Dan Alexander, Pitcher

by Jean C. Joachim

  She sat back, determined to enjoy every minute. Last night, in the dark, she couldn’t escape the truth. She was destined to turn herself in to the district attorney, because it was the right thing to do, and she couldn’t keep running forever. But right now, she’d let loose, be herself, and have fun. A smile refused to leave her face.

  Dan reached over and squeezed her hand as he grinned at her. His touch warmed more than her fingers. There was no sense denying their chemistry. She’d give in, enjoy herself, go with it, instead of resisting. She’d be Dan Alexander’s girlfriend today and not worry about tomorrow.

  They turned onto the road leading to the parking lot. Dan paid for parking, and they left the vehicle. The smell of the old, wooden rides mixed with the sweet aroma of cotton candy and caramel apples. The sound of the roller coaster pulley blended with the screams of the riders. The air crackled with excitement.

  “I want to go on the Wild Mouse and the Dragon Coaster,” Lisa said.

  “And the Tilt-A-Whirl and that log ride thing, in water,” Sarah added.

  Dan led them to the kiosk where tickets were sold. He presented the gold pass and received a book of tickets for each of them. They headed down the midway, looking the place over.

  Holly had never been to an amusement park before. She found the old, deco kitschy atmosphere enchanting. Park Avenue girls didn’t go to low-class amusement parks. In fact, they didn’t go to amusement parks at all. She stared at the rides, the food, the people, and took a deep breath, inhaling the unique scent that was Playland. The music, ride sounds, screams, and the avalanche of smells assaulted her, overwhelming her, pleasing her.

  Getting carried away by it all, Holly found herself looking at each ride and declaring she wanted to go on it. Dan laced his fingers with hers.

  “Your first time here?” he asked.

  She nodded.

  “You’ve never been to Playland before?” Lisa said.

  “Where did you grow up?” Sarah asked.

  “New York City.”

  “Definitely a deprived child,” Dan said. “Of course, I’ve never been here before, either. But I’ve been to other amusement parks.”

  “Not me. This is my very first,” Holly admitted.

  “Well, girls, where should we take her first?” Dan asked.

  “The Dragon Coaster!” The girls shouted together, pointing to the right.

  They ambled down the wide path, stopping to look at rides that made Holly nauseous just to watch. The Whip, which looked innocent enough, until the car got to the end, intrigued her. It looked like one that wouldn’t be quite so over-the-top.

  “There it is!” Lisa said, pointing.

  Dan looked at Holly. “You game?”

  She nodded. “Can’t embarrass the kids by chickening out on the first ride, can I?”

  “You can do whatever you want, honey,” he said.

  Her gaze snapped to his in time to see him redden. Perhaps “honey” had slipped out accidentally? “Let’s go,” she said, taking his hand.

  They joined the line and were soon the next ones, waiting for a car to return. The girls hopped up and down.

  “This is the best ride,” Sarah said.

  “The most scary too,” Lisa added. “Especially if we get the first car.”

  “Oh, yes! The first car! We have to,” Sarah replied.

  Holly’s stomach pitched. She wasn’t ready for scary.

  “You can chicken out anytime,” Dan whispered.

  She shook her head. The cars arrived, and the girls ran for the first one. Dan and Holly settled for the one right behind them. She got in first then he. The man running the ride, who looked tired, pulled the bars over their waists, locking them in. Then, he returned to the controls, shot her a feeble smile, and pulled the big, wooden stick back. They began to move.

  Dan slid his arm around the back, and his fingers closed on her upper arm. The car climbed and climbed, higher and higher. It seemed like it was never going to stop. Holly’s heart rate increased. In the back of her mind was the old cliché, “what goes up, must come down.” She tightened her grip on the steel bar holding her in place until her knuckles turned white.

  All at once, the car leveled off. It moved in a semi-circle, gaining speed. Holly could see the plunge looming ahead. Panic pumped through her. When the car hit the vertical drop, she screamed at the top of her lungs.

