by Tara Mills
The first batter hit a single. The second hitter got him home with a double. The third batter hit right to the shortstop so the runner on second held his base.
When Chad walked out of the dugout and chose a bat along the fence Piper felt an electrical charge shoot through her veins. Looking at him shouldn’t feel so good or hurt so bad, should it? The intense brew of emotions in her veins made her want to weep.
Chad faced the plate and dug in with the balls of his feet. He took a couple of powerful practice swings. The force of his swings made Piper breathless. Everything about Chad aroused her, damn it! She shouldn’t have come. This was a mistake — a terrible desperate mistake.
She held her breath when he let the first pitch go by. When he fouled the second, she shifted on the bench.
“Come on,” she coaxed softly.
The bat connected hard with the third pitch, firing it far into the outfield.
“Yes!” Piper cheered and his bat went flying.
As Chad rounded the bases one after another, pouring on the speed, Piper felt euphoric and exhilarated — her heartbeat an echo of his. Suddenly breathless, she could almost imagine she was right there with him.
Then Chad’s foot hit home plate and Piper hunkered down, afraid he’d spot her, but that was a needless fear. He never even looked at the stands because his teammates were waving him over. He slowed to a jog and his hand went up to receive a couple of congratulatory high fives.
Piper leaned forward, searching anxiously for another look at him in that mix of men. Then he reappeared and she breathed easier. Chad pulled off the hard batting helmet and handed it over to another player. He combed his hair back with his fingers and a rush of tenderness swept through Piper like a warm wave.
Shaken and deeply disturbed by her response Piper blanched. Oh god, what am I doing here? She couldn’t tear her eyes away from Chad as he put his cap back on and sat down on the bench, finally disappearing from her line of sight.
She had to get out of here — now! Seeing him again was beyond torture. Had she completely lost her mind?
Piper set her cup by her feet and turned to look down at the ground. It would be a jump but she was pretty sure she could make it. She spun on the bench and dropped her legs over the back, grabbing hold of the frame. With one big push she sent herself to the grass and fell right on her ass. Brushing herself off as she got to her feet she looked up and realized there was no way she could reach her Coke. She completely misjudged the height. Oh well, c’est la vie.
• • •
It was simply chance that Chad happened to look through the fence as he left the dugout. He felt a clutch in his chest when he caught a glimpse of Piper hurrying up the hill away from the field. The urge to run after her was intense, but he couldn’t.
He slipped his hand inside his glove and headed to third comforted by the fact that she wanted to see him. It was enough for now that she turned up to watch him play. Even if she wasn’t ready to face him yet, at least she came. The laws of attraction were still on his side. He just needed to be patient.
Good luck with that!
Chapter 18
There was nothing better than giving yourself a minute to bask in your own brilliance and as far as Alice was concerned, her idea was a stroke of genius. It took care of two problems in one bold maneuver.
She held Missy by the hand as they made their way towards the bakery department in Klein’s Supermarket.
“If this works out,” she whispered to her granddaughter, “I’ll buy you a treat. Anything you want.”
“It’s going to work out, Grandma,” Missy said confidently, practically skipping alongside her co-conspirator.
• • •
Piper was behind a window at work decorating an enormous graduation cake when she looked up and saw Chad’s mother and daughter watching her through the glass.
Oh great.
Piper flashed a quick insincere smile at them then continued with the border. When that was finished she started placing the roses she made earlier into the corners. Missy watched with rapt fascination. Responding to it, Piper gave her a more genuine smile this time then picked up the bag of green frosting and added more curling leaves. She could hear Missy’s “oh” of wonder through the glass.
The last thing Piper did was put the congratulations message across the top in elegant script.
Missy rose up on her tiptoes to watch and when Piper was finished she turned the cake around and lifted the back edge so the little girl could see the finished product.
“That’s really pretty Piper,” Missy exclaimed. “Can you make me a cake, too?”
Piper smiled and stepped out from behind the glass so she could talk with them. “Maybe,” she said, grinding her fist into the knot in her lower back. “You should look at our book over there.”
“You’re an artist.”
Piper laughed. “Hardly.”
Alice spoke up. “Don’t you teach classes anymore?”
“I will when summer is over. Right now lots of people want cakes for parties and weddings. I’m needed here.”
“You make wedding cakes, too?” Missy asked, obviously impressed.
“All the time.”
“I have a loose tooth,” Missy announced out of the blue.
Piper laughed at the unexpected change in topic. “Is that right? Which one?”
Missy wiggled an upper front tooth. “Daddy says I’ll be able to whistle when it falls out.”
“Can’t you whistle now?”
“No,” she admitted sadly.
“Well I wouldn’t worry too much about that. I can’t whistle either.”
“Really?”
Piper held up her hand. “I swear.”
Hearing that she wasn’t the only one seemed to please the girl.
Alice broke in. “Piper, I was hoping I could ask a favor.”
Piper felt her stiff spine clench even tighter. Fantastic. She was going to need a long hot soak tonight. “Oh yeah?” she asked warily.
