“I’m going to take my time with dessert,” he told her, “nice and slow.”
“Okay.”
He stood up and undressed down to his briefs. Then he joined her on the bed.
“You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen,” he murmured right before he kissed her. Her head was spinning from the feelings his words and touch evoked. “There isn’t one square inch of you that doesn’t deserve to be worshipped.” He began to do just that with gentle kisses.
Bo followed through on his word. Jan savored every second of what he did to her—for her. Then he lay still as she returned the favor. Finally, they came together, joined as one until they reached the peak at the same time, each calling out the other’s name.
A few minutes later, as she lay snuggled on his chest, Bo turned his head and looked into her eyes.
“What made you change your mind?” he asked.
She was going to tell him as much of the truth as she could.
“We opened a door on our honeymoon, and I don’t think either of us really wants to close it.” She searched his eyes. “Even if our marriage is temporary, I intend to honor our wedding vows while we’re together, and I hope you’ll do the same. It’s not fair for me to expect you to remain abstinent for five years, and I don’t want you to have to go…elsewhere to…have your needs met. I want our marriage to be real…at least while it lasts.”
She waited on his response. Would he shy away? Was she asking for too much of a commitment?
He finally answered. “That sounds perfect to me.” He pulled her back around and began kissing her again.
As they started their second round of giving themselves to each other, Jan admitted to herself the one thing she hadn’t shared with him. She hoped they would fall in love, and their marriage would last for the rest of their lives.
It was with that thought she set about sharing her body with the man she was married to.
“If you keep hitting the ball out of the park, Simpson’s gonna charge you for our supplies,” Mason, kneeling behind home plate in his catcher’s gear, told Bo.
“I can’t help it if I’m in the zone,” Bo told him, getting ready for Logan’s next pitch.
He waited until the ball was right where he wanted it, low and outside. He leaned in and caught it right on the sweet spot of his bat. It was out of the park.
“This is just practice, Daniels!” Matt hollered from center field.
“We need a time out!” Al called. “Then we’re switching batters! At this rate, we’re gonna run out of balls before we’re done for the night.”
Bo leaned down and unstrapped the pad from his leg.
“So, I take it things are happening for you and your hot wife,” Mason said as he stood up.
Bo, who had spent every night of the past week and a half sleeping in the same bed as his wife, wasn’t about to let Mason Wright ruin his mood. “My love life is none of your business.”
“Love life, huh?” Mason asked, an odd tone in his voice. “You’ve gone and fallen in love with your wife, haven’t you?”
“No” was on the tip of Bo’s tongue when he realized two things. It still wasn’t any of Mason’s business, and yes, he had gone and fallen in love with his wife.
“I’m gonna run the bases.” He took off and started running, his mind racing as fast as his legs.
He had known Jan for over a year and this…love…snuck up and hit him like a ton of bricks. Bo felt every bit as much love for her as he did Seth. More—stronger and deeper. It was a different kind of love. Boy, was it a different kind of love.
One thing Bo had never in all his life done was tell a woman he loved her. Because he’d never actually been in love before. Not even Liz. He had been attracted to her, and they had been together, but he didn’t feel anything remotely like what he felt for Jan.
He vaguely realized he was on his third round of the bases, but he kept running.
He felt like shouting to the world that he loved Jan Daniels. But he should probably let her know first. How was a guy supposed to tell a woman he loved her? Just blurt it out? Probably not. Even with his habit of blunt speaking, he knew “Please pass the potatoes. I’m in love with you,” wasn’t the way to go about it. If he told her when they were together in bed, would she think he was saying it in the heat of passion? How could he explain that the passion he felt was so deep because of his love for her? This was all too much for a simple guy like him. Bo wasn’t a romantic man.
“You’re gonna have a rut worn out!” Logan was running beside him. “What’s up with you?”
“You gonna be home Monday evening?” Bo asked him. He hated to wait that long, but the next couple of days were busy, and he didn’t want to rush this and screw it all up.
