Page 8 of Down to One

"Before the games, you go up in the stands and take your moment. Say a prayer to the baseball gods or whatever. We all do it in our own way."

A tightness sprung up in her throat and Katie swallowed it back. "Yeah, I guess that’s what it is, paying homage to baseball. But also to my dad. Going to games was kind of our thing. He took me to my first game when I was six. Braves versus Mets. They were both wild cards in for the pennant race. Anderson hit a three run in the bottom of the ninth. It looked like it was going foul, but pulled right at the last moment and the crowdwent wild. And that’s it. I was hooked. He worked a lot, so any time we spent together pretty much involved baseball."

"That’s awesome," Landon said. "You should bring him out to a game. If Lori doesn’t make sure he gets the royal treatment, I will."

"Oh, he passed away actually." A contrite look took over Landon’s face, but she quickly reassured him. "It was a long time ago. He was much older than my mom so it wasn’t unexpected or anything. We went to games together right up to the end though."

"So what was the last game?" Landon asked, not bothering to ask if she remembered.

"Braves and Marlins. No big moments or anything, just a standard game. But the Braves pulled it out and we went home happy. I remember that."

They both chewed their food and thoughts for long moment, then Landon asked, "What about your mom? Think she’ll ever come out to a game?"

"Ha, no probably not. She’s less than thrilled about my move here."

"So that’s it? She’ll never come visit?"

"She’s not much of a traveler, but she wouldn’t come to a game even if she did visit. I think in some weird way she resented the baseball bond between dad and I."

"Wow, that must have been fun to grow up with."

"Eh, she had her moments, but I learned to just avoid her as much as possible."

"Well if nothing else, she should at least come see you in action. You’re really good at your job."

Katie was more touched by the compliment than if he’d praised her looks or clothes. Too touched, actually. This guy was saying and doing all the right things and she was falling hard for all of it. Too hard for a definitely-not-a-date lunch that could never, ever lead to anything more.

She glanced at the time on her cell phone. "I’m not going to have a job to do if I don’t get back to the office soon," she said, half-hoping Landon would try and talk her out of it. That he’d come up with some new little adventure she couldn’t say no to.

He agreed their time was coming to an end. "Yeah, I have to catch a plane in a few hours."

Right. The Mavericks had a three-game spread against the Rockies coming up and they would be in Los Angeles after that. The next home game was a whole a week away and by then Landon Ryan would probably be hooked up with a Kardashian.

They paid their compliments to Paola and the cooks then stepped out of Primo Taco’s kitchen into a grayer world than before. Landon didn’t reach for her hand this time and heavy clouds hovered as they made their way back through the maze of buildings. They came up on the alley closest to the coffee shop just as the skies crackled with a thunder that rang out in the quiet like an alarm clock. Time to wake up from the dream.

chapter 5

Katie was just about to thank him. To hold out her hand and shake his politely. To follow up with an email about doing something food-related for "Beyond the Clubhouse." Landon had other ideas.

Instead of stepping out onto the sidewalk, now bustling with folks on their lunch breaks, he took a step closer to her, crossing well past anyone’s definition of personal space in a professional setting. Katie managed a half shuffle backwards before cold bricks pressed up against her spine, a stark contrast to the warmth of Landon’s solid frame in front of her. She watched his chest rise and fall for a few beats before his thumb grazed across her chin and tilted it up.

"You are so fucking perfect," he murmured, his eyes leaving hers to sweep over the rest of her face. "I can’t believe I ran into you today. Just like that, you show up."

She knew what was coming next and if she was going to stop him, now would be the time...

But she didn’t say all the things she intended to say. Not "wait" or "hold up" or "let’s not." Instead, she whispered his name, just once, and even she wasn’t sure if it was a protest or an invitation so she couldn’t very well fault him for taking it as the latter. His lipspressed down to hers, his hands slipped onto her hips, and Katie's body melted right into his.

Like everything else he did, Landon Ryan kissed like a professional: confident, smooth, assured. Like he already knew he was the best at it. She couldn't fight power like that. Not when his stubble ignited a fervor against her skin and his tongue mingled so perfectly with her own. Not when everything felt so damn...right.

Katie’s hands drifted across the back of his neck, her fingers running through the silky strands sticking out of his ball cap, her palms holding him in place when it felt like he might pull away. Just one more moment. One more blissful, fanciful moment before she had to return to the real world. The world where girls like her weren’t even on the radars of pro baseball players. And more importantly, the world where Lori would toss her out on her ass just for accepting his lunch invite.

"When do I get to see you again, Katie?"

His words brushed against her lips with a tingly warmth, sending the best kind of goosebumps all over body. The kind a girl could get addicted to.

Katie shook her head side to side, but pressed her lips to his again once more before she said, "No, Landon, this can’t happen. If anyone at work found out…"

"I won’t tell if you won’t," he promised, then attempted to seal the deal with another kiss before she’d even agreed to the plan.

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