Page 24 of Striking Out In The Mountains

The aggression melts into euphoria when I see her flawless face smiling at me from across the room. God, I’m in deep. I’m already obsessed with this girl. I don’t know how I lived my life without her. How did I manage to get through fifty-two years without this woman? It’s hard to get through five minutes without her now.

“I like this place,” she says as she slides into the booth and takes the drink menu. “I love fun cocktails.”

The waitress comes over and says hi. She’s small and dainty, wearing a tight black dress. I love that Cara could literally throw her over her shoulder in an emergency and run out of the building to save her life. I find that so sexy.

Cara orders a fruity cocktail with a silly name that I would never be caught dead saying and I order a beer.

She leans back in the booth once we’re alone, a playful smirk tugging at her lips. “Are you still mad?”

“About what?” I ask, worried she saw me straightening her partner out.

“That I kicked your team’s ass in the softball game.”

“You didn’t kick our ass,” I say with a laugh. “You single-handedly destroyed us. I don’t think we can ever play softball again.”

She laughs, the sound soft and light. It fills my chest with a warm tingling feeling. “It’s for charity, so you have to play. I was just doing my job. You know, being a team player.”

“Team player?” I give her a mock incredulous look. “You were basically a one-woman wrecking crew. At one point, I swear I saw James praying for rain. I think Doug was doing a rain dance at one point.”

“Is that what that was?” Cara says, chuckling as she plays with her silky brown hair. “What can I say? When I dosomething, I like to give it my all. Plus, it’s not every day I get to humiliate the chief of the fire station.”

“You didn’t just humiliate me,” I reply, leaning forward with a grin. “You crushed the collective spirit of an entire department.”

She smiles, and I can see the faintest hint of pride in her eyes. “Well, if it makes you feel any better, I was surprised you hit my fastball even if you did send it flying into the crowd.”

I groan, dragging a hand down my beard. “You just had to bring that up.”

“There aren’t many people who can handle my heater. I was impressed. You get an A for effort.”

“Not even an A-plus?” I ask, feigning offense.

She shrugs, her grin playful. “I don’t hand out A-pluses for striking out.”

I laugh, shaking my head.

“But don’t worry,” she says as she reaches across the table and puts her hand on mine. “You won’t strike out with me tonight.”

I almost ask for the check right then and there even though we haven’t even gotten our drinks yet.

The waitress returns a few minutes later with our drinks and I hold up my beer.

“Cheers,” I say, smiling at the amazing woman sitting across from me. “To the start of something special.”

She gives me a gorgeous smile as she clinks her glass against mine. “Cheers.”

We hold each other’s eyes as we both take a sip.

The tension builds in the air, thick and simmering, like the first crackle of a fire that’s about to roar to life. And in this beautiful heated moment, I know—whatever happens next, it’s going to burn smoldering hot.

CHAPTER NINE

Cara

“That was a nice dinner,” I say with a deep breath as I slide my key into the lock on my door. “Thank you for inviting me.”

Graham is standing on my doorstep and I think we both know this night isn’t even close to being finished despite what I’m saying.

“Anytime,” he whispers as I open the door.

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