“We’ve got the game tomorrow and that wonderful calendar shoot on Sunday afternoon, but yeah, I’m free on Monday night. Why?”
“I’ll be over around seven, while Seth’s at baseball practice. I need some advice.” They were almost to home plate. “Just between us. Okay?”
“Sure,” Logan answered.
“Thanks.” If anyone could tell him how to do this, Logan Taylor—happily married to the girl of his dreams—could.
Just for the fun of it, he slid in.
“This is so exciting, Janet! I can’t believe how big Bo looks out there on the diamond. No wonder they all call him Big Bo.”
Jan bit back her smile as she listened to her mom carry on about Bo nearly as enthusiastically as Seth usually did. Although, she had to admit he really looked good in that uniform.
“You look happy,” Emily commented, speaking softly enough that none of the other women could hear.
Jan couldn’t hold back her grin. She was happy. Bo had been “meeting her needs” like crazy since she seduced him. And she made sure he left their bed a satisfied man. It was a good thing Seth’s room was on the other end of the house. Jan had discovered she tended to be a little more…vocal…than she’d ever been before. Bo just brought it out in her.
“So, you and Bo…” Emily was still waiting for a response.
“We’re good.”
“From that smile on your face, I’d say you’re more than good, but I’m not a nosy woman. I’m just happy for you.” Emily was still keeping her voice down.
Jan smiled gratefully at her. Emily had turned out to be a good friend. “Thank you.”
“Are you blind, you moron?” Was that Jan’s mother yelling? At the ump?
“Mom! What is wrong with you?”
“Well, any fool could see Bo had that ball way before that number three from the Rockets had his foot on the base.” Patsy stood up and used her hands to make a megaphone. “Do you need to borrow somebody’s glasses?”
“Mother!” Jan was about to crawl under the seat to hide.
The other Slammers’ women were all laughing.
“You go, Patsy!” Abby urged her. “Sometimes you have to tell them like it is.”
“You don’t need to encourage her,” Jan admonished Abby. She would never in a million years have imagined her mom being so caught up in the game. And Bo now had a one-woman, very loud cheering section. Seth had even turned around from his usual seat behind the dugout to look at his grandma peculiarly.
“Come on! You had to see that!” Patsy was at it again. Jan didn’t even want to know what she was yelling about this time.
“Has anybody ever been thrown out of a game before?” she asked Emily.
Emily laughed. “The players and umps tune all of us out. Unless your mom goes down there and gets in his face, that ump isn’t going to pay any attention to her.”
“Shhh,” Jan begged. “Don’t say that too loud. You’ll give her ideas.” She could see it now—her petite mother standing toe-to-toe with the umpire, yelling that her son-in-law had too tagged that runner out at first.
After Matt caught a pop fly, the Slammers were up. Jan enjoyed watching the team bat more than play in the field.
Since Bo was t
heir best batter, he batted cleanup.
Logan got them off to a good start with a line drive between first and second. He was on base. Then Coop came up. He hit a pop fly, which the Rockets’ center fielder caught. Jake batted third. He was their worst fielder, but he was the second best batter. He proved it by hitting a double. Logan had made it in! The score was one to nothing.
Then Bo was up. Jan couldn’t stop the shiver that went up her spine. She couldn’t believe the handsome man, “Big Bo Daniels,” was her husband. She suddenly wanted to stand up and announce it to the world. She’d probably better not do that. People would think she was even crazier than her mom.
The first pitch came in low and inside. Ball one. The second one was right where Jan knew from watching Bo play for years that he liked it, low and outside. He swung and caught the ball. With a loud crack, the ball left the bat. It was out of the field. He had just hit a home run during his first at-bat. She found herself on her feet, whistling and clapping before she even realized what she was doing.
“Like mother, like daughter,” Abby teased.
