by R. C. Martin
When Ryann started to make her way out from behind the bakery, she caught sight of Leslie’s small smirk. Not the least bit amused, and a little annoyed by how much she liked that damn smirk, she shook her head at him and demanded, “Please don’t look at me like that.”
“Like what, darlin’?” His voice was soft as he fell into step beside her and gently took her hand in his.
She jerked her gaze up at him, appalled by his actions. Then she realized, he had no idea how she felt or why. Rather than bite at him, she tried to calm herself down even as she attempted to slide her hand out of his. “Leslie—”
“No,” he stated as he came to a halt. His grip around her fingers tightened, and he drew her hand up to his chest. Ryann’s breath caught in her throat as she was startled to a stop herself. It wasn’t until her eyes found his that he went on to say, “You don’t get to do that. You don’t get to give me you, then hear one side of some fucked up story and pull away from me.”
“How do you know I—”
“I saw you,” he murmured. He closed the distance between them, and she was forced to look up as he said, “I saw you yesterday with Connie.”
Ryann stood breathless as she gazed up at Leslie. His thumb traced delicate circles around the knuckle of hers, and the familiarity of being in his space—it somehow transported her out of the past, out of her own mind. All at once, she found herself wading in the benefit of her doubt.
“Let me explain. You owe me that much.”
She nodded, aware that he was right, and then allowed him to escort her toward the store’s main entrance. They walked all the way out into the parking lot, until they reached the back of Leslie’s pick-up. Only then did he let go of her hand. Ryann watched as he lifted the baseball cap from his head to run his fingers through his hair. When he placed it back on, he didn’t pull it down all the way, as if he wanted to make sure Ryann could see his face clearly as he spoke.
“I met Connie three years ago,” he began, his eyes locked with hers. “I’d just opened Knight’s that summer. Aaron and I had it in our minds the whole year to volunteer and coach Sheldon’s first season of tee-ball. We were there for Sheldon and for Molly—because Julian couldn’t be. I wasn’t thinking about dating. It was my first season after retirement, I was missing my best friend, and I had a lot on my plate. I didn’t see Connie, but Connie saw me.
“The fall season came and went, and I never once saw Jackson’s father. That’s not normal. At least it wasn’t for me. I’d just assumed he wasn’t around. So when winter came and Connie brought Jack in for private coaching, I didn’t think anything of it. Then came spring, another season of tee-ball, and still I never saw Jack’s father.
“By that point, it was obvious Connie had an interest. I didn’t see any harm in exploring it, so I did. I don’t know how she kept it a secret from me for nine months, but we’d been seeing each other for two weeks when she showed up to one of our dates wearing her wedding ring. I swear to you, I’d never seen it before. And the look on her face when I pointed it out was all the proof I needed that she’d slipped up. It was over then and there. She tried to sell me some bullshit that their marriage was on the rocks and she was going to tell me, but I’d been played. There was no way I could trust her after that, and I was out.”
Ryann stared up at Leslie as he fell silent. She tried to take stock of her emotions, but all she felt was her desire to believe him. His story made sense in ways Connie’s warning hadn’t. Yet, there were parts of it she still didn’t understand.
“If—if you broke it off with her, why do you keep picking Jackson to play on Sheldon’s team? It’s your choice, isn’t it? And the things she says about you, the way she—”
“She’s a liar, Ry,” Leslie insisted as he took hold of the back of her neck. His hand was warm, and his touch was gentle but sure. “I don’t know how her mind works, and I don’t want to know. She’s unhappy, but that’s none of my damn business. Connie might talk a mean game, but I’m not afraid of her. My name, my integrity, it’s what I’ve got—it’s what my whole business is built upon, and her lies can’t take that away. I’d never stand for it. She knows that. And I’ll be damned if I let her actions sully Jackson’s chances even more than they’re destined to already. When I think of that kid, when I think about how his dad has never been to a game, I can’t not choose him.”
“God, I’m an idiot,” Ryann whispered. She dropped her chin, unable to look him in the eye. With her focus zeroed in on his chest, she hesitantly lifted her hands and pressed them lightly against his abdomen. “You’re a really good guy, Leslie,” she breathed.
