Total pages in book: 74
Estimated words: 69911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 69911 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 350(@200wpm)___ 280(@250wpm)___ 233(@300wpm)
“So, your girl’s hot,” Drew says when I set two bottles of beer in front of him.
“Her name is Larissa,” I remind him.
He holds his hands up like he didn’t mean to offend me. “Good to see you back in the game, brother,” he says before taking a long pull from his bottle.
“I’m not back in the game. It’s not a game, and if it was, I could say I never left. I don’t make a sport of dating and hooking up.”
“Not now.”
He’s right. When I was a rookie, I ate that shit up, but it got old, and it’s hard to hear Mom call and ask about “all the women.” I hate to hear the disappointment in her voice. I’ve heard whispered stories about my dad and my uncles and their antics all my life, but I’ve never really seen that from them. They’ve always been madly in love with their wives. My grandparents are the same way too. I grew up surrounded by couples who are blissfully happy. I’ve had my fun, not that I’m against more of it, but one day I’d like to find someone to take home to my family.
“Good choice,” Drew says when the girls join us. It’s an old Aerosmith song, “Dream On,” that you can’t help but sing along to.
Chloe points across the table. “That’s all Larissa. She’s the music guru.”
“What’s your favorite genre?” I ask.
She smiles over at me. “All of it. Well, I’m not much on the super heavy metal stuff. It gives me a headache. Other than that, I’m a fan.”
“Really? You go to a lot of concerts?”
“Not really. No time.”
When the song changes to Cole Swindell’s “Middle of a Memory,” I can’t fight my smile. Standing, I offer my hand to Larissa. Drew catches on and does the same with Chloe.
“What?” Larissa asks, her green eyes staring up at me.
“Dance with me.”
She looks around nervously. “There’s no dance floor.”
“Doesn’t matter.” Drew and Chloe head to the darkened corner, leaving us alone. “Dance with me,” I repeat. Reluctantly, she places her hand in mine and allows me to guide her to the same corner Drew and Chloe disappeared into. My hands on her hips, I pull her close and sway to the music. I listen to the lyrics and think about how they relate to me, to us in this very moment. There is something about this girl that grips me.
“I feel like everyone’s watching us,” she says, glancing around.
“Hey,” I whisper, and wait until she’s looking at me. “There’s no one watching you but me. It’s just us, right here, right now. Making memories.” I wink, and her lips tilt in a smile.
“Are you always this charming? Or just when you’re on the prowl?”
“On the prowl?” This girl is a ball buster.
“Yeah, isn’t that what you’re doing? Trying to sweeten me up so when you ask me to go home with you later, I’ll go willingly?”
“Are you suggesting that I would force you to go otherwise?”
“Not at all. I just meant, if you’re sweet and charming, you assume my answer will be yes.”
“Would it be?” I know the answer is a resounding no.
“No.”
“Good thing that’s not what I’m doing then, huh?” I give her hip a gentle squeeze.
“Right.” She laughs. “I’m the first baseman for the Tennessee Blaze, and we’re making memories,” she coos, mocking me.
I don’t bother to hide my grin. “So, you think this is all talk, just to get you into my bed?”
She shrugs. “If the shoe fits.”
“We fit,” I say, pulling her tight against me. The subtle hint of warm vanilla assaults my senses. Her hands, which were resting against my chest, snake up around my neck. I could pull out my phone and type my name into the search engine and prove her wrong, but I don’t. Instead, I sing along to the song, my voice just low enough for her to hear. I like the thought of just being Easton to her. I like it a whole hell of a lot.
When the song is over, I don’t let go. She’s going to have to be the one to break this connection. It’s been too damn long since a woman has felt this right in my arms. Then again, has it ever felt this right? Chloe appears beside us and pulls Larissa with her to the restroom. I watch them disappear down the hall before going back to our table. Back at the table, Drew sets three fresh beers down, keeping the fourth for himself.
“We’re getting ready to head out,” he says.
“You and Chloe?” I clarify. I’m not leaving here until Larissa does.
“Yep,” he says, popping the p and grinning like a fool. “I’m sure they’re discussing it now.”
“Ready?” Chloe asks, sneaking up on us.
“Got you another.” Drew points at the three bottles on the table. I have yet to touch mine.