Page 42 of Interception

“Zee, can you stop overthinking every little detail? I’m taking you out on this date. We’ve been seeing each other for a long time by my standards. I don’t profess to know everything about successful dating outside the bedroom, but I’m intelligent enough to know it usually involves a first date. We never had that, so we’re doing it. Today. You can be grumpy, or you can chill the fuck out and let me romance you a little. If you behave yourself, I’ll even throw in a foot rub when we get home. And some naked massage of any other areas you might be in the mood for.” That gets a smile out of her.

“Is there food at this place? I’m starving.” Her subtle fidgeting with her hands is a giveaway that she’s nervous. Why would she be nervous about hanging out with me?

“Would I steer you wrong, beautiful? You’ll have all your favorite foods. Anything you’re craving today?” As we wind our way through the streets, I reach over and rest my hand on her leg. I want her to relax and have fun today.

“Popcorn, ice cream, and pickles.”

“Together? Or separate?” She’s had some weird food combinations in the last few months.

“Oh, I didn’t think about putting them together. I might try that. Is that too gross?”

“Whatever you want. You’re never gross to me. Okay, maybe the pickles in ice cream is kind of gross, but your wish is my command.”

“So, are you going to tell me where we’re going?”

“Nope.”

I put in a call to Anders to see if he could sweet-talk the owner at the local batting cages for me. I want today to be incognito for Zee, so buying the place for a day was the only way I could see pulling it off. I carry a lot of sway in this town, but not when it comes to baseball. Zee is a big sports fan, and she mentioned how excited she is that Nashville is going to be getting its own major league team.

It took all of five minutes for Anders to get the owner of the batting cages to close shop for the day and let me attempt to impress Zee. I had someone bring in every food I could think of for my lovely, pregnant date. When I pull into the parking lot, Zee is grinning from ear to ear.

“Is this our date? The batting cages?”

“Yes. Did I hit a home run, or is this a swing and a miss?”

“Enough with the corny clichés! But yeah, you totally hit a home run. I love baseball.”

“I know things about you.”

“I guess you do, Coop. I’m impressed.”

“Just wait until we get inside.” I switch off the engine and quickly jump out and round to Zee’s side of the car to help her out. She reluctantly takes my hands and lets me pull her up.

“Next time, can we take the truck? It’s not easy for a weeble to get out of this car.”

“A weeble? Woman, you need to stop ragging on yourself. We’re out to have some fun, and you look amazing.” Her lips find mine in a sweet caress.

“Thank you.”

“What for?”

“For putting up with me. I’m doing my best, but none of this is easy for me.” I slide my hands into her hair, pulling her close as our lips meet, our tongues twisting and tangling, lazy but full of urgency.

“We can go at your pace. I know you’re worth the wait.” I reluctantly relinquish her lips and drape my arm around her shoulder, pulling her tight to my side.

When we get to the door, there’s a sign that says, Closed for the Day on it. “Oh shoot. It’s closed.” Zee pouts her lips and ruffles her nose. It’s so stinking cute.

“Not to us. You don’t like being in the public eye, so I got rid of the public. It’s just you and me. We have the whole place to ourselves.”

“Oh, my God! Really?”

“Yeah. Too flashy?”

“I love it.” She squeezes me tight, but her belly gets in the way. It grows by the day, along with my love for her. How could I not love her? She’s taking care of our twins, getting them ready to face the world.

“Phew, I thought you’d like it, but I wasn’t a hundred percent confident.”

“That’s so unusual for you. I thought you lived in a constant state of overconfidence.”

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