With his free hand, he felt his way from her elbow, all the way up her arm and to her shoulder. Then both of his hands were holding her chin. He eased her head back until she had no place else to look but up at him.
“I was kind of hoping I was on my way to becoming your good guy.”
She hummed a quiet sigh and leaned against his chest. Yet all the while, there remained the remnant of her fear, even as she tried to cling to the hope she found in Leslie’s honest eyes.
“Rumors and lies and cheating women—it scares me. It’s crippling how much. I’ve had all the lies I can stand for…I don’t know. Maybe ever.”
“Ryann,” Leslie started to say as he leaned in closer. His voice was low and soft as he assured her, “I swear to you, I’m not a liar; and the last thing I’d ever want to do is hurt you.”
Nodding her head as much as his hold would allow, she murmured, “I believe you.”
“Even so, I won’t stop from trying to prove it to you if you’ll let me.”
As he spoke, he inched closer still, until Ryann could feel his breath as it kissed her lips. With her heart already decided, and her body impatient as it buzzed with her fierce longing for the man who held her, she didn’t hesitate to respond with her answer. Only instead of her words, she let the feel of her mouth pressed to his do all the talking.
When he parted his lips and opened his mouth around hers, she knew they understood one another. Instantly consumed by his affection, Ryann lost track of where and when she was as she pressed up onto her tiptoes. She felt her way along his solid chest and over his shoulders before she wrapped her arms around him. He was quick to respond in kind. He caged her against him, his arms locked firmly about her waist. When he angled his head in order to kiss her deeper, a delicate moan slipped from her throat and slid into his mouth. His arms tightened around her even more, and Ryann thought her knees might give out if he didn’t stop. And yet, she didn’t want his kiss to end.
After an indecipherable amount of time, Leslie slowed them down. Though, as he was prone to do, he didn’t loosen his grip around her even as he brought their kiss to an unhurried end. When Ryann managed to peel her eyes open, she didn’t even try to hide her smile when she found his blue eyes dancing about her face.
“When I call you tonight, will you answer?”
Ignoring the heat that rushed to her cheeks as she read into his question, she was quick to reply, “Yes. Cohan is usually in bed by eight.”
“I’ve got a session at eight. I’m off at nine. I’ll call you when I leave work.”
“I look forward to it.”
“Me, too, darlin’.”
Ryann drew in a deep breath and hugged Leslie tighter before she said, “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for—”
“I forgive you,” he muttered, his lips pressed to hers. “Now hush, so I can kiss you one more time before I let you go.”
“’Kay,” she responded on a giggle.
THE SOUND OF Cohan’s bat connecting with the ball for the last consecutive pitch made Leslie grin. “That’a boy!” he cried proudly. “Great job, Cohan.”
Cohan turned and flashed him a toothless smile through the fence of the batting cage. “Did you see that?” He hurried through the gate and took off his helmet. “I hit almost every single one!”
Leslie chuckled as he placed a hand on Cohan’s head and mussed his hair.
“I’m going to start calling you my little power hitter,” he declared.
“Think I’ll be able to hit a home run this season?”
“I don’t think you can—I know you can. Come on, let’s get your stuff packed up. Your mom will be back soon.”
“’Kay.” Cohan didn’t wait for Leslie before he ran to the lockers and located his bag.
Leslie trailed behind him, his eyes watching Cohan’s every move. There was a sense of contentment that wrapped itself around his gut every time he saw Cohan run around Knight’s Pitching Academy. The familiarity of his steps, the confidence in his presence, it was an unspoken statement that he felt at home there. Leslie wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Hey, bud—sit with me a minute,” he said as he dropped down onto the empty bench in front of the lockers. Cohan zipped his bag closed and then made haste to occupy the spot just beside Leslie.
“Is this about mom?”
“Yeah,” Leslie answered with a playful scowl. “How’d you know?”
“You’re making the man-to-man face.”
Leslie chuckled and draped his arm around Cohan’s small shoulders. “You caught me,” he said as Cohan peered up at him with a crooked smile. “You remember how this goes?”