Jan looked over to see her mom standing on the seat of the bleachers, moving her hand in a circular motion, barking for Bo. She looked down at Seth, who was turned completely backwards, staring at his grandma like she had lost her mind. What would she be like at Seth’s games? That was probably what he was worrying about at that moment.
Jesse hit a line drive down first baseline and got called out, and then Colton hit a pop fly which their left fielder caught. The Slammers were back in the field.
“I’d like to get that Brody Gaines alone and show him how to steal my bases.” A woman who was sitting a few rows above them was talking. “I’m going to give him my phone number after the game—with a few suggestions of how we can play a private game.”
“Here we go,” Emily murmured.
“Excuse me!” It was Abby, talking to the woman who was enamored with Brody. “Do you see this big honkin’ diamond ring on my finger?”
Jan turned just far enough to observe Abby in action.
The woman, a confused look on her face, smiled. “It’s lovely.”
“Yeah, well, you’d be smart to stop talkin’ smack about my fiancé. I would hate to show you my ring up close and personal. Like, in your eye.”
The woman’s face turned beet red. “You’re engaged to Brody Gaines?” She scooted back, distancing herself from Abby. “I’m really sorry. I had no idea he was engaged.”
“That does it!” Abby turned and stomped down the bleachers, her blonde curls bouncing every step of the way.
“What is she doing?” Jan asked Emily.
Emily shrugged. “I don’t know. We’ll find out in a second, though.”
Suddenly, the announcer’s voice stopped. Abby’s voice came across the park’s sound system.
“Ladies, see that handsome man playing second base? His name is Brody Gaines.”
The men from both teams stopped playing and froze. Even the umps turned and looked up at the booth. Brody had a look somewhere between shock and terror on his face. He probably wondered if Abby had just offered him up as a sacrifice.
Definite sounds of interest and approval came from the women in the bleachers. Brody looked like he was about ready to jump the fence and take off running.
“My name is Abby Michaels, and he’s mine. We’re getting married in April. So would you please all give it up and just back off already?”
There were some murmurs coming across the sound system and then the announcer came back on. “And that was a word from Brody Gaines’ cute little lady.”
Brody, now grinning, got the ump’s attention and signaled for a time out. As soon as he got it, he ran up to the door at the base of the announcer’s booth. When Abby stomped out, he was waiting for her.
He lifted her up and kissed her soundly. Then, still holding her, he yelled at the top of his lungs. “I love this woman!” and kissed her again.
The applause started slowly, but it built until it sounded like every person there was hooting and hollering for them.
The home plate ump said something to Brody, and after he hugged Abby one more time, Brody turned and jogged back to second base.
Abby was smiling happily as she climbed back up into the bleachers.
“Good idea, Abby,” Emily told her.
“How many teams are in this league?” Abby asked her.
“I’m not sure,” Emily answered. “Why?”
“I was just trying to figure out how many more times I’m going to have to do that.”
Jan looked at Bo, who happened to be looking up at her. He grinned at her and winked. She was grateful he didn’t get all the female attention Brody did.
“I saw that,” her mom, who had calmed down when Abby lost it, said. “Bo is crazy about you.”
Jan looked at him again. He was focused on the game. Her mom thought he was crazy about her. She realized just how much she wished that was true.
“That’s cheating, Dad!” Seth picked up the small metal car and looked at the game board.
Bo chuckled. “That’s the second one of my properties you’ve landed on, so I’m charging you interest.”
Seth giggled like a little boy, bringing smiles to both his parents.
“I guess he’s just going to make up the rules as we go along, Seth,” Jan said, sharing in the boy’s laughter.
“Doesn’t the banker get to do that?” Bo asked innocently. He enjoyed family Sundays even more now that they were a real family.
Seth started to pick the box lid up to scan the rules when Bo had to confess. “I’m just kidding, Seth. I was breaking the rules.”
“I say we take a popcorn break,” Jan suggested. “It may take us all day to finish this game.”
