Saving Drew

by Lara Van Hulzen

  “Did I? Sorry. I’m just not big on rental cars. I like my own car.”

  “Ah. I can understand that. What kind of car do you drive?”

  A genuine smile graced his lips. The kind that hadn’t done so in months. “A Camaro.”

  “What color?”

  “Blue Velvet.”

  “Ooooh, I like the sound of that.”

  Drew’s spine tingled. He liked the sound of her oooooh over his car. He put the rental in drive and pulled into the street. His mother had given him directions to a small area not far from town with an apple tree farm. She said there was a little pond with picnic tables all around. Said Baylee would love it.

  “I like my car too.”

  The windows were down, her hair swirling with the breeze. Being from the east coast, he wasn’t used to it being seventy degrees in the middle of January, but he wasn’t complaining. And Baylee didn’t seem to mind the window down. In fact, she tilted her face towards it and closed her eyes, let the air wash over her. Man, she was beautiful.

  Drew turned his attention forward. They’d wreck if he wasn’t careful. The woman distracted him to no end. He didn’t know which way was up or down and it was as if his world had turned sideways.

  “What’s your car like?” he asked.

  “It’s a little Corolla. Nothing fancy, by any means. But that’s not what matters. It gets me where I need to go, it’s reliable, and it’s mine.” She tucked a lock of hair behind her ear and looked at him. “Over time I think a car becomes ‘yours’ just out of habit. Every day you personalize it more and more, you know?”

  Drew nodded. He did know, but he’d never thought of it that way. His car definitely represented freedom for him. He’d take long drives just to be left alone. Not one to be flashy either, it was the only thing he’d splurged on with the money he made in the majors.

  His mother was right. The apple tree farm wasn’t far from town and when they took the turn for it, Baylee clapped her hands together and said, “Oh! I love this place. This is perfect.”

  Drew’s inside warmed at her excitement and all he could think was how much he wanted to see her happy. A thought that should’ve have scared him away, but didn’t.

  They pulled into a parking spot and got out. Baylee looked in the trunk as he opened it. “Gracious. You brought enough for a party.” She looked from the food to him. “Are we meeting people here?”

  Oh no. He wasn’t sharing her with anyone.

  “No. But I have confession to make. I’m staying with my mom and she insisted on packing lunch. I guess she got carried away.”

  Baylee smiled and put her hand on his arm. “I love Rose. What a sweet woman. This is perfect. I’m starving and happy to know I don’t have to share.” She winked and picked up the smaller picnic basket. Drew got the larger one and tucked a blanket under his arm. His glove and baseball moved when he did so.

  Baylee looked from the items to him.

  He shrugged. “I thought maybe your son might want to play catch.” He closed the trunk. “Maybe next time...”

  The gleam in her eyes dimmed a bit. Something he found he didn’t like. At all. But before he could ask if he’d said something wrong she turned walked away with a shout over her shoulder, “Follow me. I know a good spot.”

  Her hair swayed back and forth as she moved. The sleeveless pink top she wore with white jeans and sandals accented all the right places. He’d noticed her hot pink toenails when she’d climbed in the car. Women lingered around Drew and his team all the time with the idea that less was more in terms of clothing. They could learn a thing or two from Baylee. Simple and classic would describe her style but it was the way she wore things that was sexy as hell. Funny thing, she didn’t seem to have a clue what it did to him. But, for the moment, all he could think was he’d follow her anywhere. He closed the trunk, locked the car, and headed after her.

  Chapter Five

  Baylee leaned back on her hands and crossed one foot over the other. She’d taken off her sandals when they sat down, Drew spreading the blanket out on a spot not far from the pond. He’d gone about opening the big picnic basket and laying things out, shooing her away when she tried to help.

  A little girl wandered close to the water and tossed a breadcrumb to a nearby duck. She squealed with delight when the duck stuck its head out and gobbled it up. Clapping her hands, she ran back to her mother who sat close by, smiles on both their faces.