  Dan held her fast against him. One hand clutched the bar in a death grip, while the other fisted his shirt. And the car kept going, down, down, down. It felt like she was falling straight to the ground. Blood rushed from her head. Just as she closed her eyes, certain she was going to hit the pavement and die, the car leveled off then swung upward again.

  “Open up, Holly. It’s okay. The worst is over,” Dan said.

  The girls in the front car continued to scream and laugh. Holly clung to Dan for dear life.

  “It’s okay, honey. It’s okay.”

  But the ride rumbled on. Up and down, up and down, over a winding path then into a dark tunnel. Holly screamed and buried her face in Dan’s chest. By now, he had her completely in his embrace, her body trembling. Never had she been so scared in her life, except when Flash’s men had come to get her.

  Before she could take another breath, the ride was over. The car stopped, and the bar flew open. Trying to steady her shaking hands, Holly tripped getting out. Dan caught her, bracing her against him.

  “That was great! I want to go again,” Sarah said.

  “Me, too,” Lisa chimed in.

  “Again?” Holly could barely breathe.

  “We need to sit down for a moment,” Dan said, his arm still around Holly. He escorted her to a wooden bench. She plopped down, her breathing shallow.

  “Are you all right?” Lisa asked.

  “Scared me to death. And you want to go again?”

  The girls nodded.

  “Why don’t we try something else? We can come back here if you want to after we do a few tamer rides,” Dan suggested, training a concerned gaze on Holly.

  “I don’t want to be a party pooper.”

  “You’re not. There are plenty of other rides here,” he said. “Let’s go.”

  “How about The Whip? That looks like fun,” she said.

  The girls turned up their noses at it, but they went on anyway, because those were the rules. Holly stepped into the car first, with Dan on the outside. They pulled the bar back and off they went. The car bumped along this way and that until it swung around the end, speeding up and throwing Dan into Holly.

  “Sorry,” he said. But she didn’t think he looked sorry to be mashed up against her. She smiled and didn’t mind feeling his hard muscle press into her chest and side. Who knew The Whip was an erotic ride?

  After that, the girls were hungry. They dined on hot dogs with mustard and relish, and fries.

  “Are you sure you want a hot dog?” Dan said, paying for the food.

  “Well, maybe a hamburger instead.” Holly chuckled.

  While they were eating, several people recognized Dan.

  “Hey, look! Dan Alexander,” one teenager called out.

  Within sixty seconds, there were a dozen people gathered around Dan, clamoring for autographs.

  “Excuse me, Mrs. Alexander…” one woman, with pen in hand, said, trying to get closer.

  Dan looked up at the fan, then at Holly.

  “Oh, no, I’m not his wife.” She shook her head.

  “Too bad for him,” a teenage boy muttered, looking her over.

  The pitcher gave a short laugh then signed his name for everyone who asked. Holly stepped back and let Dan have his well-deserved moment in the sun.

  “Sorry, ladies. I never turn away a fan,” he said to Lisa and Sarah.

  “We understand,” Lisa said.

  Holly hid a smile behind her hand.

  They went on a fast car ride through a dark room with spooky figures coming at them. The women all had a good fright while Dan simply laughed. Then
, the bumper cars. They ganged up on the pitcher, banging into him and surrounding him, so he couldn’t escape.

  “Okay, girls, you get to pick the next ride,” Dan said.

  “Dragon Coaster!” Lisa and Sarah chanted.

  “Can I watch?” Holly asked.

  “Sure. I’ll put the girls on and meet the car when it gets back. That work for everyone?” Dan suggested.

  The girls managed to get the first car again. Dan came down the ramp and joined Holly.

  “I know you think that’s the world’s longest ride, but they’ll be back within seconds. You’ll see,” he said, before leaning over and pressing his lips against hers.

  Holly was so ready to kiss him. His arm snaked around her shoulders, pulling her closer.

  “Get a room buddy,” some man snickered in passing.

  Dan stepped back, blushing. “I’m sorry. I got carried away.”

  So did I, but I’m not telling you that.

  Before she could respond, the ride was over. He met the girls and followed them down.

  “Cotton candy!” Sarah yelled.

