Page 79 of Under Pressure

If it helps her feel more comfortable, then she can continue to use Ruthie as a scapegoat for the feelings I know she’s growing for me. What she’s asking me to do is go on a date with her, even if it’s not one-on-one. I wouldn’t turn her down even if my arm were hanging out of its socket, which, luckily for me, it isn’t.

The game was easy. I only threw ten pitches to get my three outs, and the singular ball call was one Wes probably could have challenged and overturned. It was a perfect game from ourentire bullpen tonight, so yeah, why wouldn’t I want to celebrate with my girl? Even if we’ll be surrounded by a bunch of older women who I have no doubt will have a million questions for the both of us.

“So, are there rules?” I ask, flashing her a teasing grin.

She chokes on her reply, bewildered blue eyes jumping to gawk at me. “What?”

“Are there rules? I don’t want to embarrass myself tonight. Ruthie’s approval means a lot to you.”

“It wouldn’t berealapproval.”

“Semantics.”

“You really wouldn’t mind?”

“No, Quinny. I wouldn’t mind spending my night with you.”

She drops her gaze to her lap. I take a second to look at her, finally alone and without distractions. Having her here beside me is ten times better than up in the stands with her attention spread between all the girls. I spent most of my time in the bullpen watching her and wishing that she’d stop talking to everyone else so she could keep her attention on me. It was selfish, but I’ve accepted that when it comes to Quinn, I’m a greedy bastard.

I want to be the one person she can’t look away from and the man she wants to spend every moment of every day with. In a crowded stadium or an empty room, I need her to search for me. I’ll be waiting with my arms open.

“Don’t get any funny ideas,” she warns, but there’s no real heat in it.

“Me? As if.”

“Right. Because you’re totally innocent, right?”

I wet my lips. “Yeah, I’m a goddamn saint, baby.”

Her hum is so sarcastic that I can’t help but laugh. She has her head leaning back against the seat and rolls it toward me, exposing her smile. It’s possibly the softest I’ve ever seen her look. The most at peace, like maybe she’s just as happy being here with me as I am with her.

“You hungry?” I ask, already turning toward my favourite burger place.

She notices where we’re going and makes the neediest noise in the back of her throat. My jeans tighten around my frantically swelling dick. I wring the steering wheel and force myself not to beast out and rip it out of the dash.

“I’m starving. Brielle was all about stadium dogs, and I thought I was going to hack chunks all over the people in front of us when I tasted the one she forced me to get. I never want to taste that mixture of toppings again.”

I clear my throat. “Yeah? What was on it?”

“Whatwasn’ton it?”

“Ah, shit. Yeah, next time, I’ll show you the good stuff. I’m surprised Aubrey didn’t get you something better. She’s pretty picky about her stadium food.”

“Fear not, she promised to show me the poutine place the next time we go.”

My heart lurches, snagging in my throat. “Did she?”

“Yes, thank God. I probably would have written off ever eating at another baseball game if the hot dog was the peak of the food experience.”

“Did you try a Kellan Crush?”

“A what now?” Sounding a bit disturbed, she gives me a weird side-eye.

“The drink. It’s the Havoc specialty drink this month. I think it’s blue raspberry lemonade. Comes in a limited-edition strawberry-shaped cup with ‘Because Every Fan Has One’ written on the front.”

There’s a pregnant pause before, “You’re actually kidding. That’s what Sara was drinking.”

Her laugh bursts free so loud it forces mine out alongside it. My grip on the steering wheel wobbles a bit before I straighten out in the drive-thru. Quinn’s cheeks are flushed by the time I’m forced to order and roll my window down. I’m grinning the entire time I speak to the guy on the other side of the receiver.