“The thing is, Chad’s got tickets to a concert on Friday and I was hoping you could go in my place. I actually made other plans that frankly I’d much rather keep. I’m the wrong generation for that sort of music anyway and the tickets are already paid for. I have a feeling you’ll enjoy it far more than I would.”
“I don’t know,” she hedged. “Doesn’t he have other friends he can ask?”
Alice frowned. “Couples. Who do you think he should leave out? It’s one ticket. If you don’t go he’s going to have to eat the cost of it.”
Piper looked around helplessly. She hated being railroaded into things. To her growing annoyance, Joy was working against her, too, nodding emphatically and giving her meaningful, expressive looks with her eyes.
Piper sighed and turned back to Alice. “Does Chad even know you’re asking me to go instead?”
“Not yet, but he will. Don’t you worry, I’ll take care of everything.”
Piper’s inner demon went to work, wearing her down even more. What could happen at a concert? They’d hardly get a chance to talk over the music anyway and the crowd would keep things from getting out of hand, right?
Could she trust herself with Chad again? Alone, she had her doubts, but in this situation — probably.
“Fine, I guess I can.”
Alice beamed at her. “Wonderful. I’ll tell him to call you and work out the details.” She looked over at her granddaughter who was paging through the binder of pictures. “Missy, come over here. It’s time to tell us what you want.”
Missy skipped over and grinned up at Piper like a girl with a happy secret.
• • •
When the two Thomas’s left with a bag full of goodies, Joy sidled over and slapped Piper across the arm. “Do you even know who’s in town
on Friday?”
“Oww,” Piper said, rubbing her bicep. “No, but I’m sure you’ll tell me.”
“I can’t believe he was able to get tickets! That concert was sold out as soon as it was announced. I would kill to trade places with you.”
“I give, who is it?”
“Green Swizzle Wooster!”
Piper gasped. “Shut up!”
“I kid you not!”
“I totally love them.”
“Duh!”
• • •
When Chad called later that night they both played it casual. Neither mentioned his ball game, which helped. They kept the conversation brief, sticking to relevant details for Friday. Since Chad still hadn’t been to Piper’s apartment she thought it would be best if she met him at his house again. This time she planned to cut it close so he wouldn’t have time to invite her in then afterwards she’d be gone like the wind.
• • •
Piper found Joy’s enthusiasm for a concert she wasn’t even going to see beyond comprehension.
Friday afternoon was especially bizarre.
“Do you know what would look great on you tonight?” Joy asked.
“I give,” Piper said wearily.
“I have this little black lacy shell of a top from Victoria’s.”
“I’ve seen it.”
“You could wear it with those black leather jeans you have. Oh, and your boots. I’ll let you borrow it.”
“Joy, I don’t think that’s the right tone for tonight.”
“Of course it is.”
“Would you stop? I mean it, just stop. Please. I don’t want to confuse Chad with mixed signals. You know how hard I’ve been working to back up the train so it doesn’t help that you want me to suddenly start waving him through the tunnel.”
“Nice metaphor.”
“I’m serious. The last thing I want to do is torture the poor guy. I like him too much. It would be unbelievably cruel.”
“What if he’d like to see you dressed that way?”
“That’s beside the point.”
“I really think you’re insane.”
“Said the pot to the kettle.”
“And you’re childish.”
“I told you I was reverting.”
• • •
Piper showed up at the Thomas house wearing a conservative skirt and sweater set finished off with a pair of low sensible heels. Joy would be seriously disappointed in her but not very surprised.
Missy answered the doorbell wearing a sweet little sundress. Her hair was pulled back by matching butterfly combs. She gasped when she saw Piper. “Wow, you look so pretty.”
“So do you. I love your barrettes. Did you do your own hair?”
“Daddy did it but I helped.”
Piper could just picture Chad sitting behind his daughter with a brush in his hand and barrettes in his mouth while he fiddled with all that hair. Don’t go there, she warned herself. Too many emotional land mines — steer clear of the sweet scenes.
Piper stepped onto the tiles and shut the door.
“Looks like you have a big night, too, huh?”
“We do.” Missy grinned.
“And you still have your tooth I see.”
Missy wiggled it for her. They both turned as Kenny came clumping down the staircase dressed in a polo shirt and chinos. He looked ridiculously handsome even with the sour scowl.
“Oh, look at you,” Piper said, melting at Chad’s little copy.
Kenny didn’t have a chance to complain about dressing up because Chad walked out of his bedroom and Piper was lost, and with every step Chad took on the way down to her she lost a little more to him. Then Chad smiled and Piper felt it in her belly, in her chest and it wrenched.
“Good, you’re right on time,” he said.
Piper couldn’t tear her eyes away from his chin, his jaw when he spoke. She remembered, vividly, how he skimmed his face over her tender bare skin, roughing it, teasing it. She knew now how his stubble felt under her tongue, between her thighs, behind her knees, brushing over her neck and shoulders. Then Chad smiled and she remembered his front teeth drawing slowly across her hard nipples. Oh shit, she was a goner. Damn it, she was totally screwed.
