Emory and Knox both stare at me, blankly, unmoving.
I snap my finger at them. “Are you two okay?”
“Are you okay?” Knox asks. “Dude, you’re fucking losing it. What the hell are you talking about? Does this have to do with Dottie?”
“Ohhh.” Emory nods her head. “That makes sense. Uh, did something happen between you two?” She clasps her hands together.
“Oh, something happened. We had a date last night and it was fantastic. She’s so cool and smart and then at the drop of a hat, her asshole closes up and she becomes the most uptight person I’ve ever seen. I love it.”
“You love how she’s uptight?” Knox asks.
“Oh yeah, gets me hot. Love seeing her in a tizzy. Or when she sticks her nose in the air, when something I say is completely beneath her . . . makes me want to say it all over again.”
“Seems like Dottie’s worst nightmare,” Knox says, walking to the kitchen and filling two cups of water for him and Emory.
“Oh yeah, I’m pretty sure there are times where her fist itches to give me a fat lip with some of my antics, but then I just flash her my winning smile and all is forgiven.”
“I doubt that’s the case,” Knox mumbles and takes Emory by the hand to sit on the couch. I follow closely behind. “Are you two dating now?”
“Yup,” I say with finality. “We’re a couple, so I’m sorry to inform you but your title of cutest couple is about to be stolen.”
“You think we’re cuter than Milly and Carson?” Emory asks.
“Of course. No competition. Milly is gorgeous but Carson is bringing down the team. I surpass them without even having a girlfriend, hell, if I were coupled up with my nightstand, I’d be a better couple.”
“I’ll be sure to spread the news on to Carson.” Knox laughs to himself.
“Not the best idea, you know how sensitive he is.”
“I think you’re referring to yourself,” Knox points out.
I chuckle. “True, I’m very sensitive and if he finds out and comes after my ass, I won’t recover easily, which means I’ll be over here at your place, begging you to nurse me back to health so my lady friend doesn’t have to see me in such a weak state.”
Knox scratches the side of his jaw and says, “Have I ever told you how much I really don’t like you?”
“Almost every day.” I wink at him.
“What does this all mean? Can we go on double dates?” Emory asks with excitement.
“I would LOVE that,” I say just as there’s a knock at the door. Knox gets up to welcome their visitor while I lean over the armchair and say to Emory, “We can take one of those couples cooking classes I hear people raving about.”
“Yes, that would be so much—”
“Look who it is,” Knox announces to the room as Dottie steps into view, and fuck, does she look good. She’s wearing a tight red dress, nude heels, and her hair is pulled up into a well-polished bun on the top of her head.
Dottie smiles at Emory but when she sees me, her smile falters. I know why. She’s probably wondering what I’ve said to our friends.
“There she is,” I say, standing and walking to her. “You’re out of work early.”
“I . . . I’m going back—” I plant a giant kiss on her lips and when she doesn’t kiss back, I grip the small of her back and plaster her against my chest. I lightly part her lips with my tongue and before I know it, her mouth opens to me and I give her a gentle, sweet kiss, loving the way she melts into my body. Fuck, I love kissing this woman.
Whispering, I say, “You look amazing.”
“Thank you,” she whispers back as Emory claps her hands and comes up to the both of us.
“Oh my God, this is so exciting. Look at you two. You’re so cute.”
“See, told you,” I say to Knox, elbowing him in the stomach.
We are cute.
After Dottie dropped the keys off and gave Emory a rundown on the plants, I snagged her by the hand and pulled her into my apartment.
“I have to get back to work if I’m going to go to the amusement park with you tomorrow.”
“That’s fine, just let me have a second with you.”
She bites her bottom lip and the usual hard tone of her voice disappears when she says, “Okay. Just a second.”
Smiling, I bring her to my living room where we both take a seat on my couch.
“What did you tell them?” Dottie asks, sitting next to me but keeping a distance.
“Just that you’re my girl, that we’re dating, and that I’m in like.”
“In like?”
“Yeah, the stage before love. I also might have announced something about babies but that’s neither here nor there.”
“I really think you need help.”
I chuckle and entwine our hands together. “Probably. So, you’re going back to the office? Probably for the best, as I have to hit the cages this afternoon. One of the pitchers wants to meet with me, get to know me, maybe toss a ball around a little.”
“Are you nervous about being on a new team?”
“Nah, I’m excited. Tampa was awesome, but Chicago is home. Even if I’m playing for the Rebels, I know they’re a great group of guys and we have some amazing prospects in the farm system. I feel good about it.”
“You’re so positive, all the time. It’s infectious.”
“Yeah?” I tip her chin with my finger. “Find yourself smiling more often?”
“Maybe a little.”
With the sun shining through my floor-to-ceiling windows, playing with the light and shadow on Dottie’s beautiful face, I know these are moments I’ll appreciate with her, where she drops her impenetrable shield and becomes vulnerable. She allows herself to enjoy the moment, to feel, to experience.
She isn’t guarded, she isn’t trying to put on a strong face, instead she’s sitting here with me, hand in hand, taking a second to breathe.
“Kind of wish I didn’t have to go to work.”
“I know, but it will be worth it tomorrow.” I tug on her hand, forcing her to fall into my chest. Her free hand lands on my pec and I lift her chin just enough that we’re a breath away from connecting.
And I wait.
I don’t close the distance. No, I wait for her to do it, giving her the green light to make the final move.
There isn’t much waiting because she dives in, her mouth connecting with mine, her hand sliding up my chest to my neck where her fingers play with the short strands of my hair.
She shifts and I bring her closer with my hand directly on her ass, gripping the round globe just tight enough to let her know I will own her in the bedroom.
“God, I want you,” she says, moving her lips to my cheek, to my jaw. “I want you so bad, Jason.”
I suck in a harsh breath when she moves to my ear and plays with my lobe. “Don’t you want me?”
“More than you’ll ever know,” I admit, getting lost in her touch. “But you have work, and I have batting practice. Our first time is going to be an all-night event.”
She huffs in disappointment and pushes off me. That was painful. It’s even more painful watching her stand and pressing her hand to her forehead as if she can’t believe I’m actually turning her down . . . again.