Chapter 13
What did she just say?
Moving my hand from her lower back, I raised it and cupped her cheek. “Can you repeat that?”
Her eyes darted around the room. “What are you doing? People will talk.”
“I don’t care, Sommer. Tell me you agree with me. If you don’t want to say it here, then name the time and place. I don’t care if I’m in the middle of a windup on the mound.”
“Really?”
My chest rose and fell at a quicker and deeper rate than usual. “Yes, really. But if you don’t want witnesses, then tell me, your place or mine? Because we will be having this conversation.”
“Fine. My place.”
“Let’s go.”
“Now?”
“Can you think of a better time?” Realizing that she probably could, I took the reins. “Yes, now.”
“But—”
“No buts. Come on.”
Rather than put my hand on her back or take her hand in mine, she followed my cue and walked next to me until we got to the table.
“Thank you for a wonderful evening, Mr. and Mrs. Bennett, but I should be going. I have a game tomorrow.”
Mr. Bennett stood and shook my hand. “Thank you for being here and for your donation.”
“It was my pleasure.” I turned to Sommer. “Thanks for the dance. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“I should probably go too. I have a lot of work to do.”
“Can I walk you out?”
“That’s a fine idea. Good night, dear,” her grandmother offered with enthusiasm. If I were a betting man, I’d say I had an ally in Mrs. Bennett. Sommer kissed her grandparents and said a quick goodbye to everyone, but it didn’t surprise me that her parting with Lola had been the quickest.
I nodded to the table and swung my arm forward. With Sommer leading me out, I nodded to Remington, who was dancing with Meg. My entire body vibrated with anticipation. Meanwhile, a tornado of thoughts swirled around in my head. Doing my best not to jump to conclusions, I decided to wait before saying anything.
“Did you drive?”
“No, I hired a car. It’s waiting for me.” She rattled off her address. “I’ll meet you there. Give me a ten-minute head start.”
“Okay.” The valet walked up to us, and I handed over my ticket. He hustled away, and a few minutes later, my black Alfa Romeo pulled up along the curb. Sommer walked to the other side of the valet’s stand, and once inside my car, I programmed her address into my GPS. Throughout the entire thirty-minute drive that should have only been twenty, I rehearsed a few things I wanted to say to her that would ease her worries about us ... or at least I hoped that would be the case.
When the robotic voice announced my arrival, I turned into the driveway of her modern cottage-style home, killed the engine, and got out. The nighttime summer air had me yanking one side of my bow tie until it hung loosely around my neck. Standing on her porch, I rang the bell, and it didn’t take long for her to answer and steal my breath away.
“Hi, come on in.”
Stepping inside, I glanced around at the plush sofa and chair before turning toward her. “Nice place.”
“Thank you. Can I get you anything?”
“No, thank you.” I ran my hand through my hair. “I’d rather pick up where we left off.”
Sommer nodded. “Okay. Look, I was thinking?—”
“Hold on. Don’t say it. Let me tell you what I’m thinking first if that’s okay.”
She nodded. “Since I won’t be able to stop you, go ahead.”
Those beautiful green eyes softened, and I took her hands in mine. “From that day you walked into the conference room, I’ve felt a connection to you. I could easily say that you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen, but it’s more than that that draws me to you. You’re smart, you love your family, baseball, and you don’t take any of my shit.” Her lips lifted at the corners, bringing a small smile to my face. “I know I’ve said some of this before, Sommer, but it’s worth repeating. We’d be so good together. And before you say that it can’t happen because of who I am and who you are, you’re wrong. It can happen. If you tell me you don’t feel the pull between us, then fine, but be honest with yourself and give me a shot to prove to you that we belong together.”
Sommer’s gaze lowered to the floor before rolling up again to meet mine. When she shook her head, I had a feeling her words weren’t going to be what I wanted to hear, but rather than stop her, I gave her the same courtesy and let her continue. “You’re different than I thought you’d be. Well, not everything, because I still think you’re sarcastic and like to push my buttons.” I absentmindedly stroked the back of her hands with my thumbs. “I can’t lie and say I don’t feel something for you. Tonight, I was a bit put off when Lola flirted with you. And my reaction to that bothered me more than anything else.”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t know what to do about it. And since we’re being honest, the last ballplayer I dated used me for my name and connections.”
“Sommer, I have no reason to do that. I’m already part of the Hawks’ organization.” An unwelcomed thought entered my mind. “Is he on the team?” I mentally ran through the roster to figure out who it could be. I’d slam the fucker into next week if he hurt her.
“No, he wasn’t pro-level talent. Probably why he thought I could help.” She made that sour-candy face again, and now I knew why. I also knew I’d never want to see that expression directed at me. “But it’s more than just my past; it’s my future. The risk is too great. I don’t expect you to understand. It’s different for you.”
