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BROOKE
Watching Ben jog away, I wondered what the hell I was thinking, wanting to spend more time with him and his adorable little girl. My chest still ached from our conversation. He’d been too close to the truth. He was asking questions I never wanted to answer.
Why couldn’t he take my answers at face value? Didn’t most men prefer women who were anti-commitment and didn’t want a relationship? Of course, I didn’t exactly want a one-night stand either. I wanted to avoid men for as long as I could. I wasn’t ready to jump back in or take that leap. I wasn’t sure I’d ever be ready.
Cammie and Hunter tossed a ball back and forth. Hunter tried to throw it as hard as he could, sacrificing accuracy, while Cammie ran to chase it.
All too soon, Ben was running toward me.
He wasn’t even out of breath. I wanted him to be the typical businessman with a slight paunch, winded and out of breath. Instead, he looked perfectly in shape after jogging. He pulled to a stop in front of me with a huge smile. “You ready to play?”
“I don’t have a glove.”
“I figured. I grabbed one for you, too.” He handed me a leather glove, and I tried it on.
“Good enough for now,” he said once he saw it fit, then he turned toward the kids on the field.
“You want to bat first or field grounders?”
“Bat,” they both yelled at the same time.
“You want to stand on first?” Ben asked me. His stance was relaxed, and his expression eager. He looked so different than when he was discussing business.
I scanned the field. “I think first base.”
“Have you ever played?”
“No, but I watch a lot with Hunter. He’s obsessed.”
“Sounds like my kind of guy.” Ben winked at me, making my stomach do a little flip-flop.
His statement warmed my chest. I didn’t have to imagine how he’d be as a dad because I already knew he was great. If I dated him, he’d be one more person in Hunter’s life who was a positive influence. A male role model was something Hunter desperately needed.
Why was I even considering the possibility of dating Ben?
Ben walked with me to first base. He demonstrated his foot on the base with his gloved hand stretched out. “You stand here. When I field the ball, put your foot on the bag and lean toward me like this to catch it.”
Standing so close, I caught the twinkle in his eye. He was enjoying it. “Yeah, okay.”
With a nod, Ben lightly slapped his glove against my shoulder and jogged to the mound. “Who’s up first?”
Warmth spread through my chest as I watched him.
“Me,” Cammie said, coming forward with her bat.
“Oh, a leftie. This is going to be a tough one.” Ben had fallen into his role as pitcher.
“Daddy!” Cammie said, giggling.
The warmth in my chest spread from my sternum to my stomach. It was filling me everywhere, making me feel a little lightheaded.
Cammie eased into her batting stance, and Hunter crouched down behind her as the catcher.
Ben adjusted his baseball cap, his gaze on Hunter and his glove against his chest. He shook his head once, then nodded with a smile.
Glancing at Hunter, I saw he had one finger pointed down between his legs. Was it some kind of secret sign? He moved to hold his glove sideways, giving Ben a target.
Ben stood straighter, mimicking the pose I’d seen the professional ball players execute during the games Hunter always had playing on the TV. He wound up and let loose. Since it was Cammie, his pitch was more of a lob than a fastball.
