Page 87 of Wild Pitch
“What the hell are you talking about,Hope?” The extra emphasis on my name with his extra raspy morning voice is weakening my legs. Good thing I’m sitting.
I sniffle and rub my nose with the heel of my free hand. “I thought I was very clear.”
He scrunches up his pretty face. “What part of me hugging you back made you think I wasn’t okay with that?”
“Well, you were sick and…” And I have proof that you weren’t all in your usual state. But fessing up to how he cuddled me pretty intimately would make this conversation so much worse, so I stay mum.
“And I was totally fine with a little comfort.” He moves the screen closer to his face and the closeup is about to give me a heart attack. “Hey, why is your nose doing that?”
“Doing what?”
“That.” He points his finger at the screen when I sniffle again. “Are you crying or are you sick?”
Sigh, I respond with, “The latter. I’ve also been put off duty.”
“That sucks.” After a moment, he adds, “I have some soup that someone made me. Want some?”
My lips twitch. “I’m sure that person would want you to eat all of it.”
“Yeah, she would. It seems to me like she worked very hard at it. One second.” He sets the phone on the bed, facing up tohis ceiling. All I hear is some grunting until the image swirls and he’s back on the screen. This time he’s face up, using one arm to prop his head higher on the pillow, which makes his bicep bulge beautifully. He must be holding the phone up quite high considering how much bare chest he’s showing too. “So, what are your plans now that you’re down too? Napping?”
I force myself to look at his face, but it’s not like I’m immune to the scruff either. Clearing my throat, I utter a weak, “Maybe.”
“Do you sleep half naked too?”
It takes a moment for my brain to process his words, and right when I think I must’ve imagined them, his lips stretch into a cheeky grin that shows all pearly whites.
“Cade Starr!”
“Oh, so we went from last name base, to first name base, to full name base?”
I splutter. “I meant basis. Not base.”
“I kinda like base better.”
I almost fold my arms, except one is busy holding the phone up. “And anyway, what’s it to you?”
He shrugs. “Just wondering what to watch out for if I ever need to go rescue you in the middle of the night.”
“I don’t need rescuing. I’m a self sufficient woman.” I close my mouth for a second. “Except for that one time with the horrible date.”
“Of course.” He coughs and it seems part of an act, until the cough keeps going.
“I shouldn’t keep you any longer. Take a nap, Cade.”
His eyebrows twitch but then his expression softens. “You too, Hope. I hope this doesn’t hit you too hard. I also hope to see you at the ballpark soon.”
“Hardy har har.”
His smile now is dangerous, the kind that goes viral on social media. “Get some rest, darlin’.”
“You too, Cowboy,” I grouch because it’s either that or swoon on camera.
We end the call and I collapse on my back, arms spread eagle across the bed, blinking up at the ceiling and wondering how that innocent little phone call could make me feel even more screwed than before.
CHAPTER 28
CADE
