Not so much her words but the way she said them made me laugh. As if I was a total dolt for not realizing.
“Okay, you have a point,” I said. “But would you still like to go out Sunday night?”
“Yes.”
“Great. I promise to take you somewhere I’m not so recognizable.”
“Well, you did a good job last night,” she said. “I figured we would have been interrupted all through dinner, but I had you all to myself.” She sucked in a shocked breath. “I mean—”
“I’m gonna stop you there because I liked that last sentence.”
“Yeah?”
“Mmm Hmm. I liked having you all to myself too. Especially at the end.”
Her breathing sounded louder in my ear. Hopefully because she’d enjoyed our kisses as much as I did and not because she’s about to have a panic attack.
“That was nice.”
Thankfully it was the former.
I was up...literally up...half the night thinking about my mouth on hers. It’s been a long time since I ended a date with just a kiss, no matter how amazing. It’s also been a long time since I kissed a woman who didn’t either try to take charge or play coy little games. And I really liked it. I really like her.
From the moment I first saw Karen, I felt something special between us. When she kept turning me down when I asked her out, I figured it was a one-sided thing and she just wasn’t interested in me. But now that I know she is, I’ll do everything I can to move this relationship forward.
“Good.”
I was going to say something about repeating it Sunday night but didn’t want to make her uncomfortable. Besides the fact I’m the first guy she’s gone out with since losing her husband, I’m only the second guy she’s gone out with ever. So she’s basically a dating newbie and I don’t want to scare her in any way.
“I have the perfect place in mind and you can dress casual,” I said. “Will six-thirty work again?”
“Yes, but can you pick me up at my office instead of at home? Chloe will probably take Jeremy out to eat after his game but they’ll end up at my house. And I don’t want him wondering why my car is in the garage.”
“Okay.”
I agreed to her request, and I definitely understand, but I don’t want to have to sneak around. We’ll have to figure out where this is going sooner rather than later so we won’t have to. My time in St. Pete is limited. Before you know it, the season will start and I’ll be either in Myrtle Beach or playing around the country. I need to know where I stand before that happens.
Karen
* * *
My dad pulled into the parking lot and looped around to the entrance of the complex to drop me off. My parents had come to Jeremy’s earlier game, then the three of us went for lunch off site.
“You’re sure Chloe is coming?” my mom asked.
“She’ll be here in about a half hour.”
“We can come in and sit with you until she gets here,” she said. “I’d hate for you to be alone.”
“No, you guys go home and relax. Dad needs to lie down on the heating pad so his back feels better for your ride home Wednesday.”
My father has arthritis in his back from an old injury. Normally it doesn’t affect him too much but when he drives too long or doesn’t rest it properly, it really bothers him. His famous quote used to be, “Old age doesn’t come alone, but it’s better than the alternative,” but he stopped saying that after Jason died.
“Are you sure, honey?” he asked.
“I’m positive,” I said and leaned over the seat to give them each a kiss on the cheek. “I’m normally at these games alone so I’m used to it. But Chloe will be here soon and until then, I have the other parents to talk to if I get lonely.”
I stepped out of the car and my dad popped the trunk so I could grab my chair. I slung it over my shoulder and waved goodbye as I walked through the gate of the complex. Jeremy’s next game is at the farthest field so I made my way there and found a spot in the shade to set up my chair.
They’d won their game this morning and will be playing in the final championship starting in about an hour. I sat down and spotted the team huddled outside the fence of left field watching the game in progress. The winner of which they’d be playing.
Jeremy pitched this morning so he’ll probably be playing shortstop for this whole game, which I’m happy about. I’m getting used to him being on the mound but I still haven’t had to watch him pitch a championship game.
With nearly an hour to kill, I swiped open my phone and pulled up the book I’d started reading last night. I’d been so into it then but now I just can’t seem to focus on the words and it has nothing to do with the noise of the screaming fans surrounding me. My mind keeps wandering to Dale and our last date, which of course has me wondering what we’re doing tonight. He’d told me to dress casual so I’d stuck to skinny jeans, a cute top, and flat sandals.
I’m not gonna lie, I’m also thinking about that kiss. I spent the past few nights tossing and turning, my feelings about it bouncing back and forth. Obviously my variety of experience is limited, but Jason and I had done a lot of kissing, so I know a good kiss when I feel it. And when Dale’s lips touched mine, it felt like I’d shoved my finger into an electrical outlet. You can’t fake or manufacture that kind of connection.
“Hey.”
I jumped at Chloe’s voice. I’d been so lost in my thoughts, I hadn’t heard her approach or set her chair up next to me or sit down.
“So, do you want to tell me what you were just thinking about or do I have to guess.”
I know better than to play dumb or try to lie.
“From the look on your face, I’m guessing you know what I was thinking about. So why even ask?”
“Because it’s fun messing with you,” she said as she crossed her legs and shifted toward me. “I’m just happy thinking about Dale has your cheeks flush and a smile on your face instead of giving you a panic attack.”
