Page 124 of Wild Pitch
This time she’s also got her attention on me. And she doesn’t look away. Interesting.
I keep my attention pinned on her as I finish unbuttoning my shirt all the way and take it off, dropping it behind me on the bench. I prefer to have full contact with the ice pack because I tend to run really hot. I dig into my pants for the hem of my undershirt and peel it off slowly.
Hope’s still watching.
Well, shit. My skin breaks into goosebumps—just from her watching me half undress.
How the heck did I do this in front of her before?
But then Berger puts his hands on my shoulders and I do my very best to not grimace.
“Any pain?” He frowns.
I clear my throat. “Not at all.”
I have to behave after that because I really don’t need Berger or anyone to know my engine’s revving right now. He fits me with the ice pack in a businesslike way and runs a checklist of questions through me, noting answers on an iPad.
When he’s done, I lean back against the bench to wait for the ice to do its thing. Practice is still going for the fieldersand the coaching staff’s attention isn’t as intent on the resting pitchers anymore. I grab my shirts, make quick eye contact with Hope, and walk over to the tunnel. Hopefully my hint was strong enough.
I take my sweet time sorting through a cooler with drinks in the middle of the clubhouse, and end up taking an allegedly strawberry flavored one. I’m uncapping it when light steps sound behind me.
“What?” Hope asks, breathless.
Slowly, I turn to her. “Hey, darlin’.”
“Cowboy.” She folds her arms. “Didn’t we agree to keep it professional at work?”
“Yes?” I bob my head.
“Then why are you flirting with your eyes?”
“I am?” I bring the bottle to my mouth and she zeroes in on it, making me smile into my drink. After swallowing it down, I say, “Because just so we’re clear, you’re the one undressing me with your eyes.”
“Ugh. I’m not the one who literally undressed in front of you.”
“Well, thank goodness for that or I’d have to beat up the whole team.” I think about it and shrug. “Starting by myself, actually. I’d be the first one to lose his mind.”
“Cade.”
I grin at the clear tone of warning behind my name. “Anyway, what are you doing tonight?”
“I—Nothing, I guess. Going home after work.”
“How about we try a date instead?” And just to be very clear, I add, “With me, I mean. No PitchCom. No swiping. No pressure. Just good ol’ Cade Starr.”
Her jaw slackens. For a good moment all she can do is blink.
“No pressure?” Her voice shakes and she takes a step closer to me. “All the pressure, Cade. I really don’t want to screw this up with you.”
Well, shit. How is that simultaneously softening me up and increasing my body temperature?
“Trust me, there’s no way that’s happening.” I lift my hand and hold her chin, freeing my thumb to lightly touch the border of her bottom lip. Somehow this makes her lose her balance and she leans into me, her hands on my bare stomach.
“Oh.”
My eyebrows rise. “Well, well, well. Aren’t you a bit sensitive?”
Sucking in air, she pushes me away until there’s plenty of distance between us again, and folds her arms. “At what time?”
