Oh, my.
The second my eyes meet his, a dazzling smile lights up his face.
“This beautiful redhead is with me,” he says, his eyes never leaving mine as he speaks to the elevator attendant, a young woman who is sitting in a chair next to him.
She grins at me. “Miss,” she says, urging me inside.
“Thank you,” I reply, moving next to Brady in the elevator.
“Good evening, Hayley,” the attendant says brightly. “Brody had an excellent game tonight.”
Hayley beams. “He did. I think he’s determined to throw out every runner in the league at some point this season, at the rate he’s going.”
As Hayley falls into easy chatter with the attendant, I’m acutely aware that my arm is brushing against Brady’s. I can feel the heat from his massive frame merely standing next to him. My pulse quickens as a result.
Brady leans down and drops his sexy lips next to my ear. “You look beautiful this evening.”
A shiver rips down my spine as I feel his breath against my skin, lighting a fire within me.
“Thank you,” I say softly.
“You didn’t wear fan clothing,” he says, his whispered words moving over my skin and making me melt. “Jeans, a green sweater. Nice coat. Elegant. I like your style.”
I glance at him, his eyes flickering in approval. I have never been a fan of wearing logos on clothing, and I’m damn sure it will be a conviction I hold dearly now that Brady has noticed.
Then he stands back up as the elevator hits the clubhouse level, his hands resting at his sides.
“I think you have pretty good style, too,” I say quietly as the doors open.
Hayley steps out first, and Brady motions for me to follow her. I do, and soon, we are on the level that is reserved for credentialed people only: players, team personnel, ballpark staff, and invited guests.
It’s like being led into a private world, a secret society. Oh, sure, I could have come down here whenever I went to games last year with Hayley or Katie, but I always chose to leave with Barbara and Dominik. I never felt quite right being down here, getting in because my friends dated ballplayers.
But now, I’m here because Brady asked me to be here.
And I wouldn’t have my introduction to this world in any other way.
“Brody had another great game,” Brady says, interrupting my thoughts. “He’s already busting my chops about how I have to match him with my next outing on Thursday.”
Hayley laughs. “I know both of you. You don’t want to match him. You want to top him. Pitch a no-hitter or a complete game.”
A laugh escapes his throat, a slight chuckle, and the richness of the sound reverberates down my spine.
“True enough,” he admits.
The clubhouse doors swing open, and out walk AJ and Brody.
“Hey, Cherry Blossom,” Brody says, his eyes lighting up at the sight of his wife. He pulls her to him and drops a kiss on her temple, which makes her smile. “Ready to go eat?”
“I can be talked into a dessert,” Hayley says. She turns her attention to AJ. “Thank you for your winning home run.”
AJ grins, raking a hand through his jet-black hair. “Well, I know you like games to end as early as possible, so I did my best.”
AJ glances at me, and if he’s surprised to see me with Brady, he doesn’t show it. But being Brody’s best friend, I suspect he knew about our date last night no later than ten o’clock this morning if Dominik is right about how players gossip.
“Hi, Addison, good to see you,” he says.
“Hello, great game tonight. Both of you,” I say, addressing both he and Brody.
“Do you guys want to come out with us? We’re going to swing by that late-night cookie shop in Georgetown and bring some back to Katie as a study break,” AJ says.
“I bet she can’t wait for Friday,” I tell him, thinking of when she finishes her first year of law school at Georgetown.
“Nobody is looking forward to Friday more than Katie,” AJ says. “She is working her ass off. I thought we could treat her to some warm chocolate chip cookies and a latte to help her keep going tonight.”
“If you’re talking about the shop I think you’re talking about, those cookies are a spectacular motivator. They have these chocolate chip Oreo chunk ones that are worth the whole extra hour’s workout it takes to burn them off,” Hayley says.
“So, are you guys in?” Brody asks.
I glance at Brady, who looks at me. I will do whatever he wants, as these are my friends, after all.
But I’m desperate to be alone with him and continue where we left off yesterday. I want to talk. Laugh. Go into the deeper issues I told him I didn’t want to discuss on a first date.
And oh, how I want this rake to further scandalize me with more of his sensual kisses.
His gaze is brief and intense when our eyes meet, and I know what he is going to say before he even speaks.
“We’ll catch you guys next time,” Brady says. “We already made plans tonight.”
Brody grins. “I see.”
Now, I’m blushing.
“I’ll talk to you later,” Brady says, ending the conversation. “Good night, Hayley. AJ.”
We all exchange good nights and head toward the parking lot.
“I hope you don’t mind that I made the call on that on your behalf,” Brady says as we walk along.
I shake my head. “Not at all. I want to spend time getting to know you, and that’s hard to do with a group of people around.”
“Well, you can, but I wouldn’t be able to do those deep-dive questions with you that I’m looking forward to.”
My heart skips a beat. Emotionally attuned Brady wants to do the deep dive with me. I have a flashback to Ryan, who appeared to be interested in those types of questions, but I had to do all the initiating. I steal a glance at Brady’s handsome profile, and I find he’s already staring down at me.
From the expression in his eyes, I know the serious questions won’t be a one-way street with him.
“I’m glad you aren’t afraid to have the deeper conversations,” I say softly. “I know for a second date, it’s more serious, and some men might be put off by that.”
“You couldn’t be further from the truth. I’m excited that I get the chance to have this conversation with you. You seem like the kind of woman who isn’t afraid to be real. To be honest. That’s what I want.”
My breath catches in my throat. Once again, my heart and my head are in agreement. Brady is different. He’s open and honest and isn’t interested in a fling. He wants to know me.
Laughter escapes my lips, and Brady furrows his brow.
“Is that funny?”
“No, but me calling you a rake is,” I confess. “You are so sincere and honest, and a rake is immoral. A womanizer. And I don’t believe you are that at all.”
He laughs softly, sending my pulse leaping as a result. “Oh, you could have called me a rake in my past. Not now. Besides, I do have some rakish tendencies. I did compromise you in public.”
As we walk, Brady slips his hand inside his coat pocket and retrieves his keys. “I’m the Ford Explorer.”
He hits his fob, and lights flicker on an older model SUV. It’s surrounded by expensive sports cars and sleek European sedans, and it seems out of place in this parking lot of luxury vehicles.