Turbulent Desires(20)

"You didn't tell me you were a baseball superstar," Mav said as she  edged off the base a couple of feet and waited to hit second.

"We all have secrets," she said, moving another couple of inches toward second.

Then so fast she almost missed it, Jon turned and threw the ball to Mav,  making her drop down and slide back to the base before he tagged her  out. Her forward motion was too fast, though, and she connected with  Mav's legs.

The ball went flying and Mav teetered in the air before toppling over,  landing right on top of her. The breath rushed from her lungs and then  the field faded away as their eyes connected.

"If you wanted me on top of you, all you had to do was ask," he murmured  before closing the gap between them and taking her lips hard and fast.

Lindsey was completely enchanted by him, forgetting all about the game-until she heard the catcalls from the other players.

Mortified by what she was doing, Lindsey pushed against Mav's chest, and  with obvious reluctance, he pulled back, his eyes heated and confused.

"Do you two want some privacy?" Jon called out through laughter.

Mav got his wits back and scrambled to his feet to help her up. The  scarlet hue on her cheeks was enough to guide a sleigh as the game  resumed, along with a bunch of snickers from the guys.

Though there was a lot more flirting going on the rest of the evening,  Lindsey took it in stride. This team was a group of really great guys  with pretty dang big hearts.

When it was all over she was disappointed to leave. But she didn't walk  away empty-handed. The team signed her jersey, insisting she leave it on  while they did it, making her giggle and causing Mav to scowl. They  gave her some baseballs and other gear and told her she'd better come  back and visit them again.

She'd thought dog walking had been the best day ever, but playing  baseball at Safeco Field would be unbeatable. She felt almost in another  world as she rode back to her cottage with Maverick.

She even allowed Mav to hold her hand as he walked her to her door, not  once trying to pull it away. She wasn't sure how the evening was going  to end-or how she wanted it to end. He'd already kissed her a few times  now. And she was sort of hoping for another kiss as they reached her  door.

But then the door swung open.

"Did you two have a good evening?"

Sherman was standing there, holding Princess in his arms as he grinned at both of them ear to ear.

"It was amazing. We played baseball with the Mariners," she told him, feeling all the excitement all over again.

"There's nothing quite like being on a major league field, is there?"  Sherman asked her as Princess wiggled in his arms to be let down.

"Have you done that before?" she asked, taking Princess in her arms.  Lindsey was immediately attacked with kisses as Princess squirmed her  greetings.

"What are you doing here, Uncle Sherm?" Maverick asked as he followed Lindsey into the house.

"I showed up to visit with Cooper, and when the kids got tired I told them I'd watch Princess until you two got home."

"That was thoughtful." Though Mav said the words, Lindsey was picking up  on some weird vibes between uncle and nephew. She wasn't quite sure  what that was all about.

"I'm a helpful guy," Sherman said with a wink.

"I'm sure you two have a lot to talk about this evening. I'll leave you  youngsters alone. I did leave out a bottle of wine for an after-date  drink, though," he said with a sly smile as he gathered up his coat.

"It wasn't a date. We were speaking to the manager about the fund-raiser," Lindsey was quick to point out.

Mav grumbled something that made Sherman smile, but didn't correct her, thankfully.

"How did the meeting go?" Sherman asked.

"Perfectly," Mav said, almost sounding impatient, which confused Lindsey. She didn't want Sherman to feel unwelcome.

"You don't have to rush off. I'm on sort of an adrenaline high right now  from the game and stuff," Lindsey said, trying to fix the situation.  "Would you like a glass of wine?"

"Thanks for the offer, but I have to drive home. Even half a glass is  too much for me these days when I have to get behind the wheel," he told  her. Then he leaned in and kissed her cheek before she could even think  about stopping him.

Lindsey automatically took a step closer to Maverick without thinking  about it. And just like that, Sherman disappeared out the door.         

     



 

"My uncle is quite meddlesome," Maverick said with a laugh as he took a step away from her.