  Baylee leaned her head back and closed her eyes, letting the sun wash over her. It was rare for her to have a time when her “Mommy antenna”, as she called it, was able to be down. It was down some when she was at work and knew that Casey was safe with her mother, but then she was so focused on work, it wasn’t exactly stress free. She loved her job, but it was still a job. This? This was pure heaven.

  The rustling of papers and plastic beside her stopped. Drew wasn’t moving around anymore. She opened her eyes and found him watching her. Their gazes met and one side of his mouth lifted, but he didn’t say anything. She smiled back.

  It was unusual, for sure, to be with a man of so few words. She liked it. But there wasn’t awkward silence with Drew. It was... peaceful. There was so much she wanted to ask him and yet, sensed he eased into things, thought things through. Wasn’t one to blab out his feelings anytime someone asked.

  Only then did she notice the spread he’d laid out and her eyes grew wide. “Your mom really knows how to feed people, doesn’t she?”

  Drew shook his head. “She can get... zealous about some things.”

  “This is fantastic.” Baylee sat up and crisscrossed her legs in front of her. She took a green olive from a small container and popped it in her mouth. “Mmmm. I love these things.”

  “Well, there’s plenty, so dive in.”

  She smiled and grabbed a plate. Piling it with cheese, crackers, meats, olives... It was a smorgasbord. The small picnic basket she’d carried down the grassy hill sat untouched. “What’s in that one?”

  “Mom packed that for your son.”

  Baylee peered inside to find two juice boxes, a PB&J sandwich cut into the shape of a dinosaur, an apple, a bag of goldfish crackers, and two Oreo cookies.

  She looked up at Drew. “This is precious. Your mom is so thoughtful.”

  Her heart sank at the thought of Casey missing out on this. Maybe she’d made the wrong decision by leaving him home.

  “What’s your son’s name? I keep calling him ‘your son.’ It would be nice to call him by his name.”

  “His name is Casey.”

  Drew nodded. “How old is he?”

  “He’s five. Almost six.”

  A smile graced his lips as he looked out towards the pond. He sat with his knees up, his arms resting on them, hands clasped together in front. “That’s a fun age.”

  She laughed. “Define fun.”

  He laughed with her. “Well, you got me there. I imagine raising a five-year-old isn’t the same as being one.”

  “Nope. Not in the least.” She took a bite of cracker with cheese and looked at the water too.

  “I think I was about that old when I started getting into baseball. Asking my dad to take me to games.”

  Baylee looked back at him again. She could imagine him as a little boy. Although, Drew came across as an old soul. His eyes saying he saw what others missed, that he took in everything. Not unlike Casey in a lot of ways.

  “Was your dad into baseball too?”

  “Nope. Just me. Dad was more of a scholar. He read a lot. But he loved to be outdoors so he didn’t mind going to games. He spent time with each one of us kids doing what we enjoyed and taking it all in, whether it was his thing or not. Just loved being with us, watching us soak up what we loved.”

  “He sounds like a wonderful man. You must miss him.”

  He looked at her then.

  “Rose told me he passed away a bit ago. I’m so sorry.” She placed a hand on his arm for a moment then reached for a water bottle Drew had place
d near her when he’d unpacked the baskets. “My dad died not long ago too. My mom moved here with me from Texas.” She shrugged. “I guess we both needed a new start. She’s a huge help to me too.”

  “Do you have siblings?”

  She nodded. “A sister. Lizzie. She’s still in Texas. Mama goes back to see her every few months. Lizzie understands us moving away. We miss each other a lot but it’s what we needed. It’s what’s best for us.”

  She took another bite of her cracker and noticed Drew hadn’t touched any food. “Are you gonna eat any of this? I could certainly try to do so myself, but I fear that isn’t the best course of action for me.”

  He smiled and looked down at the food but made no move for it.

  “Can I make you a plate?”

  “Sure. Load me up.”

  Baylee piled food on a plate and handed it to Drew. So lost in his thoughts about Baylee, his mind hadn’t once wandered to the gourmet buffet his mother had put together. The woman was a wonder with food.

