Page 49 of Passed Ball

"You're depraved, and weird, and I love you."

"Love you too. I can't wait to see you and squeeze you in person. I demand a minimum of two minutes of hugging before I let you go."

That's a lot of hugging, but for her, I'll allow it.

"Let's go, Corbin," I hear Harlowe's supervisor say.

"God he's cranky these days, too much time on the mountain and not enough with his wife. I keep telling him to retire so I can have his job, but no . . ." She sighs dramatically and I know Travis is standing over her shoulder.

"And then you'll be in charge. God help us all," I tease before we hang up.

The rest of my day is a blur of meetings, reviewing grants, and donor outreach. Lunch comes and goes without me stopping to eat, so my head is buried in my purse, searching for a protein bar, a stick of gum, anything to get me through this email before I force myself to take a break and find some real food.

A tap at my office door stops me, I lift my head from my oversized purse, embarrassed to be caught foraging like a trash panda. My gaze climbs up muscular legs dusted with red hair and glee chases away my mortification.

Paper rustles and my stomach groans loudly when I see the bag from Buns & Roses clutched in Xavier's hand.

His feet are moving before I can invite him in. I blink once, twice, three times, not believing my eyes. "You're here."

"And it sounds like I got here right in time. Did you skip lunch, Vi?" I missed the deep tenor of his voice and how it turns soft when he says my name. It's better in person.

"Stop. It wasn't that loud."

"Whatever makes you feel better. Good thing I stopped to grab you a treat on my way. It's not Sugar Slice, but Lilah knows a thing or two about baking."

"You stopped by to bring me a snack?"

A rumble starts deep in his chest. I can almost feel it from across the office. He's closer than we've been in a week and not nearly close enough. "Among other things."

"What kind of things?" My eyes take in his tall frame, corded forearms, and the backward hat with red strands curling out from under it. He seems larger than life standing in my office.

"The kind that requires a locked door."

I laugh because I can't believe he's here. It's not exactly what we agreed to--somehow it's more. But I don't care. And it's not because he brought me food, although it certainly helps. "When did you get in?"

Xavier studies me as he locks the door and circles my desk. "They ended up flying us home overnight. I spent time with Holland this morning, then went into the stadium for physical training this morning after Tenley texted me to let me know there was no rush because Holland was sleeping."

"And you thought you'd spend your rare free time bringing me lunch?" He stops next to my chair, spinning it away from my desk, his hands flexing when he wraps them around the armrests and folds over me. I have to tip my head back to look at him, my throat bone dry as I try to swallow down my excitement. "Or didsomeonesell me out?"

"So, you did skip lunch,again." With how close he is, the low din of his words shoots straight to my belly, making it flip before desire settles deeper, reminding me badly I've wanted him close for the past few days.

Chapter 23

Xavier

Twice now I've stopped in her office and found out she hasn't eaten. It makes me wonder how often putting work above herself. Vivienne's stomach gives another echoing lurch and I realize I care more than I should about a grown woman feeding herself.

When Tenley let me know that there was no rush to get home, the pull to see Vivi was too strong to ignore. It just so happened my nanny also let slip that her aunt forgot her lunch. And when Cruz mentioned the brownies Lilah made, it added a pit stop to my agenda.

Stopping to grab her lunch was an easy decision. I get to do something for the woman who takes care of everyone else, and cross something off that wish list of hers at the same time. It's a win-win and I refuse to look deeper than that.

"Consider this a bribe. I thought if I showed up with an incentive, you might let me spend some time distracting you from your work this afternoon."

"Bribes are against the Double Play code of ethics, Mr. Kingsley." She's a brat and it's fucking cute.

I reach for the soft curve of her waist and pull her out of the chair. Damn, I like the press of her body against mine . . . too much. I spin us, making her squeak as I settle her in my lap and steal the chair right out from under her.

Now that I've got my hands on her, there's no way I'm letting her go. With that in mind, I keep one around her waist while the other smooths down her silky skirt. The rough calluses on my palm catch on the smooth material until it ends below her knee.

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