She didn't like the instant feeling of emptiness when he wasn't close. That didn't bode well for her sanity.

"I'm going to take off too. I'd feel better if I see that Sherman gets  home safe and sound. He might not want to admit it, but his eyes aren't  the best these days," Maverick told her.

"You're not staying at Coop's tonight?" she asked, surprised by the  disappointment. When had she gone from not wanting him so close to  almost needing him nearby?

"Not tonight. I miss my bed," he said. Then there was a look in his eyes  like he wanted to say something more, but he began making his way  toward the door and she brushed it aside. She must be imagining things.

"Thank you again for taking me out to the field, Mav," she said shyly,  setting Princess down and following him to the door. He faced her on the  porch and gave her a sizzling look before smiling.

"It was my pleasure," he said, and then he took off at a brisk pace back  to his truck. She watched him pull from the driveway before she went  back inside and sat down, Princess immediately jumping into her lap to  curl up.

Sitting there for a while, she petted her dog, finding the peace she'd  been without for a while. Between Maverick and the dog, she really did  feel like she was letting go of the fears that had held her in their  grasp for too long.

Later that night when she curled up in bed with Princess snuggled to her  side again, she realized Mav was right about it all. These excursions  were helping her in a way nothing else had been able to.

She was beginning to become more herself. And now that she was finding  her happiness again, she wasn't so sure she was willing to let it go.





CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

As good as Lindsey was at pacing, she considering applying to have it  recognized as an Olympic sport. She certainly would win gold if it were.  Chewing on a nail on one hand, she looked down at her other, which was  gripping her phone.

To call or not to call, that was the question. She hadn't heard from  Maverick in a few days. Now that really wasn't much time at all, but she  hadn't really thanked him properly either after her incredible night of  baseball.

The man had taken her out twice on dates-yes, she was admitting they  were dates. He could say it was about the fund-raising, but really,  they'd spent a total of a half hour talking to one donor and they'd  spent hours having fun. He might be sneaky on how he did things, but  really, he was smarter than she would have ever given him credit for.  Her time with him at these events had been fun. He was thoughtful and  considerate, and she had to admit, she had an incredible time when she  was with Maverick.

So how did one thank a person for going above and beyond to make your  day absolutely unbelievable? The only thing she could think of was  baking. She was a great baker. She couldn't cook super well, but she  could bake as well as Betty Crocker.

Was Betty Crocker an actual person? Or was she a brand? Maybe she'd have  to look that up sometime. Ugh! Shaking her head, she continued walking a  circle around the path surrounding the guest cottage.

Her nails were down to nothing, and her phone was hot from being  squeezed so tightly in her other hand. This was so stupid. He'd said he  wanted her to chair his event and she'd agreed. That meant he obviously  planned on seeing her again.

So it wasn't a big deal for her to call him up and invite him over for  dessert. It didn't mean anything, really. It was just a thank you from  her to him for believing in her when a lot of people would have given  up.

She stopped walking and plopped down on the patio chair as Princess  sniffed the bushes looking for a place to go potty. The dog had been  following her the entire time she'd been pacing and was probably  exhausted. At least Princess was getting exercise.

Lindsey looked at the phone as if it were her mortal enemy and then  decided a text message was just as good as a phone call. And that way if  he couldn't come, she wouldn't have to hear his voice. He'd just say  "Thanks but no thanks." Easy peasy.

Now the key was to not sound too dang needy. That she could do. It was  simple. She was just going to give out a quick invite. Still, she  retyped it a dozen times before she finally decided the message was good  enough.

I'm baking today. If you aren't busy, or if you have a sweet tooth, I'll have extra. No big deal.

Before she could change her mind, she hit Send. Then, of course, she  began second-guessing herself. What if that did sound sort of needy? She  was getting ready to send another message that said she might not bake  after all when her phone chimed. Her fingers trembling, she opened the  message.