26. MATEO
twenty-six
I’m losing my goddamn mind.
I walked off that field feeling that special high one gets after a big win. But it had nothing to do with the game and everything to do with the woman in the stands. Having her eyes on me while wearing my jersey.
I couldn’t tell you the names of the players I pitched for tonight, because they were nothing but obstacles in the way of me wrapping this game up and coming home to Isabella.
When I first saw her sitting in the crowd, my heart started to race. I feared that it was all too much, too soon for her. I was ready to have security escort her away and up to whatever suite she felt most comfortable in, since my mother has told me horror stories about some of the women that frequent the family boxes.
But to my surprise, Isabella seemed more than fine. Especially when Torres showed up and didn’t try to treat her with kid gloves. Once I saw the shift in her, I knew it was time for me to do the same.
If she was uncomfortable or needed space, I was going to let her take the lead on that instead of me doing that for her and anticipating the worst.
With each passing day, I see more and more of Isabella’s quiet strength and how she doesn’t need me to coddle her, even though I sometimes selfishly wish she did.
So tonight I went completely off script. I pushed and pushed and waited to see if she truly needed an out.
Instead, what I found was more of the fire that I so love to play with.
All was well, or so I thought. Until I took it too far.
I let myself get too comfortable, and the thoughts that float in my head about her come a bit too close to the surface.
And now, as I step off the elevator and into my home, I have no idea what I’m walking into when it comes to her state of mind.
I kick off my shoes and drop my bag at the entrance.
I know Anna’s been asleep for a few hours, since I called to tell her good night, but I’m not sure if Isa’s stayed up after the long day I’m sure she’s had as well.
I don’t have to wait long to get my answer, since I can see her head popped up over the couch as she watches some reality TV show.
She turns her head slightly, as I reach the kitchen. “You.” Her eyes narrow as I stay frozen in place, not sure how to handle the sudden onslaught of animosity.
“Me,” I answer stupidly.
She stays firmly perched on the couch, only her head visible from where I currently stand.
She points a finger in my direction. “Don’t you start. You’ve already had enough of your cute moments for today. And by cute, I mean tantrums. Which, by the way…” She pushes off the couch to stand, and my mouth goes dry at the sight of her. “Is this now considered a mandatory work uniform? Or only when you get your panties in a bunch?”
I have more than enough rebuttals ready at my disposal, but the sight of her in a tank top, sleep shorts, and my jersey has me reeling.
That, along with that fierce attitude, has me just about ready to buckle and drop to my knees for her.
She takes my silence as permission to proceed with her tirade. She walks around the couch and starts to make her way toward me. Her breasts bounce against her tight tank top, which puts me on alert that she’s not wearing a bra.
Fucking hell.
If she knew how close I was to breaking, she’d be a lot more careful in the way she sways her hips, because the back of my couch is looking like a mighty good spot to bend her over and finally sink into her softness.
Maybe then the madness in my mind would quiet long enough for me to get my head straight.
Though a part of me already knows that if I ever were to get my hands on Isabella, it would be game over for me.
“And another thing. You had Luisa freaking álvarez hand deliver it to me? As if being back at a real baseball game wasn’t sensory overload enough, you go and throw in the queen bee of sports to be a spectator to our little debacle? You’re lucky she’s actually cool, and we’re planning to hang out soon.” Her bare feet come to stand before me, her ire giving the impression that her petite frame is much larger.
Her sweet-pea body wash scent infiltrates my senses. I know exactly what it is because I bought it for her. I had no idea what she would like to use, so I picked the closest thing to me that was expensive and pink.
Big mistake, because I now want to be the person who rinses it off her body.
There must be a shift in my demeanor, because she takes a slight step back.
Oh no, that just won’t do.
I start to circle her. As she turns, she leans her back against the kitchen island.
Perfect.
I move in and grab the edge of the counter on each side of her in an attempt to make sure I don’t touch what doesn’t belong to me… yet.
Her breath hitches slightly as I lower my face closer to hers.
“Are you done?”
