In His Bed(28)
Lea sucked on the straw so hard the thin plastic tube almost collapsed. “He’s a good tenant. He mows the yard, keeps the pool cleaned up—even does some of the dishes. You know, helps around the house.”
Stacey’s soft expression relieved the tension. “Good, I knew it was a great idea. He’s a good guy.” When Colin straddled home plate Stacey stood up and clapped. Lea couldn’t help but crane her neck so she could get a better view of his position.
The pitcher wound up and sliced the ball through the air. Colin swung and the ball flew. Lea clapped and stood to her feet wanting to jump up and down but not wanting to draw too much attention.
Colin’s powerful muscles clenched and released under his uniform as he ran all the way around to home plate. He stopped after passing the umpire. Catching sight of her standing in the bleachers, he waved.
He leaned down, resting his palms on his knees, breathing from the effort. She squinted through her sunglasses, her stomach dropping as he pointed in her direction and mouthed for you. Lea glanced over at Stacey who was telling Rachel all about the great the play.
Lea grinned, sure her cheeks were pink. She sat down, confused by the way her heartbeat sped up. The agreement was nothing more than a sexual affair, a way for her to feel the excitement she’d craved for so long. Nothing more.
Having a relationship was the furthest thing from her mind, especially with a man Colin’s age. Besides, it wasn’t plausible. Two people with an age gap like theirs could never work, even forgetting the fact he was Stacey’s son. They were at different places in their lives. Nothing more. She pressed her hand against the spot on her chest where an ache had settled.
She filed the thought and turned her attention back to her friends while Colin disappeared into the dugout. The rest of the game was spent cheering and clapping, yelling at the umpire, and listening to Stacey brag about her son.
As the sun disappeared over the horizon, lights at the ballpark flickered then lit up the field. The end of the game kept them cheering and clapping as the last of the runners slid their cleats over home base. Colin’s team won. Lea felt her chest swell. Her man had led the team to victory like a stallion. Damn, that turned her on, but these days anything having to do with Colin made her blood heat and her panties soaked.
Colin’s cleats clicked against the metal bleachers. He set the black duffel bag on the bleacher. “Food. I need pizza.” He set his eyes on Lea. “Where are we going?”
Lea swallowed a gasp. With Stacey standing beside Colin, Lea thought she was going to have to crawl under the bench and cry. She had to think fast or he was going to reveal everything with a simple glance.
Trying to defuse Colin’s intense gaze, Lea turned to Stacey. “Do you guys want to go get something to eat?”
Stacey checked her phone. “I have to get home,” she said, pulling Colin in for a hug. “Your dad should be home by now. I have to make sure he survived the motorcycle ride. Next time?”
Colin kissed her on the cheek. “Sounds good.”
Rachel talked to Scott then said, “We’re hungry. Amy’s watching Nick. Let me call and check on them, but it should be fine. As long as we bring home a pizza, they won’t maul us when we walk through the door. It’s a zoo having a fifteen and eleven year old.”
Lea smiled, trying to hide the hurt. She would’ve had the same issue, but her body hadn’t been ready the two times she’d gotten pregnant. Losing the pregnancies had been emotionally draining, but when she’d found out her ex was having a baby with his secretary, her heart had fallen through the floor. They’d tried several times after the second miscarriage, but when nothing happened, the doctor had told her to give her body a break then the bottom dropped out of her marriage.
“Hey,” Colin said, dipping his head and gently running his hand along her lower back. “I’ll follow you over to Pizza Chef.”
Stacey looked up from rifling through her purse and Lea shrugged away from Colin’s comforting hand. “I’ll talk to you guys tomorrow,” Stacey said and stepped over the bench to head back to her car.
Rachel tugged her purse strap over her shoulder and said to Colin, “Nice moves out there.” She glanced over at Lea and winked. Lea huffed and picked up her purse. “I mean, when you guys bend over to wait for the ball, that’s so exciting. You know? The anticipation of the ball headed your way.”
Lea snorted. She knew exactly why Rachel found those bent-over ball players so exciting and it wasn’t the anticipation of the incoming softball. Colin glanced at her with a confused expression on his face. He wiped the sweat from his brow and said, “Yeah, it’s fun and intense.”