Page 17 of The Billionaire's Catch

Jason must have sensed where it was going because he immediately jolted. The ball flew deep into right field, and Jason easily made it to third. But instead of safely stopping, he rounded the base in a cloud of dirt and clay, heading home. The outfielder hurled the ball to the catcher just as Jason was sliding into the base. The catcher moved to grab the overthrown ball, putting him directly in Jason’s path. As the ball flew, the two giant men collided, then slammed into the ground. As the umpire called safe, the Braves’ catcher got up.

Jason didn’t even move.

Dara didn’t think. Didn’t consider what was appropriate. Instead she raced from the dugout, even before the medical personnel, coaches and others who rightfully belonged there could. Like a player stealing second, she slid into the clay, barely noticing the rough ground as her worst fears were confirmed. Jason’s eyes were closed. There was blood.

“Jason?” She shook him far rougher than she intended, but he wouldn’t wake up. Fear as she’d never known it spiraled. “Are you okay?”

Players and personnel sped to them as a hush fell over the crowd. A person shouted, “Is he breathing? Does he need CPR?”

Breathing? CPR? Panic flew through Dara, wiping out any semblance of rational thought. Details such as the presence of qualified medical personnel didn’t matter at that moment. That she shouldn’t have even been on the field was meaningless. All that mattered was Jason.

Seconds mattered at a time like this. She brought her head down to his chest to check for breathing. And then…

He captured her.

CHAPTER 6

No one could blame him. Not even a saint, although he certainly wasn’t one. Not when the beautiful, luscious woman he’d been fantasizing about all day was perched above him.

He was only human, after all.

It was the smallest of embraces. Though he wanted to do more – far more – he was still aware of the crowds, the audience that watched his every move. Still, with soft red lips brushing his chest, he could only take so much.

He heard her intake of breath, felt her body still. After a moment, she drew back. Her eyes were confused, her lips slightly parted. Then, she crushed him. “You’re all right!” she whispered, as she lay on top of him, hugging him tightly. Her heart thundered from above, her supple weight pressed down on his body. She molded to him in all the right places, fitting as if she belonged. Was she tearing up?

Over him?

Emotions he could not identify roiled him, as she suddenly seemed to realize where she was. She peered at the crowd, at the forty thousand or so people who stood in stunned silence as the dual jumbotrons showed every detail. She shifted, then slowly stood as hushed whispers turned to loud conversation, as people smiled and pointed and smiled some more.

“I’m fine.” He waved off the team doctors hovering nearby, studying him with more confusion than concern. Testing his limbs, sore but unbroken, he got to his feet without assistance. Pat raced out, looked first at him, then at Dara and finally at the images on the giant screens. It showed their embrace, again and again and again.

The owner blinked at his niece. “Um, Dara?”

Dara turned a very interesting shade of pink. “Yes?”

“What were you doing?”

She mumbled something.

Pat shook his head. “What?”

She said something slightly louder, but no more audible.

Pat held a hand to his ears. “Say it again.”

“Checking if he needed CPR!”

This time it was loud enough for everyone in the vicinity to hear, where, like a childhood party game, it spread from person to person, moving like the wave through the stands. Jason tried to keep the amusement off his face, he truly did, but it was harder than a pitching a perfect game. Pat was seemingly having difficulty forming words. “Did you say mouth to mouth?”

Dara’s pinkness turned an even more interesting shade of pink.

Pat pivoted to Jason. “Are you okay?”

Jason nodded. He’d been stunned for a moment, but had taken enough hits to know what warranted further evaluation. The hit had knocked the breath out of him, so he’d rested for a moment. He’d never anticipated the outcome.

It was definitely his lucky day.

Pat turned back to Dara. “Was there any reason you thought he needed CPR?” She opened her mouth, then closed it. Pat returned to Jason. “And do you have an explanation for your actions?”

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