Page 81 of Sliding Into Love
Ivy noticedthe soaking-wet baseball player barreling toward her a second before she sensed the warmth of his body through his wet uniform. Ethan’s lips pressed into hers, and she thought he might devour her in front of the whole stadium filled with baseball fans, and oh God, hismother. But she didn't care as he wrapped her in his arms and lifted her, somehow managing to keep their mouths tangled together. Ivy laughed as he finally lowered her to catcalls and wolf whistles from the fans. She hid her face against his chest, reveling in his warmth as she realized the camera was still on them, with their faces showing on the enormous screen beyond the outfield.
“Hi,” she managed to say, her voice muffled against his chest.
She still tasted his peppermint gum, and her heart seemed like it might beat out of her chest.
But she felt his heart hammering beneath her fingertips, too.
“Hi,” he whispered back. “Come with me.”
“What?”
“Come on!” The giant, besotted grin on Ethan’s face was nothing compared to what pounded through her chest as he grabbed Ivy’s hand, tugging her toward the stairs where he helped her climb over, then he was running with her again, pulling her toward the rest of the team. A slower song began, and Ethan dragged Ivy right to the middle of his teammates, pulling her body against his and wrapping his arms around her. They weredancing.
Ethan Ford, dancing on the field for thousands of people to see.
Ivylovedit, the heat of him against her, swaying with the music, each raindrop drawing cold trails over her skin. With a smirk, Ethan dipped Ivy, bending her back over his arm. The sudden change in altitude had her gripping his arms for balance as Ethan’s torso folded over hers.
“I won’t let you go.” His voice was low in her ear, the stadium lights reflected like stars in the deep brown of his irises.
And then they were upright again, and Ethan was spinning her, their movements splashing through the falling rain.
“This is fun.” Ivy grinned at him, a little breathless. “How inappropriate would it be if I groped you in front of all these nice people?”
“Very, very inappropriate.” His voice dropped an octave. “It’s the pants, huh?” Ivy nodded. With a low chuckle, Ethan lowered his forehead to rest on hers. “I’ll wear them for you later. You can grab whatever you want then.” Then he slanted his lips over hers again, much to the enjoyment of his teammates.
“Promise?” Ivy asked, pressing the curves of her body against the hardness of Ethan’s and swinging her hips against his in time with the music, all while grinning wickedly up at him.
“Anything for you, sweetheart,” he said, and she melted against him.
Eventually, the umpires called the game over when the rain didn’t stop. Ethan grumbled about the tied score, but Ivy had seen a whole new side of Ethan, and for her, it was worth it.
After coming out on top of three of their last four games, the Hawks had a day off before a week of away games, and Ethan intended to take full advantage.
Anticipation got the best of him, so he went straight to Ivy’s apartment after buying flowers, wine, and candles, just like he’d joked. Derek’s car was parked in the lot already, but Ethan was early, so he wasn’t surprised when Derek opened the door, silently gesturing over his shoulder at the shrieking laughter and loud music coming from the direction of Ivy’s room.
“Dude,” Derek said, “you donotwant to go back there. They threatened me with a curling iron. Acurling iron. It would ruin me.” Derek shuddered at the prospect of hot tools, patting his hands protectively over his perfect fade with longer curls on top.
Ethan shuddered, thinking of the amount of product in his own hair, and was grateful no one was tall enough to attack him with a curling iron. After fist bumping with Jase and hoisting Janna onto his shoulders, he decided to brave the chaos.
“Actually,” Derek said, following Ethan but hiding behind him, “you might have to rescue Ivy. There’s no telling what kind of torture Lily’s inflicted on the poor girl.”
“Oh no!” Ethan said in a mockingly serious voice. “Can we rescue Princess Ivy?” He jostled the giggling girl on his shoulders before bumping his knee against Ivy’s door in a semblance of a knock.
More shrieking ensued from behind the door. Lily’s head poked out, and she brandished the curling iron at them.
“You’re here early! Go away!”
Ethan tried to peer past her but couldn’t see past the cloud of what he hoped was steam from the shower. But it smelled a lot like hairspray.
“Save me, Ethan! You’re my only hope!” Ivy’s laughing voice came from somewhere amidst the cloud.
“Has anyone ever told you you’re a rudely large man, Sasquatch?” Lily yelled from somewhere near his sternum. “Scram. We’ll be done soon.”
If a half-hour was soon, they were done soon.
Ivy emerged into the living room where Ethan and Derek were playing with the kids, and since he feared the giant wrath of tiny Lily, he refrained from telling her they were late.
“Hi,” Ivy said, almost shyly, and Ethan tried to ignore the rush of blood that left his brain and went south when she blushed and dimpled up at him.
