Chapter 6
I t was a familiar feeling, a week later, sitting in the passenger seat of Alex’s SUV.
He’d turned on the seat warmers since the night had turned cool, and Lucy felt like a million bucks.
She had raided her sister’s closet again for suitable attire, not being entirely sure where Alex would take her on their date.
She’d asked him a few times when he called during the week to catch up, but he would only say it was a surprise.
She had seen pictures of Alex and past dates at the fanciest restaurants in town, places that would make that gala look like a fast-food joint.
Her hands twisted in her lap and she tried to dry them on her wrap so the dampness from her palms wouldn’t show on the green silk wrap dress she’d borrowed from her sister.
Alex glanced over and took her hand, giving it a comforting squeeze. “Did I tell you how amazing you look tonight? Good enough to eat.”
He winked at the double entendre, and she blushed heavily, remembering their time in the closet.
As if she could forget. It had played over and over in her dreams every night since then, helped along by some pretty heavy phone sex with Alex.
She’d been busy all week with holiday events, so they hadn’t been able to get together until this weekday night when she finally got a breather.
She couldn’t think of a better way to spend a night off than with him.
Maybe it wouldn’t end with dinner, either.
“You never told me where we were going,” she chided gently.
He grinned. “You’re dressed perfectly. I wanted it to be a surprise. This is one of my favorite places and I hope you like it as much as I do. It’s kind of an inside team place. Although Dylan might have shared it with you.” He frowned as he considered that idea.
She shrugged. “I doubt it. Why don’t you tell me, and I can let you know?”
He laughed, the rich sound filling the vehicle. “Nice try. I’ll take my chances. Besides, we’re almost there.”
She peered out the window. “We’re near the stadium. Are we eating at the clubhouse restaurant?”
He pulled into a small street a few blocks from the stadium, in a neighborhood filled with older homes, many of which that had been converted to businesses of some sort.
He parked and helped Lucy out of the SUV.
They walked up the brick-lined street to one of the houses.
A few people milled about, some seated on wrought iron benches as if they were waiting for their table.
“This is the Harper House, home of the best fried chicken in all of Savannah. Miranda, the owner of the team, told me about this place, and all the players started coming here a couple of years ago. Trust me, it’s well worth it.”
Lucy took in the older woman who bustled around the hostess station, wrapped in a multi-colored caftan.
She wrapped Alex in a hug, then turned to Lucy.
“So, this is your mysterious date for the evening. I’m AnnaMae Harper, owner of Harper House.
It’s a pleasure to finally meet one of Alex’s women.
” She leaned forward and enveloped Lucy in a hug. “He’s never brought one here before.”
The initial shock of coming to a small family restaurant evaporated in an instant, and Lucy hugged the woman back, feeling right at home. “I’m thrilled to be here. I confess, it’s my first time. I can’t believe I never heard of you before.”
“We’re the best kept secret. Now, my granddaughter will show you to our special room, set up for you both for some privacy. Annabelle?”
Another young woman appeared from the side room with menus and escorted them through the surprisingly open floor plan to a table set for two tucked in the back.
It had a candle in the center and the shadows dancing on the wall lent the small corner a romantic atmosphere.
Alex pulled out her chair and Lucy settled in, checking out the gorgeous interior.
Alex ordered some wine, and the server disappeared. “Home run?”
“Grand slam. I confess, I was very nervous about tonight, then a little insulted that you didn’t take me to one of your typical places.”
She wasn’t proud of it, but she felt she owed him her feelings.
He’d driven past the downtown region and the high-end restaurants, places she knew he’d taken other girlfriends and where he’d been photographed.
She’d wondered if he didn’t think she was classy enough for those places.
To be honest, a small part of her wondered the same now.
Judging by the shocked look on his face, it had never occurred to him to go there.
He took her hand and peered into her eyes. “Lucy, I have never brought anyone else here. Honestly, this place is like home to me. The people are like my family. To all of us on the team. They fiercely protect our privacy and treat us like family. Can you picture Candice in a place like this?”
Lucy glanced around and realized that this was a piece of his heart and soul he was sharing with her, hoping she would respect it and love it like he did. She gripped his hand. “I love it. It’s perfect. You couldn’t have brought me to a better place.”
The look of relief that crossed his face almost made her laugh out loud, and she fell a little more for him.
In this moment, she realized how much he was coming to mean to her and how much he had let her in, even in the short time since they’d admitted to themselves that there was more to this relationship than friendship.
And tonight was a turning point. He was showing her a part of himself that he’d shown no one else.
He wasn’t Alex Rasmussen the ballplayer, but Alex Rasmussen the man.
They had gone far beyond a fake date or a casual connection.
