He blinks at me a few times before he lifts a dark brow which brings me crashing back to earth and the fact that I think he was speaking to me.
“Sorry, what?”
A smile kicks up one side of his mouth, causing a little divot to form in his cheek. Of course this man has fucking dimples. Why wouldn’t he?
“I asked if you were alright,” he says, humor lacing every word. Well, I’m glad he finds this amusing.
I shake off my daze. “Yeah, fine. A little startled is all.”
He nods slowly as if he expected that answer, and it’s then I take in the rest of his appearance. Aside from the crystal blue eyes and dimples, he’s wearing a black baseball cap with theSuns logo on it—a yellow sun with ‘LA’ in the center. Beneath it is dark hair just long enough to poke out from the bottom of the hat and curl around the back of his neck. He has a fine dusting of stubble around his chin. Not enough to be considered a beard, but enough so he doesn’t look baby-faced. His smile is blinding. Straight, white teeth flash at me as his smirk grows into a wide smile the longer I peruse him.
Shit, I’m staring.
“Glad you’re alright. Now if you’re quite finished checking me out, I should get back to warming up.” I start to feel even warmer than I was before because of the blush Iknowis evident on my cheeks now. “Don’t worry though, you can still check out my ass while I walk away,” he says with a wink before turning and jogging back toward one of his teammates who was watching our interaction.
My jaw is gaping. Opening and closing like a fish out of water.
The audacity of that man!
Ryan
I jog to catch up with our third baseman, a megawatt smile on my face.
“Nice save, Fletch!” Cooper says with a clap on my shoulder and a matching smile.
“Yeah, well if someone actually knew how to throw it to my glove, I wouldn’t need to save her would I?” I jab my elbow into his side.
“Then how else would we meet the hottie with the TV crew? I mean, honestly. She’s a total babe. What’s her name?” His pestering raises my hackles and sets me on edge.
“Absolutely not, Coop. She’s not another conquest for you. Stay away from the TV crew. You hear me?” I give him a death glare.
I would really hate to have to kill Cooper for making a move on her. We’ve been attached at the hip since we were both drafted into the same minor league team after college. We played so well together, in sync on every play, that when the Suns were looking to call up players for their roster, they brought us both in.
“Fine, fine. But you didn’t answer my question.” He side-eyes me as he falls into step beside me.
“I don’t know, I didn’t ask,” I say with a shrug, but internally I’m kicking myself. It takes everything in me not to turn around and look to where I know she’s still standing, staring at god knows what. “Did she watch me walk back over here?” I can’t help but ask, almost positive I sound like a teenager with a poorly disguised crush.
“Oh yeah, dude. She was totally checking out your ass,” Cooper says with a wide grin.
I can feel the smile overtake my face. Fucking knew it. She was standing there stunned for so long, Iknewshe was checking me out. I mean sure, she probablywasstunned at first, but the way her eyes met mine and didn’t let go? Yeah, she was checking me out. I’m certainly not like Cooper, who thinks he’s God’s greatest gift to women, but I know I look pretty good. There’s nothing narcissistic or conceited about it. Just pure fact. She’s so different from the type of women who tend to throw themselves at professional athletes. She wasn’t starstruck and immediately trying to flirt with me. It was more like she was admiring andmaybe even a little bit shy? I love it. It makes me want to get to know her.
“Here man, switch sides with me,” I say before shoving the ball into his mitt and pushing him in the direction of the TV crew. Strategically placing him with his back to their setup.
“You just wanna check out the girl,” he says with a knowing smirk as he backs away. “I’ll allow it.”
I roll my eyes but walk a few paces away from him and get into position so we can get some practice tosses in before Coach gives us shit for fucking around. But he’s right. In this position, I have a clear, unobstructed view of her. She’s standing away from the crew a bit, facing toward the stands where fans continue to file in. I wonder what she’s doing with them. She’s much more dressed up than the rest of her crew. In her pale purple pantsuit, she almost looks like she could be with the on-screen presenters, but the way she’s behaving tells me she’s clearly not.
I bet she’s dying in that outfit though. I’m sweating already and I’m in baseball pants and a jersey. Her long chocolate hair with streaks of caramel is tied back into a ponytail, with bangs that brush just above her eyes. Her hair matches the eyes I suddenly can’t find a way to get out of my head. A deep, milk chocolate brown with flecks of gold. I want to swim in them. Drown even.
I’m not the biggest fan of sweets, but I’m finding I suddenly have an overwhelming sweet tooth craving for her.
THREE
STRIKE ONE
RYAN
Nine inningslater and we won. Well, eight and a half if you want to getreallyspecific. Minnesota gave it their all, but we were the stronger team. I know our pitcher, Hunter, will be pleased he didn’t give up any runs, but he’ll still beat himself up over the fact that they got on base a few times. Hunter beats himself up over anything that’s not a no-hitter. He hates feeling like he’s letting the team down and we have to pick up his slack. But that’s so far from the actual truth. We’re a team for a reason. The entire game doesn’t rest on his shoulders alone. I don’t think he’s come to terms with that yet.