“He’s getting tall.”
It took me a moment to refocus and realize he was referring to Jeremy.
“Yeah, he had a growth spurt this past fall. He’ll be passing me out soon.”
“And by next year I won’t have to slow down so he can beat me on the slide.”
He chuckled, a deep rumble that vibrated through my body making my nipples perk up. I crossed my arms over my chest hoping he wouldn’t notice.
“I’m surprised to see you here.”
“Jack asked me to come last year but I needed to be in Aspen and couldn’t make it. This year worked out well. Cal’s wedding was last week in the Keys and we don’t have to report until Tuesday. So here I am.”
His biceps bulged when he held his arms out to the side.
I cleared my throat. “So you live in Aspen off season?” I asked, as if I didn’t know the answer. Just because I won’t date him doesn’t mean I didn’t do some cyber stalking.
He nodded. “I have a small ranch there. Have you ever been?”
“No, but I hear it’s beautiful.”
“It is, especially in the fall. But I’m fortunate that my job takes me all over the country so I get to see a lot of cool places.” He glanced at me. “What?”
“What?”
“You looked surprised or something.”
“It just sounded strange to hear baseball referred to as a job, even though that’s what it is at the level you’re playing.” I glanced around. “In fact, I’m surprised we’ve been speaking this long without someone interrupting.”
“The key is to not make eye contact.”
I’d managed to get my nipples under control but his sexy smirk and bobbing eyebrows had them standing at attention again. I looked around, in the hope that taking my eyes off him would help and I noticed a young boy approaching with a man I assumed to be his father.
“Looks like I spoke too soon,” I said, nodding my head in their direction.
Dale looked at them and smiled, which gave them the courage to approach. He stooped down, putting him at the boy’s level and introduced himself, as if that was necessary. The boy handed him a ball to sign and they carried on a conversation. Their interaction didn’t go unnoticed and soon a small crowd gathered.
I was about to excuse myself when Jack and Hannah joined us. After that, even more people approached.
“Come on,” Hannah said. “Let’s go get a drink and let these guys do their thing.” She handed Jack the tote bag she’d been carrying. “I expect this to be empty next time I see you.”
“Yes ma’am.” He gave her a kiss and smiled and I couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy for the pure love flowing between them.
We wove through the crowd toward the tables and the buffet. Thank God because I haven’t eaten yet and I’m starving.
“I’ve stayed with Jack the past couple years but I think he and Dale can handle things together.”
“They’re both so good with fans. The Waves must do some heavy-duty PR training.”
“The players do receive training, but there are some things you just can’t teach. Jack, Dale, Cal, and Dan are all amazing with fans. They make my job easy.”
We walked up to the bar and Hannah ordered a virgin strawberry daiquiri. I opted for an orange creamsicle slushie.
Hannah took a sip of her drink. “This is my third one but I can’t help it, they’re so good.”
“I’m jealous. I love strawberries but I’m allergic.” We walked by the buffet and my stomach growled at the amazing smells. “Thank God the buffet is still out. I’m so hungry.”
“Here, give me your drink and go grab a plate. I’ll meet you at the table.”
I did as I was told and joined her at the table with a full plate in my hand.
“The food is always so good here.” I forced myself to take human bites.
“You and Jeremy are definitely coming to the first game, right?”
“MmmHmm,” I muttered around a mouthful, then swallowed and added, “Jeremy really looks forward to it. Thank you so much. You and Jack have been so good to him, to us.”
“He’s a great kid.” She smiled. “And you’re a great mom.”
I smiled at her compliment and continued eating.
“There they go,” she said, looking toward the slide.
I spotted Jack sliding down about a foot behind the boy on the other side.
“Poor Jack. How many times did he do that slide last year?”
“I don’t know, but he was feeling it the next day,” she said. “At least this year he has Dale to split the runs with.”
Sure enough, Dale was the next one down, across from a young girl.
And so it went with the two guys alternately appearing on the slide. I eventually lost count of how many times they each slid down.
“I’m getting exhausted just watching them.”
“It looks like they’re slowing down now,” she said when the next three runs were people we didn’t know.
Dale appeared at the top again but when he reached the bottom, instead of disappearing around the back, he walked toward us.
“Holy hell, that’s a workout.” He plopped into the chair next to me.
“You were warned,” Hannah said.
“That I was, but it was fun. I’m glad I was able to make it this year.”
“Me too.” Hannah stood. “I’m going to grab some dessert.”
“That sounds great,” I said and started to stand.
She placed her hand on my shoulder, holding me in my seat. This isn’t the first time I’ve gotten the feeling she’s playing matchmaker.
“I’ll get a variety we can share,” she said then shifted her eyes to Dale. “And I’ll grab a pitcher of water for you and Jack.”
“That would be appreciated,” Dale said then looked at me. “Jack is taking one last run with Jeremy and then they’ll be over.”
I caught a glimpse of rock-hard abs when he lifted the bottom of his shirt and used it to wipe his face.
Take a deep breath, girl.
