Page 140 of Wild Pitch
“Hmm.” She bites her lip. “Yes, that’s all okay.”
“How about this?” Grabbing her behind, I push her to the edge of the table so she’s pressed against me. My lips hover over hers as I ask, “That okay?”
“More than okay,” she responds in a raspy voice that makes me shudder. Her hands rise up my arms, kneading as she reaches my shoulders and wraps her legs around my waist. “I guess I could massage you first, right?”
“Yes, please.”
I kiss her again and she keeps kneading my shoulders even as our tongues brush, and it’s almost too much. Almost too perfect. Like maybe I forgot that life doesn’t quite like me this much.
Because that’s when someone clears their throat behind us.
Gasping, Hope and I pull away. Instinct kicks in and I bring her face against my chest, trying to hide her. But then I remember that many people know she was sent to ice me.
Swallowing hard, I turn to find Otto Berger behind me. He takes one look at the legs wrapped around me, puts two and two, and says, “I was coming for some Icy Hot but wasn’t expecting to find this hot little scene instead. You do know I’ll have to report it, right?”
The higher the harder the fall and all that, because I come crashing back down to earth violently right there and then.
CHAPTER 45
HOPE
Imanage to find the willpower to extricate myself from Cade, but there’s no hiding the tremors racking my body. Or the way my chin trembles.
This is my worst nightmare come to life and I wish I could grab Cade’s hand and run away with him to a Caribbean island, never to be seen again.
But I can’t do that. Running would be a tacit admission of wrongdoing. And yeah, maybe we shouldn’t have been making out like teen hornballs at work, but how is this a crime?
Pressing my hands against the scalding hot skin of Cade’s chest, I offer a nod to him to let me go. His hands slide off me and he steps away, allowing me to hop from the table and face the intruder.
“Go ahead,” I say, folding my arms. “Report us. I guess it was time HR and everyone knew we were dating, right, Cade?”
Cade recovers from the shock quickly. A shake of his head makes a smirk fall in place instead and he reaches for my hand. “My thoughts exactly.”
Otto sputters for a bit before pointing at both of us. “This is not gonna go well for either of you. Especially you, Garcia.”
“Are you threatening her? Because I could report you forthat.” Cade’s voice turns low, dangerous. Even chock full of cortisol like I am, it still gives me butterflies. And sensing my eyes on him, Cade holds my hand a little tighter.
“What? No, I—This is up to Steve.” Otto points at the door. “I’m going to talk with him right now, you two stay put and don’t—don’t get frisky again.”
“He’s a real peach,” mutters Cade, glaring as my mean coworker walks out of the storage room.
And that’s when I collapse back on the table behind me, pulling my hand free from his grasp so I can cover my face. Muffled, I say, “I am so screwed. I’m gonna get fired and I’m never gonna be able to pay off my student loans.”
“Hey, Hope. That’s not gonna happen.” His hands wrap around my wrists, gently freeing my face. Something in it makes his breath hitch. “I’m so sorry to have caused this.” One of his hands shakes slightly as it rises to my face. When his thumb swipes softly at my cheek is when I realize I’m crying.
“I’m sorry too,” I whisper. “You just had the most amazing game and I just ruined it.”
“You didn’t. Whatshisface did.” Cade tilts his head. “Then again, who knows what would’ve happened if he didn’t interrupt when he did.”
I give a weak smile. “You’re right, I guess it could’ve been worse.”
“Listen.” He lifts my chin so I’m forced to meet his intent eyes. The blue in them is as comforting as it spikes my pulse. “I’m not gonna let them hurt you or your job in any way, do you understand?”
“But—”
“No buts.” Leaning forward, Cade places a soft kiss on my forehead, his lips lingering on my skin for a second too long until he pulls away. “I’ll figure something out.”
I sigh. I almost wish I could somehow undo the past ten minutes and yet, I don’t. At some point, the team was going to find out that Cade and I are together, and I never intended to date him in secret for the whole season or more. Maybe this isn’t the absolute worst that could’ve happened.
