Page 48 of Naked

I pulled her to a stop because I had to kiss her again. “I love your brain.”

“And I love you.”

* * *

Tilley wasn’t freaking kiddingwhen she said there would be a lot of celebrities. I couldn’t turn without bumping—literally—into one. And let me just tell you what an idiot I am. It wasn’t until I saw Elizabeth laughing with my one-time celebrity crush Lily Lawrence that I realized she was ElizabethLawrence.That I’d sat across from Hollywood royalty on a private jet. I’d hugged her!

“Hey Hunter. Come meet my sister.” Elizabeth, dressed from head-to-toe in designer everything, waved me over.

And silly man that I am, I went right over, practically tripping over my own feet. “Yes. Hi. I am Hunter.”

Elizabeth cocked an eyebrow at me. “Okay. Lily, this is Hunter Holland. He’s Tilley’s boyfriend.”

She politely shook my hand. “I just love Tilley. You’re a lucky man.”

The cowboy beside her reached over and offered me his hand. “Hunter Holland? The Manta’s shortstop? Oh man, I saw you play in LA just a couple of months ago.”

“Yes. That is me. I am Hunter Holland. I play shortstop.” Why couldn’t I speak like normal? How was it possible two women could get me tongue tied just by existing. I knew it was illogical. I already knew Elizabeth and liked her very much. Realizing she was a Lawrence sister shouldn’t change how I saw her in any way.

But it did. But mostly it was her sister. I had such a boy crush on her. So to have her standing in front of me in real life was...a lot.

“Good to meet you, Hunter. I’m Colt Landry, Lily’shusband.” His emphasis on the last word shook me out of my thirteen year old boy fog.

I cleared my throat, shook my head, and pulled my shit together. “Nice to meet you too, Colt. Lily, I’m a huge fan.”

“Thank you so much,” she replied with practiced ease. Then both women looked over my shoulder and smiled warmly at whoever stood behind me.

“Travis!” Elizabeth yelped, scooting around me and throwing her arms around a tall man who was not her husband. “We’ve missed you so much!” She grabbed his face and laid a huge kiss on his cheek.

By some chemical magic, it did not leave a huge red mark on his face.

He took her face in his hands and smiled. “I’ve missed you too. Have you decided to leave Adam yet? I’m still waiting.”

She smacked his chest. “Where’s Kristen?”

Recognition shot through me. Travis Brantley. Kristen Holt.Holy shit. Once again I forgot how to speak as Elizabeth introduced us, but this time I managed to pull it together. “We have a mutual acquaintance. I’m good friends with Emily Marks.”

He shook my hand even more vigorously. “Well shit! I love Emily! She’s the best. Amazing to work with.”

“Her boyfriend and I both play in the Mantas organization. I remember when she was writing ‘Not Again.’ It didn’t matter what was going on or how loud we were, she would sit with her notebook and guitar, singing and writing in her own little world.”

“And now we both have a huge hit. Amazing. Small world!” He slapped my shoulder and turned to introduce me to Kristen Holt, who’d come up behind him.

“Should I get you a candy bar?” Elizabeth asked. “You’re looking faint.”

“It’s just...a lot.”

“You should be used to this.”

I shook my head. “Oh no. We don’t get celebrities like this at my games. Sure there might be a couple of big names behind home plate, but that’s it.”

“Huh.” She frowned, thinking. “I had no idea.”

“Your whole life is a little different.” I don’t know why I said that, but it was true. She was surrounded by celebrities in almost every aspect of her life.

“Well don’t pass out.”

“I don’t think I can take any more right now.”

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