“Why? And how is it different?”
She slowly pulled her hands away and took a step back. “Because what you do is one-hundred-percent visual. Everyone who watches the sport knows that Jimmy Hall is one of the best. It doesn’t matter who you’re related to. Your numbers speak for themselves. That’s why it is so important to keep your image clean. But for me, it’s different. For me, I need to prove to everyone that I’m a serious player in this business and that it isn’t just because I’m a Bennett. I deserve to be the GM and one day take over the team. Legacy is great, but like you, I can’t tarnish my reputation.”
“And being with me would do that?”
“Let me ask you this, what if we got together and it didn’t work? What if the public found out about it and had a field day? It could affect both of our careers. Is it worth it? You have a multimillion-dollar contract, you’re young, and if you keep playing like you are now, your name will be in record books. You’ll be someone that kids aspire to be.”
On the one hand, I could see her point, but on the other hand, it was bullshit. “Okay, let me ask you this, what if it did work? What if, like you agreed earlier, we set the world on fire? You immediately go to the negative.” Sommer nibbled on her bottom lip. Taking a step forward, I cupped her cheeks and ran my finger across her lip until it was free from her teeth. “I think I should go. But let me leave you with this. What if we did this and no one needed to know ... just for now. We’ll see each other either here or at my place. We’re working together, so being seen around town wouldn’t be out of the ordinary. Then once you realize what I already know, we’ll come out ... so to speak.”
“A secret relationship? What if we’re not even compatible?”
Fuck it.I took her face into my hands and crashed my mouth onto hers, fusing our lips together in a way I’d wanted to since I first saw her. Sommer whimpered, and when I thought she might push me away, excitement sent my pulse racing when her arms coiled around my torso, pulling me closer.
Her lips parted and our tongues met for the first time, tentatively exploring each other. Her warm breath tasted like the champagne we’d had earlier, mingled with mint and something that was all her. It didn’t matter that I couldn’t decipher what it was, but I could easily become addicted to it.
When her hips pressed forward, it blew any chance that I could hide what kissing her did to me. My rock-hard dick was example number one. And I had zero doubt she couldn’t feel my raging heartbeat against her soft chest. Adding fuel to that fire, enticing images of her beneath me while I worshipped her body vividly flashed in my mind. The mere thought of bringing her pleasure had me pulling her closer to me.
What would sex with Sommer be like? Would she take charge like she did at work? Or would she let me take the lead? The latter was more my style, but at that moment, if she wanted to tie me up and ride me into next week, I’d hand her the rope.
My fingers slid farther back and tangled in her soft hair. Breaking away for a moment, I kissed her neck from the soft spot behind her ear down to the hollow of her collarbone. The tip of my tongue tasted her, and I couldn’t stop myself from gently sucking her heated skin. She shimmied, and tiny goose bumps formed along the trail I left behind before bringing my lips back to hers.
God, I could kiss her all night. Sommer’s hands moved forward and fisted the lapels of my tux jacket. And just when I thought she would shove it off me, she pulled away, breathless. Those plump lips were fuller. Her face was flushed, and her chest rose and fell as though she had just finished a sprint. Meanwhile, my heart beat wildly in my chest, ready to burst out and fall at her feet.
“I thought you said you weren’t going to do that until I asked you to?”
“Plans change. Are you upset with me?”
She stared at me and tilted her head to the side. “I should be. Except your surprise kiss makes me wonder why I’m not.” An automatic smile appeared on my face. “But if we do this, then we need to keep it to ourselves. The kiss was great.” Damn straight it was.
“So now what?” Sommer took a deep breath into her nose and out her mouth. “Just tell me what you’re thinking.”
Silence filled the tense air around us for a few very long seconds. The only sound I could hear was the pendulum keeping time on the grandfather clock.
“You have to understand that this isn’t something I expected, and I’m a planner. Things like this tend to throw me off. That being said, I do like you. And I do think we have chemistry. But ...”
Here it comes, I thought, waiting for her to put the kibosh on it.
“We can see where this goes. But no one can know.”
“I’m cool with being your dirty little secret ... for now.”
Sommer rolled her eyes.
“Remington will probably figure it out. That man knows my moods better than I do. How about we can tell one person?”
She nodded. “Fine, but swear him to secrecy.”
“Are we good now?”
“Yes.”
“Great, then I’m going to head home. You’ve left me in a bit of a predicament, and since I’m trying to be a gentleman here, I think it’s best if I go.”
I silenced Sommer’s giggle with a swift kiss.
“Good night, Sommer.”
“Good night, Jimmy.”