Page 87 of Wild Love
Maverick: Oh, sure. Now they’re good at keeping secrets.
* * *
Wednesday night,we get the VIP treatment at Target Field. We meet some of the team, and then they show us to a room where we wait to go out on the field. Jack is chatting with one of the event coordinators in the hallway, leaving Dakota and me with a little privacy.
She’s looking sexy as hell in cutoff jean shorts, a white tank top that stops an inch above her belly button, and an open Twins jersey over it. Her red hair is pulled back in a ponytail, showing off her neck, and all I can think about is sucking on it.
She sits about a foot away from me, insisting on playing this off like we’re just friends, even though Jack pretty much already knows something went down between us in his bathroom.
I walk my fingers across the leather couch toward her. She arches a brow as I reach her smooth legs.
“Johnny,” she admonishes.
“You’re so far away,” I whine. “I sat closer to Jack on the ride over than I did you. Not that I minded, he smells fantastic.”
“He really does,” she says.
“Maverick.” Jack steps into the room, and Dakota stands so quickly you’d think the couch caught on fire. “They’re ready.”
As Dakota and I follow him down the tunnel to the field, she brushes her fingers against mine and gives me a slight smile. “Good luck.”
She’s led to our seats, and Jack and I go out on the field to get a few practice throws in. I played baseball as a kid, so I’m not too worried. I would like to impress a certain redhead in the crowd, though.
I find her in her seat, eyes glued on me, and I give her a little hat tip. I can’t believe she’s with me, even if it’s only for the summer. Luckiest. Guy. Ever.
Tossing a baseball in my hand, I stand next to Jack, watching the teams warm up from behind home plate.
“So, you and Dakota… are you two a thing now? Because I feel like I should warn you, being in a relationship your rookie year will be hard. Especially if she’s planning to go back to Arizona at the end of the summer.”
“We’re just having some fun,” I say. “We’re friends. She’s cool.”
He doesn’t look like he believes me, but I don’t need him to. I know no matter what, Dakota and I will be cool. We have to be. I can’t imagine any scenario where we end on bad terms. I’d do anything for her.
Throwing out the first pitch is wild. I manage to get it over the plate, but I’d say about half the crowd isn’t even paying attention. They’re getting beer and hot dogs, finding seats, and anxiously waiting for the game to start. But as I wave to polite applause, I can see Dakota standing, hands up to her mouth, screaming for me like I just hit a grand slam.
I can’t wait to sit down beside her and watch the game, almost like we’re on an actual date, but the media are waiting for pictures and sound bites, then there’s a lot of hand shaking.
When Jack and I finally make it to our seats, it’s already the bottom of the second inning.
Dakota stands, hesitates, and then hugs me. “That was amazing.”
“Thanks. I didn’t want to embarrass my girl.”
She looks at Jack like he might be listening in on our every word. We take our seats, Dakota sitting between Jack and me. The game is good, the beer is cold, and the three of us have a good time cheering and chatting.
It’s more difficult than I imagined keeping my hands off her. I keep finding myself absently reaching for her or wanting to lean over and kiss her. I’m gonna go crazy before the end of this game. I stand. “I need another beer. Does anyone else want anything?”
“I’m good.” Dakota lifts her mostly full cup.
Jack tips up his head. “I’ll take another.”
I wander around the lower deck, scoping out merchandise. I grab some souvenirs for Dakota and then the beers.
I’m walking back to our seats between innings. The kiss cam is going, and I slow my steps to watch the monitor. They stop on an older couple in matching Twins jerseys. The husband plants a big ole kiss on his wife, hands on her cheeks, not letting her go until the stadium erupts in cheers.
Old people still hot for each other? Yeah, I want a little of that. I pull my gaze from the screen to Dakota. She’s watching the old couple like I was, with a big smile on her gorgeous face. I have a flash of Dakota and me with gray hair still unable to keep our hands to ourselves, and my chest tightens.
I slide into my chair and lean forward to deposit everything on the ground.
