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Chapter Ten
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Drew pulled up to Baylee’s house on Sunday night, excited as a school kid and nervous as if it were opening day. Their date the other night had ended with yet another stellar kiss on her front porch, which rattled him almost as much as their conversation had. Baylee had a knack for looking straight through any of his BS and having no fear of calling him on it. Well, Kate usually called him on it, but he had zero intention of spilling his guts to his sister. Didn’t seem to have trouble doing so with Baylee though, which confused the hell out of him. In such a short time, she’d gotten under his skin, into his heart, and could all but read his mind.
The past two days of training had been his best so far since his surgery. Even Tyler asked what had gotten to him. It didn’t take a genius to see that Baylee’s little pep talk at dinner had made an impression. Or maybe it was the woman herself changing his mind and helping him throw better. Whatever it was, he liked it. All of it. Spending time with Baylee, seeing her smile, hearing her laugh. Holding her close and kissing her until they were both breathless. His heart sank a little in his chest. He wanted it all. He wanted a chance with her. But how could he? He wanted baseball too. A chance to keep playing and end strong. They hadn’t talked about a long-distance relationship. They hadn’t talked at all, really, about where this was going. Were just enjoying it. He had a few weeks left. Maybe that was where they needed to be. For now. In the moment. Soaking it all in.
His phone dinged with a text.
“You gonna sit out there all night in the car or come inside for some dinner?”
He laughed and looked up to find Baylee waving at him from the front window of her cabin. She’d caught him staring and thinking.
He typed back, “On my way.”
She grinned and moved to open the front door for him. He got out of the car, a paper grocery bag in hand.
“Now, what have you got there?” she asked.
Her hands were on her hips and her blonde curls pulled back with a clip. Man, she was the most beautiful creature he’d ever seen. He reached her and leaned down for a kiss. A soft touch, lasting only a moment but sending a rush through him that went all the way to his toes.
He stepped into the house and she closed the door behind him. “I brought a few things for you and Casey.”
Her eyes lit up. “Really?”
He’d bring her something every single time he saw her if it meant seeing that look on her face over and over again.
“Really.” He reached in and pulled out a book. “I got this at that little book store on Seapoint Blvd. Well Read, I think it’s called. Anyway, it’s a book of baseball stats and information. I thought Casey might like it. I asked the lady who owns the store about the age level. I wasn’t sure where he was on that, but she said she knew you guys and Casey would do fine. It’s a book for kids. And I noticed he reads really well for his age.”
Her eyes watered as if tears were forming and thinking about whether to fall or not.
“What? What’s wrong?” His heart sank.
The book was a bad idea. Damn it! He thought for sure with the way Casey took to all of Vin Scully’s comments and stats about baseball that he’d enjoy a book, but maybe not. Maybe…
Baylee reached out and took the book from his hand, holding it as if it were made of precious material. She ran a hand over the cover. “Drew. This is…this is perfect. Thank you.”
Her eyes found his again and no tears fell. Thank God. Her face lit up from her smile.
“You’re welcome. Are you sure it’s okay?” He searched her face for answers, still unsure of what had just happened.
“No one has ever really thought of Casey like this before.”
“What do you mean?”
She shook he head. “Nothing.”
“No. It’s not nothing.”
“I… just… well, no one beyond Meg has really reached out to him. His teachers are wonderful, yes, and Kate and Maggie and anyone who’s ever met him, but…”
“But the men in your life don’t try to connect with Casey.”
She nodded, sadness returning to her eyes.
He lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. “Casey is as wonderful as his mother. You both deserve the best.” He kissed her then, another soft touch like before but one that lasted longer.
His hand cradled her face, his lips tasting vanilla, spice, all that was Baylee. Like a drug, he couldn’t get enough.
