Page 107 of Wild Pitch
Shit, she’s driving me wild and doesn’t even know it.
But why isshenot moving?
Wait, does she think I’m some random groper?
I loosen my hold on her right away, and I’d think she’d push my arms away the rest of the way, maybe roundhouse kick me next—yet she doesn’t. Instead, her hands stay on my skin a moment longer and she speaks before even turning.
“What are you doing here, Cade?”
I blink slow at the back of her head, following the trail of her ponytail to the back of her neck. I wonder if it would taste like vanilla if I kiss it.
Shaking my head hard, I take a step back and answer, “Returning the favor already, apparently. That was really dangerous, darlin’.” In more ways than one.
She grabs onto the shelving unit and climbs on the step ladder again. “Well, thanks. But I had it under control. It’s not even that high.”
“Please, you were just about to hurt your pretty behind,” I say. Maybe my body’s still ruling me here, but I place my hands around her waist and lift her up the rest of the way.
She gasps. “Cade! What?—”
“C’mon, get the thing.”
“Ugh.” She reaches for a box of something. “You can set me down now.”
But instead of lowering her to the death trap, I lower her down to the floor and this time she whirls at me fast.
Jabbing a finger to my chest, she whispers, “You shouldn’t have done that, no matter what happens to me. What if I got you hurt?”
I cock an eyebrow. “You can’t possibly think that would be enough to hurt me.”
“But what if?” She frowns.
“Nothing happened, though.” I glance around. “My question is why are you even doing this in the first place? Shouldn’t someone taller do it? Or at least use a safer ladder?”
She snaps her mouth shut and retreats a little. “Fair point on the ladder, but I’m the only one responsible for stock so that’s why I have to do it.”
“Only?” My eyebrows tighten.
“Yup. That’s what happens when you’re the only woman in the team and also the youngest.”
My jaw tightens and Hope’s eyes close in on it. I open my mouth, about to release a string of curses on her behalf, when my stomach roars like an angry lion instead. We both look down at it, almost expecting a beast to tear out.
The annoyance in her face is completely gone after that. “I guess you should go eat something, Cowboy.”
Oh shit, that’s an opening if I know one.
Casually putting my hands in my joggers’ pockets, I ask, “What about you? Is your own lion roaring any time soon?”
“I, uh…” She clears her throat. “Mine’s more like a kitten purr but it started a while ago, yes.”
“Want to—” I don’t even finish my question when a different voice interrupts.
“What’s this?”
I move aside and face the newcomer. Rosalina Mena is bent down, picking up my shirt that I tossed aside when I made the dash to catch Hope. Right behind her is Audrey Winters, whosteps into the trainers’ office, takes one look at both of us and her eyebrows rise.
“Sugar. Princess.” I tip my head at them.
“I assume this is yours, Cowboy?” Mena offers my shirt, forcing me to walk over to her.
