by Melody Anne
The heat was almost too much to bear. She couldn’t help her pleasurable moan from escaping, which made him press even harder against her.
His hand was in her hair as he explored her mouth. She couldn’t get enough of his taste. She was ready to lose herself in this man she professed to not even like most of the time.
Just as his hand traveled down the side of her body, a sharp bark broke her out of the spell she was under. Mav pulled back, fire burning in his eyes.
“Sorry about that, sug. I was only going to give you a little good-night kiss. You make me lose control,” he said. He was trying to joke, but for once, his voice was as breathless as hers.
“Um . . . well, I gotta go,” she stuttered as she reached behind her and found the doorknob. She twisted it and then almost fell backward into the cottage.
Mav’s hand shot out and steadied her. That small touch almost sent her over the edge into the abyss.
“I’ve got it. Thanks,” she told him as Princess wound her way between them and darted into the house. The dog was making sure Lindsey didn’t leave her again.
His eyes burned and it looked as if he wanted to say something more, but he stopped and turned, took a few steps, then turned back around.
“Tomorrow. Six. Wear something comfortable—pants, tennis shoes.”
With that, he turned and began jogging back up the path to his brother’s house. Feeling almost like she was in a dream, Lindsey shut the door, then found Princess looking up at her with those sad eyes.
“Yeah, Princess, we both have problems, don’t we?” Lindsey said.
When she walked into the kitchen, she found the dog bowls with water and food all set up. That must have been what Mav was doing when he disappeared for a little bit earlier in the evening. She couldn’t help but be touched.
When she climbed into bed a bit later, though, Princess barked at her from the floor. Lindsey smiled. The dog wanted nothing to do with the beautiful purple bed set up in the corner of the room.
To tell the truth, Lindsey wanted her with her as well. She picked up the dog, who insisted on getting beneath the covers. Even though she was confused about Maverick, she fell asleep without worries for the first time since the attack. There was definite comfort in having Princess with her, snuggled up at her side.
That night she didn’t have nightmares for the first time in a year.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Maverick was a few minutes early, and Stormy was by his side at the door, insisting on babysitting Princess. She’d been at the house most of that day and Princess liked Stormy and little Aaron. Princess had snuggled up next to the baby and the two of them had napped together. The only thing keeping Lindsey’s jealousy at bay was that when Princess got tired it was Lindsey’s lap she came to curl up in.
With reluctance, she agreed to go with Maverick and felt guilty when Princess whimpered as the two of them walked away.
“What if she panics while I’m gone?” Lindsey asked as they climbed into his truck.
“She’s in good hands. And I know Stormy has already gotten her treats for when she comes up to the main house,” Mav said with a laugh.
“But what if she doesn’t want to leave there with me when I come to pick her up?”
“She’s already attached to you. She’ll go anywhere you do,” he said before turning to her. “But you know you don’t have to be in a hurry to leave, right? Cooper and Stormy really do love you and want you to stay. I’ll tell you that over and over again until you believe it.”
“I don’t want to be a burden to them,” Lindsey insisted.
“It would be so much more of a burden to them if you left before you were ready,” he said, and there was so much truth shining from his eyes it was impossible for her not to believe him.
“Thanks, Mav. That does make me feel better,” she told him.
They chatted as they left the harbor and got on the freeway. He still wasn’t telling her where they were going, but when he pulled up to a nearly empty parking lot at Safeco Field, she wondered what he had up his sleeves.
“Engine trouble?” she asked.
“Nope. We’re gonna play some baseball. Hope you have your swinging arm ready.”
She waited for the punch line but one didn’t come.
“I thought we had a meeting about the fund-raiser,” she pointed out.
“We do. We’re meeting with the manager of the team, who is a huge supporter of the organization, and then we’re playing with the team.”
“But I really don’t get it,” she said, confused.
“Part of fund-raising is friendships. People want to support organizations for causes they empathize with, but they also need to like the people they work with. However, most of what I do is about making people feel relaxed and appreciated. We all help each other out.”
“I really don’t understand this. I’m so not the girl to chair your event. All I see is that this is a pro-ball field. We can’t just go in there and play,” she told him.
He laughed before he leapt out of the truck and came around to open her door. “We’re not sneaking in. We’re having a meeting and then playing with the team.”
He was so matter-of-fact she almost felt silly questioning him.
“Normal people don’t get to go and play with a major league baseball team,” she said, hoping to knock some sense into the man.
“Whoever said I was normal?” he asked as he reached up and grabbed her by the waist with his good arm, pulling her down from the truck. He gripped her hand and began tugging her toward a side door.
“We can’t do this. I’m not good enough to do this,” she said, digging her feet in, which at least stopped him.
“We’re just going to have a little fun,” he said with his “trust me” smile.
“Falling on my face in front of the Seattle Mariners is not my idea of a little fun,” she said.
“How am I going to show off in front of you, sugar, if I can’t even get you on the field?” he said with a laugh.
“Do you play?” Was there anything he didn’t do would be the more accurate question.