Bo looked at his watch and couldn’t stop a groan from passing his lips. “I have that Simpson’s calendar thing, remember?”
Jan’s smile didn’t falter. “I forgot it was today, but that’s okay. Seth and I will just divvy up your money and property and keep playing.” There was a mischievous twinkle in her eyes.
“I think you should find something else to do while I’m gone, and we’ll just take up where we left off when I get home.” Bo stood up and walked around the table to her chair. “Because I’m beating the pants off both of you.”
“Can I come with you?” Seth’s eyes were wide.
“I’d like to take you with me, but this is a business deal.” Bo hated to see the look of disappointment on Seth’s face. “Mr. Simpson spends a lot of money to keep the Slammers going, and this is really the first thing he’s asked us to do besides play ball.”
“You can’t always go with Bo, Seth,” Jan gently advised. “You’re old enough to understand that. Besides, I want to learn how to play that one video game your grandma nearly beats you at. Maybe I’ll be able to.”
“Okay.” Seth stood up. “See ya after a while,” he told Bo, before disappearing into the living room.
“I’ve got to put my new shirt on.” Bo walked into the bedroom and picked up the ball jersey with “Simpson’s Slammers” in royal blue letters across its chest. He pulled his t-shirt off and replaced it with the jersey, then walked back out to the dining room.
“You look like you just got out of bed.” With a big smile on her face, Jan stood up and walked over to him. “Let me fix that.” She stood on her toes and reached for his hair. Bo felt her fingers running through it. He suddenly wished he could forget about this calendar nonsense and stay there to take his wife to bed.
“I’ll be back as soon as I can,” Bo promised, his voice husky. Then he couldn’t resist. He leaned down and gently kissed her lips, his hand sliding from her neck and curving around her breast.
She pulled back and sent a desperate look toward the door Seth had gone through. “What do you think you’re doing?” Bo could hear the laughter underlying her effort to sound stern.
“Just practicing.” He kissed her again. “I’ll be home as soon as I
can.”
He left her standing there, blushing, when he walked out of the room and headed to the back door.
A little more than thirty minutes later, he found himself at the address Troy provided. Looking at the nearly full parking lot, Bo saw that he was the last one there. Troy and this Tyler Wilkins were friends, and Wilkins had given him a big discount for scheduling the shoot on a Sunday. Bo wished they would have picked any other day than his favorite family day.
After parking between Logan’s truck and Colton’s SUV, he got out and walked to the back entrance. When he entered the building, he heard the familiar voices of his teammates. He found them gathered in one end of a fairly large room. Some kind of a screen covered the wall at the other end of the room, and there were pieces of equipment strategically placed so that it resembled the bay area of an auto repair shop. That must be where they were going to pose.
“Ready to ham it up for the camera?” Logan asked dryly as Bo walked up between him and Brody.
“I still think they should have just shot Brody,” Bo said flatly. “Simpson’s would have doubled their female customers.”
“Shut up, Bo.” Brody was trying to sound indignant, but the man was just too laid back to carry it off.
“Besides,” Logan added. “Abby would have hunted down every one of the calendars and destroyed them.” He chuckled. “I still can’t believe how she took over the announcer’s booth yesterday.”
A grin spread across Brody’s face. “That’s my lady.”
“If I could have your attention, I need all the Slammers to come over to the staging area.” A tall, rotund man with very little hair and wire rim glasses was speaking in their general direction.
Amidst muted mumbling, the nine men made their way to the other side of the room, where the man, who introduced himself as Tyler Wilkins, but preferred being called “Willie,” arranged and rearranged them until he was satisfied with the way they were standing.
When he stepped back and picked up an enormous camera, a young woman with short, blonde hair stood beside him. She was holding a clipboard and ink pen, jotting down whatever he was telling her. Bo figured she must be Willie’s assistant.
Just Practicing (Hearts for Ransom Book 2) Page 15