2. Nicole
NICOLE
I drain the rest of my drink and try to keep my gaze off Guy Brody.
He’s only a few tables away, and I can’t believe no one else has noticed him sitting there. He isn’t fooling me, even if he swapped his Jasper Bears hat for a camouflage one with a patch that says Brody Ranch.
I would know the man anywhere. He’s a legend when it comes to baseball, and I know baseball.
I don’t notice the two men standing behind him until I see Guy talking to them. That’s when I realize my date for tonight is here with a friend, and they’re both pointing and smirking at me.
I barely resist rolling my eyes. Who brings a friend on a date anyway?
I think I’m going to give up on the Pick Me app. Or maybe it’s just me. No matter how carefully I choose the men I match with, I can’t seem to find one who appreciates my curves in person.
I watch as my date and his friend walk away from Guy and disappear into the crowd.
Well, there goes that.
I have half a mind to get up and introduce myself to Guy, but I quickly change my mind. He comes across as a nice guy in interviews and videos, but I’m not sure my ego can handle another hit tonight.
I gather my purse and try to wave down the waitress when Guy starts walking toward me.
Run. That’s my first thought, but I’m frozen. All I can do is stand here and gawk as he walks straight toward me. He’s even bigger up close. His shirt is stretched across his broad shoulders, and women’s heads turn, looking at him as he walks by.
He stops in front of me and tilts his head. “Hey, Nicole.”
My eyes widen. He knows my name. “Uh…”
He holds his hand out. “I’m Guy Brody. It’s nice to meet you.”
I blink at him. “I know who you are.”
His mouth lifts at one corner. “You know who I am?”
I place my hand in his. His grip is firm, and once he has hold of me, he doesn’t let go.
He stares into my eyes, and I can feel my cheeks heat. I barely resist fanning myself with my free hand.
I nod toward the tables behind him. “Was that my date you were talking to?”
Guy nods. “You can do better.”
I pull my hand from his. “Is that right? How do you know?”
He opens his mouth and then closes it.
I nod. “Right. I’m guessing he showed up, didn’t like what he saw, and decided to leave?”
Guy’s jaw tightens. “He was talking shit, and I told him to get the hell out of here.”
My cheeks burn. “Talking shit, huh? What did he say?”
He just stares at me.
I let out a bitter laugh. “Come on. I’ve heard it all before. It doesn’t bother me. I know what I look like.”
His gaze moves down my body. “I don’t think you do.”
My breath catches. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He takes a small step closer. “It means whatever he was saying didn’t make any sense to me.”
“Guy.”
“He was talking about fucking you, though, and I shut that down quickly.”
I tilt my head, trying to figure him out. “So you’re a cock block. Is that it?”
He rolls his eyes. “Whatever. I saved you.”
“Saved me?”
“I’m sure he wouldn’t know what to do with you anyway.”
A laugh escapes me. “Is that so?”
He nods like there isn’t any question about it.
I’m not sure what to make of him. This definitely isn’t how I imagined tonight going when I agreed to meet someone from a dating app.
I pull my purse strap onto my shoulder. “Well, thanks, I guess.”
I take a step away, but Guy moves with me. “Wait. Let me take you home.”
Surprised, I point over my shoulder. “I’m staying at the hotel next to the stadium.”
His eyebrows lift. “You’re not from around here?”
“Not yet. I’m moving here, but my apartment won’t be ready until next week, so I’m staying at the hotel.”
He looks like he’s about to ask another question, so I point to his camouflage hat. “What’s with the hat?”
He touches the brim and tugs it lower. “What’s wrong with it?”
“Nothing. I just figured you’d be wearing a Jasper Bears hat.”
He smiles. “You really do know who I am.”
I roll my eyes. “Anyone who knows anything about baseball knows who you are.”
He holds his arm out to me. “Then you know it’s safe to let me walk you back to your hotel.”
I stare at his arm. I should probably say no. Walking anywhere with Guy Brody seems like the kind of decision that I’ll probably regret later.
Instead, I loop my arm through his.
He immediately pulls me closer to his side, and the warmth of his body surrounds me. His hand closes over mine where it rests on his arm.
We almost make it to the door before someone calls out behind us.
“Hey, it’s Guy Brody!”
Guy mutters a curse and starts walking faster, bringing me with him. A few more people shout his name, and his grip tightens as he guides me through the door and onto the sidewalk.
He doesn’t slow down until we’re halfway down the block and I’m nearly out of breath. “Do you always move that fast?” I ask.
He stops and turns toward me. “Sorry about that.”
He reaches up and brushes a strand of hair away from my forehead. His fingers linger against my cheek, and I lean into him.
“It’s fine.” I point past him. “My hotel is right there.”
He looks at the Regency and then back at me. His eyes narrow. “How old are you?”
I straighten. “Twenty-three.”
He tilts his head back toward the sky and groans. “Too young.”
I blink at him. “What?”
“You’re too young.”
Surely he didn’t mean that the way it sounded. “You’re what? Thirty-four? Thirty-five?”
His eyebrows lift. “You really do follow baseball.”
“I follow enough.”
He searches my face. “I’m thirty-six.”
I shrug. “Okay.”
His eyebrows lift. “That makes me thirteen years older than you.”
I laugh out loud. “I can subtract.”
His mouth twitches, but he shakes his head. “This is a bad idea.”
He steps toward me, and his hand goes to my waist. His fingers dig in, and I lean into him.
He looks down at me like he’s fighting with himself, and I suddenly understand exactly what he’s thinking. “I’m not going to sleep with you.”
His fingers flex against my waist. “That isn’t helping.”
I laugh softly. “But I do want to show you something.”
“What?”
I place my hand over his. “Trust me?”
He studies me for a long moment before sliding his hand away from my waist and lacing our fingers together.
“Yeah,” he says. “Show me whatever it is you want me to see.”