CHAPTER NINE
LIAM
FIN THE SHARK'S BIRTHDAY festivities were always a big event. Liam drove the golf cart decorated with balloons and streamers through the stadium, waving and nodding at all of the well-wishers he passed. The early afternoon Sunday game had started with a visit from other mascots in the area. He'd sat in a chair while they held a dance-off on the field. Claire, as Fiona, had won. In his opinion, no one could match her moves. The crowd had agreed.
It had been followed by a photo op with a huge sheet cake and videos from all of the players wishing Fin a Happy Birthday.
All in all, a good day so far, and they were only at the top of the fifth inning. Tie score, too. Hopefully, the team could pull off a win.
Beside him, Claire held the small cake they were delivering to the kids from the Wishes Granted Foundation. "It's sweet that you wanted to be with these kids when the fans sing Happy Birthday to you. They're going to be so excited about being on TV."
"I want to make sure they enjoy their experience. The best suite, being on TV, and then batting practice with Slade after the game." For hours now, he'd been strictly professional. Their kiss from the previous day lingered in his mind, followed by more before they’d said goodnight and another this morning before they’d headed to the field, played like his own highlight reel. He could still feel the way her lips had softened under his and how her body had melted as they'd kissed. One taste of Claire wasn't enough; he fully intended to do it again soon.
He slowed to a stop outside one of the luxury suites. "We're here."
Claire hopped out of the cart and waited for him to grab his crutches before she opened the suite's door. A sea of small faces swung in their direction and then the kids erupted into cheers.
Happiness and satisfaction burst like the brightest fireworks. Grinning, Liam eased into the room and accepted hugs flung at him from all directions. This was why he loved his job. Making them happy was the best feeling ever.
Savanna came to his left side. "Guys, be careful of Fin's ankle, okay?"
She directed their attention to the cake Claire had set on the table. The kids swarmed her too and then one asked if she and Fin were getting married. Claire lifted her fins in a shrug before rubbing the kid's head.
One of the cameramen entered the suite with Tim from security. They gathered the kids around Fin and then directed their attention to the huge screen over left field.
As the PA announcer began to sing, "Happy Birthday to you..." the kids joined in, singing at the top of their voices. The room echoed with the sounds, with half the kids pointing at the screen and exclaiming over seeing themselves. Chaos in the best possible way.
After the cameraman and Tim left, Savanna dished out the cake and Liam and Claire distributed custom baseballs with Fin's likeness to each of the kids. Leaning against the table to keep his weight off his leg, Liam grabbed three of the leftover balls and started juggling. The kids laughed and cheered and shouted for him to throw the balls higher and higher. He complied and did all of the tricks he could with his limited mobility, then finished his routine with a flourish and a bow.
Being stuck on the sidelines sucked. Juggling wasn't the same as turning somersaults or dancing on the field. But it was better than nothing.
They stayed with the kids until they had to head to the field for the seventh inning stretch and Take Me Out to the Ball Game. Liam sat in the golf cart waiting while Claire led three little girls in turning cartwheels on the third base warning track. She was developing her own fan base.
For the rest of the game, they stayed on the sidelines, cheering with the crowd. The game was tight, exciting as the teams took turns owning the lead. In the bottom of the ninth, with two outs and Dom on base, Slade stepped up to the plate. He launched the ball high into left field. It sailed into the stands and gave the Riptide two runs to win the game, eight-to-six. The team crowded onto the field, piling into a massive celebration, and Claire threw her arms around Liam, squeezing him tight as the stadium vibrated with waves of cheers.
When they returned to the privacy of their office, Claire pulled off her mask and unzipped her costume. She tossed him a cold bottle from the fridge, then stood in the middle of the room, gulping down a bottle of water with her costume hanging off her waist. “I can’t wait to get out of Fiona’s skin. It’s too hot today."
"Thanks.” The water would do until he could grab a beer later. "How’s the shoulder today?"
She rolled up her T-shirt sleeve and showed him the bruise. "Still tender, but I’ll be back to two-handed stunts tomorrow."