I did as my inner voice directed but it only filled my lungs with the mouth-watering scent of Dale Montgomery. How he could smell so clean, like fresh air and sandalwood, after the workout he just had is beyond me.
Thankfully I spotted Jack and Jeremy on the slide reminding me that my job is to focus on my son, not the insanely attractive man sitting next to me.
Now I just have to convince my libido to let go of the first man who’s piqued its interest in years.
Chapter 2
Dale
* * *
Bennie Jarvis stood over by second base with a bucket of balls and hurled them at me, one throw worse than the next. I picked the balls out of the dirt, stretched left, right, and center for short throws, and jumped for balls over my head.
“You better make sure you catch those,” Jack said from behind me. “I don’t want to get hit.”
“Me neither,” Dan said.
With Bennie still assaulting me from his bottomless bucket, I didn’t have time to look at them, but I know exactly where they’re positioned and what they’re doing. We’ve had pretty much the same stretching routine for years. I came out early today because Bennie has to leave and he’s the best at feeding me shitty throws.
“No worries,” I said, continuing to take what Bennie was dishing out. “With Jack at short, I’m used to bad throws like this.”
“Yeah right,” Jack said. “All my throws are frozen ropes right to the middle of your chest.”
“I’m working here. Don’t make me laugh, I need to concentrate.”
Bennie held up his hands, showing three balls in each. Only six more to go. And of course, he didn’t make them easy. He alternated the throws from side to side and instead of bouncing, the last ball skipped across the dirt and came at me at a weird angle. Thankfully I snatched it before it got past me. If it went anywhere near Jack and Dan, they’d bust my ass about it for the rest of the season.
&nb
sp; “Thanks Bennie. You’re the best bad thrower around.”
He laughed and watched me refill the bucket. He’s in better shape than a lot of seventy-year-olds, but as a former ballplayer, he’s also riddled with arthritis in his back and knees and has a hard time bending and stooping. Along with a lot of the retired Waves, he comes to help out at spring training every year. I’ve learned so much from those guys through the years and they continue to help me more than a decade into my career.
We agreed to meet an hour later for the rest of the week and he walked toward the dugout to grab a drink. I joined my friends who were still stretching along the first base line.
Sitting next to Jack, I put my legs out in front of me and folded forward grabbing onto the bottom of my feet. Sweat dripped down my nose and plopped onto my pants.
I sat up straight and wiped my face with the hem of my shirt then spread my legs wide and moved from side to side, before walking my hands forward as far as I could go. My hips and hamstrings protested, but I took in a deep breath and slowly let it out settling into the stretch. After a minute, I walked my hands back, pulled my legs together and folded forward again.
“What’s up for dinner tonight?” Dan asked.
“I know Hannah and I have to either go somewhere or get takeout because the cupboards at Chez Reagan are bare.”
“Mine too,” I said. “If you guys weren’t doing anything, I was just gonna grab a pizza on my way home.”
Finishing my stretch, I rested back against my elbows.
“We can do something. I’m sure we’ll have enough pizza nights once the games start. How about The Battered Bluefin?” Dan asked, referring to our favorite seafood spot. “I could go for their calamari.”
I was just about to respond when I caught a flash of copper out of the corner of my eye. Looking up, I spotted my sister Penny and Kenny Hanover leaning against the railing up on the concourse. The fact that they’re a couple is still a shock to my system.
“We can go somewhere else if you don’t want to go to The Battered Bluefin,” Dan said.
“No, it’s fine.”
“It doesn’t look fine,” Jack chimed in. “You look pissed.”
“Not about dinner.” I sat up and nudged my chin toward the stands. “And not pissed exactly. Just still getting used to it.”
They both looked over at Penny and Kenny and nodded.
“He’s not a bad guy,” Dan said.
“Yeah, he’s an okay guy, just not someone I’d pick for my little sister.”
“And who would you pick for her?”
I smirked at Dan. “Wait until Lexi starts dating then answer that same question.”
“I don’t have to worry about that for a while. Lexi isn’t allowed to date until she’s at least thirty.”
“Yeah well Penny is almost thirty and it doesn’t make me feel better.” Dragging the back of my hand against my forehead, I wiped away lingering sweat then rested my arm on my bent knee. “And I know she’s my sister not my daughter, but it’s always been the two of us, so it’s weird.”
What I didn’t add is how bizarre it is to have my three best friends get married and my little sister find love in such a short timeframe. I’m glad they’re all happy, but I definitely feel like the odd man out sometimes.
Dan looked up at them then shifted his eyes back to me.
“Well, thankfully it’s time for batting practice. You can take out your stress on the ball.” We all stood and he patted me on the back. “Then maybe you’ll be in a better mood.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my mood.”
I rolled my eyes and walked toward the dugout. I need a drink and to get away from those two hens for a minute. They’re two of my best friends, but since they’ve found love, they think everyone else should, too. Or at least Cal and me. And of course, Cal has, so it’s just me now.
