Page 54 of Double Play

“Okay,” I whisper, leaning my head against the cinder blocks at my back one more time. I have no idea what I’m agreeing to, but this is one opportunity I’m not letting slip through my fingers.

Declan Wylde wants me. At least for now.

Surprised as much as me that I’ve just agreed to spend time together, Declan leans forward one more time, arm extended beside my head.

“Seal it with a kiss.” His mouth curves, salacious yet sexy.

“Now, you’re really pushing it,” I state, poking my finger into his chest.

“I’ll be pushing, alright.” He winks. Then his expression turns more serious, and he presses off the wall. “Just don’t pull away from me.”

My mouth pops open to argue, while Declan checks right then left, and steals a kiss from me after all.

One that’s too quick and too sweet and leaves me plastered to the cinder block wall wondering what the hell I’m doing.

twenty-three

. . .

[Declan]

The timing was perfect because the All-Star Games were taking place in Atlanta for the next four days, leaving those of us not involved in the event with four days off.

Montgomery just so happened to be away at camp for these days as well, so I had four days to convince India that we could work. We could be each other’s secret because it was no one else’s business what we did outside of Music City Park.

I needed a circuit: a single, a double, a triple, and a homerun, which was no small feat to pull off in one game.

Like I told India, though, I wasn’t playing. My brother’s words had sunk in.

I’ve been given a second chance at bat with India, and I didn’t intend to strike out.

I respected the hell out of India’s concerns for her job. I didn’t want to risk anything that might jeopardize her career. Selfishly, however, I was willing to do whatever it took to prove to her we could be something.

The night after she agrees to a private date, I arrive at her home with grocery bags in hand.

“What? No flowers?” she teases, her smile extra wide as she takes in all the items in my arms.

“I didn’t take you for a flowers kind of girl,” I quip, although I have no idea what I’d base that opinion on. Our history happened during winter, when the ground was covered in snow.

“What woman doesn’t love flowers?” she continued to tease me.

“Next time.” I wink before setting down the bags. “Instead, I brought you a plant.”

I remove the wine-red leafed plant from a paper bag and hold it out to her. “It’s called a wildfire plant.”

“You’re kidding.” She lifts her head, taking the plant from me.

“Nope. Read the tag.” I couldn’t resist when I saw it.

Slowly, she smiles as she lifts the sedum to her nose. I doubt it has a scent other than warm dirt, but the look in her eyes is priceless.

“What else did you bring?” She eagerly reaches for the paper grocery bags, pinching her fingers on the edge of one before I playfully swat her hand.

“It’s dinner, but I need access to your kitchen.”

India arches one smooth brow upward before nodding at the cabinets behind me. Her home is two-stories with a covered front porch. A narrow hallway led us to the back of the house and the kitchen which has dark-blue colored upper and lower cabinets and a matching island that’s small, but considering the space, it works. The house is located on a quiet block, and I’d noticed a handful of kids playing basketball a few houses down from hers.

“This is a great location.” The neighborhood is still considered Nashville proper, but more family oriented and secluded from the touristy areas downtown.