Page 43 of Double Play

He swipes his hand along my hairline, brushing back my wayward hair. “Just promise me open communication, India. Don’t shut me out.”

I nod, rolling my lips inward. “I can do that.” Or at least, I’ll try my damnedest when I haven’t always been the best at giving away my feelings.

“You need to scream and shout. Throw things or punch something, you just let me know.” He pats his chest. “Not saying I want you to hit me,” he teases. “But I’ll find a way for you to do all the things you want to do in a safe space.”

“Yeah?” I whisper, feeling sheepish about the rant I went on the other night. I realize asking for a smile wasn’t really asking for a smile in a demeaning way. He just wants recognition, and I don’t really need to be the standoffish bitch I know I can be. I’m friendly with the other guys on the team, why not be more cordial with Declan. Caution has been my motto. I’ve been afraid a smile will give away everything.

I still want him. In the best way.

Admitting to him the final reasons behind my divorce from Malakai was humbling. While my therapist reminds me that the divorce was not my fault, I’d been incredibly embarrassed, and humiliated that my husband, a prominent man affiliated with the Vegas Victors, slept with a college-aged intern working for the organization. People I’d worked with knew about the affair. They’d faced me, sometimes daily, without acknowledging what was happening behind closed doors in my husband’s office.

Malakai was unhappy in our marriage—we were not happy as a couple—but stooping as low as adultery was on a different level of betrayal.

My father being aware of the situation was even lower.

I’d filed for divorced, put in my notice, and hid for almost a year before the offer from The Den came in.

Thankfully, after revealing my worst, Declan treated me like I was the best thing to ever happen to him.

“Yeah.” He smiles, wide and reassuring before lowering to kiss me. I wrap my arms around his neck and tug him closer to me and for a minute he gives in. Then he abruptly pulls back.

“Okay, wildfire. Out of bed. No more letting me use that smoking hot body for sex.”

I laugh, lighthearted and carefree, because if anyone would be accused of using someone for sex, it’s me with him. But I’m not using him. Not in any manner. And he wants to spend the day with me. Take me on a date.

I smile even wider than I think I’ve ever smiled, because I’d like to date him. Even if it is only in secret.

We pack up our things and hop into my rental car, deciding we’ll go directly to the airport at the last minute.

We stop for sandwiches and drinks to take on our outing then park at a local hiking trail. The Denver area is full of them, for all levels of skill and terrain preference. The five-mile one we select will take a few hours, and neither of us is in a rush.

We want to spend time together.

Declan takes my hand at first, lifting it to his mouth, and pressing a kiss on my knuckles before we take off along the gravel path. Certain points along our journey call for us to walk single file and Declan has me walk in front of him during those times, where I don’t miss that he keeps his hand on my lower back if he can.

“You have the sweetest ass,” he says at one point, and I chuckle.

“Thank you?” Glancing over my shoulder, I see him checking me out.

“I just want to take a bite of that sweet flesh.”

I laugh harder. “You did that last night.” With me flipped on all fours, Declan kissed down my spine and then bit my ass hard. As I yelped, he slid into me, distracting me, filling me, and I was pleasantly surprised by the contrast of pain and pleasure.

“Hmm. I’m not certain I’ve had enough.” He catches up to me as the path widens again and wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me close to kiss my temple.

I don’t think I’ll ever have enough of this either. Teasing, playful, flirty moments with him.

“So as long as we are a secret,” he continues to joke. “Truth. Tell me a secret that no one else knows.”

I lick my lips, hesitating for only a second before admitting my dream job. “I’d like to work for the upcoming Women’s Baseball League.”

Suddenly, Declan breaks into the refrain from “The All-American Girls Professional League Song” about being All-American and women in baseball.

I laugh because I can’t believe he remembers the tune or even a few lines from it.

“A League of Their Own,” he says. “I remember it being one of your favorite movies.”

I stumble over my own feet, surprised by the statement, and causing his arm to fall from my shoulders. He takes my hand again.