t feel right the other way around. The last thing I want to do is come off as some kind of creep.
“It’s so cool to finally meet you-meet you. Even though I sort of feel like we already know each other, you know?” She rocks on the balls of her feet, and I nod like I agree, but really I just feel like a douche for not saying more and because I’m feeling things I clearly shouldn’t be feeling for her.
“Yeah, it really is. Thank you for using your extra ticket on me.”
She stands on her toes so she can stretch enough to fish the tickets from the front pocket of her tiny shorts. I reach out for the one she holds in my direction.
“I’m so glad you made it. Ally’s been getting along really well with me and Jason, my date, but it’s just awkward.” She gives me this totally mischievous smile. “I guess I don’t need to explain awkward to you when it comes to blind dates, though. But don’t worry. I’m determined to help break your terrible blind date streak. I have a feeling you and Ally are really going to click.”
“Mmm-hmm.” I follow her into the stadium and try not to stare at her ass.
Funny how many times we’ve talked on the phone or texted, and I never had any idea what she looked like. But now it’s been ten minutes since I met her, and I feel like I can’t remember what it was like to not know how long and graceful the line of her neck is or the fact that she has freckles across her nose and next to her ears.
When she comes to our row, I nearly knock her over because she stops short and just stares. It’s always a little strange to meet new people, but, right now, there’s a pointed awkwardness in the air that has nothing to do with a lack of introductions.
The asshole I assume is her blind date is getting pretty handsy with the girl I assume is mine. The girl at least has enough shame to look guilty. The guy looks up at Maren like he just remembered he was on a date with her and loosens his arm from around the other girl’s waist.
“Took you long enough,” he says to Maren, his voice accusatory.
“I had to find Cohen,” she says. “It took a while with the crowds.”
“How the hell did you not see him from a mile away? The guy’s a giant. Are you blind?” Jason asks, snickering.
“I just… This is the first time we’ve—”
“I’m just kidding, Maren,” Jason interrupts, leaning back.
I’m a fairly laid-back guy, but my hackles are up. Maren goes all pink and looks flustered, which makes my temper spark big time. I know this guy may just be kidding, but I don’t like his damn tone.
“So, um, Jason, Ally, this is Cohen.”
“So nice to meet you. Are you a baseball freak like Maren?” Ally tosses a look over her shoulder at Jason, like they’re sharing a joke.
At Maren’s expense.
“I am a baseball freak,” I admit coolly. “But I think Maren has me beat by a mile.” I look right at Maren, not giving a shit if I’m making things even more awkward. “And I think girls who get all into baseball are sexy as hell.”
If she was pink before, she’s a shade away from boiled lobster now.
“Um, anyone want drinks? Food?” Maren blurts out.
“Not right now. Just come and sit down,” Jason says, the same time I say, “Sure.”
She looks between us and takes a deep breath.
“You can run and get stuff later. The game already started. Come sit.” Jason orders her around in the kind of casual way that makes me think he’s used to being the boss. I’ve met a thousand guys like him—guys who think money and a little power give them the right to treat everyone around them like shit.
I ball both my hands into fists and beat the fury back. I can’t go ape shit because a girl I just met in real life is on a blind date with an asshole.
Because that’s what this is about—Jason being a dick to a very sweet girl. Or at least I try hard to tell myself that.
It’s definitely not about the fact that I feel things I was surprised to feel the minute I saw Maren. It’s not that I think her sleazy blind date is probably screwing around with this Ally asshole. It’s not that I’m going fucking rage-blind with jealousy.
Nope. Couldn’t be that at all.
“So, what do you do?” Ally asks, trying to make it look like she’s not glancing over at Jason every other second. He leans in to catch the conversation.
“My parents own a furniture store. I help manage it.” I can tell from the way she raises her eyebrows just slightly that she isn’t impressed.
“Furniture sales,” Jason repeats, like it’s a brand fucking new concept to him. Like he never imagined people need to buy the furniture they use every day and someone has to sell it. “Is that a decent gig?”
The way he asks makes it clear he’s humoring me. I’m sure he’s in finance or something equally douchey.
“Can’t complain,” I say, my voice cold. I turn to Ally. “What do you do?”
“I’m in college right now. I do part-time work as a secretary at Bingham and Walters.” She twirls a little piece of her hair like she’s sending an SOS Jason’s way. He’s too busy saying something low and quick in Maren’s ear as she frowns and gestures at Ally and me. What the fuck is he saying to her? “Jason is the corporate finance manager of the entire department. The youngest one they’ve ever hired in that position, you know.”
I don’t know. And I don’t give a shit what this prick’s position is or how young he was when he got it. What I do care about is the way he’s shaking his head at Maren. I have a feeling he doesn’t appreciate the fact that Maren is a thousand times smarter than he is and isn’t hanging on to his every word like some besotted twit.
“Are you okay?” Ally asks, her face blocking my view of Maren and Jason. “You look kind of pissed. Is it the game? Jason was getting all bent out of shape because last time the Angels played the Tigers, the Tigers managed to steal second in the third inning. But the Angels will bounce back. They always do.”
