“Abbi.” She took it.
“Great to meet you, Abbi.” He held on a little too long, a touch too tight, too. That was a good thing, right? Except she didn’t like the feel of it.
“You too.” She nodded and pulled her hand back. “So you’re a regular?”
“Absolutely,” he laughed.
Jeez, she was actually getting somewhere. Nadia’s no-failure tip had been right. Except—now what?
“You here with friends?” he asked.
“Yeah, at the bar.” She stumbled over an explanation. Should have thought of that first.
“Leaving you free to talk to me.”
“It would seem so.” She racked her brain for something to say. “You’re a big Giants fan?”
Duh, given the club shirt and cap and the fact that he’d already told her he was a regular supporter, that’d be a yes.
“Sure am.” He moved. “You’re gonna be cheering for my team tonight, right?”
Uh. Though the room was filling up, Pete was now standing just a little too close. She could smell his aftershave. It was good of him to think of personal hygiene, but it was a little strong. It wasn’t as nice as the freshly showered, soapy smell of—
“Abbi?” Joe slung his arm along her shoulders. “You need a drink?”
Startled, she jumped. His hand tightened, pulling her closer.
“I’m Joe.” He nodded at Pete. “Lost track of my special guest there for a minute.”
Could he be any less subtle? And could she be any more stupidly relieved? But she sent Pete an apologetic smile.
“Yeah, well, you wouldn’t want her to get lost given it’s her first time,” Pete answered, his expression souring.
“No, I wouldn’t,” Joe replied, his smile more a baring of teeth.
“I better go find my guys.” Pete stepped back.
“Enjoy the game,” Joe called after the guy as he disappeared into the crowd.
“What was that?” Indignant, mostly with herself, Abbi turned toward Joe, trying to ignore the fact that the movement brought her too close to him. There was that fresh soap scent and as for the wall of heat? The solid wall?
“What?”
Oh, now he looked all innocent?
Abbi shook her head. “You just cock-blocked me.”
“I—what?” He laughed—but it was a surprisingly humorless sound.
“You did. You scared him off.” She lifted her hand and gave his chest an ineffectual shove. “I was getting somewhere.”
Joe’s innocent facade suddenly sharpened, his smile falling to reveal a set look about his mouth. “Only because you didn’t stop staring at the guy.”
“He didn’t seem to mind.” She lifted her chin and tried to take a step back but found she couldn’t. When had Joe’s arm tightened to prison strength?
“Of course he didn’t,” Joe half snorted. Keeping her close, he turned and walked them out of the room into the quieter corridor.
“I really was doing okay.” Not that she wanted to do any better, mind. But that wasn’t the point.
Joe shook his head. “No trying to run before you can walk.”
“Pardon?” She bridled, but was glad to get out of the crowded, wicked-hot room.
Joe walked her farther along and then into a doorway on the opposite side of the corridor. Abbi frowned as she took in the small room.
“You were making it too easy for him.”
“Too easy?” Her jaw dropped and she whirled back to face Joe, who was now leaning against the door he’d just shut. A burst of anger sizzled in her veins. “Maybe I wanted easy.”
Fire flashed in his green eyes.
“Maybe all I wanted was to touch first base,” she said rashly. “You can’t hit a home run without rounding first base.”
“No?” He reached out in a swift movement, his hands descending on her waist and he tugged her toward him. “Let’s talk first base, shall we?” His eyes locked on her lips. “I don’t see first base as exciting.”
“No?” Heart tripping, Abbi looked up at him, carefully pressing her palms on his chest and determinedly not licking her lips—no matter how dry and needy they felt. First base sounded like a great idea to her. His lips on hers? His tongue?
“No. Here’s why I prefer basketball—”
“You’re saying that in baseball HQ?” she interrupted, unable to restrain a small laugh.
“I don’t mind taking risks,” he answered, his grin chasing away the intense expression of a second ago. “And the thing I like about basketball is the creativity it offers the players. I can go for the behind-the-back pass, jump over, strip, swipe, tip in… I think it’s more fun when you don’t know where the player is going to go…as opposed to boring old ‘first base.’”