Page 2 of Stealing Kisses

The fiery princess had the warmth of an iceberg, which did nothing to diminish her magnificence. Her perch upon the massive beast and the way she looked down her pert little nose at him — a mere peasant in her realm — should’ve been off-putting. Instead, her disdain delighted Teddy, nearly to the point of jubilation.

Coach Hayes, Teddy’s mentor throughout high school and college, had always claimed Teddy was half fool and fifty percent crazy. The woman lording over him in that moment might prove the irascible old man right.

“But, yeah, she’s mine,” he continued, allowing a shy grin while shrugging with pride.

Back in the second grade, Teddy earned a door prize ticket at the elementary school book fair. He’d never purchased anything at the annual library event, but he had eyed the books, the toys, and the trinkets plenty. As the principal drew tickets from the box and read students’ names aloud to the assembly, Teddy scrunched his eyes, hoping and praying for acopy of Dav Pilkey’sCaptain Underpants and the Preposterous Plight of the Purple Potty Peoplebook… Honestly, anyCaptain Underpantswould have been terrific. Teddy had read every one of them, checked them out of the library multiple times, and wanted one of his ownreal bad. When he heard his name, Teddy jumped with a whoop, elated to receive a book. Winding through the other kids, he hustled to the front of the cafeteria wearing an ear-splitting smile.

I won. I really won!

When he got to the stage, though, the librarian handed him a plastic bag encasing a rolled-up piece of paper. A poster? He’d won some dumb poster when all he’d wanted was a new book. But he took the poster home all the same, unrolling it to reveal a sleek, cherry red sports car. Not just a sports car, but a vintage racing model that sat close to the ground with a weathered covered bridge in the background, the rough road and soft green grass along the bar ditch juxtaposed with the car’s expensive-looking shiny interior and spotless exterior. The waxed tires, sleek and low profile with silky smooth aluminum rims, reflected light almost as vividly as the paint dazzled in the sun’s bright rays.

Teddy had decided the poster was pretty cool, even if it wasn’tCaptain Underpants. He taped it to the dingy wall in his room, and he’d come to love it. Over the years, the poster transformed into a talisman, a tangible source of motivation.

No matter where their family moved, the poster went with Teddy… No matter how challenging the days, how long and cold the nights, or how heartbreaking the defeats, the poster provided constant encouragement.

He took the poster to Louisiana State University, hanging it in his dorm room, despite the teasing and ribbing he received from his teammates and friends. After Atlanta drafted him in the fifteenth round, the poster traveled with him through the minor leagues…first in Rome, Georgia, then to Pearl, Mississippi during Teddy’s stint with the Double A Braves, and on to Lawrenceville, Georgia and the Gwinnett Stripers for two short stays at the Triple A level.

When the Atlanta Braves called him up to the big league, Teddy’s first purchase had been to get that old poster custom framed to hang it in a place of prominence…in the garage ofhishome, which had been his second significant purchase…one bought and paid for, one nobody would ever take away.

After a record-setting rookie season led to a new, rather hefty contract with the Braves, Teddy splurged for a third milestone purchase: the car. Not a replica, not a kit.Thecar, the one he’d promised himself to see in person with his own two eyes, the one he’d hoped to sit in some day, the one he’d prayed a million times he’d have a chance to drive before he died an old man…the one he parked right in front of his poster when he got home —home— after long hours of practice, after games just a few miles up the road at Truist Park, after series on the road, and after holidays with family and friends.

Teddy had also vowed to drive country roads, taking time to enjoy the journey of life, not only the destination, every opportunity he found. He’d never had a single problem with the car…until ten minutes earlier that day, when it had sputtered, slowed, and died next to a hay field in the middle ofNowhere, Oklahoma.

Teddy eyed his sweet sports car in consternation. What did fate hope to accomplish, conspiring to dump him at the feet of a veritable vixen? He rubbed a hand on the back of his neck as he turned toward the woman and her horse. After a moment’s deliberation, he shrugged and began walking to close the distance between them. “I don’t know what could’ve hap?—”

“Wrong way,” she interrupted, backing up the horse and gesturing to the asphalt behind Teddy with a jerk of her chin.

“I’m sorry?” He’d just been winding up to share his thoughts on what might’ve caused the engine to sputter and die without warning. The auburn-haired angel didn’t care.

“You’re walking the wrong way…town’s in the other direction.” With that, she reined the horse in a half circle and started off down the fence line.

“How far?” Teddy called out before she could get out of earshot.

She circled back to face Teddy but stopped again at least twenty yards away. He half-jogged closer.

Her eyes narrowed.

He halted. “Exactlyhow far is the walk to town?”

With cool composure, her gaze traveled from his face to his feet and back again. Her head tilted in consideration.

Did she like what she saw?

Teddy’s heart sped up as she assessed him.

He’d never wanted to measure up as much as he wanted to right then.

Granted, his faded blue jeans had seen better days and were a bit thread-bare at the knees. Probably not the best first impression.

And for the drive, he’d thrown on his most comfortable, most broken-in pair of goat-skin Tecovas. His cowboy boots had started out a handsome golden brown that resembled a glass of aged scotch; years later, a healthy dose of scuffs and scrapesadded personality. Perhaps also not what he’d have chosen if he’d known he’d be hoping to impress someone that day.

At least his shirt was a winner. Made from the softest cotton he’d ever felt, the t-shirt featured a cartoon peach wearing white baseball pants, a ball cap, and a cheesy smile standing with his chest puffed out in a round frame that readColumbus Clingstonesacross the chest of the long-sleeved, heather-orange tee. No one could find fault with the coolest team logo in all of minor league baseball.

When her eyes made their way from scuffed boot to thread-bare jeans, across the awesome t-shirt, and back to his face, Teddy plastered on a confident grin. Little Orphan Annie did say,You’re never fully dressed without a smile.

“You can make it in an hour…maybe a little less,” the redhead in front of him announced.

Was that good or bad? Did it mean she’d found him strong and able? Or feeble and wanting?

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