“I think we should get going,” Chad announced, unaware of the thoughts swirling in Piper’s head.
Everyone climbed into his car. Piper assumed that they would drop the kids off somewhere en route but Missy and Kenny rode all the way into Lewiston with them. When they drove past the civic center without slowing Piper looked back, watching the crowds funnel inside. She turned to Chad with a look of confusion and he smiled without offering an explanation.
Eventually they joined a line of cars blocks away from the civic center and were eventually waved into a parking ramp by attendants with lighted batons.
“We’re here,” Chad announced. The kids went wild.
“Dare I ask?” Piper said.
“Just wait and see.”
Missy climbed out of the car. “Yeah, it’s a big surprise.”
“Your dad is big on surprises,” said Piper, the sarcasm leaking out unbidden.
Chad grinned, clearly amused, and they set off for the theater.
Walking down the ramp Missy moved to Piper’s side and took her hand. Ever so subtly she began to maneuver Piper closer to her dad. Chad looked over with raised eyebrows and Piper shrugged, nodding at Missy.
He chuckled. “Ah.” His sweet little fixer was at work.
Just inside the theater Piper finally saw the posters.
“The Fruit Bowl followed by the Dancing Bear Band?” she asked, looking at Chad in shock.
He gave her a huge grin, his eyes absolutely sparkling. “Think of the Fruit Bowl as those Fruit of the Loom guys set to music.”
“They dance, too,” said Kenny.
Missy pointed to the poster. “I like the grapes.”
“No way, the banana is best,” said Kenny.
This was the most bizarre conversation Piper had ever tried to follow.
Her obvious confusion made Chad laugh. “The banana sings bass.”
“Oh,” she said vaguely. “Now it makes sense.” She rolled her eyes. Oh well, now that she was here might as well get into the spirit of the thing.
An usher led them to their aisle and Kenny took off down the row, dropping into the first of their seats.
“Ken, we’re not going to climb over you so get up and move all the way down to number twenty-four,” said Chad.
Kenny hauled himself up and moved down three more seats.
Missy drew back, pushing Piper in behind her dad so they’d have to sit together. She followed last, claiming the outside seat and kicking her feet merrily as she watched the theater fill.
Admittedly, the concert wasn’t exactly what Piper was expecting but she was astonished at how enjoyable the show actually was. Aside from the silly costumes and creative lyrics, the groups were obvious professionals. Some of the music was particularly beautiful and the harmonies of the Fruit Bowls could rival any Motown group she ever heard.
During the intermission they hit the restrooms by twos, the girls and boys separating to go to the appropriate door. Piper was washing her hands and checking her make-up in the mirror when Missy walked up behind her, shaken and pale.
Piper spun around in alarm. “Sweetie, what’s wrong?”
Missy gave Piper a damaged smile, showing the gap in her pink gums.
Piper sagged with relief. “Do you have it?”
The little girl opened her hand and held out her tiny perfect tooth. Piper pulled a Kleenex out of her purse and folded it carefully inside.
Giving Missy an encouraging smile, Piper said, “My dad’s a dentist,
you know. So I know all about these things. Everything is perfectly fine.”
The guys were already in their seats when the girls got back just before the lights dimmed for the second half of the show.
Piper leaned close to Chad and whispered, “Missy has something to show you.”
His eyebrows went up and he leaned forward to look at his daughter. “Missy, what is it, honey?”
Missy smiled at him.
“Hey!” Chad said with a smile of his own. “You look like a jack o’lantern. You didn’t swallow it, did you?”
“No.” Missy held out the Kleenex. Chad carefully felt for the tooth inside.
“Why don’t I hold onto this? Then, when we get home, we’ll put it under your pillow, okay?”
“Okay.”
Chad slipped the precious tissue into his breast pocket and patted it protectively. Piper melted.
Chapter 19
The Dancing Bear Band didn’t just take the stage, they seized it and got the kids worked up by their antics before they even played a single note.
As they broke into their first number Piper and Chad both moved to claim the armrest between them at exactly the same time. He beat her to it but it was a shallow victory. With an apologetic look he turned his palm up and held his hand open. Piper took a deep breath and laid her arm on top of his and when their fingers meshed he curled their hands into one.
Missy laid her head against Piper’s arm and smiled up at her devotedly. Piper’s heart softened even more and the girls ended up holding hands too. All three made a chain and remained connected for the rest of the performance. Overcome by the intimacy and affection surrounding her, Piper was in no position to judge the quality of The Dancing Bear Band. She hardly heard them.
• • •
When they pulled into the garage just over an hour later Kenny and Missy were fast asleep, slumped against their car doors. Chad and Piper opened the back doors carefully, reaching in to catch the limp children before they dropped out. Chad looked across the seat and found Piper. Their eyes met and held for a moment as they shared a warm smile then they reached over the sleeping kids and released their seatbelts.
Chad carried his son and Piper carried his daughter into the house, up the stairs, and into their bedrooms.
