Chapter 18
If someone had told me that I’d be dating Jimmy Hall, I’d most likely have laughed in their face. Either that or I would have thought they may have lost their minds. Yet, only a few days ago, I’d agreed to be his girl. We were exclusive.
I still hadn’t talked to any of my friends about my newfound sex life. Thankfully, we all had busy weeks. We had sent each other bland texts, but a bombshell like Jimmy being my boyfriend couldn’t be a flippant message. Although the thought made me smile. I could see it now. Oh, by the way ... Jimmy gave me the most incredible orgasms of my life. TTYL!
Maybe I should have sent that. It’d be interesting to see the replies from my besties. Except, I didn’t need to send the text to know what they’d be. Annie would be happy but tell me to make sure I took care of myself. Lila would be excited and would want to hear all the romantic details. And Sarah would ask me how big he was and how many orgasms I’d had.
I giggled and then heard my grandfather’s voice. “What has you in such a good mood?”
In an instant, I felt my cheeks flame red. Nothing like thinking about sex and having your grandfather walk in.
“Hi, Granddad.” I stood, walked around my desk, and kissed his cheek. “What brings you by?” His cologne reminded me of when I used to sit on his lap while we watched a game or when he read me a book.
“Thought I’d pop in and see how things were going with Hall. Mason tells me that there has been nothing bad to report, only good. Believe it or not, even I looked at his social media account, and I’m impressed. All baseball, some charity work, and the picture of him and your grandmother thrilled her to death.”
At the time I posted that picture, I wasn’t sure it was the right move, but then, seeing the look of joy on my grandmother’s face, I couldn’t resist. Not to mention how gorgeous Jimmy was in a tux, and the fact that it was at a charity gala didn’t hurt.
I smiled. “Thank you. I’m glad you both are happy.” I rolled my shoulders back, bolstering my confidence. “You know—now that his reputation is spotless, I’d like to revisit my position in the club.”
Granddad rubbed his chin and looked at me for quite a few moments. “You have done the job I wanted you to. Let’s give it until the end of this season.”
I didn’t mean for it to happen, but I couldn’t stop a frown from forming. “Sure thing,” I said with a forced smile—one that he’d know wasn’t authentic, but it was all I could give at that moment.
He rapped his knuckles on the top of my desk. “Great.” Turning to walk to the door, he stopped and pivoted halfway to look at me. “Have you looked at any players for next year?”
“Yes, of course.”
“I thought so. Any standouts?”
“A couple, yes.” I had so much to say about the list I had created, but I didn’t want to overstep.
Much to my delight, he then said, “Please send them directly to me when you have a moment.”
That time, I beamed. “Okay, I’ll do it in the next hour.”
“Perfect.”
Not being able to wait, I got up, walked over, and wrapped my arms around him. “Thank you, Granddad.”
He kissed the top of my head. “No thanks needed. Now get to work before the boss catches you.” He winked, and I laughed but did what he said.
Back at my desk, I grabbed my phone and scrolled for Jimmy’s contact. It was at that moment that I realized he was the first person I wanted to tell. As early as last week, it would have been one of my girlfriends.
Me: Hi! I know you’re at practice. But I have some news.
I put the phone back down on my desk, spun my chair toward my monitor, and began compiling the charts for my report. All I knew was that it had to be the most comprehensive report, including the players’ strengths, weaknesses, their highs and lows. Things to keep an eye on, and also, I had my ear to the grindstone and knew which other clubs were interested in signing them. I knew enough people to gather information that not everyone could. Naturally, I’d never keep any knowledge from my grandfather, but something I could find out in minutes would take Mason days ... if he found out at all.
I sat in my chair, the keyboard resting under my fingertips, smiling at the screen. The report I promised, filled with my expertise, advice, and player knowledge, was ready to go. A surge of pride washed over me, accompanied by a sense of accomplishment. I’d been more than capable for the job I wanted, and if the report didn’t show that, and my great work with Jimmy, then nothing would.
Taking a deep breath, I read the email once more, hovered the cursor over the send button, closed my eyes, and clicked. The telltale whoosh sounded, and I let out the breath I’d been holding.
A few seconds later, my phone vibrated. After flipping it over, I smiled at the text.
Jimmy: I can’t wait to hear all about it. Come over tonight. I’ll take you out for a date. And don’t worry, no one will see us.
Me: Okay.
Jimmy: Great. Then it’s a date. How does six sound?
Me: Perfect. I’ll see you then.
Setting my phone down, I decided to take the rest of the day off. I packed up my laptop, grabbed my phone and purse, and headed out. I had a date to get ready for.
* * *
As I approached Jimmy’s front door, flutters of excitement danced in my belly. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt like that. Even when I dated Linc, I couldn’t remember feeling that way. Maybe it had been because I was younger or because we were in college.
Tonight, for my date with Jimmy, I had on my favorite little black dress, which hugged all my curves in ways the designer intended. And thanks to my black high-heeled Louboutins, I knew my legs looked and felt as though they were long and toned. I also had to admit that even my ass looked amazing.
Thanks to the alert he most likely received once I keyed in the code to the gate, Jimmy opened his front door before I even pressed the bell. Damn, he was gorgeous. Seeing Jimmy in a dark suit, powder-blue shirt, and an open collar sent my cognitive abilities out the window. So all I did was stare. It wasn’t until his bright-white smile appeared that I blinked.
“You look beautiful,” Jimmy said, pulling me from my trance. “Come on in.” He stepped aside, but before I got too far, he pulled me flush against him, resting his hands on the small of my back. “Have I told you how happy I am that you’re mine?”
Thanks to my heels, I easily snaked my arms around his neck. “I’m not sure if you have,” I answered honestly. Then, that person who had taken over my body and brain hopped into the conversation. “But if you’d like to tell me again, I’d love to hear it.”
