Page 42 of Stolen Bases

Talia threads her fingersthrough mine under the water, comforting me in a way no one has ever done before. Her touch sends electricity through my veins, every cell in my body vibrating with unbridled energy.

It’s both soothing and exciting in ways it shouldn’t be.

I shouldn’t have these feelings for her. Being with her can cause a shit-storm of trouble for us, in so many ways. The last thing I want is for Talia to get caught in the middle and get hurt.

But staying away from her? I don’t know if I can do that.

Something about her has me captivated. Every time she’s near me, something in my gut keeps me from walking away.

When she’s around, I get the sense that everything is right. The way it’s supposed to be.

“Are you scared because you don’t know what happens next or because you know what you want and aren’t sure it’s possible?” Talia whispers, her question hitting the root of my problem.

How does she do that? See through me, to the heart of my truth?

“I know what I want, but I don’t know if it’s possible,” I admit.

She squeezes my hand, and I roll my head to the side, meeting her steely, gray eyes.

With a soft smile, she asks, “What do you want to do?”

With her by my side, holding my hand, I’m confident enough to say what I’ve held back for so long. “I want to work with my brother.”

“What does your brother do?”

Her question makes me smile. I like that she’s oblivious of me and who I am in the public eye. This is something she could have easily figured out with all her internet sleuthing, and yet she kept her focus on me and her brother.

“He’s an entertainment lawyer and agent. He and his best friend own and operate a talent agency. They manage some pretty well-known musicians and actors.”

Her eyes bug out of her head. “Wow. That’s kind of cool.”

My hand rises to push back the small hairs that have slipped from another one of her intricate braids and stick to her wet forehead. Her eyes close at my gentle touch, and her body stills as her long black eyelashes flutter like butterflies in the summer breeze.

My eyes continue to roam her face, memorizing her soft features. She has a small freckle in the arch of her brow, and while her top lip is slightly thinner than her bottom, the cupid’s bow is sharp and defined, making her lips enticing.

Fuck,she’s gorgeous.

I drop my hand back into the water, ignoring the temptation to pull her close and kiss her like I did that night in the restaurant.

Her eyes slide open. Something akin to disappointment flashes in them before she smiles softly at me.

I like touching you too, baby.

Talia watches me, intently listening as I answer her question.

“It is. I want to work with him, but on the sports side. I studied sports management at college. But—”

“There’s that but,” she murmurs, smirking at me, using my teasing words against me.

My eyes dip to her lush pink lips for a fraction of a second. I want to kiss herso badly.

Fighting the urge to cover her mouth with mine, I lick my lips and carry on with our conversation. “I’m afraid my brother—maybe even my whole family—doesn’t see me as a serious enough person to take on the responsibility of that role.” I’ve never admitted that to anyone before her.

Not even my dad, and we talk about everything—especially baseball. It’s the glue in our bond, one I wouldn’t trade for anything. I love my dad and the relationship we have cultivated over the years, but I’m still scared to talk to him—to my family—about what comes next.

“I see it.” Her thumb glides over my knuckles. Her words are a balm, soothing the sting of my worries. “I’m sure they do too.”

It allows me to continue spilling my secrets to her. “Doubt it.”

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