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After racing to the stadium and weaving through the crowd, my armpits need a bath. Great, I’m sweating more than a football player in Miami. I want to surprise my boyfriend. Wait. Is Tackett my boyfriend? He never asked. I said we’re a “thing.” We’ll straighten that out later, but for now I need to get to Megan so I can get a field pass.
I head up to Megan’s office but she’s not here. Her assistant, Kandi, hands me a bright yellow lanyard with a Sharks field pass so I can get on the field. It also lets me get into the tunnel to the locker room.
I make my way to the VIP suite to find Megan or Archer. When I walk in, the baseball power couple is standing with Hagan and some other guys. Somevery hotguys. Hagan sees me and immediately leaves the conversation.
He comes at me like a guided missile, wrapping me in a tight hug. “I thought you had to work.”
“Electricity went out. Something about a transformer and the electric company said it would be hours, so they let us go.” I clap my hands in hopes that Tackett wants me here. “I can’t wait for Tackett to see me.” I grab his hand and drag him toward the door. “Let’s go down and see him.”
“I think there are some people you may want to meet first.” His hand lands on my back, urging me to the gorgeous circle of men.
Archer looks around the circle and says, “Gentleman, there’s someone I want you to meet.”
The dark blond wearing a navy and white thin stripe performance polo with a smile so familiar says, “No need.” He takes a step in my direction. “You must be Talynn.” I reach for his hand to shake but pulls me into his sturdy chest.
“Umm, yeah. And you are?”
“The much better-looking older brother.” He waits for his words to register. My mouth opens as I shake my head. “Jayson.”
Scanning his face, I should have made the connection right away. He’s an older version of Tackett, but his eyes are more gray than blue. “Nice to meet you. I’m going to hang out by the dugout with Hagan. You’re more than welcome to join.”
“Nic, this is Talynn, my brother’s roommate and Megan’s sister.”
Oh, good lord, there needs to be a law against more than one Adonis in a room. It’s too much. Nic works for ESPN. First, he’s Italian and all the bravado that goes along with it. He seeps sexy through the television screen.
“Hi.” Then he looks to Jayson and questions, “I thought Tackett lived at Wilson Shepherd’s house. Kaylee and I were going to come down a few months ago but Wilson said that your brother was living there.”
“The hurricane destroyed his house, so Tackett moved in with me. I need to go see him before the game starts. Let’s go, Hagan.” This time I pull him out of the room and down to the stands. Soon Jayson and Nic join us.
Tackett’s standing by the dugout swinging his bat. The circular weight on the end doesn’t slide off.How?It’s a hot day in Sarasota—not to mention humid. These afternoon games when the heat is at its peak, ninety-four degrees today, must be draining for the players.
My phone buzzes again. This time I take it out and see the last two missed calls are from Colin, my ex-boyfriend from high school. Immediately a text from him pops up.“I’ve called you three times. Call me, I want to talk.”I slip my phone back into my back pocket. I don’t need to call him—everything I want and need is on the baseball field.
Finally, Tackett turns around, surveying the stands. I didn’t notice at first, but there are girls lined up against the half-wall screaming his name. “Tackett, over here. Tackett will you sign my shirt?”
My alpha-hole comes out without warning, and I shout, “Towles, I can’t wait to play our game tonight.” His head whips around, greeting me with a smile to last a lifetime. It shocks me so much that my hands fly up tenting my nose and mouth. Hagan grabs my hand and waves it for me.
To my surprise, Tackett struts over in those tight white pants that show both butt and bulge in all their glory. The train of girls start flying over to my spot.
“Hey babe. I didn’t think I would see you until tonight.” He extends his arm and I take his hand as he bends me toward him. The sharks circle us, and Tackett shoots me a cocky grin. “Ladies, I’ll sign all your stuff, but right now, I need to kiss my girl.”
What? His girl?
My frizzed-out hair hangs over one side as he gives me not one but two open-lipped kisses. The girls scream, and I melt. Just melt like the ice cream in the little boy’s hand beside me.
He asks all the kids to form a line by me.
He wants to be close to me.
He talks to his brother and Nic while penning his name on balls, mini-bats, programs, and the occasional shirt, although he only signs on the back side. He looks back at me before walking to the dugout, and says, “Whatever it takes.”
I mouth back, “Whatever it takes.”
Rain could be pouring down right now but it wouldn’t be wet enough to extinguish the fire that’s building inside me. Not in my core, but in my heart.
ChapterSeventeen
TACKETT
