Page 29 of Nailed at Home Plate

“Actually, if we could pretend that didn’t happen and just get on with our lives, that would be super.”

“But Cady–”

“Just…drop it, okay?” He looked defeated as he went quiet and put his beer bottle to his lips for a sip. The moment we talked about it meant that this blissful thing that happened between us in the locker room would be over. I didn’t want to hear the words come out of my crush’s mouth. That it had all been a big mistake.

I imagined this sort of scenario so many times but on much happier terms. What would it be like during the in-between times with one’s crush? In between all the dirty, hot, delicious fantasy sex. What would the dinners out be like? The walks home? Just driving around in a car together? But now that I was kind of sort of experiencing it, I didn’t know what to do with it. Especially when I felt so wishy-washy about what Jamiereallythought of me. The man had been full of mixed signals since the moment I met him.

That kiss had me feeling things that maybe, just maybe there wassomethingthere. The way the heat slithered its way from his lips to mine and fed through the tributaries of my limbs was something I hadn’t felt before. Maybe it was the surprise of the kiss or maybe I just needed to kiss him again to see if that sort of feeling was going to be anevery timething.

This was all a stark contrast to his usual self. He’d been stone-cold and stand-offish to me every moment on the field. The dance lessons and choreography only hardened his steely reserve. Except for last night at the bar. I mean, I get it. I wouldn’t be happy if I got demoted from being in the majors to a team that danced every inning either.

So, what changed?

The server hesitantly stepped up to our table. Even she could sense the tension between us. And it wasn’t the mouth-watering sexual tension from earlier. Maybe it was better that we hadn’t gone further than kissing. I couldn’t even imagine what the tension would be like now if we actually had sex.

All of this reality was hampering my fantasy.

“Cady, I really think we should talk about what happened.” I felt my stomach flip and then promptly drop like a lead stone. I didn’t want to talk. Because if we talked it was a risk of this delightful fantasy bubble being popped by the ugly bitch called reality.

“Maybe after we eat something?” Anything to stall. The last thing I needed right now was to hear that my crush just wanted to get that out of his system and move on. I prayed that the server put our order in with post haste.

“Fair enough.” There was a blissful bit of quiet as I took in the ambiance. But Jamie’s follow-upshattered the singular moment of peace. “But I do want to talk about it. Especially since I still have to get you home.”

Shit.

Right. We came here together. I must have blacked out, lost in thought over our kiss still. He had to drive me back to the stadium to get my car. Great, let's just keep prolonging the awkwardness for all of eternity at this point. Because why not, universe?

“Fine. We can talk. Just…be gentle.” I winced a bit, but Jamie’s reaction wasn’t at all I expected. There was a flash of surprise before it turned right back into that goddamn mouth-watering smolder.

“I’m always gentle.”

Dinner was such a fucking bad idea.

Thankfully the bar was rather quiet, so the food arrived swiftly. I just wanted to eat as quickly as possible and get the fuck out of dodge. Not wanting another awkward thing to come out of my mouth, I dove into my wrap sandwich.

“I know I didn’t exactly go about this the smart way.” Jamie started sheepishly. “Do you think…we can restart?” Jamie’s question came out of left field, but I was thankful for the abrupt change of subject.

The man sat there, watching me, as I stuffed a rather large bit of sandwich into my mouth. So much for not being awkward. I noted the subtle bob of his Adam’s apple as I adjusted my jaw to a more ladylike bite.

“Uh…sure.” Using my napkin, I mumbled around my full mouth. Jamie visibly relaxed and shot his hand out across the table.

“Hi, I’m Jamie.” My eyes darted from his hand to his eyes. Oh, he was serious about starting over. Like, over over.

I took a moment to swallow my food before slipping my hand into his. That jolt of electricity was still there. Perhaps, it was even stronger than the last time. His touch lingered for a moment before he turned to address his plate of food.

“You work for the Philly Sillys baseball team, huh? How long have you been with the organization?”

“Since the beginning,” It was then I began to relax too. He was right, we needed this. A fresh start. “I never thought I could combine my history of dance and my love of baseball, and well… Oddly enough it worked out.”

“I’ll say.” Jamie chuckled as he took a large mouthful of his sandwich. My eyes stayed on him; my food forgotten. He was so pretty to look at in this casual state. But I sure did love the man when he was in his uniform in his natural habitat too. “You’re good at what you do, Cady.” I felt the heat rise to my cheeks. The conversation needed a redirect before I melted into a puddle in the wooden chair.

“So, a professional baseball player? Did you always want to play baseball?”

“Yes and no, I guess. I played both football and baseball in high school and college.” He took a moment to wipe the side of his mouth, drawing my eyes back to it. “I was majoring in business, but then there were whispers of the possibility of me being drafted. I graduated with a third-round MLB draft pick. I figured if baseball didn’t work out, I at least had a backup plan.” Sitting back in his chair, hechuckled with that signature sinful grin of his that he let slip when he made a great play behind the plate. “And well, that was like ten years ago now. But…I can’t play baseball forever.”

“Yeah well, I don’t exactly think you’ll have to worry about getting a part-time job when you retire. Especially with your contract.”Shit.That was too much. It was easily accessible public knowledge, but it still meant that I kind of maybe online stalked him. Just a little. Completely innocently of course.

Jamie’s brows shot up his forehead. “So, you’ve heard about me?”

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