  “Ferris wheel first?” Dan asked.

  “Okay,” Lisa responded.

  Holly’s stomach clenched. She was afraid of heights, but had already looked like a chicken with the roller coaster and wasn’t about to nix this ride. Maybe it’ll be short. She and Dan climbed in a car right behind the girls.

  “The view will be fantastic. Bet we can see all the way to New York City,” he said, slipping his arm around her.

  “Won’t be seeing it with my eyes closed,” Holly said.

  He raised his eyebrows and turned to her. “Eyes closed?”

  “Afraid of heights.”

  “Why didn’t you say something?”

  “I didn’t want to spoil it. I’ll deal.”

  But as they rose up higher and higher, her nerves kicked up. She gripped the bar so tight her fingers whitened a bit.

  “You’re scared to death,” Dan said.

  “Just a little.”

  He pulled her into his embrace, closing his arm around her. “I’m so sorry. I had no idea.”

  “It’s not your fault.”

  “Hang on. It’ll be over soon.”

  She closed her eyes and buried her face in his shoulder. He smelled good. His woodsy aftershave combined with his own unique scent, warmed by his amazing body heat. Holly would have been happy to stay there for about ten years. He kissed the top of her head.

  “You doing okay?”

  “Yep.” She directed her attention to his body and forgot where she was.

  “We’re coming down now. You can open your eyes.”

  Sure enough, they were three cars from the bottom. They disentangled from each other in time to disembark. The girls were giggling.

  “You turned the ride into the Tunnel of Love,” Lisa said.

  “No, we didn’t. It’s just that Holly’s afraid of heights. That’s all.”

  “Pretty convenient,” Sarah said.

  “Cotton candy?” Dan took Holly’s hand.

  The two teens squealed and ran toward the concession stand.

  “Do you like that stuff?” he asked.

  “Never had it,” Holly replied.

  “You had a deprived childhood.”

  The girls shared a cone of the sticky sweet. Holly took one taste and begged off. Lisa and Sarah ate the rest, getting it all over their fingers. A souvenir stand stood adjacent to the cotton candy. Dan reached into his back pocket and slipped out his wallet.

  “Do want a souvenir? Something to remember today by?” he asked.

  “Me? Oh, no.”

  He raised his brows.

  “I could never forget today,” she said, color heating her cheeks. “Let’s go wash up.” Holly searched for a restroom.

  They parted company as the girls went to wash up.

  “Dan’s in love with you,” Lisa said, running water over her hands.

  “What? No, I don’t think so. He hardly knows me.”

  “He keeps touching you. I read an article in Teen Crush Magazine that said if a boy wants to touch you all the time, that means he loves you.”

  “Not quite, Lisa. Dan and I are…uh, friends. I guess. Yeah. Friends.”

  “Deny it all you want. But that’s what it said,” Lisa insisted, grabbing a paper towel.

  Holly wouldn’t admit it, but she liked the way Dan took care of her. It had been a long time since she’d had that kind of attention. Maybe never.

  By four o’clock, the group was ready to leave.

  “Bet it’s great here at night,” Lisa said.

  “Bet you’re right. And when you’re eighteen, you can come back and find out.” Holly steered the girls to the parking lot.

  “I had a great time. Thanks for asking me, Lisa. And thanks Holly and Dan,” Sarah said, fastening her seat belt.

  “You’re welcome, Sarah. Thanks, Dan, for taking us. It was a great day. I had no idea what I’d been missing.” Holly wanted to kiss him, but with Lisa watching, she settled for squeezing his arm.

  He glanced at her before putting the car in gear. “My pleasure, ladies. Haven’t been to an amusement park since I left Indiana.”

  There was something in the way he looked at her that made Holly’s breath hitch, a warmth in his eyes, his smile. When they reached the apartment, the girls went upstairs first.

  “Wait a sec,” Dan said, shifting into park, putting his hand on her shoulder.

  “I’ll be up in a minute,” Holly called to the teens.

  “Tonight. We’re on, right? Dinner, the club?”

  “I’d love to. But I need to change.”