She’s trying to be cheerful. She’s trying to make this less of a clusterfuck than it is, but, for once, I’m not interested in being the nice guy. I have no clue where this insane over-protective vibe came from, but once it rips out, there’s nothing I can do to shut it back down.
“I’m actually a Dodgers fan,” I say a little too curtly, and watch Ally’s face fall.
It’s so not me to act this way. I’m usually a peacekeeper. A good guy. Not a raging lunatic about to jump over some chatty ditz to throttle a guy I hardly know because he’s looking at a girl I just met the wrong way.
Just when I’m about to stand, Maren beats me to it.
“Hey, don’t get too much mustard on my hot dog. I hate that.” Jason treats Maren like she’s some poor unpaid intern in his office.
“Should I go with Maren?” Ally asks, moving to get out of the way as Maren rushes by.
“Nah. She’s got it.” He pats the seat Maren just left and Ally slides over.
“I’ll come with you,” I say to Maren, glad to get away from Jason and Ally and have Maren all to myself.
“Hey, you need some cash?” Jason flips open his wallet and shows off a thick stack of hundreds. “Consider it my treat. I can’t imagine it’s raining money in the world of sectionals.”
“Jason!” Maren gasps.
“Jesus, I’m just kidding around,” Jason says, rolling his eyes and pouting a little about the fact that no one laughed at his elitist joke.
Fuck this guy.
I don’t bother to answer, and it takes me a few minutes of weaving through the bottlenecked crowds before Maren and I reach the concession line and can actually talk.
“Hey.” Now that I’m standing in front of her, I have no idea what to say. She’s staring at the toe of her bright red Chuck, her eyelashes fluttering rapidly. I reach one hand out and move a finger along her knuckles. That tiny brush of a touch seems to jolt her out of her thoughts.
“Cohen.” My name from her mouth is sweet. “I’m so sorry. He clearly thinks he’s hilarious and he’s so not. It’s my fault. I’m like an asshole magnet. It never fails. I’m so sorry. This was a bad idea.”
“Hey, you don’t need to apologize for that idiot. I couldn’t give a shit less what he thinks. But what did he say to you back in the stands? You looked upset.”
“Nothing so bad. He’s just obnoxious. One of those guys whose daddy got him a big job he barely had to work for, and now he thinks he’s so damn important. He’s just used to shitting on people he sees as below him. A friend of mine did temp work for his law firm. She totally tried to warn me.”
“I’m happy to say something to him if he’s bothering you…”
“No! It’s seriously no big deal. I just hate that it’s weird for you. And I absolutely get it if you want to bail.”
I shake my head. “And leave you with that charmer? I’m fine as long as you’re okay.”
“You’re just being nice.” She yanks her ball cap off, rolls it up, and stuffs it in her back pocket. “I don’t even really know him, but he’s obviously got this chip on his shoulder because he’s always been treated like the golden boy. I just hate that you’re going to have to put up with his bullshit until I can get him to leave with me so you and Ally can be alone.”
I can’t help laughing. “You’re not going anywhere. We’ve both had a ton of experience dealing with assholes. I mean, we’ve had clients who make this dick look like a choirboy. Remember the Rickmans?”
Her eyes have a lot of green in them. And she has nice plump lips. I love how they look when she smiles.
“Ugh! Yes! Remember he ordered that hideous orange sectional, and then they needed it moved seven times in a month? I think his wife must have had a thing for one of the moving guys.”
“Yep. He wasn’t even the worst. Plus, I grew up half Jewish, half Mexican. That pretty much guaranteed quadruple the bullying. You can’t imagine how many fights I got into in middle school. I’ve been dealing with shitheads since I was just a kid. So, you know I’m fine with assholes.” I watch her twine her hands around one another, nervously. “Strike that.” Her eyes fly up to my face. “I’m fine with assholes when they’re being assholes to me. I’m not remotely okay with assholes who upset the coolest girl I know. I called Rickman out for being a dick to you, and I’ll do it with this idiot if I have to.”
She inches toward the concession window and chews on her lip. “Thank you. Really, I appreciate the offer. But you don’t have to do that.”
“Do what?”
I love how much smaller she is than me. How I could tuck her body against my chest and rest my chin on the dark crown of her head.
“Do that thing where you come riding up like some awesome knight-in-shining-armor because I’m being all damsel-in-distress-like.” She tugs the elastics out of her braids and pulls her hair loose. It falls down around her shoulders in shiny waves, and the air suddenly smells like coconut and salt…like the beach. Her smile is adorably crooked. “Today is supposed to be fun for you. You’ve been dumped, puked on, and used as a stripper pole in the last few weeks. You deserve a nice day with a nice date. Trust me, I’ve had my share of crappy dates, too. Just because I’m striking out doesn’t mean you will. Cohen, you’re hands down the nicest guy I know. I want this to be a great date for you, and I think you and Ally have so much in common.”
