Page 23 of Players and Pages
"So, I know this little mom and pop place that makes the best sandwiches, soups, and pie. Do you guys eat bread? Sugar? or just all protein?" she asked, looking at each of us. There was no judgment in her voice, just genuinely asking so she knew if it was a place we could all enjoy.
Damn if that didn’t make me even more eager to get to know her. I just wish her hands weren’t shaking and her voice wasn’t quivering. She was trying to hide it under that confidence that felt more natural and I just hoped we could put her at ease soon.
“No need to be nervous,” Jackson soothed, giving her a flash of dimples.
“I know,” she said, letting out a breath. “I’m just not used to being around celebrities.”
“We’re hardly celebrities,” Griff laughed. “We’re just guys who play baseball.”
“And shake their asses for all the thirsty betas and omegas around,” she joked with a little growl. Oh, our girl definitely felt this pull as much as we did.
"Take a breath, sweets. We aren't going to disappear," Jackson reassured her.
Dani was like a rabbit in a cage. I didn't know what to do or say to get through to her that we were all here for her.
So, I pulled her close to my side, hoping that would ease her a little but her breath quickened.
Shit, that backfired.
"Sorry," I muttered as I let her go.
"For what?" she asked, wrapping an arm around mine and taking Jackson's hand. There was that sexy confidence again. "I’m the one being a hot mess. Girls like me just don't usually get guys like you."
"What do you mean?" Griff asked from my other side. He almost sounded offended on her behalf, making her flash a smile.
"Curvy book nerds, don't get the hot jocks. That's usually just in books," she answered. “Don’t take that as me putting myself down. I’m just not the ‘go to the gym every chance she gets’ type of girl. I like pastries and books, long walks and swimming at the lake. I’m active, but that’s about where it ends.”
"Well, you didn't fall into a book and here we are," I teased. “And these jocks love them a girl with curves.”
I made a show of running my eyes over her, making her cheeks flame red again. She was too much fun to flirt with.
She looked ahead again, not stopping until we were standing in front of a cute little sandwich shop. Griff stepped forward to open the door like a gentleman, earning him a sweet smile. My chest warmed at the sight, just like it did when she was in Jackson’s arms. I liked seeing my pack with her as much as I liked her attention on me.
The bell rang overhead as we entered. It was warm and inviting in here, with flower paintings hung on the walls, and glass tabletops inlaid with doilies underneath.
“Go ahead and seat yourselves,” a lady called out from behind the counter. She flashed us a smile before turning her attention to the person in front of her.
Dani led us to a table near the big picture window that had a view of the lake.
"Cute, huh?" Dani asked with a smile on her face as if she was showing it off. "I bet you don't find many places like this in a big city, do you?"
"We don't," Griff agreed, but his eyes said more to me.
This was not a place we would have picked, but for her we would. Even with the older women at the next table eyeing us.
"You guys hate it, don't you?" she asked, frowning as she fumbled with her napkin, glancing at us for our reaction. I guess we didn’t hide it as well as we thought.
"What? Why do you think that?" Jackson asked.
"Well, since we entered, Griff has had a look of disgust on his face," Dani answered quietly, pointing at the grumpy alpha. “And Cy seems uncomfortable here.”
“It’s not our usual hangout, but that doesn’t mean we’re not willing to try it,” I explained. “Plus, it’s all down to the food, right?”
Jackson elbowed Griff until he forced a smile.
"Too much, dude, that's a little creepy. Tone it down,” I said, leaning away.
Dani laughed at us, a musical sound that burrowed its way into my chest. It was a sound that I could listen to on repeat.
