Page 40 of Nailed at Home Plate

My free hand shot out to grip the handle on the truck door. The cab of the truck was spinning, and my crotch just had a category five rager of a hurricane soak my panties.Breathe, Cadence. Just breathe. So what if the gorgeous man you have a crush on just made a sexual innuendo about you.

There was something else that was eating away at me inside since I remembered that he was the one who drove me home last night. Anothercomplication.

“Oh uh…yeah. Well, that’s good.” I awkwardly cleared my throat. “I’m also…worried about well, if the teamseesus…you know… Roll up together.”

“Fuck.” The swear bitterly fell from his lips. “Right. I forgot.”

“You can just drop me off at the gate before anyone sees.” I offered as I shifted uneasily in my seat. Jamie’s hand still held mine tightly in his grasp.

“What?” Jamie exclaimed as he shot me a side-eye. “That’s stupid.” Perhaps no one would even see. I wasn’t exactly looking forward to the questions or teasing from the guys. Or worse, what they would do to Jamie if they thought he took advantage of me?

“No…no. It's fine. I don’t mind walking.” I half-heartedly assured him. My eyes drifted down to where our hands were still clasped. Utter confusion knitted my brow. Was this something he always did with women? Did he see this as something…more?I wanted to ask him a zillion questions all at once, but I also didn’t want to scare him off or overwhelm him with a jumble of assumptions.

It was still early when we arrived at the stadium. Some of the essential prep staff were there getting the place ready for the game. The Sillys guys weren’t exactly the promptest people on the planet, so the main staff area of the parking lot was still vacant, safe for my car.

I waved to the security guys who let us in after flashing our Sillys ID badges. The maintenance staff was already getting things underway. The food stands were doing their usual prep work. In just a few hours the park was going to be full of spectators ready for another chaotic game of Entertainment League Baseball. But time before all the crowds was my favorite. Where the sleepy ballpark slowly woke up. Fans were what gave it life.

We walked into the players' area and team offices. It was always quiet down in the den, even with the stadium full of people. Well, before the nonsense of the team showed up. I liked having my peace before the chaos that was the entire Sillys rostercame barreling through into the locker room to gear up.

Jamie’s hand suddenly grasped onto mine and I turned to look back at him in question. In a blink of an eye, he had me twirled around and pressed up against the painted cinder block wall. It was cool against my back as a fire quickly licked its way throughout my body from where Jamie had cupped his hand around the curve of my neck. My eyes met his for only half a second before his mouth was back on mine.

Fuck.

Something was happening between us. Whether it was love or lust, it was still too soon to tell.

We were literally seconds away from being caught and the man’s tongue was giving me a tonsillectomy. Not that I was complaining. Although the hallway to the locker room wasn’t exactly the most ideal place to make out. At this rate, we were going to kiss everywhere in the stadium before the end of the week.

“It's going to be so fucking difficult to keep my hands off of you when you’re this close,” Jamie whispered against my jaw as he dipped down for a taste. His hand still had a firm hold of the other corner of my face. I was left at his mercy.

“Actually, you brought me this close.” I immediately huffed back. Goddamn my attitude. Why couldn’t I just take the hot admission from the equally hot catcher and let it fuel the fire Jamie continued to stoke?

Jamie’s husky laughter against my neck was my reward. A few more heated kisses followed suit as his free hand coasted down my curves. Even though Iwore my usual Sillys branded t-shirt and skinny jeans for game day, he was able to find the lines that made me a woman. The lines that he spent a lot of time worshiping over the last twelve or so hours.

“You really are a wildcard slot, Cady.” The murmur was as if in disbelief as he pulled away a bit to look me over. “And I like that about you.”

I could have fried an egg on my face from the sudden flush of heat that hit my cheeks. In all of the time that I’d gotten to know Jamie, he’d barely said anything to me. Now he was spewing words left and right as he shared his feelings in such an intimate fashion sandwiched with sexy baseball puns.

Voices reverberated off the walls down the passageway. With a grumble, Jamie pulled away and gave me a moment to compose myself. Although the color of my face would give me away if any of the fellow Sillys happened to be onto us.

“What are your plans for tonight?” The look I must have given him made him feel like he needed to elaborate further. “I mean…I had fun last night.”Oh fuck, I was afraid of that.But perhaps “afraid” wasn’t the right word? Apprehensive? “Especially dinner.” He added quickly with a sheepish tip of his jaw.

His crystal blue eyes looked at me, hopeful and expectant. As far as I was concerned, he hadn’t asked me a question. Was he waiting for me to agree? Invite him out?

“Jamie Rheems…” I started cautiously. His name on my lips still gave me goosebumps. “Are you asking me out on a date?”

I watched as his bicep flexed while his hand rubbed the back of his neck nervously. He couldn’t meet my gaze. There was also a telltale blush on hischeeks. Gosh, he wasn’t kidding. He really was rusty. Not that I had any room to talk.

“Uh…yeah. I guess I am.” Now it was my turn to be flustered all over again. Of all the fantasies I’d had starring this man, I never thought in a million years I’d actually see it firsthand. I must have taken too long as he quickly added, “Look, I told you I was no good at–”

I silenced him with a kiss. It took him only a single second before I felt his body melt. His arms wrapped around me in a bear hug. He smiled against my mouth.

“Let me drive my car home at least. Maybe we can grab a pizza after the game…? Just, shower first.” My words were breathless as I finally pulled away. Jamie’s smile and chuckle in agreement only cemented the fact that I wasn’t going to breathe for the next few minutes.

“At your place?”

Holy shit he waseager. If he was up for a repeat performance of last night, I was more than ready.

“Uh yeah, that um…sounds great. There’s an awesome pizza shop around the corner from my apartment.”

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