I’m actually trying to figure out a way to persuade her that we should ditch Ally and Jason, but she leans closer and I catch the scent of her hair again. My mind flips to Maren in a bikini on the beach, and all rational thoughts short-circuit for a few quick seconds.
“I’m not going to be able to relax if that guy’s being an ass.” I pause, not sure if I should go ahead and say what I’d really like to say. I’m about to just let it go. Then I figure, fuck it. What do I have to lose? “Would we be total jerks if we just left them in the stadium and grabbed a bite?”
Her eyes dance. “Cohen Rodriguez, what kind of gentleman leaves his date stranded at a baseball game?”
“Maybe I’m less of a gentleman than you think,” I suggest.
“Ally is perfect for you,” she says, and then she starts ticking traits off on her fingers. “She’s gorgeous. She’s smart as hell, top of her class in college. Her family owns a bunch of really successful businesses, and they’re always in the local papers doing charity events and things like that. She’s a really hard worker. And she’s nice. She really is. You owe it to yourself to get to know her.”
It’s on the tip of my tongue to say that none of that impresses me. That I don’t want to spend a second with anyone other than Maren.
Suddenly she squares her shoulders and looks me right in the eye. “You know what? I bet you’re going to wind up inviting me to your wedding.”
“My wedding?” I sputter.
“Yes,” she cries. “Now that I’m really thinking about it, you two are, like, perfect for each other. God, you even look like a young Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos.”
“Who?” I ask, so confused by this new line of conversation. Two seconds ago I could have sworn we were about to ditch our lame dates and run off somewhere together…
“Cohen, are you kidding me?” she asks with a laugh that’s beyond sexy. “America’s sweetheart and her tall, dark, and very hot actor husband?”
I’m not sure how to respond, but it winds up that I don’t need to, because Maren’s plowing ahead like a crazy matchmaking woman on a mission.
“Seriously, I’m willing to bet you two are engaged by Christmas and planning a June wedding. It will be a beach wedding, of course, and you’ll have to invite me because I played a part in getting you two together. And you’ll be Silver Strand’s power couple.” She scrunches up her nose thoughtfully.
Damn that’s cute.
I raise an eyebrow at her. “Maren, I’ve barely said two words to this girl.”
“All the more reason for me to grit my teeth and hold Jason at bay. Promise me you won’t get all chivalrous on my behalf? Because he’s the most arrogant tool I’ve ever had the misfortune to wind up on a date with, and chances are he’s going to act like a dipshit again before this is over.” She holds up her right hand and recites, “I solemnly swear this is the first and last date I’ll be going on with him—but you and Ally? Cohen, she’s the kind of girl you should have been going for all along. I refuse to mess with what could be your destiny and the end of your crappy dating luck.”
She puts a hand on my arm, and a jolt of raw want shocks through me.
“What if I have no interest in being part of any power couple?” I ask.
Her eyes crackle with a fire that makes her even more gorgeous, but instead of answering me, she whirls toward the concession attendant.
“I’ll take three hot dogs all the way, a large chili cheese fry, a hot dog with extra mustard, and four beers please.” She turns to me. “Remember this meal. This might be the first meal you eat with your future wife.”
And
she winks.
That wink tips my entire world over on its side. I don’t give a shit if she’s just a friend. I don’t give a shit if I was supposed to be here for a date with another girl. And I don’t give a shit if this is Maren, the cool girl I talk to on the phone at work, the girl I’m scared shitless to mess things up with.
That wink means trouble, and I intend to follow it wherever it may lead.
Especially if Maren’s hot little self is doing the leading with a stomp of her sneakers. I follow her all the way to the bleachers where Jason has his mouth too close to Ally’s neck while her hand is on his knee.
I lean close to her ear. “Uh, looks like my future wife might not be on board for our June wedding.”
“They work together,” she hisses. “I’m sure they’re just friends.”
“Right. Friends kiss each other’s necks all the time,” I say, and she rolls her eyes.
“Cohen, there’s no way any girl in her right mind would choose an asshole like Jason over a smoking hot, amazing guy like you. Come on. I’ll distract him. I’m sure Ally’s just being nice because they’re co-workers and all.”
Maren continues down the aisle and catches Jason and Ally off guard. She hands the hot dog to him as he snaps to attention, I guess still thinking he’s so suave that Maren doesn’t notice how disrespectful he’s being to her. I clench my fist, waiting for him to say something stupid so I have an excuse to pummel this douche once and for all. But, shockingly, he doesn’t do anything worth punching him over.
“Holy shit, there’s extra mustard, and then there’s a disgusting amount of mustard. This is a fucking mess,” he gripes as he shakes his mustard-coated fingers.
“You’re so welcome,” Maren drawls smoothly. “Here, I brought napkins.” She shoves them at Jason and motions for Ally to move down so there’s an empty seat for me.
I’m now sitting between Maren, the girl I want to keep talking to and staring at, and Ally, the girl who’s clearly only got eyes for hot-shot lawyer-boy Jason, despite Maren’s best efforts to pretend we have some kind of power couple destiny.