Page 111 of Home Field Advantage
“I’m sorry for showing up unplanned, but I wanted to check on you since you left so quickly earlier.”
I want to say something witty back about how that’s my line—I’m the one who’s always sorry. But the only thing registering is that he understands me enough to know that I don’t like unplanned things. That he wanted to check on me because he cared.
“I’m okay. I’m just cleaning. Is Sage okay?”
“She’s good.”
“Where is she?”
He tips his head toward his house. “April is with her.”
Taking a step back, I open the door wider and allow him inside. I know he said he’s just here to check on me, but it feels like more. My nerves are on high alert because this is where everything falls apart. This is where I learn I’m not good enough for him after I’ve already allowed myself to fall. Or is this where he tells me he’s leaving for good?
He stands in the middle of the living room, eyes on me as I nervously play with my fingers in front of me.
“So, April and I talked briefly.”
“Yeah?”
“She had questions about why you were there.” There’s a long pause as if there’s more to the story, so I stay silent. “She likes you.”
“She what?”
“She likes you. And the conversation was mostly her telling me that she wants me to find happiness. How she doesn’t care who I see, while I don’t care who she sees. As long as it’s in the best interest of Sage.”
Does April think I’m not the best person to be in Sage’s life?
The questions racing through my brain not long ago come rushing back. Maybe she sees me as unfit since I’m at a student’s house after hours, falling for a parent. She’s going to call theschool. I knew this was a bad idea.
As if he picks up on my panic, even though I’m trying to hide it, he walks over to me. He grips the back of my neck with one hand, lifting my head and crashing his lips to mine. I gasp at how rough he is compared to how gentle he’s always been with me, but Christ, that’s the hottest thing he’s ever done. He uses his other hand to pull my body flush with his. And I melt—weak in the knees at the intensity of this kiss. There’s no reservation or gentleness in this kiss, just raw desperation driven by hunger.
My fingers dig into his skin as I grip his waist, and his lips part, allowing him to deepen the kiss. It’s the kind that saysdon’t leave again. The power in this kiss doesn’t come from dominance. It comes from passion being pushed to the brink and finally breaking through.
He pulls back, lips hovering over mine with one hand still wrapped gently around my neck and the other gripping my waist. “I saw the questions and uncertainty racing through your mind. I wasn’t wasting another moment of you second-guessing everything this is between us.”
“What is this between us?” I practically pant.
“I wish I had the answer,” he says, smiling against my lips. “But you’re in control here. I’m following your lead.” His hand around my neck moves to the back, tangling his fingers through my hair. “You should know I’m at your mercy, honey.”
My body shivers at the way he explains it, sending a throb between my legs, and I can’t help but smile.
Dallas Westbrook makes me want things I didn’t realize were possible. I envision a future I never thought I could have. I don’t know anything about baseball, but I want to run all the bases with him—I think that’s called a home run.
“Okay,” I say, shyly stepping away from him, only to catch the edge of the coffee table. I stumble, but he steadies me before grabbing the stack of papers from my room, before they fall.
My eyes widen when I see what’s sitting on top.
Dallas notices it and does a double-take, setting everythingelse back on the coffee table but still holding the note. I didn’t expect Dallas to come here when I decided to clean.
I try to snatch it from his hands, but he lifts it high in the air. The grin on his face tells me he’s read every word on that list.
“So, you made a list, huh?”
My cheeks feel crimson red as I try to jump and snatch the list from his hand. I fail miserably and take a step back. I watch as he takes the list, folds it up, and stuffs it into the back pocket of his jeans.
“You weren’t supposed to see that.”
“I need you to answer my next question very carefully, Poppy.”