  The woman beside him, however, had him mesmerized. He couldn’t recall the last time he’d spent any time with a female where he wasn’t worried about her only wanting him for his fame and money or thought he’d rather be at home watching an old movie or clips of old baseball games. With Baylee, it was... nice. No. That wasn’t the right way to describe it. Being with Baylee was the sunshine on his face, the sound of her voice with that slight Texas twang to it, her perfume floating over him in the breeze. It was calm. Easy. Heaven.

  “Thank you.” He gave her a nod and put a cracker with meat and cheese piled on top into his mouth. The different flavors danced on his tongue, but they were no match for his heart rate increasing at the twinkle in Baylee’s eye.

  He chewed then took a pull from the water bottle he’d opened when they sat down.

  “Good, isn’t it?” Baylee popped another olive in her mouth.

  He nodded in agreement. “What made you choose Silver Bay?”

  She tilted her head and pouted her bottom lip for a second before answering, the gesture stirring in him a desire to kiss said lips until they were both out of breath. He put another bite of cracker in his mouth instead. Definite deterrent to that plan.

  “Well...” She looked out at the water again as if deciding whether to tell him something or not. “They have schools here that are good for Casey.”

  “What do you mean?”

  She took a deep breath and let it out, the twinkle in her eye dimming. “To make a long story short, doctors think Casey may have some learning disabilities. Possibly Asperger’s Syndrome.” She shrugged. “We don’t know.”

  Ah. The pieces began to fall into place in Drew’s mind. She was guarded about her son that was clear. And now he knew why. But why didn’t she just say that from the beginning?

  Answering his unspoken question she continued. “I don’t tend to talk about it right away with people. I love my son and in no way feel there’s anything ‘wrong’ with him, but the world doesn’t think the same as me.” She lifted a shoulder and let it fall. “I’m protective.”

  “You’re his mother. It’s your instinct to be.”

  “Maybe.” She looked at him again. “But probably more than I should. He’s still too young for a full diagnosis, but there’s a private school here that works with kids with Asperger’s. And a small town has been a nice change of pace.”

  A private school couldn’t be cheap. Questions about Casey’s father ran through Drew’s mind. Where was the guy? Was he financially stepping up for his son or was Baylee going it alone? But it wasn’t the time to ask and it wasn’t Drew’s business either. He barely knew Baylee and hadn’t even met Casey. And yet, his first instinct was to pay every penny for Casey to attend school. Hell, he had money sitting on top of money in the bank with no one to spend it on.

  “Anyway, that was one draw to Silver Bay. I’d also driven through here once with a friend on a road trip of Northern California and I loved it. It felt right. I could open my bakery and start over, Casey could go to a good school, and we both have distance from...”

  He searched her eyes for what she was about to say but, quick as a whip, she hopped up and ran towards the water. Before Drew could blink, she’d run into the pond up to her knees. She snatched up the little girl who’d been feeding ducks and had fallen face down in the water.

  “Oh, my gosh!” A woman not far from them came running and swept the child from Baylee’s arms. “Thank you so much. I looked down for just a second and she was gone. Thank you!”

  Baylee nodded. “Of course. They’re so quick at this age.”

  The woman hugged Baylee, her daughter now clinging to her mother like a baby monkey. The two of them walked out of the edge of the pond, Baylee coming back to Drew, the woman carrying her daughter back to their blanket.

  Drew was on his feet by then and moving towards Baylee, but still trying to catch up to what had just happened. His team’s outfielders didn’t even move that fast.

  “Are you okay?”

  They met a few feet from the blanket. Baylee looked up at him, her hands on her hips.

  She was a little out of breath and oblivious to her jeans now soaked from the knees down. “I’m totally fine. I’m just glad I saw her.” She looked over at the little girl, now sitting in her mother’s lap on their blanket and wrapped up in a towel. “They’re fast little things.”

  “You’re a good mom.” The words came out Drew’s mouth before he could register and filter them in his brain.