This was getting very real, and she needed to decide how far she would let him in.
Did she trust he would never hurt her like everyone else in her life?
He’d encouraged her dreams, helped her with no questions asked the minute she called, and offered unconditional support.
It didn’t hurt that he was damned sexy, and it had taken everything she had not to drag him home with her after the Santa breakfast and tie him to her bed.
He already far exceeded every man she’d ever dated.
She’d be crazy not to pursue this further, even as a part of her kept screaming, why me ?
No, she was going to shut that voice down and live in the moment. She wanted Alex Rasmussen, and she was going to have him.
D ating Lucy had been such a unique experience.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d actually relaxed and had fun on a date.
Every other dinner or event had been stiff, tense, and all about waiting for when the cameras would flash, the media would pounce, or when the diva would show up.
He’d never realized how much of his life had been spent playing to the media and to an image.
He’d come to Harper House in the past, with other players or with his family, when they visited. It should have been a red flag that he never brought them to the one place where he felt at home. Not even the woman he’d considered asking to marry him. Why had it taken him so long to figure this out?
He gazed across the table at Lucy, who chatted with the wait staff and never once berated anyone.
She laughed with AnnaMae, and he realized he was falling for her.
No, that was too simple. He’d fallen for her a long time ago.
His brain was only just now letting him know what his heart had already figured out.
Lucy was the right woman for him.
He could imagine introducing her to his family, spending the holidays together, and relaxing after a road trip with her.
She wouldn’t whine about his trips or how she was too tired to go out.
She understood and yet had her own life and interests to pursue.
Yes, this felt right. He just needed to explain it to Dylan, his friend and teammate.
And he’d pray the man understood that this wasn’t a fling or a fake dating thing, not anymore. This was for real and for keeps.
Assuming Lucy felt the same. He wasn’t at all sure of her, and it scared him to death.
An older couple stopped by the table and Alex started to introduce Lucy, but she greeted them by name. “Judge and Mrs. Henderson. How nice to see you again!”
He frowned at her but quickly smoothed out his expression when the judge glanced at him, extended his hand to shake.
“You’re a lucky man. Lucy saved us the other night when we needed a photographer for our firm’s holiday event and the annual photos.
Our usual photographer got the flu, and I remembered you introduced us to your lovely date at the gala the other night. ”
Alex nodded, shooting Lucy a look. “I didn’t know she helped you with that. So glad she was available.”
Lucy flushed a deep red but said nothing more.
They made some idle conversation and the judge and his wife left a few minutes later, after Lucy promised the photos in a week.
Alex picked up the drink menu and studied it, even though he knew it by heart and they had already ordered, ignoring the way Lucy tried to get his attention.
“Aren’t you going to ask?”
He lifted an eyebrow. “Ask what?”
“You introduced us at the gala and Mrs. Henderson asked for my card. I assumed it was for a family portrait. I didn’t think you’d mind. Besides, you knew I was going to make some contacts.”
Of course. That was the carrot her sister had dangled in front of her to convince her to go.
Savannah and Dylan had told him that. He had no reason to be pissed.
She wasn’t using him like Candice, not exactly the same way, at least. It was just one event.
She hadn’t even asked him to do anything. It wasn’t like it was a full-time gig.
“Alex! I didn’t expect to see you here tonight.” Jason Friar, head of player development and his wife Stacia, their head of publicity, stood next to the table. Lucy shot him a look, and Alex just smiled.
“Just felt the need for some comfort food. This is Lucy Monroe, Savannah Prosser’s sister.”
Lucy shook hands with the other couple. Jason leaned over to talk with Alex about some workouts with the team, and Stacia pulled up a chair and chatted with Lucy.
Lucy pulled out her phone and was showing something to Stacia, and Alex tried to see what it was, but Jason kept his attention.
After about ten minutes, they said good night.
“I’m sorry about that. I didn’t expect to see anyone from the team here. What did you and Stacia talk about?”
Lucy shrugged. “Nothing much. She had worked with Savannah on some of the Bark in the Park events and I helped Savannah with the photos, so we talked about that. Just making conversation.”
“Oh.” He put the weird misgivings aside, trying to forget the last time Candice had met Stacia and the hard sell she’d put on Stacia to let the team sponsor a product from Candice’s company.
Yeah, that hadn’t gone over well, and Jason had spoken to Alex about it.
He put aside his suspicions about Stacia and the Hendersons and focused on what mattered.
That there was something developing between them, more than he had ever had with Candice.
And neither of them would jeopardize that with stupid suspicions.
“Are you ready to go?” The candlelight cast a warm glow on her skin, and he really wanted to leave baseball behind and spend time with Lucy—alone.
A sexy smile crossed her face. “I was ready two hours ago.”