“Leslie!” he drawled dramatically in his high, tenor voice, wrapped in the innocence of a child. His shoulders slumped and he smacked his palm against his forehead. “I got this,” he insisted.
Grinning, Leslie offered him a curt nod and then stated, “Good, ‘cause I’m going to need your help. Tonight’s the night, bud.”
Cohan gasped. He bolted upright and stared at Leslie with his big eyes round with wonder. “It is?”
“Yup. Ready to hear the plan?”
Cohan responded with an enthusiastic nod, and then Leslie proceeded to lay out the strategy he’d cooked up for that evening. He’d just finished when he heard his woman’s voice as she called out her greeting behind him. The two of them were quick to stand in order to greet her in return.
Leslie watched as Cohan collided into his mother’s legs. He held onto her as he chatted animatedly about his latest batting session. Ryann smiled down at her son, absentmindedly combing her fingers through his hair as she listened to his every word. It’s one of the things Leslie loved about her the most—the way she could look at Cohan as if he made the world go round.
“Oh, my goodness,” she gushed as she grabbed hold of either side of his face. “I am so proud of you. That is so awesome!” Ryann leaned down and kissed the top of his head before she looked up and smiled at Leslie.
That was another thing he loved about her—the way she could gaze at him as if he’d hung the moon. He wasn’t sure how he’d done it, how he’d managed to steal the heart of the most beautiful woman he’d ever met, but he had no intention of giving it back. He’d known when he met her she wasn’t prepared for him. He’d seen it in her eyes. Yet, he also knew, with every fiber of his being, he was ready for her. So he took a chance—he’d risked it all—and he’d stolen home. That’s what she was to him.
“Hey,” she murmured.
A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth as he slowly made his way toward her.
“Hey, darlin’.”
Cohan wiggled out of his mother’s grasp just seconds before Leslie grabbed hold of Ryann’s hips and pulled her toward him. Without further ado, he pressed a simple kiss hello against her lips. “How’s my woman?” he mumbled.
She pushed up onto her tiptoes and kissed him once more before she pulled away and offered him a shrug. “I did it. I quit.” Leaning into his chest, she gazed up at him and pleaded, “Now, tell me again I’m not crazy.”
“You’re a lot of things, Ry—brilliant, imaginative, sexy,” he added with a wink as he gave her backside a subtle tap. She hummed a laugh and pressed into him further. “You’re definitely not crazy,” he declared. “Something tells me the loan the bank gave you is proof of that.”
“Oh, my god, this is happening. Lucille’s is happening.”
“Lucille’s is happening!” cheered Cohan.
Ryann rested her cheek against Leslie’s chest and reached for her son, who didn’t shy away from her touch even as she invited him into their embrace. Rubbing her hand up and down his back, she declared, “Tonight, we celebrate. In fact, we should probably get going so we can all get ready.” Shifting her gaze up at Leslie, she inquired, “We’re still on for seven-thirty?”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Okay. Kiss me so we can go, and we’ll see you soon.”
Leslie kissed her once, then once more before he let her go. “Pick y’all up in a bit.”
Cohan waved goodbye and then took his mother’s hand. Leslie watched them both as they left. They were it for him. As he stood staring after them, he knew he’d do anything for either of them. Over the course of the last seven months, he hadn’t merely built a relationship with Ryann while Cohan tagged along. That was the thing about Cohan—he was hard not to love in his own right. Even though Leslie had always known they were a package deal, he couldn’t have foreseen the way in which that little boy would steal his heart. He didn’t just want Ryann, he wanted them both.
“Hey, what are you still doing here?”
Leslie had been so engrossed in his own thoughts, he didn’t notice his brother’s approach until he clapped a hand against his shoulder.
“Pretty sure you’ve got someplace to be tonight.”
“Yeah,” Leslie replied with a smirk. “I’m getting out of here.”
“I’d wish you luck, but I’ve seen the way she looks at you,” said Aaron on a chuckle.
Leslie’s smirk stretched into a grin as he began to back his way toward the door. Pointing at his brother he asked, “Call you tomorrow?”
“Fuckin’ better.”