He shed Fin’s outfit and he downed his water as he studied Claire removing her costume. "Do you want to grab a drink somewhere? Maybe dinner?"
Her brows rose and her mouth worked open. "I—" She cast a glance to her costume hanging on its hook. "We're not on the clock."
"Nope. Not now. Not until tomorrow afternoon. So what do you say? Will you help me celebrate my birthday?"
Her head cocked to the side. "I don't think Fin's birthday celebration extends beyond today's game."
"Maybe Fin's doesn't, but mine does. Today actually is my birthday."
She shot him a disbelieving look. "Is it really?"
He grabbed his wallet and held out his license. "There you go. Proof."
"Well, happy twenty-seventh birthday." She glanced at her T-shirt and shorts. "I need a quick shower first."
He waved her on. The small bathroom attached to the office had a tiny shower stall. While she showered, he answered birthday texts from his parents and one from his cousin Hunter in New York. Hunter worked at a children's toy company and always sent him the latest must-haves for the kids he visited in the hospital. He'd need to get some special things for Mason.
Claire emerged from the bathroom in jeans and a red tank top that showcased her toned muscles. "Where did you want to go?"
"There's a bar five minutes down the road. It's tradition to go there on my birthday, but it's kind of a dive. We can go someplace else if you want." The guys would likely show up at the bar as soon as they finished their visit with the kids from the Wishes Foundation. But he’d probably get at least an hour, maybe two, alone with Claire.
"No, that's fine. It is your birthday, after all. You get to call the shots today."
After the fastest shower he could manage while keeping his cast dry, he threw on cargo shorts and a T-shirt, and they were on their way.
The bar was dimly lit and half-empty. Claire settled next to him in the corner booth, close enough for him to drape his arm over her shoulder. When her margarita and his beer arrived, she lifted hers in toast. At her smile, the rest of the bar fell away. "Happy birthday, Liam."
He clinked their glasses together and then took a long swallow. "Thanks. It's turned out to be a good one."
She sipped her margarita. "I was impressed by your mad juggling skills earlier. Where did you learn to do that and the acrobatics?"
"When I ran away from home and joined the circus."
Gaping at him, she sputtered her sip then laughed as she wiped her mouth. "You did not."
"Okay, the real story is that I have an MFA in Ensemble Based Physical Theatre. And I learned how to juggle when I was in high school because I thought it looked cool." He shrugged and couldn't conceal his smile. The look on her face had been priceless. "See? Isn't the first answer more interesting?"
She shook her head. "The first answer is a typical Liam response. The second one is surprising and a lot more interesting than my accounting degree."
"I can picture you behind a desk, crunching numbers. Sexy dark-framed glasses perched on your nose."
"I don't wear glasses."
"Hey, in my fantasy, you do."
Desire replaced the laughter, darkening her gaze. She licked at the salt on the rim of her glass. "Do you? Fantasize about me?"
His body heated and hardened just at the mention of the fantasy. "Do you like that? Knowing that I fantasize about you?" He molded his palm
around her shoulder then gently stroked down her arm. "In my fantasy I kiss you. Like yesterday." He inched closer and leaned in. "I'd like to kiss you again."
She trailed her fingers along his forearm. A slow, deliberate touch that inflamed his desire. "Me too."
He brought his other hand up to frame her face. Fingers cold from the frosty beer warmed against her skin. When her tongue darted out to moisten her lips, he groaned and dove in, desperate for a taste. Salt and lime and a hint of sweetness.
Her short haircut left her delectable neck bare. He slid his hand along the tender column then cupped his hand behind her head to deepen their kiss.
Claire hummed her approval and tilted her head closer to his. Strands of hair tickled his hand. He ran his thumb along her neck and sucked in a breath when her hand slipped from his chest to his stomach.
Somewhere distant, a glass shattered. Slowly, the other sounds of the bar reemerged—music and people and conversations growing louder. Claire drew her hand away and Liam lifted his head. Blue eyes dazed with arousal stared into his and then she licked her lips like she was absorbing more of his taste. "We have an audience so we should probably talk about something else."
