Page 73 of The Pink House

“If we’d had the money and the ability to rent such a car, we’d have done it in a heartbeat.” Reaching down, he opened her door. “Milady, your chariot awaits.”

“You’re such a dork.” She swatted him with the back of her hand before settling into the plush leather seat. “I like your style.”

Hannah discovered she also liked riding in the car with Charlie. Though she had to admit she wouldn’t have minded making the hour drive with her front pressed to his back and her arms wrapped around him.

She couldn’t say what they talked about on their way to Baltimore, only that conversation came easily. Of course, it always did when she was with him.

Once they reached the Charm City, Charlie pulled the Jag into a multilevel parking garage. Steering the car into its assigned spot, he smiled in satisfaction at the wall on one side and the amount of room between the Jag and the vehicle on the passenger side. “This was the best parking I could reserve on such late notice. It’s about a mile walk to Camden Yards. You cool with that?”

“The walk is an added plus.” Hannah flashed a smile. “It’ll give me an opportunity to fully experience the game-day atmosphere.”

The smile Charlie offered her had everything in her going warm. He reached behind her seat and pulled out a ball cap, settling it on his head. “When in Baltimore…”

Hannah chuckled, and when he rounded the back of the car to open her door for her, she took his arm as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

As soon as they stepped out of the parking garage onto the sidewalk, they found themselves surrounded by Orioles fans.

The excited chatter and laughter buoyed Hannah’s mood to a fever pitch. She found herself squeezing Charlie’s arm more tightly. “I can’t believe we’re here.”

He glanced down at her. “I’m glad we’re doing this.”

“Me, too.”

Scalpers and vendors were everywhere, but none were overly aggressive, and strangely, their presence added to the atmosphere. As did music spilling out of the restaurants they passed and the friendly smiles of those, like them, headed to the stadium.

The walk went quickly. Hannah couldn’t believe it when they drew close to Camden Yards.

“That’s Babe Ruth.” Hannah pointed to the statue. “What’s he doing here? Babe didn’t play for the O’s.”

“Actually, he did.” Charlie gazed admiringly at the bronze statue of the man known as the Great Bambino. “Not only was Babe born in Baltimore, he signed his first official baseball contract with the Orioles. They were a minor-league club at the time.”

“Huh, I learned something new.”

“The statue is an excellent likeness, but look closely,” Charlie urged. “Do you see the error?”

Narrowing her gaze, Hannah studied Babe. His left hand rested on the top of a bat, and his right held a fielder’s glove. After a minute, she admitted defeat.

“That's a right-handed fielder’s glove. Babe was left-handed.” Charlie flashed a smile. “Another bit of trivia.”

“I love it.” She gazed at him. Her smile faltered when their gazes locked.

“I don’t mean to interrupt.” A man stepped forward, holding out his phone. “Would one of you mind taking a quick picture of me and my son in front of the statue?”

The boy standing beside his dad looked to be around eleven. Both wore Orioles jerseys and team ball caps.

“Happy to.” Charlie reached out and took the phone, doing several bursts. When he handed the man his phone, he pulled his own from his pocket. “Would you mind taking ours?”

“Not at all.”

Hannah moved to stand beside Charlie in front of Babe. When the man motioned for them to stand closer, it seemed natural for Charlie to sling an arm around her shoulders.

“I got some great shots.” The man handed Charlie’s phone back to him.

“Thank you,” the boy said in response to his father’s sideways glance.

Charlie grinned. “My pleasure.”

“You know what I like about Maryland? Everyone is so friendly and so nice,” Hannah told Charlie as the father and son strode off, and Charlie pocketed his phone.

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