“Excuse you?” she asks, her chest rising with each labored breath.
“I said are you done? Because if you are, then this is the point where I tell you I’m sorry and beg for your forgiveness.”
Her lips purse slightly as she gives me a skeptical once-over. “You don’t look very sorry to me.”
I smile. “Because I’m not. Not even in the slightest. And if I could, I’d do it again, Isabella.” I lift a finger and caress the side of her face under the guise that I’m tucking a loose hair behind her ear. I take deep pleasure in noting how goose bumps form along her neck. “So why don’t you go ahead and tell me what I have to do to earn your forgiveness?”
Her head tilts slightly. “Are you fucking with me again? Because I swear to God, Mateo. Half the time, I don’t know where your head is at.”
I groan slightly. “Welcome to the club.”
She gives me another hard look. This one I’m afraid might see too much, but I let her, regardless. She crosses her arms under her chest, bringing her breasts closer to me. I’m just about ready to beg for mercy when she says, “All right, I’ll play.” She straightens up, leveling her cool glare on me. “Two things. First, hire me. Officially. No more—”
“Done. What’s number two?”
“Done? Just like that? No more strikes?” she asks, stunned.
I lower my voice slightly, restraint tight as I say, “Isa, the strikes were never meant for you. They were for me. Let’s leave it at that for now.”
Her lips move momentarily without any sound coming out. Then she continues as if I don’t see the confused yet celebratory look in her eyes. “Okay, yeah. Good. And two, I want the night off next Friday. It’s hard to plan a girls’ night out when I don’t exactly have a schedule. Or even—at least as of five seconds ago—a secure job.”
I tsk as I say, “Haven’t even signed on the dotted line yet, and you’re already asking for time off? Doesn’t seem very professional to me.”
“Neither is my boss’s penchant for caging me in on this very kitchen island, but you don’t see me complaining to HR.”
“You want me to move?”
“You hear me ask you to?”
The little minx. The stirring in my loose track pants has me biting back a curse.
If I don’t move now, I will most definitely be causing an HR violation. And probably break a few laws that only exist in the deep south.
I take a slight step back, bringing my arms across my chest to match Isabella’s stance. I don’t miss the slight pout on her lips when I do. And I vow to kiss it off her face the second I have a less than half-cocked plan to convince Isabella to consider dating me seriously.
I know it’s not just about our attraction to one another. My life comes with baggage and a whole lot of spotlights pointed my way, so I’ve got to make sure I can make her feel safe before she dares take that leap with me.
“Time off approved. My mother has been asking to sleepover with Anna anyway, since I’ll be gone at away games next week.”
Slight surprise overtakes her features. I hadn’t shared my schedule past this week when I initially hired her, but now she’s here to stay.
Hopefully, as more than Anna’s nanny.
“I’ll email you my schedule. I’ll be leaving tomorrow morning and coming back Friday evening. Just in time for your… girls’ night.”
As much as I hate the fact that I might not see her when I get back, I feel relieved that she’s reconnected with friends and seems to be in a much happier place overall since she started working for me.
She nods. “Thank you. Will you be gone by the time Anna and I leave for school drop-off?”
“Trying to get rid of me already?”
She smiles as she shakes her head. “Nah, just wanted to know if Anna will have time to sneak a toy into your away bag or not.”
Damn. She remembers.
Only this woman can make me go from horny to sentimental in two seconds flat. At the moment, I’m both.
“Yeah, I’ll be here to see you guys off.”
“Good. So, uh, I guess I’ll be going to bed now. It’s been a long day.” She starts to shuffle toward her room, facing me as she walks back. As if she knows it’s probably not safe to turn her back on me. Smart woman. “See you bright and early. Good night.” She gives a slight wave and finally turns as she makes it to the hallway that leads to her room.
I should let her keep walking. Let her off the hook for the night.
But the sight she gives me makes it damn near impossible.
“Hey, Isabella?”
She stops momentarily, turning her head slightly to catch my wandering gaze. “Yeah.”
“My last name looks good on you.”
And if things go according to plan, I just might make her keep it.