Chapter Six
JAMESON
I couldn’t really blame Tommy for trying to make a move on Brielle. He’s been trying since she arrived at Titan. But tonight, I think he got it through his thick skull she isn’t interested. I’ve been dying to punch him in the face, but I have to be the bigger person and keep my composure.
There was a light breeze when we went out onto the balcony. “I can see your place from here,” Brielle said with a smile.
“I’ve been enjoying the view here,” I admitted out loud and then immediately regretted saying it.
She turned her body to face me and locked her hands on the railing. “You do have great taste,” she teased.
I wanted nothing more than to kiss her right here and now, then claim her as mine. But I was sure once her mission was completed, she’d move on with her life.
“I find it hard to believe you don’t have anyone at home waiting on you. Why?”
We’d briefly discussed it but never went too deep in conversation about her personal life.
“I’ve dated, but no one stuck out to make long-term plans with. And my career tends to get in the way sometimes.”
“I think you are a great businesswoman. And any guy that is intimidated by it, it’s their loss.”
“Why haven’t you settled down? Your what, thirty-six? I’m sure your mom would love grandbabies.”
“When I settle down, I don’t want to be like my parents. I don’t want work to be my life. I want to be able to spend time with my significant other, and children if there are any in my future.”
“Do you want that?”
“I do. You?”
“Yeah.”
“Do you want to get out of here? I’d like to show you something.”
“Sure. But let’s at least say bye to your mom and Tamryn.”
“Deal.”
The first task was telling Tamryn, and I expected she wouldn’t like me leaving so soon.
“There you are!” Tamryn said when she spotted us.
“I think Brielle and I are going to turn in early. Do you mind if I leave? I can give you a lift home.”
She frowned. “That’s a bummer. I’m going to stay. I’ll get a ride with Courtney.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. Have a good one.”
I put my hand on the small of her back as we made our way to Mom first. “How are you two enjoying yourselves?” Mom asked when we approached her.
“I had a great time. I appreciate you including me to be here. But I think Jameson and I are going to head out early.”
Mom”s eyebrows lifted up like she was surprised, yet she acted like she knew something was up with us. And there wasn’t.”
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I kissed Mom’s cheek.
“Brielle, you should come if you don’t have plans.”
“I’m sure she’s busy, mom.”
Brielle looked at both of us. “I’d love to come.” She didn’t even know what she was being invited to.
“Great.” Mom leaned in and hugged Brielle. As she did that, she mouthed, ‘I like her’ to me. I shook my head.
On the way out, I swiped a bottle of champagne.
“You two kids have fun,” she called out as we turned to leave.
“Did you drive?” I asked her.
“I used Uber.”
“Cool. I’ll drive.” I handed my ticket to the valet and immediately undid my tie and the first couple of buttons of my dress shirt.
The car was brought around and the valet opened the passenger door for Brielle. “Thanks.”
“Have a good night, Mr. Titan.”
“Jameson,” I corrected him.
He nodded, and we headed out.
“Where are you taking me?” Brielle asked.
“It’s a very special place.”
“Sounds secretive.” Brielle smiled. I don’t know why I wanted to show her the place. I never took anyone there before.
After being in traffic for ten minutes, we arrived, and I parked in the back.
“Where are we?”
I smiled. “You’ll see.” I held the door for her to enter, then closed the door behind us. The bartender immediately spotted me. “I just need two tall glasses, please.”
He passed me the glasses.
“Seriously. Where are we?”
“Brews Bats. I own it.”
She looked at me in disbelief. “What do you mean you own it?”
We entered the back and I took off my suit jacket, took my tie completely off, and rolled up my dress shirt sleeves to my elbows. “Thought you knew everything about me, huh?” I chuckled. “I opened this bar with my own money, and around here are the batting cages.” We rounded the corner, and for a Saturday night, hardly anyone was back here.
“Jameson, this is crazy. What does your mom think of this?”
“She doesn’t know. No one does except the employees and a few trusted friends.”
She couldn’t stop smiling. “Well, I think this is genius.”
I smiled back. “I wanted a place to call mine. Somewhere I could come to get a drink and hit some balls to take out any frustrations. A lot of businessmen come here. They pay a small membership fee, and it’s a little private club.” I popped the champagne bottle and poured some into the glasses.
“I love it. And I can’t believe you own it.”
“I do. You ready to hit some balls?” I asked, handing her a glass.
“Hell yeah.”
We both took a sip of our drink, and we got started. “Do you know what you’re doing?”
“Aim for the ball,” she said.
“Can I show you?”
“Yes.”
I positioned myself behind her and put my body on hers. I instructed her on how to hold the bat. My hands wrapped around hers as she held the bat. “You want the bat here and then swing. You want to swing nice and fluid motion; you don’t need a hard swing to hit the ball. Ready?”
She nodded as she focused.
The ball came fast, and with me still assisting her, I helped her hit the ball. “Let’s do it one more time.” We hit the ball again.
“Got it?” I asked.
“Yeah, I think so.”
I released myself and got in position at one next to her. Every four cages were separated by partitions for privacy. In a way, it was private besides overhearing people when they talked. But tonight, we mostly had the place to ourselves.
The ball came, I swung my bat, and I hit the ball hard. I watched as Brielle did her first one by herself. “You got it,” I told her.
Following my previous instructions, she held the bat correctly, and when the ball came, she connected with it, sending the ball back to where it came from. “Oh my god. I did it!” She cheered.
“You’re a natural.”
Out of the next five, she was able to hit three of them. “Want to take a little break?”
“Yeah. I’m sweating.”
We sat at the small table, finished our drink, and poured another.
“This is so much fun,” she said cheerfully.
“It is. If you can’t find me anywhere, I’m usually here.”
“Did you come here that night you went out?”
“Yeah. I even ran into a friend, and we played for a little while. Hence why I came home drunk.”
“Are you going to be able to drive home from here?”
“I’ll call a driver my family uses sometimes.”