They know my history with women and they also know that I’ve changed my habits the past couple years. As I got older, having a different woman in every city stopped being fun and started feeling a little stereotypical and a whole lot pathetic. So I made a decision to not date—or do anything else with—women I don’t feel connected to.
The thing is, Karen Walsh is the only woman who’s met that requirement in almost two years. And despite the fact she’s turned me down the multiple times I’ve asked her out, that connection hasn’t gone away.
After downing two cups of water, I grabbed my bat and walked back onto the field ready to pound some balls with one question running through my head.
Why is it that once I decided I want to find the one and settle down, the only woman I’m interested in won’t even give me a chance?
Karen
* * *
Butterflies filled my stomach as Jeremy walked out to the mound. I’m usually pretty relaxed when he plays, but this is the first time he’s pitching so I’m a little nervous.
“Relax, he’s going to do great,” my sister-in-law Chloe said. “He didn’t seem nervous when I was driving him over. More like excited.”
My job as a real estate agent gives me the flexibility to work around Jeremy’s schedule but this game was rescheduled because of rain. Chloe travels a lot for work but when she is in town, she helps me out when I need it. So today instead of me having to cancel a showing, she picked Jeremy up from school and got him to the field in time for pre-game practice.
Jason and I started dating in seventh grade and since Chloe is only a year older, we basically grew up together. She truly is my sister from another mister. We’ve always been close and she even lived with Jeremy and me for a while right after Jason died.
“Here we go,” Chloe said and I watched Jeremy focus intently on the batter who just stepped into the box.
His first two pitches were high but the next one was called a strike. The batter hit the next pitch. A high fly ball that thankfully the center fielder caught.
“One down, two to go,” I muttered, more to myself than Chloe.
The next guy hit a line drive over the third baseman’s head. Thankfully the left fielder got the ball in fast enough to hold him to a single. Jeremy looked toward the dugout and nodded at whatever his coach was telling him.
He stepped back onto the mound and kept looking over his shoulder to hold the runner close to first base. The batter swung at the first pitch and hit a ground ball just to the left of second base. The shortstop scooped it up and stepped on the bag then threw the ball to first base for a double play.
I clapped so hard, my hands hurt. I also felt much more relaxed than I had before the game started.
“Not bad,” Chloe said. She took a sip of iced coffee, then looked at me with a small smirk. “So Dale Montgomery was at the fundraiser last week, huh?” I nodded, not sure what to say. “I just find it strange I had to hear that from Jeremy when you and I talk almost every day.”
“I didn’t think it was that important.” A laugh was her only answer. “I don’t know what’s so funny.”
“Sure you do. You knew I’d be interested, which is why you didn’t tell me.”
The game had started again and Chloe and I both remained silent as our first two batters went deep into the count before being walked.
“Did he ask you out again?” she asked.
“No and I don’t think he’s going to, thank God.”
“You must be insane.”
“Why do you say that?”
Our next batter hit the ball over the left fielder’s head allowing one run to score.
“I say that because he’s good looking, sexy as hell, and from what both you and Jeremy say, a nice guy. I’d jump at the chance to go out with ‘the full Monte.’”
“Maybe you can pretend you’re me. People always mistake us for sisters. ”
Jason and I had been what our friends called a “brother/sister couple.” With our blond hair and blue eyes, we could have passed for siblings. And since Chloe looks a lot like him, the same goes for the two of us.
“No
t that much alike,” she said. “Seriously Kar, why won’t you go out with him?”
“I need to focus on Jeremy, not the hot ballplayer who comes to town a few times a year.”
“First of all, Jeremy isn’t a toddler anymore. I think you could go out on one date without scarring him for life. And second, isn’t a guy who won’t be around all the time perfect since you say you don’t want to get involved?”
“As Jason’s sister, shouldn’t you be against me dating someone new?”
“As Jason’s sister, I know he wouldn’t want you pining away for him for the rest of your life. He’d want you to be happy.” She placed her hand over mine and squeezed. “It’s been five years.”
Again, I didn’t know what to say. I shook my head and focused on the game. I’m not sure what happened while we were talking, but our team had scored four runs and was still batting. Jeremy’s coach uses a designated hitter for the pitcher, so at least I didn’t miss my son batting.
“I’m sorry,” Chloe said. “I didn’t mean for things to get so serious, I just planned on teasing you a little.”
“It’s fine. I just don’t know how to handle all this. Dating in general. Dale specifically.” I chuckled. “Not that he’s interested anymore. The man can have his pick of women. Why would he keep chasing after the one who keeps turning him down?”
“Because he obviously likes you, and if you like him too, you should give it a shot.” She crossed her right leg over the left and shifted her body to face me. “As far as the rest, you just take it one day at a time. Or one date at a time as the case may be. When are you going to see him again?”
“At the game next week. But I’m not sure if we’ll interact at all.”
“Well if you do, just give the guy a chance.”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Jeremy running out to the mound again.
Swing and a Kiss: Carolina Waves Series Book 4 Page 2