Page 90 of Dirty Player

“Of course.” While he led the horses away, I stepped through the knee-high grass and out onto the sandy beach area. Kicking off my boots, I bent down to pull off the thick socks he’d also given me and then slid my toes deep into the hot sand until I reached the cool, wet sand beneath the top layer.

“I should have brought a blanket,” Oliver said, stepping up to my side and slipping the cooler out of my grip.

I was thinking of cool sand and clean water and sunshine when I replied, “I don’t mind getting a little bit dirty.”

The bright summer sun had nothing to do with the heat that suffused my cheeks.. I looked at Oliver through half-lidded eyes and his expression said he noticed.

“I know. It’s one of the many things I like about you.”

“That’s not what I meant.” I shoved him playfully, not moving the large man a single inch as I laughed.

“I know that, too.” He slung his arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer to the water. “But I still mean it.”

“You’re incorrigible.”

He tugged at the messy bun on top of my head and grinned. “I know. It’s one of the many things you like about me.”

He was right. Besides being stubborn and arrogant, his playful side was often hidden behind his surly veneer, but I liked it when he shed that for me.

“Come sit with me.” He kicked off his own boots and took a seat in the sand. Pulling his knees up, he set the cooler in between his spread feet while he opened it. I didn’t waste time joining him as he dug through the cooler, emptying the contents before I saw the meal Sue had prepared for us.

“Wow. Lee wasn’t kidding when he said Sue made us a feast.”

There were containers of pasta salad, fruit salad, two sandwiches filled with thickly sliced prime rib on large hoagie buns, crackers, cheese, and several small bottles of water.

“It all looks delicious.” I didn’t know what to choose first when he handed me silverware.

I chose the pasta salad and closed my eyes when the cool flavor hit my tongue. “So good.”

When I opened my eyes, I found Oliver’s gaze fixed firmly on me. “How can you be so sexy even when you’re eating?”

I blushed and looked away, pushing a small chunk of escaped hair behind my ear. Changing the subject away from me, and the way his words affected me, I looked out at the water and asked, “Do your parents come to your games often?”

“Yeah, they come whenever they can, although it’s easier for them to get away after the harvest in August and September. But come fall, they travel wherever they can get.” His voice trailed off a bit and he took a bite of his food. “Dad’s getting older, moving slower than he used to. He wouldn’t admit it, but I know keeping up the farm and all the traveling is getting hard on him.”

I saw in my memory banks my own mom, too young to be so frail and working herself to the bone. Stress and depression along with pneumonia and exhaustion stripped the life right out of her. “I’m sorry.” I leaned over and rested my hand on his knee and squeezed. “It’s hard to watch your parents decline and get old.”

“Yeah.” His voice softened along with his eyes. “But they’ll be there at the first home game in a few weeks. You’ll get to meet them then. I know you usually watch the game in the seats Beaux gets for you, but it’d mean a lot to me if you and Melissa would watch it with them from the box.”

My body stiffened from the shock before I could hide it and his jaw hardened.

“You don’t want that?”

I shook the surprise away and found my bottom lip sucked in between my teeth. “No, I do, I guess I was surprised you’d want me to. It’s soon.”

I realized my mistake as soon as I said it. His eyes flashed.

“Game’s not for three weeks, Shannon. That’s almost two months together. That is what we are, isn’t it?” He leaned forward, setting his sandwich down before he moved to me, stealing the breath from my lungs with his intensity. “Tell me I’m not the only one thinking we were building something here.”

“God, no. I’m sorry.” Shit. Damn it. I didn’t want to hurt him. I hadn’t meant to hurt him. It was clear that I had, and I hated the pain mixed with anger I saw warring in his hazel eyes. I set down my pasta salad and scrambled into his lap, loving that not only did he let me, but he settled me right against him, holding me tight at my waist. “I’m sorry,” I said again, dropping my hands over his shoulders. “I was just surprised, that’s all. Of course I’ll meet them. Melissa and I would love to.”

His lips fell to mine, his tongue demanding entrance into my mouth. I acquiesced quickly, loving the taste of him and the feel of his hot skin against my fingers, burning through his thin shirt.

“We’re together,” he commanded, pulling back and leaving me needing more of him. The kiss was over too soon, and too intense to end at all. His hands cupped my cheeks firmly, his gaze seeking mine, seeking the truth in my eyes before it spilled from my lips.

“Yes,” I gasped. “Of course we are.”

My body heated against his as he held me there, not doing anything except roaming my face and my body with his eyes before he pulled me back to him. Right before he closed them and pressed his lips to mine again, I swore I saw something different…something softer and filled with longing and relief, as he kissed me.

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