  “It’s early. Why don’t I pick you up at seven?”

  “Perfect.”

  He leaned over to brush his lips against hers then pressed harder, turning the kiss passionate. Holly closed her fingers around his neck, holding him to her. He tasted sweet, a bit like cotton candy. When his tongue touched her, she opened for him to deepen the kiss. The honking of a horn brought the couple back to reality. The guy parked at the curb wanted out. They parted slowly. His eyes were hazy with desire. A tingle shot up her spine.

  “Tonight. Seven.”

  “Okay.”

  She got out of the car and watched him pull away. He waved. She touched her lower lip then raised her palm as he sped off. All thoughts of turning him down had fled.

  Chapter Seven

  When Holly entered the apartment, Lisa was telling her mother all about the day. The girls laughed at Holly’s reaction to the roller coaster. Lisa went into detail about each ride. Nancy sat, riveted, eyes glowing, listening to her daughter.

  “And Dan has a thing for Holly,” Lisa said, finishing her tale.

  “No, he doesn’t.” Holly shook her head. “I’ve got to change.”

  “Going out?” Nancy asked.

  “Dan’s taking me to dinner then dancing at his club.”

  The teens burst into giggles. “See!”

  The Hot Dog Girl disappeared into her room. She pulled out the silver dress she’d bought for the evening. Well, maybe he does have a little crush. Maybe it’s just curiosity. Maybe I have a crush on him too. She pushed the thoughts out of her mind as she headed for the shower. Tonight was going to be special. She figured that she deserved a night of fun after so many nights of fear.

  After toweling off, she bit her lip. The expensive perfume she’d carried with her into witness protection had had to be left behind in Pine Grove. The body wash would have to be it for tonight. Would such a famous guy really want a stripped down version? Wouldn’t he prefer a fancier model? She shrugged. Her friend Jory told her to do the best with what she had, so Holly put her doubts aside and slipped on her lingerie. She’d managed to keep one, beautiful, pink bra and panty set with her. She chuckled. After all, it sure as hell didn’t take up much room in the suitcase.

  One benefit of cutting off her hair—the short do didn’t take much time to dry. Using a tissue, she buffed
up her only pair of dressy shoes—black, patent leather sandals. She slipped on the silvery garment that fell to just above her knees. She couldn’t discard her upbringing totally and sashay down the street in a dress so short it was indistinguishable from a tunic or a shirt. She’d never been comfortable in clothes like that. The constant tugging to make it cover something it never would made her tense.

  Tonight, she didn’t need anything to make her more nervous than she already was. This was a date, a real date, with a fabulous man. Her nerves tingled. It had been two years since she’d been on a date, ever since they had arrested Flash.

  And this wasn’t any man. It was Dan Alexander, supreme hottie, famous pitcher, rich, accomplished man who probably dated movie stars. This was her one chance to exceed her grasp, be way out of her league, if only for one night. She could see the headlines now—Hot Dog Girl Makes Good. She laughed at her own joke. Wouldn’t her Park Avenue parents be appalled at her new nickname. It tickled her to envision their faces when she told them, if she told them.

  Prim and proper girls from fancy private schools don’t sell hot dogs, don’t date gangsters or baseball players. They find a nice, quiet, boring banker and get married. They never complain, never do or wear anything less than tasteful, and waste their lives being what someone else wants them to be.

  Holly hadn’t found what she wanted to do for a living yet. But she was only twenty-eight and still tasting the smorgasbord of life. She had ruled out one job—hawking dogs in the stadium. Fine for part-time, but not beyond that. She’d done some bakery work in Pine Grove and enjoyed it. Creating tasty confections had pleased her. But tonight was to be sheer pleasure for her. No serious thoughts or downer feelings.

  Cinderella has nothing on me. This is my one night at the ball. And I will enjoy it. She eased the sleeveless garment over her hips and tried to reach the zipper in the back. There was no way she could pull it up all the way by herself. There was a knock on her door.

  “Are you ready yet? Dan’s gonna be here in fifteen minutes,” Lisa said.

  “Come in, come in. You’re just in time. I need help.”