“You caught me at a good moment.”
“I’m not even gonna comment on that.” She sat back in her chair. “So where are you guys going tonight?”
“I’m not sure but he told me to dress casual.”
She looked at me, her eyes skimming me from head to toe.
“You look nice.”
“Thanks.” The wind blew my hair in my face and I dragged my hands through it and twisted it into a bun. “Hey, would you French braid my hair? It’s driving me crazy today and that’ll look nicer than a regular ponytail.”
“Sure.” She stood and held out her hand. “Hand me your brush.”
Chloe doesn’t have a doubt that I have one. She always says I could survive for a week with what I have in my “mom purse.” I reached down and dug around for my brush then handed it to her.
I sat up straight as she stood behind me and brushed the knots out of my hair.
“Did Jeremy decide what he wants for dinner?” she asked.
“La Mesa if you’re up for it. He said he wants a burrito and chips and queso.”
“That sounds good. I could go for a taco.” She tugged gently on my hair as she started to braid. “And it’s good you know where we’ll be so you can stay out of the area.”
“Oh God, I didn’t even think of that.” I started to turn my head to look at her.
“Sit still.” She tightened her hold on my hair to keep the braid from unraveling as I shifted to face forward again.
“Sorry.”
She finished the braid and secured it with the elastic that had been wrapped around the handle of the brush.
“Thanks.”
“You are very welcome.” She handed me the brush as she sat and looked me over again. “You look great. Casual but put together. So you should be ready for anything he has planned.”
“I hope so.”
“Are you still really nervous?”
“Sometimes,” I admitted. “I alternate between being excited and being nervous...or something.
I don’t know. When I’m with him, I feel comfortable and relaxed. It’s been that way since I met him. I feel like I’ve known him forever. But then I remember that he’s Dale Montgomery and on top of everything else, it freaks me out.”
“Kar, he’s just a guy. And your friend Hannah said he’s a good guy. So stop thinking of him as something more than that,” she said. “As far as everything else, you’ll work that out as you move along. Just take it one day at a time and see what happens.”
From her mouth to my brain. Because if I’m being honest, it’s not guilt over moving on or the fear of getting involved with someone new that’s kept me up the past few nights. It’s the fear of falling for Dale...really falling for him...and getting my heart broken. I’m not sure I’m ready for that.
Chapter 11
Dale
* * *
I followed the GPS to the address Karen had texted me and pulled into the parking lot next to her Subaru. I’d shifted into park when she walked out of the building. I quickly turned off the truck and got out.
“Hi.”
“Perfect timing,” she said. “Jeremy’s last game got over about an hour ago so instead of going home, I decided to come right here and get a few things done. I just finished up when you pulled into the lot.”
I bent down and kissed her on the cheek.
“I could have met you earlier.”
I ushered her around to the passenger side of the truck and opened the door.
“Oh,” she said and stepped on the running board and climbed into the truck. She sat down, but not before I got a nice eyeful of her delectable ass in those skinny jeans. “This actually worked out great. I got some things done that I would have had to do first thing tomorrow. So now I don’t have to come to the office before my showing at eleven.”
“Gotcha,” I said. “Just remember for next time.”
Her eyes widened. I smiled and closed the door then jogged around the front of the truck and slid behind the wheel.
“So, how did Jeremy’s tournament go?” I asked as I started the truck, backed out of my spot, and turned left out of the parking lot.
“It was good. They made it to the championship game, but lost four to two,” she said. “But Jeremy’s team was the youngest in the tournament, so the fact that they got that far was great.”
“How’d Jeremy do?”
“Friday night, he hit a single and a double and struck out once. There were two games yesterday and he walked all four times he batted in the first one, and had two singles and flew out to center field in the second. Today he pitched the first game so he didn’t hit and he had a triple in the last game. He struck out and popped out to third base the other two times he batted.”
“How’d he do on the mound?”
“Pretty good. He pitched all seven innings and only gave up two runs and had one walk. They won five to two.”
“That’s great. He said he enjoys it.”
“He does.” She chuckled. “I have a nervous breakdown watching him, but as long as he’s having fun.”
“You sound like my grandmother when I used to pitch.”
“Really?”
I nodded. “She used to sit there with her hands covering her eyes the entire time. She said it was because she was afraid I was going to get hurt but I think she thought I was going to screw up.”
“As a parent who’s living through it, I’d say it’s half and half. I mean, I keep picturing a line drive hitting him in the head but I’m also afraid he’s going to get lit up every time he steps on the mound.”
“Oh ye of little faith.”
“I’m getting better. It’s just new. He’s never pitched before.”
“I really would love to come watch him play sometime.” I glanced at her quickly before shifting my eyes back to the road. “Does he have games anywhere that I’d be able to watch away from the crowd or from the parking lot?”
From the corner of my eye, I saw her nibbling at her bottom lip as she thought.