That devilish smile that used to annoy me but now turned me on spread across his face. “Sommer Bennett, I’m very happy that you’re mine.”
Instead of words, I rolled up on my toes and used his shoulders for assistance as I brought my lips to his in a chaste peck. “I’m happy you’re mine too.”
“I’m glad. Now come with me; dinner is almost ready.”
He linked his hand with mine and escorted me through the living room and into the dining room that could have passed for a scene straight out of a romance movie. Soft flickering candles, dim lighting, and a single rose in a slim vase sat in the middle of the table set for two, covered in white linen.
“Wow,” I gasped in amazement. “This is incredible.” Now I understood why he was wearing a suit. And I was happy that I chose my favorite LBD for the occasion.
Off to the side, and like someone would see in a restaurant, was a bottle of champagne in a silver ice bucket. That was when I noticed two crystal flutes on the table.
Jimmy noticed where my gaze landed. “You said you had great news. I thought champagne would be appropriate. May I pour you a glass? Dinner is warming in the oven, so we have time. Or I can serve us now.”
“Did you cook?”
“I’d love to say yes, but no.” He chuckled. “Harrington’s Steak House did. Unless you’d prefer a sandwich or scrambled eggs—they’re my specialty.”
“Maybe one morning you can make them for me.”
“Sommer Bennett, have I created a monster?”
“Maybe.”
He pulled out a chair for me. I sat down, and he poured us both a glass of bubbly before he sat down as well. “So tell me your news.”
“I met with my grandfather today. And I don’t want to get my hopes up, but something tells me that I’m closer to the position I’ve been wanting. I sent him the best report today on young players and even some on other teams that may be up for grabs at the end of the season.”
Jimmy raised his glass. “I knew you could do it.” We gently tapped our glasses together before each taking a sip. “So, does that mean I’m off the hook?”
“Off the hook?”
“I probably said that wrong. What I meant was, can you focus on that now and not worry about babysitting my social media? It’s not as though I’m out with a bunch of jersey chasers anymore.”
My stomach churned and the sweet champagne soured. “You’re still my first and foremost priority. One slip and all of my work will be for naught. That is the last thing I want to happen.”
“And it won’t happen.”
It had to be my nerves. When it came to men and relationships, I wasn’t a “fisher.” Meaning I didn’t go looking for trouble or ways to get out of anything. I especially wasn’t looking for one now.
Changing the topic, I glanced around the room. Jimmy had put a lot of effort into this evening. He reached across the table, put his hand on top of mine, and pulled out his phone from his pocket with his free hand. One tap on the screen caused music to play.
The legs of his chair scraped against the hardwood floor, and he stood, keeping my hand in his. And with a smile that could melt the coldest iceberg, he pulled me up and asked, “May I have this dance?”
We walked to the other side of the large room. More candles flickered, casting shadows on the walls. Jimmy twirled me under his arm before pulling me in close. Soft music continued to fill the air, wrapping around us like a warm embrace.
His touch sent shivers racing down my spine. I rested my head against his chest, feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat beneath my cheek. Together, we moved in perfect synchrony, getting lost in the moment. I closed my eyes and felt each sway of his hips and how, with little effort, he guided me through the dance.
An odd sense of security washed over me. I didn’t really understand it, but it was as though my subconscious had told me that I was safe with him. That my heart would be safe with him. The song changed, but the beat stayed the same. I straightened and looked up at him. Jimmy’s gaze never wavered from mine. Those beautiful baby blues that I could easily drown in made my heart skip a beat or two. It was then I realized there was no place I’d rather be than in his arms.
I couldn’t help but say, “This is a great first date. Thank you.”
“Stick with me ... it’ll only get better.”
“Ahh, I’ve missed the cocky Jimmy Hall.”
“Confident, not cocky.” When I arched my brow, he chuckled. “Fine, I can be cocky. But when it comes to you ... to us, I just knew we were meant to be together.”
“How?”
He shrugged. “My mom used to say, ‘When you know, you know.’ Now that I know, I know what she meant.”
I smiled and laughed for a few beats. “What are you so sure you know?”
“That you were made for me.”
Made for him.I let those words settle in the air as I silently repeated them. Could he be my soul mate? When I was younger, my grandmother would tell me stories about her and my grandfather, and she’d use that term. Naturally, I, the pragmatic one of the family, didn’t necessarily believe in such a thing. Maybe it had to do with my parents and their unwillingness to love each other—and me, for that matter.
Wow, I hadn’t thought about them in several years. Jimmy never asked about them, nor did I offer up any information, but that wasn’t important. What was, however, was how my heart seemed to gallop when he said that to me. Did that mean that I felt the same and didn’t voice it? Did I feel the same?
Glancing up, I looked into his eyes. I should think all of this had happened too fast, but could he have a point? Could it be that we were made for each other? The way he smiled made my heart flutter. When he looked at me with those gorgeous eyes of his, my knees felt weak, and when we were intimate, I felt as though we fit perfectly.
God, he was right.
“What are you thinking? I see those pretty little wheels turning,” he said, tucking my hair behind my ear.
“I was just wondering how I could feel the same way about you in such a short amount of time.”
“Has it been? I don’t know; it feels like we’ve known each other longer. Maybe it’s because of my dad and your grandfather’s connection. I always knew about the feisty granddaughter of Earl Bennett. And we both know you knew of me, so technically, we’ve known of each other for years.”
That damn smile of his had me nodding. “Not exactly the same thing, but I guess I can see your point.”
“Sommer Bennett, are you telling me that I’m right about something?”
I shook my head. “Just shut up and kiss me.”
“My pleasure.”