13. It’s Getting Hot
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Brooke
It’s Getting Hot
W hy did she allow Tyler to get under her skin, and why was she letting Dalton teach her son everything he knew about baseball? And why did he want to?
“Mom, did you know Dalton played baseball when he was in high school?” Max called out to her from behind the fence where the ball machine lobbed balls for him to hit.
“Yes, baby, I think I do recall sitting at a few of those games.”
“That’s so cool. He’s going to teach me how to pitch too.”
She looked up to find Dalton’s arms flexing as he loaded more balls into the machine. His hair was matted from the heat, and then without warning he lifted up the hem of his white shirt to wipe his brow, and she was forced to notice his rock-hard abs. She couldn’t look away, so when he dropped the hem again he caught her staring. His smile faded and the look in his eyes told her he was thinking the same thing. He wanted her as much as she wanted him, but that was off the table. She wasn’t going to get embroiled in some hookup while he was in town and then watch him leave again.
“What happened? What’d I miss?” Max’s voice squeaked.
She broke eye contact first and looked to find Max with his helmet on, holding his bat and standing at the plate waiting. His head bounced back and forth between Dalton and her as he tried to figure out what they were communicating to each other.
“Nothing happened,” she said in a husky voice. Even she had to admit that it sounded like a lie.
“Then why were you looking at Mr. Dalton like he did something you like?”
Heat blossomed up her neck and into her cheeks.
“Your mom just likes the fact that she’s sitting over there in the shade while I do all the work,” Dalton said, after clearing his throat and fighting a losing battle with the most gorgeous playful smile she had ever seen. He winked at her before facing Max again. “Alright, little man, square up that stance. Good. You ready?”
“Let it rip!” Max yelled.
Dalton flipped the switch and then stepped out of the cage to watch. He coached Max with a few remarks on when to swing and then sat next to her. His manly sweet scent surrounded her.
“Any chance you wanna go swimming after this? We could all cool off a bit,” Dalton said.
“Not a good idea. I appreciate you giving Max so much attention, but I probably shouldn’t have even agreed to this. Now he’ll be hero-worshiping you even harder and wanting to see you more.”
“What’s wrong with that? I like teaching him about baseball and we had fun reading earlier. He’s an awesome kid,” Dalton said.
“I know, he’s amazing. But he’s already confused about the father figures in his life, and I don’t need to add one more who won’t be sticking around. I have to protect him.”
“Okay, then when can I see you again?” he asked, turning his baby blue eyes on her.
“Dalton, I rarely get time to myself and when I do it’s not to…” She didn’t know exactly what he was asking for. Was it a date? Sex? So she just waved her hand toward him.
“You don’t spend time with friends?”
“Sure, but usually it’s in the form of a playdate or my sister. I don’t date. I don’t spend time with men unless they’re my coworkers or family.”
“What about Miles? He seems to get to see you a lot.”
“He’s my ex-brother-in-law, so quasi family.”
“I’m not convinced that’s all he wants to be.”
“And what are you asking for, friendship?”
He grimaced and hung his head for a beat before meeting her eyes again. “For starters, forgiveness and friendship,” he said, and she had to look away from the intensity of emotion she found in the swirling depths of his blue eyes.
She could still feel his eyes on her and she let out a breath, trying to relax her shoulders. “You’re forgiven, Dalton. My childish disappointment that you left without saying goodbye felt like a bigger deal fifteen years ago. I know you didn’t mean to hurt me, and you didn’t owe me anything.”
Dalton’s warm, rough hand landed on top of hers on the bench in the dugout next to the batting cage. His fingers skimmed over the back of her hand, sending a shiver over her entire body. It took only one simple touch.
“Well, I’m sorry anyway, and I’m sorry for myself because now you’re set on not giving me a chance at all.”
“A chance at what?” she couldn’t resist asking.
He threaded his fingers with hers. “Whatever this is between us, because it feels exactly like something we’re not supposed to ignore.”
“I’m out, I need more balls to hit!” Max called.
“We better head home for lunch anyway—you need to rest a little before your big game,” Brooke said, standing and letting go of Dalton’s hand.
She knew exactly what the connection was with Dalton: it was lust. And after their makeout session in his truck she couldn’t deny she felt it, but that didn’t mean she should act on it again, did it? On the other hand, she’d played by all the rules, gotten married, and still ended up with a broken heart. Maybe she was due to find out what a “friends with benefits” type of relationship had to offer.