“A little,” he said with a shrug.
“What’s a little?” she asked with narrowed eyes.
“I played in high school, and Duke offered me a full baseball scholarship, but I was a moron back then and didn’t take it.”
“Duke? Like the Duke?” she said in shock.
“Yep, one and the same. My life ended up taking a different path. I’m grateful I joined the Air Force, even more grateful I fly F-18s, but I sure wish I would’ve played ball. I have some great friends here, though, and come play with them once in a while to get the bug out.”
“Wow, just . . . wow.” She didn’t want to be in awe of this man, but it was getting more and more difficult not to be.
She was deathly silent, though, as they made their way inside the stadium. He took her down tunnels she’d never even dreamed of walking through before, and then he pushed his way through a door that she knew instantly was the locker room. That smell was something they couldn’t disguise no matter how fancy a place was.
“Cover up, boys, I brought a lady,” was the only warning Mav gave before he turned a corner.
Lindsey was both fascinated and embarrassed as she entered the sacred locker room of athletes she’d admired for years. Baseball was her favorite sport, and to be in the locker room of the Mariners was about as cool as it got. She went to as many games as her schedule and budget would allow.
“Dang, Mav, how did you get such a hottie to go out with you?” one of the guys asked as he sat shirtless on the bench tying his cleats.
“I’ve got charm,” Mav said with a grin. “Aren’t you girls ready yet? We’re running late. I figured you’d be on the field by now.”
“Half the team’s out there. A few had to drag their butts in. We had a long week on the road.”
“Sounds good. We’re meeting with John and then we’ll be out to kick some butt. Where�
�s Lindsey’s stuff?”
“John put it over there,” the man said and pointed, and much to Lindsey’s delight, Mav took her over to a pile where a jersey and hat were sitting.
She had to fight tears as Mav handed them to her. It was authentic gear from the team.
“These are mine?” she asked, feeling foolish as she fought not to cry.
“Yep. You’re part of the team tonight,” he told her.
Without a second thought, she threw her arms around his neck and hung on tight. This was truly the greatest present anyone had ever given her.
“Thank you so much. I don’t know how I could possibly ever pay you back for this,” she said as she stepped back.
There was something burning in his eyes that she couldn’t quite read so she turned and looked away. She didn’t want to feel confused, and whatever that look was, it was certainly making her head spin.
“No prob. I needed you to see how fun this can be,” he said with a chuckle as he caressed her cheek.
“This is bribery, you know,” she said, feeling as if she were going to burst.
“Then my plans are working. I know your weaknesses now,” he told her with a wink.
She really was caving far too easily. But she couldn’t find it within herself to care. She threw the jersey on over her shirt and then got her hair tucked up under the hat before sending a beaming smile to Mav. She didn’t even care if she fell on her face. It would be worth it. Just getting to go out on the field would be the greatest night of her life.
“Maverick, you’re just in time.”
Lindsey turned to see a man dressed in a suit walking up to them.
“Good to see you, John. Let’s get business out of the way so we can go hit some balls,” Mav said as he walked up and shook the man’s hand. “This is Lindsey. I’m trying to talk her into chairing the event. Bringing her here has given me some good points,” he added with a laugh.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lindsey. Let’s step into my office.”
They followed John through some more tunnels and then sat with him for a half hour speaking about numbers and projects. What shocked Lindsey was that she was able to keep up with the conversation. What shocked her even more was that she found herself jumping in and coming up with her own ideas.
By the end of the conversation, as Mav led her back through the tunnels, she was ready to commit. The cause truly was something she felt she could promote. But fund-raising was pushed out of her mind as they made it back to the locker room.
“Now that work is out of the way, are you ready to play?” Mav asked.
“More than ready,” she told him.
He took her hand again, but this time he didn’t have to drag her. She practically dragged him as they made their way out onto the field where the players were already hitting and throwing balls. She stood there on the edge and watched the magic for a few minutes before the rest of the team joined them. Then they split up.
“All right, Lins, you’re up at bat first,” Mav said before he trotted off to first base.
Her heart was racing as she selected a bat and slowly approached home plate. She prayed she didn’t completely fail. That would really suck in front of her heroes.
“Ready?” Jonathan Arturo Aro called and her heart beat a bit faster. The very talented Mariners pitcher was talking to her.
“I think so,” she said in a choked voice.
He gave her a grin that nearly made her faint, and then he leaned back.
The first ball whipped by so fast she didn’t even see it, just heard the sound of it hitting the mitt behind her. In astonishment she turned around and looked at the catcher who was grinning ear to ear.
“Doesn’t that hurt?” she gasped.
He smiled even bigger as he stood up and threw the ball back, not quite as fast, but pretty dang quickly, in her opinion, before winking at her through the mask he was wearing.
“Nah. He wasn’t even putting any real heat in it,” Steve Clevenger replied.
“Dang. If that wasn’t putting heat into it, I don’t want to see what he can really do,” she mumbled.
“Okay, quit showing off now, Jon,” Mav yelled from first base.
