Page 65 of Batter Up!

“Look at all that facial hair!” I exclaimed. He didn’t quite have a beard yet, but it was definitely more than his normal scruff.

“What do you think?” he asked.

“We haven’t lost a game since he stopped shaving,” another male voice said from behind him. “Please, don’t make him shave.”

He was very attractive, with caramel-colored skin and dark blue eyes under thick, dark eyebrows and a sharp clean-shaven jaw. He had a dimple popping out on the right side of his smile. I was a sucker for dimples.

“I see you don’t have any facial hair,” I said with a grin and had to tease him. “But my man can’t shave?”

He just shrugged. “My mama taught me to shave everyday. But Stone can’t.”

I just laughed, “Don’t worry. I like facial hair.” I put the phone on one of the shelves so I could continue to put the groceries away and talk to them. “I’m Molly, by the way. I’m guessing you’re Hunter.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he drawled with a wide grin showing straight, white teeth. “You’re just as adorable as Stone described you.”

“Adorable? Adorable is for kittens,” I said with a laugh.

“Baby, you’re perfect,” Tyler said and hit his new friend. “Quit checking out my girl.”

“Dude, I have my own girl,” Hunter said with a roll of his eyes.

“How long have you been together?” I asked.

“A little over a year. We met in college. It was also a one-night stand, too.”

Tyler and Hunter gave each other fist bumps, and it was my turn to roll my eyes.

“Chloe is going to be at the Hornets game, too, so you’ll get to meet her then.”

“That’s awesome! I’ll get to see you guys in thirteen days. Not that I’m counting or anything,” I added with a wink.

“What are you up to, Shortcake?” Tyler asked as I put a few containers of oatmeal on the shelves.

“Did a Costco run, so I’m putting stuff away.”

“Where is Cash?”

“He called in sick today. It’s ok, Ty. It’s not too heavy.”

“Molly, you are pregnant!”

“Yes, I’m pregnant! Not crippled!”

Tyler shook his head, and I could tell he was distracted for a minute.

“If anything is too heavy, I’ll ask Pen or wait for Cash tomorrow. Ok?”

Tyler just grunted a response, and Hunter made a face like he knew I was in trouble. He tried to distract Tyler by asking me questions about my bakery. He told me in college a few of his favorite classes were the cooking classes he took as electives.

“That’s so awesome. What is your favorite thing to cook?”

“Lobster bisque,” he stated proudly.

“Oh! That sounds so good right now! I think baby is going to be more like mommy and not be allergic to shellfish.”

Tyler looked up from whatever he was doing and shrugged, “Hopefully they won’t be allergic to nuts either. It sucks.”

“Ty, what the heck are you doing? You called me, and now, you’re doing something else.”

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