Page 18 of The Double Play

“It’s no big deal. I can carry more, which means fewer trips to the garage.” I smile at his words. “What?” he asks, looking confused at why I’m smiling about luggage.

“That’s why I brought in my bags all at once, so I wouldn’t have to go back to my car. We had the same idea.”

A faint smirk settles on his lips. “Yeah, exceptIcan carry all these bags. You dropped yours.”

I gape at him, or rather at his back, since he turned around. Did Emmett Foster just tease me?

“June hugged me! That’s why I dropped them,” I defend myself.

Emmett squats down and says, “Hop on, June.”

“Yay! Piggyback ride!” She jumps on his back and he stands again with no problem.

“Okay, this is not a fair comparison,” I say as I follow them into the garage. “You’re a giant made out of pure muscle.”

“Daddy is a giant!” June giggles as Emmett loads the luggage with her still on his back.

“It sounds like less of a compliment when the ‘pure muscle’ part is left off,” Emmett mumbles.

I laugh. “Maybe I meant it as an insult in the first place.”

“I’d avoid using that if any of the guys on the team bother you. They won’t see it as an insult coming from you.”

Coming from me? My brow furrows as I watch Emmett open the back door of his truck so June can climb in. He makes sure she’s safely in her booster seat, then closes the door.

“That reminds me. Let me know if any of them do bother you. They’re decent guys, so they shouldn’t, but I’ll take care of it if they step out of line.”

Warmth pools in my abdomen at the thought of tall, strong Emmett coming to my rescue.

“Thank you,” I say quietly.

In the span of one morning he smiled–not at me, but still–joked, and offered to handle any guys who gave me unwanted attention. I feel as though these last few minutes have been a rare gift. One that I will try not to dream about tonight.

Chapter ten

Emmett Foster

Itwasamistaketo bring Hazel and June on this trip. Less than ten minutes into the flight to New York, and I already regret letting June talk me into this. There was never this much excitement when my mom was June’s caretaker. But if she were here in addition to Hazel, she’d probably be egging Emerson on. She’s already texted me more than once asking if I like Hazel. She says she meansas a nanny. I don’t believe her.

“So, what’s life like working in Beast’s castle?” Emerson asks Hazel with a grin.

Hazel glances at me, her expression unsure. As soon as Emerson saw Hazel was with me, he situated himself in the seat next to her. The jet is set up to have rows of three seats, with two rows facing each other and a table in between them. June sits next to me, coloring with her water pen in a mess-free coloring book. Hazel is across from us, with Emerson sitting a seat down from her. I’m certain he would have chosen the seat right next to her if she hadn’t put her backpack there before he boarded.

“You don’t have to talk to him,” I tell her. “However, he is an overgrown puppy and won’t go away even if you ignore him. Refusing to talk usually makes him ask less ridiculous questions, though.”

Hazel presses her lips together as though she’s trying not to laugh. “I take it you two spend a lot of time together?” she asks, her green eyes sparkling with amusement.

“Unfortunately,” I answer at the same time Emerson says, “We’re best friends!”

This seems to entertain Hazel even more. But that comes as no surprise. Emerson is known for his predominantly female fan base. When we go into the stadium, women line the walkway, begging him to sign their hat or jersey. They throw various objects with their numbers written on them, hoping he’ll call. He never does. Whenever other teammates ask why he doesn’t date any of the fans, he winks at them and says he prefers more of a challenge. Whatever that means.

“You’rebestfriends?” Hazel questions with a raise of her brow.

“Yep!” Emerson answers cheerfully. I scowl. “Everyone calls us M&M.”

“No one calls us that,” I say in a flat tone.

He shrugs. “It’ll catch on eventually.”

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