“Ah, I was going easy on her, Mav,” Jon yelled back.
“She’s already taken, so give up the showboating,” Mav called back.
Lindsey’s head whipped back and forth at the exchange. Then Jon laughed and got back into position, so she returned to a batting stance and waited. The next ball went much slower, and she was satisfied when the bat connected and the ball went soaring through the air.
Dropping the bat, she ran as hard as she could while Mav stood on the base, waiting to tag her out. When she landed before the ball, she knew the players were letting her get away with it, but she didn’t care. This was way too much fun and she didn’t want to be sent to the dugout.
“You didn’t tell me you were a baseball superstar,” Mav said as she edged off the base a couple of feet and waited to hit second.
“We all have secrets,” she said, moving another couple of inches toward second.
Then so fast she almost missed it, Jon turned and threw the ball to Mav, making her drop down and slide back to the base before he tagged her out. Her forward motion was too fast, though, and she connected with Mav’s legs.
The ball went flying and Mav teetered in the air before toppling over, landing right on top of her. The breath rushed from her lungs and then the field faded away as their eyes connected.
“If you wanted me on top of you, all you had to do was ask,” he murmured before closing the gap between them and taking her lips hard and fast.
Lindsey was completely enchanted by him, forgetting all about the game—until she heard the catcalls from the other players.
Mortified by what she was doing, Lindsey pushed against Mav’s chest, and with obvious reluctance, he pulled back, his eyes heated and confused.
“Do you two want some privacy?” Jon called out through laughter.
Mav got his wits back and scrambled to his feet to help her up. The scarlet hue on her cheeks was enough to guide a sleigh as the game resumed, along with a bunch of snickers from the guys.
Though there was a lot more flirting going on the rest of the evening, Lindsey took it in stride. This team was a group of really great guys with pretty dang big hearts.
When it was all over she was disappointed to leave. But she didn’t walk away empty-handed. The team signed her jersey, insisting she leave it on while they did it, making her giggle and causing Mav to scowl. They gave her some baseballs and other gear and told her she’d better come back and visit them again.
She’d thought dog walking had been the best day ever, but playing baseball at Safeco Field would be unbeatable. She felt almost in another world as she rode back to her cottage with Maverick.
She even allowed Mav to hold her hand as he walked her to her door, not once trying to pull it away. She wasn’t sure how the evening was going to end—or how she wanted it to end. He’d already kissed her a few times now. And she was sort of hoping for another kiss as they reached her door.
But then the door swung open.
“Did you two have a good evening?”
Sherman was standing there, holding Princess in his arms as he grinned at both of them ear to ear.
“It was amazing. We played baseball with the Mariners,” she told him, feeling all the excitement all over again.
“There’s nothing quite like being on a major league field, is there?” Sherman asked her as Princess wiggled in his arms to be let down.
“Have you done that before?” she asked, taking Princess in her arms. Lindsey was immediately attacked with kisses as Princess squirmed her greetings.
“What are you doing here, Uncle Sherm?” Maverick asked as he followed Lindsey into the house.
“I showed up to visit with Cooper, and when the kids got tired I told them I’d watch Princess until you two got home.”
“That wa
s thoughtful.” Though Mav said the words, Lindsey was picking up on some weird vibes between uncle and nephew. She wasn’t quite sure what that was all about.
“I’m a helpful guy,” Sherman said with a wink.
“I’m sure you two have a lot to talk about this evening. I’ll leave you youngsters alone. I did leave out a bottle of wine for an after-date drink, though,” he said with a sly smile as he gathered up his coat.
“It wasn’t a date. We were speaking to the manager about the fund-raiser,” Lindsey was quick to point out.
Mav grumbled something that made Sherman smile, but didn’t correct her, thankfully.
“How did the meeting go?” Sherman asked.
“Perfectly,” Mav said, almost sounding impatient, which confused Lindsey. She didn’t want Sherman to feel unwelcome.
“You don’t have to rush off. I’m on sort of an adrenaline high right now from the game and stuff,” Lindsey said, trying to fix the situation. “Would you like a glass of wine?”
“Thanks for the offer, but I have to drive home. Even half a glass is too much for me these days when I have to get behind the wheel,” he told her. Then he leaned in and kissed her cheek before she could even think about stopping him.
Lindsey automatically took a step closer to Maverick without thinking about it. And just like that, Sherman disappeared out the door.
“My uncle is quite meddlesome,” Maverick said with a laugh as he took a step away from her.
She didn’t like the instant feeling of emptiness when he wasn’t close. That didn’t bode well for her sanity.
“I’m going to take off too. I’d feel better if I see that Sherman gets home safe and sound. He might not want to admit it, but his eyes aren’t the best these days,” Maverick told her.
“You’re not staying at Coop’s tonight?” she asked, surprised by the disappointment. When had she gone from not wanting him so close to almost needing him nearby?
“Not tonight. I miss my bed,” he said. Then there was a look in his eyes like he wanted to say something more, but he began making his way toward the door and she brushed it aside. She must be imagining things.
