Page 63 of Hot Shot

Cricket lights up, the hole in her teeth jagged with the new ones. “And a Dr. Pepper?”

I scrunch my nose and pinch hers. “Don’t press your luck, kiddo.” Before I stand, I give her a hug. She’s so small in my arms, but her grip on me is fierce. Before I let her go, I say, “I’m sorry she said something so mean. And I know I’m not your mama, but you can come cry to me anytime, okay? I’m here.”

Her arms tighten, and she whispers, “Okay.”

My heart splits, but I head down to concessions, doing my best not to scan the crowd for a six-year-old girl who needs a talking to.

Instead, I get Cricket a Dr. Pepper despite knowing better. I wonder if I could possibly refuse her and decide I absolutely cannot.

Who knows how much trouble that will get me in.

CHAPTER 24

TRY ME

WILDER

We lost by two thanks to a fielding error on our end, but as I pack my bag, I’m downright fucking giddy. It was surreal and momentous to have my little girl grinning and waving from the stands, her little glasses perched on her nose, feet swinging in excitement when I waved back, And next to her, Cass smiled and waved too.

But now, it’s time. I’ve been thinking about this moment since we talked about it yesterday, and after counting the endless seconds, it’s here. Cass is already waiting for me at the gate, just like she has a hundred times before.

I plan to greet her accordingly.

This game marks our hard launch into Roseville society, not only as husband and wife, but parents too. I wish I’d been with her to field all the questions and comments and looks I’m sure she’s gotten all night. In part because the compulsion to protect her from it is overwhelming, not that she needs me—she’s capable of handling herself. I want to anyway.

It’s selfish and bordering on unfair, but fuck—I want to touch her. Hold her hand. Press my thighs against hers with her foot hooked behind my calf like she did before. Feel her under my arm, hers looped around my waist. Call it pretend. Call it whatever the fuck you want so long as I get to have it. Even if I do have to keep my porn tongue to myself.

The admission that calling her wife gets to her only served to solidify what I already knew to be true—she wants the porn tongue she’s denied herself. That’s her hardship. It isn’t being with me, it’s being with me withoutbeing with me. Which, same. As impatient as I am, I’ll be good. I’ll wait for her to come to me.

But don’t think I won’t use every fucking trick in my arsenal to nudge her.

My heart thuds in anticipation as I sling my bag across my chest and head out of the dugout, largely ignoring the team as I scan the fence for her. I find her easily, smiling knowingly at me, nostalgically, lovingly. I think I’ve had this dream before, though sometimes she’s outside the Dodger’s locker room. Sometimes Auburn. But most of the time, she’s right here where I left her, fool that I was.

There are people around but they’re blurs in my periphery. She’s all I can see as I pass through the gate, stepping swiftly toward her, into her as I drop my glove and bat at her feet. It’s one motion—one arm around her waist, the other cupping her jaw. It’s one breath, her small gasp of surprise, my deep inhale of her as I draw her close. Our lips connect with a jolt of electricity down my spine, and she goes soft, molding to the shape of my arms, the shape of my lips. With the gentle sweep of my tongue, she lets me in, opening wide enough for the porniest of tongues. But I keep my word, even as her arms twine around my neck and the sweetest sound mewls from the back of her throat, her locked arms tightening to bring us closer.

It’s a damn hot minute before I release her, lips first. Her feet aren’t quite on the ground, so I put them there, hanging onto her to make sure she realizes it. She doesn’t—I keep her upright until her knees remember how to knee. My smirk is the evidence of my complete and fucking total pleasure at the sight of her, cheeks flushed and green eyes hooded.

The way she kissed me back, the way she’s looking at me right now?

I have a damn good feeling I’ve finally convinced her. All I’ve gotta do is make my move.

And I’m fucking gonna, the second the opportunity presents itself.

A couple people around us are chuckling, and my team behind us is whistling and being obnoxious. I turn and hook an arm over her shoulders, pulling her into my side. Her arms circle my waist like I’d hoped she would, and she grants me the added bonus of resting her hot cheek against my chest. I get a couple of claps on the shoulder from the boys as they pass and one solid punch in my good rotator cuff from her cousin, who looks equally grossed out, amused, and cautionary.

I press a kiss to the top of her head and ask, “Where’s Cricket?”

“Hmm?” It slips out of her, lazy and pleased. My heart twerks at the sound. “Oh—she’s at the playground with Molly.”

With a chuckle, I head us in that direction. “So, how many out of pocket questions did you get about us?”

“Well, Barb Weaver wants to sleep with you.”

I nearly trip. “Uh, what?”

Cass giggles. “At least it was heavily insinuated. You know, I thought tonight would be worse. Kind of a letdown if I’m being honest. I did hear about a couple of rumors. One is that we’ve been fucking around all this time even though I was engaged tosomeone else. I guess it wasn’t hoeing because we were already married though, so that’s a relief.”

I laugh, and she smiles up at me.

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