Page 52 of Stolen Bases

Instead of freaking out at that thought, an eerie calm washes over me as I say, “Nothing, just happy you came out with me. This is my favorite spot. I come here to think when I’m in town.”

“It’s gorgeous. Thank you for sharing your place with me.”

Our place.I’ll never forget the way she straddles my legs like it’s the only place she’s supposed to be.

I point to the right of the river. “That’s the harbor and river walk. There is a great barbeque place down by the water.” I throw a thumb over my shoulder. “Evaders’ training center is behind us. I hoped the lights to the stadium would be on for you to see.” I point to the left. “And over there is the entrance for the river float.”

“What’s a river float?”

Her question is a hit to the heart. I keep forgetting she’s had next to no free time to have fun and live. Her whole life has been about school. Now, she’s going to have a career that is just as demanding. She should still have fun sometimes. I hope to be the one to help her see that.

I scoff and poke at her side. “What’s the river float? Oh, itty bitty, you really don’t get out much.”

She pinches my side, eliciting an uncontrollable yelp from me. “Quiet, you.”

I rub my side. “You’re a vicious little thing.”

She bites her lip and rolls her eyes at me, and my dick twitches. That damn eye roll gets me every time.

“On a hot day, people come and bring inner tubes to sit in and float on the river to cool off. I’ve seen people get creative with floats to hold ice chests and speakers for beer and music. It’s fun. Sit and chill.”

“You’ve been?” Her fingers twirl the ends of my hair at the back of my neck that sticks out from under my hat.

I fight the chills she’s sending down my spine with every tug. “Yep. When we play Arizona during the summer, it’s the best spot to hit up. No one cares that I’m out there floating. I usually have one of my brothers with me. Last year, we took Rhys out. Man, he loved it so much he didn’t want to get out. I loved being there for his first float.”

“That’s sweet. You’re a good uncle.”

“I’m his favorite.”

Talia barks a laugh, arching her back. Her hot heat rubs over my dick, making it hard for me to concentrate. “Oh, I bet you are!”

I tug her braid. “Are you insinuating that I’m not?”

She shakes her head, her eyes shining with mirth. “Oh gosh, no. I just mean… How could you not be his favorite uncle? Your job is to play baseball. You’re funny. And I bet you spoil him rotten.”

“Damn straight, I do. Too much. Even my sister-in-law Rylann says so, but she lets me anyway. Making up for lost time and all that.”

“Lost time?”

Naturally, she picked up on that slip.

I tread carefully. It’s not my story to tell—it’s Jace and Rylann’s—but I give her the cliff-notes version.

I rarely trust people with personal details about my life or my family, but with Talia, I do. I know I can trust her not to say anything. I can’t explain why. There is just something different about her. She doesn’t want information to sell to the paparazzi for fifteen minutes of fame. All she wants is to get to know me because she cares. Just me.

“Wow, that’s crazy.”

I nod. “It is. But they are both ridiculously happy and, according to my nephew, gross.” I tell her the story about the bathroom, and her mouth drops in shock.

“Really? In the public bathroom?”

“Yup.”

“Wow, that’s … that’s sweet, actually.”

“You heard the story, right? They were fucking in the bathroom, and we all heard.”

She laughs, the tinkling sound stirring up the desire to kiss her that’s zipping through my veins.

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