Page 75 of Double Play

He doesn’t bite on my attempt to lighten things. “I’m warning you again. He’s bad news when it comes to women. I don’t want to see you hurting all over again.”

“I’m a big girl but thank you for looking out for me. I’m fine. Really. Don’t worry about me, worry about your eyebrows. You look like Eugene Levy with those wild, bushy things.”

He frantically feels his eyebrows. “What’s wrong with them? I have good eyebrows, don’t I?”

I smile. “You’re too easy, Abbott.”

He scowls. “You’re a brat.”

I straighten my shoulders. “Proud of it. What about you? What’s going on in your love life? You’ve been different lately too.”

He doesn’t make eye contact with me. “Nothing. You know how it is for me. I’m not interested in anything long term. I’mHit It and Quit It Quincy, right?”

I rub his arm, sensing that he’s hiding something. “Are you sure? You don’t seem yourself. I think there’s something you’re not telling me.”

He pulls away. “Just drop it.” Opening the door to Screwballs, he says, “Let’s go celebrate yourfakeboyfriend.”

“Fine.” What’s with the people close to me not telling me what’s really going on with them? Ripley won’t share anything.I know something is going on with her. And Layton was right, Quincy is acting like a crazy man right now. We definitely need to sit down with him in the near future and tell him about us.

With Quincy unwilling to talk, I simply walk through the front door ahead of him and we make our way toward our regular booth, which is busting at the seams. Except for the spot next to Layton, which he motions that he saved for me. And I see my favorite beer sitting in front of the empty spot.

Quincy looks down at me and raises his eyebrows accusatorially.

I roll my eyes. “We’re playing a role. Get a beer and relax.”

He mumbles, “I wish someone got me a beer.”

I giggle as I slide in next to Layton. He immediately pulls me close to him. He leans over and whispers, “I had to shower after the game. I’m going to need an Arizona refresher later. You saw what having your juices on me did for my game today. I need more of your magic potion.” He runs his index finger up my leg. “You produced a lot of it last night. I want to find out how much more is in there.”

I feel my face flushing thinking about everything we did last night and hoping for a repeat performance tonight. This man wreaks havoc on my body.

Gemma is seated next to me. We’ve only been able to hang out a few times, what with them having a baby at home, but I really like her. Despite the fact that she always dresses like she’s going to a fashion show, she’s very down to earth and definitely views Layton as a brother. I’m happy he has her in his life.

She briefly looks down at Layton’s hand which is now aimlessly circling my inner thigh.

“I’ve never seen him like this.”

“Like what?”

“So infatuated with a woman. He only has eyes for you. He’s never been that way before.”

“Really?”

“Really. He watches you. All. The. Time. When you’re in a room together, his eyes rarely leave you. I’ve noticed it for weeks.”

I try to contain my excitement. I can’t deny that I feel the same.

“And in the stands at games. He always seeks you out.”

That’s true. He does. I doubt she notices that he also makes sure I always see him smell his fingers before he steps up to the plate. It’s disturbing and hot all at the same time.

“The feeling is mutual.”

“Good, because the world sees him one way, but I know who he is inside. He’s viewed as a playboy, a well-deserved title, but he’s much deeper than that. He’s sensitive and caring. He goes above and beyond for the people he cares about.”

I nod. “I know he does. I love that about him. There’s so much more to him than anyone knows about.”

Before we can continue, Cheetah chuckles loudly and then points at Quincy. “You were last to arrive, sucker.”

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