Page 110 of Wild Pitch
He’s not the most fragile guy around, considering everything he has gone through, but I can’t believe that this hasn’t affected him.
I soften my voice. “Cade, I want you to know that if you need me I’ll be there, okay?” And I mean it as a friend for life if that’s how he’ll have me.
He’s badging us in through the parking lot gate and when he’s done, he tosses a little smirk my way. “You’ll beat the women off me?”
“If I have to.” I shrug. “Maybe I’ll just order a T-shirt that says SECURITY at the back and keep it around at all times.”
“Hmm, how should I compensate you for your services?”
Erm, I can think of a few ways and none of them would keep things friendly between us.
“Trail mix,” I blurt out without thought. Cade drives his truck into a parking spot two spaces removed from my yellow Jeep, giving me some time to form an explanation. “You ate all of mine, so you owe me for that.”
“Don’t I owe you way bigger time for what you did yesterday?” he asks as he turns off the engine.
“Nope. You paid that off today, remember?”
His face starts turning my way and I don’t know. My flight reflex kicks in because both my logical brain and my amygdala know that if I stay in his car for too long, I’m going to do something I’ll regret. I open the door and jump out like it’s an Olympic sport. Palming my joggers, I produce my car keys and click it open. There’s some noise behind me as I open my car door and climb in.
But before I can even grab my door handle to close it, he’s there. And by there I mean here.
Cade leans into my door, arm propped up at the top as he bends lower to look at my face. “Hey, Hope?”
I swallow hard.
“Yes, Cade?”
“Before you run all the way home, can I close your car door without you getting mad at me?” How dare he ask this and then give me this slow, cheeky grin that makes him look absolutely adorable?
And of course my breath hitches, and my voice sounds all weird when I speak. “Fine, if it’s you I’ll allow it.”
Without another word, he leans away and shuts my door, stepping back with his hands on his pockets. The smile in his eyes keeps me company as I drive home on my own.
CHAPTER 36
CADE
I’m maybe two miles away from home when a call connects to my sound system. Rolling to a stop at a red light, I check the screen and my body reacts even before my mind can process. It’s embarrassing, really, and I even clear my throat trying to act all macho when there’s actually no one here to witness this. But my heart rate skyrockets, my skin heats up to the point where my clothes feel uncomfortable, and a goofy grin takes over my face.
Pressing the call button, I say, “Hey, darlin’. Miss me already?”
Please say yes, because I will turn right around.
“Pfff.” As she recovers, the light turns green and I keep driving. “It’s just that I’m still worried about what you said earlier.”
“What did I say?” My brain was in knots while we were alone in my truck, stuck in the real life version of so close yet so far.
“That you’re dreading going home.”
I cringe hard, wishing to turn smaller and smaller until I disappear. “Uh, yeah. Maybe I exaggerated.”
“I don’t think you did,” she says softly, skewering me with her concern. I have to put a paw against my mouth to keep backthe wounded animal sound that wants to come out. “So anyway,” she continues, louder, “I’m going to keep you company on the phone until you make it home safe.”
“How chivalrous of you,” I joke even though I’m stunned by her offer.
“Lady in shining armor and all that, right?”
Shit, she has no idea what she’s doing to me.