LESLIE KILLED THE engine of his truck and then smoothed his hands over his lightly, bearded cheeks. He’d have been lying if he said he wasn’t anxious—but it wasn’t nerves that wrapped themselves around his stomach in a noose, it was his impatience. After he blew out a heavy sigh, in an attempt to get a hold of himself, he stepped out of his truck and made his way to the Newcomb’s front door.
When Ryann answered his knock, Leslie shook his head as his impatience twisted around his belly even tighter. She looked gorgeous. Her face was all done up, and her hair was loose. It draped around her shoulders and down her chest, the way he liked it best. The white, floral print, spaghetti strapped dress she had on was cut low in the front—showing off enough cleavage to drive Leslie crazy. The skirt was long, the way he knew she liked her dresses, and it hugged her slim waist just right. When she stepped toward him, he saw the slit that worked its way up her thigh.
“Hey, ace. You look nice,” she murmured through the sweetest of smiles.
Aware the occasion called for more than his denim jeans, Leslie had worn a pair of navy khakis with a light blue, short-sleeve button-up. He knew how much she liked him in blue—but his attire was the last thing on his mind as he extended his arm and wrapped it around her waist. He tugged her against his chest and leaned down to touch his forehead to hers as he breathed her in.
She knows what it does to me when she calls me that.
“God, I love you.”
He felt it when she melted against him, and the corner of his mouth lifted slightly in response.
“I love you, too.”
He tightened his grip around her as he pressed a kiss to her lips. He didn’t linger long, but he didn’t let her go as he pulled away and inquired, “Where’s Cohan?”
“Here!” he declared, right on cue. “Is it time?”
Leslie tried to contain his smile as he tucked his free hand into his pocket and winked at the little man. “Yeah. Time to load up.” He shifted his attention back onto Ryann, stealing hers as he kissed her mouth once more. She didn’t deny his affection as he pulled the small box out of his pocket and held it out for Cohan. It wasn’t until Leslie heard his little feet racing for the
truck that he pulled away from Ryann.
“Ready?”
“Yeah. Just need my purse. Our bag is right inside. Do you mind grabbing it?”
“Not at all.”
“Thanks.”
Ryann turned out of his hold and he let her go before they both stepped into the house. As Leslie secured the strap of her overnight duffle over his shoulder, Scott and Peggy made their way down the stairs.
“Hey, there,” greeted Scott with a grin. “Y’all ready to get out of here?”
“Yes, sir. Getting them loaded up now.”
“Great. We’ll be right behind you.”
“Well, this’ll be fun. I’m so excited for our girl,” said Peggy as Ryann returned with her purse. “Oh, don’t you look like the prettiest business owner I know.”
“Thanks, mom,” Ryann murmured as she reached for Leslie’s hand. “We’ll see you guys there?”
“Right behind you.”
Without further ado, Leslie escorted Ryann out the door while Scott and Peggy headed through the house to the garage. Cohan had already managed to climb into the backseat of the truck by the time Leslie helped Ryann into the front. Leslie was quick to toss the duffle next to Cohan before he hurried behind the wheel and started the engine. Dierks Bentley filled the cab as “Black” played over the sound system, just as he’d planned. He knew it was Ryann’s favorite. He played dumb when she reached over and rested her hand on his thigh, reminding him of the fact.
Their drive to the restaurant wasn’t any longer than it should have been, but it felt like forever to Leslie. Every once in a while, he’d peek into the rearview mirror at Cohan. Each time, he caught him with his hand in his pocket as he protected the little box with unquestionable dedication. The closer they got to their destination, the more jittery Cohan became—until he was practically bouncing in his seat. Leslie smiled to himself, certain Cohan’s outward excitement was an exact replica of what he felt on the inside.
When they pulled into the parking lot of Whiskey Cake Kitchen & Bar, Leslie had to remind himself he had a whole dinner course ahead of him. He needed to keep his cool. Without pause, he got out of the truck and opened the back door for Cohan to jump out. As soon as his feet hit the ground, Cohan didn’t hesitate to wrap his small fingers around Leslie’s hand. Leslie could tell he was a bit nervous.