“One of the travel ball teams he plays against holds their tournaments at three separate fields instead of an actual complex like the others. And the fans are spread out a little more since there’s more room.”
“Any idea when he’s playing there?”
“Let me check.” She pulled out her phone. “Next weekend and then two weeks after that.”
“I’m playing next weekend but I’m not sure about three weeks from now.”
She swiped her finger across the screen a couple times. “You don’t have a game on Saturday that weekend.”
I couldn’t hold back my smile at the fact that she has my schedule in her phone.
“Then I’ll put it on my calendar.”
That’ll give me a few weeks to convince her that I’m serious about this thing between us and maybe let Jeremy know we’re seeing each other. I realize this is just our second date and that’s a big step, but I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. From the first moment I saw Karen, I knew she was different. For two years, I’ve waited for her to give me a chance and now that she has, I don’t plan on blowing it.
She put her phone back in her purse and looked around.
“Where are we going anyway?”
“To grab some of the best local fare in the area.”
I’d just finished my sentence when we came up on the exit. I turned off and followed the winding roads to the roadside shack. It’s definitely more casual than our first date but I thought a picnic followed by a walk on the beach would make for a nice, relaxing night.
I pulled into Jimmy D’s parking lot. The place doesn’t look like much from the outside, but the food is amazing.
“I’ll be right back,” I said to Karen.
I left the truck running and stepped out, closing the door behind me. I’d called ahead and placed an order so we wouldn’t have to wait. I’ve had two meals with Karen now and she doesn’t seem to be a picky eater, but I’ve ordered a variety of items just to ensure there’s something she’ll enjoy.
They were just finishing up my order when I approached the window so once I paid, it was ready to go. I grabbed the bag and walked back to the truck and opened the tailgate to stow it in the bed, securing it next to the cooler I’d packed with drinks.
Karen was looking out the window, taking in the area, when I got back in the truck. She looked over at me.
“I’ve never been out this way before.”
“My friend and teammate, John Kasprzyk, lives out here. He’s the one who introduced me to Jimmy D’s.”
I pulled out of the parking lot and drove the few miles to our final destination. Turning off the road, I veered toward the left instead of going right to park in the driveway. The blacktop ended and things got a little bumpy as the truck ambled over the grassy, sandy terrain. I spotted the wooden deck area and parked just behind it. The sun had already set but the moon was full enough to illuminate our surroundings.
“I thought a picnic on the beach would be nice.” I looked at her short sleeves and reached into my back seat, grabbed a sweatshirt, and handed it to her. “Here. There’s a heater on the deck, but it might get a little chilly.”
She took it from me and hugged it to her chest as I stepped out of the truck. She’d already opened her door by the time I walked around to her side, but I held her hand as she stepped down. Her eyes swept back and forth, taking it all in.
“Do you own this?” she asked, glancing at the house in the near distance.
I opened the tailgate and grabbed the bag, cooler, and blanket then slammed it shut.
“No, that’s Kasprzyk’s house. He’s letting us borrow the deck for the night.”
Tossing the blanket over my shoulder, I tucked the cooler under my arm, and held out my hand for her to take. The fact that she did, without hesitation, made me smile.
We walked the short distance to the deck area and I set everything I’d been carrying on the table.
“Have a seat.”
I pulled ou
t one of the chairs facing the water and she sat, still holding on to my sweatshirt. Reaching into the large bag, I pulled out the containers of food one by one and set them on the table along with plates, napkins, and plasticware the restaurant had provided.
“Oh wow, that smells delicious.”
“Wait until you taste it.” I waggled my eyebrows, making her chuckle. Opening the cooler, I asked, “Water or sweet tea?”
“Sweet tea, please.”
I grabbed two bottles and set them on the table before setting the cooler on the floor. Walking to the other side of the deck, I switched on the heating lamp and turned it on low before joining Karen at the table.
“I got a variety of food, so it’s kind of our own private buffet.” I opened each container in turn and named each item. “Help yourself.”
“Everything looks delicious.” She reached for a fish taco. “I’ll start with this.”
“Good choice.” I followed her lead, but I picked up two tacos, knowing I’d finish the first one in two bites.
We ate in silence for a few minutes, enjoying the food and the sound of the surf.
I was happy to see Karen sampled everything I brought and she liked it all. We’d emptied some of the containers and put a good dent in the others when Karen dropped her fork on her plate, picked up her napkin, and wiped her hands.
“That was all so delicious, but I can’t eat another bite.” She sat back and finished her sweet tea.
“I’m glad you enjoyed it. Jimmy D’s is definitely a hidden gem.”
I reached under the table and grabbed the bag the food had come in and filled it with the empty containers. While I did that, Karen replaced the lids on the others.
“It’s so pretty here. And quiet.”
“The seclusion is one of the things that made Kasprzyk buy the house. He’s married with four kids so they wanted somewhere they could enjoy themselves away from the crowds.”
“It must be tough, being recognized everywhere you go.”
Swing and a Kiss: Carolina Waves Series Book 4 Page 9