"Good idea." Lie. Such a lie. He captured her fingers and brought them to his lips. "Like what?"
She shivered, and then firmly pulled her hand away. "How about where to take Fin and Fiona next? We need to film more videos. How much longer will you be stuck in your cast?"
"Two weeks. I can't wait to ditch it. All of this hopping around and standing on one leg makes me feel like a cross between a rabbit and a flamingo."
Her laughter was music to his soul. He reached for his beer. Getting rid of the cast was the first step on his road back. But thinking too much about what would or could happen after he'd been cleared to return to his job soured the beer in his stomach. He pushed those thoughts away and focused on the beautiful blonde at his side. "Fin and Fiona left off after that kiss on the cheek."
Her eyes sparkled. "If we're plotting a romance, we need fuel. Let's get the loaded nachos, the quesadillas, and another drink."
"I'm on it." He raised his hand, catching their waiter's attention, then downed the rest of his beer.
His feelings about Claire were too ingrained in the what-if thoughts that lingered in the back of his mind like the threat of a storm on the horizon. He needed to be careful. Falling too hard wouldn't be smart. Not when the future was so up in the air.
SLADE
AFTER A FULL NINE INNINGS of a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat, action-packed game, Slade was looking forward to unwinding by hanging out with Mason and the rest of the Wishes Granted patients. The smell of the grass, the breeze brushing his skin, and the peals of children's laughter coming from the field drained the stress from his system. Then, Savanna's laugh mixed in, dancing on the wind.
His muscles ached and his ribs hurt from getting hit by a pitch, but Savanna's presence dissipated his fatigue like magic and filled him with a mixture of contentment, energy and desire.
Carrying the Louisville Slugger he'd had specially made for Mason, engraved with the boy's name and designed for an eight-year-old to use, he wound his way through the dugout and onto the field.
Mason's face split into a grin. "Slade!"
His heart melted at the excited voice and the happiness sparking in the boy's eyes. "How are you doing, buddy?"
"Good." He wore the jersey and hat that Slade had gifted to him at the hospital. "I can't believe I get to have batting practice with you."
"Not just with me. My friend Adam is going to pitch to you and my friend Dom is going to play catch with whoever isn't batting." He'd requested permission for Mason and the kids to have a private, on-field batting practice after the game and the team had obliged. They rolled out the batting practice nets and let the kids take the field.
Mason stepped closer, hero-worship in his gaze. "Can you teach me how you hit a slider?"
Slade crouched until he was eye-level with the boy, and then he held out the bat. "I'll do my best. Maybe this will help. It's just like mine, only sized just right for you. It's yours to keep so you can practice whenever you want."
Mason's eyes widened like saucers. He traced his finger over his name with reverence. And then he launched himself into Slade and flung his thin arms around his neck. "Thank you."
Tears pricked his eyes as he patted Mason's back. "You got it, bud. Now let's see what you can do."
Adam and Dom joined them. While the kids crowded around the two ballplayers, Slade sought out Savanna. She laid her hand on his shoulder and pressed a kiss to his cheek. "You're a good guy."
Heat flushed through him and he shrugged to cover it. "He's too small to swing the bats we use."
"Don't worry, your secret is safe with me." She stepped back and let Mason lead him over to home plate.
For the next hour, he focused on instruction and encouragement, adjusted hand and foot positions, and how to eye the ball, but the true point was just spending time with the kids. He already had a soft spot for Mason and fell hard for his generous spirit when Mason made sure that all the kids took a turn batting with his new bat.
And then, the little boy twisted toward Savanna's perch by the dugout, holding out the bat. "Miss Savanna, you should take a turn too."
"No, that's all right, let one of the other kids take a turn." But she came closer.
"Everyone else already went."
Slade nodded at her. He wanted to see her in action. "Do it."
Mason glanced between them. "Slade helped me with my stance. He can help you too."
