Page 13 of Wild For You

“Absolutely,” I answered, letting myself be swept up by the child's enthusiasm. I knelt down to Haley's level, my heart swelling. “The crack of the bat, the cheers of the crowd—it's all so exciting, isn't it?”

“Uh-huh!” Haley nodded vigorously, her curls dancing like springs released from constraint. “And Daddy says if I cheer really loud, our team will surely win!”

“Is that so?” I chuckled, glancing at Nico, who shrugged, his expression softening as he watched the bond forming between his daughter and me.

“Your daddy might be onto something there,” I winked at Haley. “But why don't we test that theory? Let's cheer the loudest on the next play.”

“Yay!” Haley clapped her hands, the sound crisp in the warm air.

“Looks like you've got a new fan,” he remarked, his voice betraying a tinge of admiration.

I rose to my feet, laughter still lingering in my voice. “Well, I'm honored. Aren't I, Haley?”

“Miss Josie is funny, Daddy!” Haley exclaimed.

The resonance of the bat cracking against a ball echoed, followed by the roar of the crowd. Amidst the excitement, my gaze met Nico's once more. In the background, the game continued, but within the little bubble we created, a different kind of connection was being forged—one that hinted at possibility, wrapped in the whimsy of an unexpected Saturday afternoon.

I stood with an ease that belied the fluttering in her chest, my fingers idly twisting a lock of my wavy blond hair as I watched Nico hoist his daughter onto his shoulders for a better view of the game.

“Seems like you're quite the hero today,” I said, nodding toward Haley with a playful gleam in my eye.

Nico turned, a grin spreading across his face, softening the hard lines etched by life's trials. “Only because I've got the best seat in the house reserved for this little one,” he replied, giving Haley a gentle bounce.

I chuckled, the sound light and airy, like the dandelion seeds that danced in the spring air of Lawson Ridge. “And here I thought the front row was the place to be.”

“Front row?” Nico arched an eyebrow. “You clearly haven't experienced a game from up high. The perspective changes everything.”

“Is that so?” My lips curled into a teasing smile, the corners of my eyes crinkling just so. “Perhaps you'll have to show me sometime.”

“Perhaps,” Nico echoed, the word hanging between us like a promise yet to be explored.

As we shared a laugh, the brush of our hands felt like an electric charge, sending ripples of awareness through my veins. I quickly withdrew, but not before noticing the way Nico's fingers had lingered just a moment too long, as if reluctant to break the connection.

Our eyes met again, and this time it was me who looked away first, feeling the heat rise in my cheeks. I focused on the chalky white lines of the baseball field, tracing them in my mind to distract myself from the pull I felt towards Nico.

“Your daughter seems to bring out the best in everyone,” I finally said.

“Like her father, perhaps?” Nico's words were light, but there was an undercurrent of hope that I couldn't help but catch. It was there, in the half-smile that didn't quite reach his eyes, eyes that were watching me with an intensity she found both unnerving and exhilarating.

“Maybe,” I conceded, letting myself fall into the depth of his gaze for a fleeting moment. I took in the rugged angles of his jaw, the slight stubble that framed his lips—lips that held stories I suddenly yearned to uncover.

“Miss Josie,” Haley's voice cut through the haze of burgeoning attraction, grounding me back to the present.

“Hey there, superstar.” I reached up to high-five the little girl, my heart swelling at the brightness of Haley's smile. As my hand touched Haley's palm, I felt another touch, subtle and brief, against the small of my back. Nico's hand had steadied me as I leaned forward, a touch that spoke volumes in its gentle assurance.

“Best view, huh?” I mused, retreating to stand beside Nico once more, my own smile betraying the effect of his proximity.

“Undoubtedly.”

The roar of the crowd swelled like a wave crashing against the shore, punctuated by the satisfying crack of a bat connecting with a ball that soared high into the sky. My eyes followed its arc, then drifted back to where Nico stood beside me, his gaze intent on the game, a small smile playing on his lips.

“Your first baseball game in Lawson Ridge?” I asked, leaning in slightly so he could hear me over the cheers.

“Second, actually,” Nico replied, turning toward me. “Haley insisted we come again after last week. She's thinking of joining the junior softball league.”

“Really? That's wonderful!” My voice lifted with genuine enthusiasm. The thought of Haley with a mitt on her hand and a cap perched on her head was endearingly quaint. “She'd be great at it.”

Nico's eyes softened at the mention of his daughter, and the pride was evident in his voice. “She's got an arm on her. Must've gotten it from her uncle.”

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