  She turned her attention back to him and blinked. “Now how in the world would you know that, silly? I was simply helping out another...”

  His lips cut off her words with a soft, gentle kiss. Before any rational thought could stop him, he’d stepped towards her, leaned down, and swept his mouth over hers. Holding her face in his hands, he dared to do it again. And again. Her arms had dropped to her sides and her body was still, but she responded to his kiss, letting him trail his mouth from her lips to her cheek and back again.

  He pulled back and looked into her eyes, now open wide and searching his. “What was...?” she whispered.

  “I’m not sure yet.” Her face still cradled in his hands, he leaned his forehead to hers and breathed in deep. He’d probably regret it later, but it was the first time he’d felt alive since his injury and he’d be damned if he didn’t hold onto the moment for as long as possible.

  Baylee put her hands on his hips and took a deep breath. The world around them disappeared. Two days. He’d known this woman two days and he’d just kissed her in front of the world. Well, the handful of people at an apple tree farm near a pond, but still.

  “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

  Although in truth, he wasn’t. Not sorry he kissed her. But sorry it couldn’t go anywhere.

  “I’m not.”

  He pulled back from her, surprised at her answer. She smiled and took his hand, leading him back to their blanket.

  They sat back down where they were before, although this time Baylee kept her wet feet off the blanket and on the grass. Her hot pink toenails glimmered in the sunlight. Drew looked away. He’d tortured himself enough for one day. What a fool. Thinking a taste of her would satisfy him. Now, all he wanted was more. More of something he couldn’t have. He’d walked into this one like a blind idiot.

  “I’m sorry I don’t have a towel or anything for you.” It was lame, but it was all he could think to say.

  “No worries. It’s such a gorgeous day. I’ll dry in no time.” She leaned back once again on the blanket as if what had just happened didn’t rock her world. It had sent his into a tailspin. He all but had friggin’ stars in his eyes.

  His phone dinged in his pocket. “Excuse me.”

  “Of course.”

  He stood up and walked a few feet away from their spot. It was only a text that came in, but it was a good excuse to step away, give himself some space and some air for a minute. Yet another reason to have his head checked. He was outside on an
ideal day and all he could think was he needed some air.

  “What are you up to?”

  The text from Kate threw him off. He looked around as if she could see him and Baylee and what had just happened. Impossible. She was on her honeymoon.

  “Seriously? You’re checking in on me now?”

  “Yes. I am. I’m your sister. It’s my God-given right to bug you.”

  Drew rolled his eyes. When would his siblings leave him alone?

  “I’m never going to leave you alone, Drew.”

  Good Lord, the woman was relentless. As well as a mind reader.

  “If you must know, I’m having lunch with Baylee.”

  That ought to throw her off. He hit send before he thought that one through though. Crap!

  “What? Are you serious? That’s great! No. Wait. No it’s not. Drew, You canNOT start something with Baylee. You live in New York. She doesn’t. She’s not cut out for your life. The fame. The attention.”

  Tell me something I don’t know, little sister.

  “Give me a little credit. I’m not an idiot.”

  Even though he was a complete and total idiot. Baylee turned her head towards the sun with her eyes closed and wiggled her toes. Drew groaned. Friggin’ killing him. Beautiful, smart, confident, sexy, generous... all these things he knew about her and in only a couple days’ time. Like a moth to the flame, he had a gut feeling he was gonna get burned by the fire. And yet he was willing to march into it, flames and all.

  His phone dinged again.

  “No, you’re not an idiot. But you’re vulnerable right now and Baylee has a lot on her plate. Tread. Carefully. Brother.”

  “Go be on your honeymoon. I’m fine. And I’m blocking your number.”

  “Pshhh. As if. You are an idiot.”

  “I love you too.”

  “Love you.”

  Drew didn’t block Kate’s number but he did turn off his phone and put it back in his pocket. He took a deep breath. His sister was right. He was an idiot, and just dumb enough to head back towards Baylee, more than willing to go down in flames.