“Damn,” she muttered.
“Don’t let it get to you, blondie. Just stay focused and keep your eye on the ball. It may take a few times before you get the timing right.”
She nodded, lifting the bat over her shoulder again and bending her knees, that bare ass peeking out from under the hem of my shirt.
Hell. I adjusted myself discreetly behind her. I needed to take my own damn advice and just keep my eye on the ball.
The second pitch she just barely missed. The third chipped off the bat, popping off to the right—a foul ball, had it been a real game.
“Damn it!” she hit the tip of the bat to the ground in frustration.
I bit back a chuckle, not wanting her to think I was laughing at her, but shit, the way she was getting into this was so damn hot. “There you go, baby.” I clapped my hands a few times, cheering her on. “Almost had it that time. Take a deep breath and try again.”
She nodded, taking a deep inhale and letting it out. As she prepared for the next pitch, her knees bouncing a little as she anticipated the ball, I could feel it. I knew this would be the one.
I watched in awe as she swung the bat level and perfect, hitting the ball dead on, sending it flying through the air toward the warm, vibrant sunrise. It took her a minute to realize she did it, but as soon as it sunk in, she was screaming and jumping up and down, tangling me up in her crazy excitement.
She dropped the bat, flying into my arms as I lifted and spun her around, kissing her like tomorrow may never come—maybe wishing it wouldn’t.
Unfortunately for us, it was already here.
Chapter 15
HANNAH
I stood on the curb outside of Billy’s truck at the airport, waiting for him to unload my suitcase from his backseat. He set it down near my feet, then rubbed the back of his neck. I reached for his hand, squeezing it in mine, drawing his attention.
He lifted his head with a weak smile, clearing his throat. “So…”
“So…”
“Good luck on your interview. I know you’ll nail it.” He bumped my chin with his one free fist, a goofy grin on his face as he tried to lighten the mood, pretending neither of our hearts were being torn in two.
My smile was forced as I responded, “Yeah. Thank you.”
The silence stretched between us as I stared down at our linked hands. “Billy, I—”
His hand caressed my cheek, and I leaned into its warmth. “It’s okay, Han. It’s not your fault. We knew this day would come. And I don’t regret any of it. Not a single damn second.”
I gave him another small smile. He knew me well enough to know what I was about to apologize for. I’d told him I was sorry last night, but he never gave me a chance to explain what for. I hadn’t meant to break his heart. Hadn’t thought about what jumping into all this would do to him. I’d only known what it would do to me.
He wiped a tear from my cheek, laying a kiss in its place. I sniffed, swiping the rest of them from my eyes.
“Hey”—he lifted my chin—“before I forget…” He jogged back to the truck, opening the back door, grabbing something resting on the back seat. He strolled back to me, a giant smile on his face, tossing a baseball up in the air as he did. He lifted my hand, placing it in my palm.
“Here you go, slugger. Your first home-run hit.”
I snorted a laugh through my runny nose and eyes, staring down at the ball. “This the one?”
“Yep. At least, I’m pretty sure it is.”
I rolled it over in my hand, seeing his black signature across the white leather, my heart clenching at the discovery.
“In another life, that would’ve been worth something.” He nodded toward the signature.
I choked back a sob. “It is worth something, Billy. It’s worth so much to me.”
He shrugged, putting his hands in his pockets, his back bowing as his shoulders shrugged forward. “Figured it’d at least give you something to remember our last night together.”
“You got another one of these?” I asked, giving the ball a little toss in the air.
He nodded, jogging back to his truck, returning with another baseball. I dug through my purse for a pen. Biting the cap off with my teeth, I scrolled my signature across it. I dropped the pen back into my bag, pulling out my favorite red lipstick. I reapplied a little before pressing my lips to the ball.
He smiled as I handed it back to him. “Now you have one, too.”
“I already have your panties that I’ll be hunting through the field for as soon as I leave here.”
I laughed, shaking my head as he flashed that wicked grin at me. As my laughter faded and the aching silence resumed, I took a deep breath, knowing I couldn’t drag this out any longer. It wouldn’t hurt any less.
“I should go…”
He nodded, even though he looked like he wanted to object.
I took a step forward, pressing a gentle kiss to his lips. “Don’t be a stranger, cowboy.”
I turned from him, gripping the handle of my luggage. I dug deep for that confidence, for that strength inside me. Straightening my back and doing my best to hold my chin up high, I walked away. I told myself to hold it together until I was out of sight. All I had to do was make it through the airport doors, and only then could I allow myself to fall apart.
As the automatic doors slid open I felt the tears rushing to the surface.
“Hannah! Wait!”
My heart stumbled as I spun around, seeing him chasing after me. He was on me in a flash, his hands, his mouth. I clung to him with everything I had, giving him all that I had. When we finally pulled apart, his head rested against mine, our breathing hard and heavy.
“Don’t forget this, Hannah. Because I never will. I could search the world for another love like this, and I know I’d never find it.”
I nodded, no longer able to fight the tears. No longer sure I was doing the right thing by leaving.
He kissed me one more time before pulling away completely. “Go.”
I took one more good look at the man who had stolen my heart and did the hardest thing I’d ever had to do: walk away from him again. I slipped through the airport doors and tried to pull myself together as I went through the motions of checking in, telling myself a million times that this was what I wanted, that I was making the right decision.
“Ma’am, your boarding pass and driver’s license, please?” The same hefty airport security guard sitting behind the podium from a year ago waved me forward.
“Sorry. Here they are,” I said, digging them from the side pocket of my bag and handing them over.
“You sure?” he asked, giving me a quizzical raise of his brow.
I didn’t know if it was because he remembered me, or because I sounded so unsure. Either way, it made me hesitate. I looked back toward the front of the airport, where the exit signs shined red above the doors. Taking a deep breath, I nodded my head.
He looked them over before handing them back to me. “Enjoy your flight.”
“Thank you for coming in, Ms. Montgomery. It was a pleasure meeting you.”
“Thank you,” I said, shaking what I hoped to be my future boss’s hand. “I appreciate your time and the opportunity.”