She gently tugged the bill of his cap and accepted the bat. Mason ran off to join the rest of the kids playing catch with Dom in the outfield, and Savanna eyed Slade with a smile. "I played summer softball on a rec league team when I was seven."
Slade squinted at her, seeing her in a whole new light. "You never told me that."
"I'd forgotten about it. I only played for one season. I think I remember how to bat." She gave him a teasing glimpse of skin when she stretched her arms over her head and then settled into a batter's stance at the plate.
Desire pounded through his blood as he moved closer. How could he get through the rest of the visit without touching her? "Too bad you know how to play."
She paused mid-swing, then rested the bat on her shoulder. Surprise colored her features. "Why?"
"If you didn't, I could do this." His arms covered hers, his hands cupped hers and he drew her back against his chest. "And use the excuse of showing you how to bat."
She turned her head and her perfume tempted him to lean in closer. "Why don't we pretend I need a refresher?"
Her soft lips brushed his jaw. Slade bent and hovered, taking in her features, the elegant brows, bewitching eyes, the slope of her nose and parted lips. "I think you're the one who's got the moves."
The desire to kiss her urged him forward. His lips closed over hers and his hand skimmed her silky skin, on a lingering journey from her hand to her cheek. A sigh escaped her lips. Her arms lowered and the bat hit the ground with a soft thud. Savanna shifted, angling her body toward him. Long, delicate fingers gripped his biceps.
"Hey you two, not in front of the kids." Adam's teasing voice carried from the pitcher's mound.
Slade tightened his grip and Savanna's lips curved against his. Then he lowered his arms and stepped away from her inviting heat. "Your stance looks good from where I'm standing."
"Your opinion might be slightly biased, but I'll take it." She picked up the bat and readied for Adam's pitch. Her Riptide T-shirt skimmed her curves and Slade's hands itched to get under it. Instead, he focused on her stance.
A strong, level swing, but she swung too early every time. "Take a step back. You're crowding the plate." He demonstrated, pleased when her next swing connected with the ball and it sailed toward Dom at center field. Dom made an exaggerated diving catch that cracked up the kids.
She glanced at her watch. "And on that note, it's
time for us to get back."
Bedlam reigned as the kids gathered their things and made their goodbyes. Mason hugged Slade tight, and Slade promised to visit soon.
Soft fingers touched the back of his arm and Slade turned. Savanna held out her hand, offering a professional handshake as if they hadn't kissed in front of the kids already. "Thank you for making Mason's wish come true."
He brushed his hands up her arms, the caress quick, but burning into his fingertips. "I don't think I'll get to see you before we leave for our road trip on Thursday. We'll be gone for thirteen days, and then right back here with four home games."
Some of the light faded from her gaze. "So, three weeks then?"
"Three weeks." Which would feel like forever. The two weeks' wait between dates one and two had been tough. The ten days between their rock climbing adventure and today hadn't been much easier.
She linked their fingers together. "Call me from the road."
"I will." Too many pairs of curious eyes prevented him from giving her anything more than a quick hug. He pulled back, unsatisfied, and strangely, missing her already.
Being with her soothed him on a cellular level. He couldn't explain it. In the short time they'd known each other, she'd become necessary, like a drug he'd gotten addicted to after taking only one hit. He didn't know what would happen if she threw him into a sudden detox.
CHAPTER TEN
CLAIRE
CLAIRE ADJUSTED HER hold on the garment bags containing her and Liam's costumes and slowed her pace to match his plodding progress with the crutches. They navigated through the halls of Children's Hospital, having completed a successful visit. "Those kids loved the plush versions of Fin and Fiona."
Nodding, he concentrated on his path. "It's pretty cool seeing the stuffed animal of your character, isn't it?"
The Fiona merchandise, T-shirts and the plush animal, had arrived at the ballpark's fan shop right after Fin's birthday. Claire had purchased one of everything. "I liked how the last girl we saw asked why the stuffed version of Fin didn't have a cast."
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