I take a step forward. “I was just...”Stalking you. Being an absolute creep. Checking out how good you look in those baseball pants.“Coming to say hi before the game.”
His voice and smile go soft. “Well, hi.”
“Hi.”
“Hi!” Max yells, waving his hand in my direction.
“That’s right, Bug. You call them out just like your mama taught you.”
“Really, Millie?”
Miller just shrugs, entirely proud of herself for saying it like it is. Because she knows as well as I do that I’m not here because of a simple hello. I’m here because I’m starting to have a hard time staying away.
“Hi.” I smile at Max before shifting my attention up to his mom. “And hi. I’m Reese.”
Crossing the dugout to join them, I hold my hand out to shake hers. It’s formal and a bit stiff but also seems like the correct way to introduce myself to my employee’s daughter.
Because that’s who Emmett is to me.
“Miller.” She shakes my hand. “I can’t believe we haven’t been introduced before. You’re all I ever hear about anymore. Reese this and Reese that. Isn’t that right, Dad?”
He stares at her dumbfounded. “I truly don’t know where I went wrong with you.”
Miller just laughs and I watch as this loving smile blooms on Emmett’s lips from hearing the sound. You can tell they equally adore each other. It’s obvious by the way they feel safe enough to playfully talk a bit of shit.
“We really are headed up to our seats now, though.” Miller lifts Max into her arms. “We’ll see you after, Dad. And, Reese, it was nice to finally meet you.”
“It was. Enjoy the game.”
After Max and Miller say their goodbyes to Emmett, he turns my way. “Remember when I said she was going to say something inappropriate, and that you’d have to ignore it?”
I lean a hip on the railing next to him. “So, you talk about me, huh?”
“Talk is a loose term.” A grin hitches on one side of his lips. “I was more so complaining about you.”
I do my best to hold back my laughter. “I really am living rent-free in that head of yours to be complaining about me in your free time.”
“You have no idea. And are you trying to tell me that you don’t complain about me outside of work?”
I tilt my head in faux confusion. “Why would I ever think about you when I’m not at work?”
He huffs a laugh. “You’re terrible for a man’s ego, Reese.”
“Thank you. I was worried I might be losing my touch.”
Leaning closer, Emmett props his elbow on the railing, resting his cheek against his closed fist. And I find myself leaning into his space too.
“Where are you watching the game today?” he asks.
“I was thinking I’d take a seat in the stands for once. Watch it with the fans.”
“That sounds nice. Which section can I look for—”
“Monty!” a woman calls out from the field, interrupting his question. “Hey!”
It takes me a moment to register who she is before realizing it’s the reporter from that press conference who was hitting on Emmett in front of me... and everyone else.
“Oh. Hey...” He hesitates before saying her name as almost a question. “Kelly. You’re covering the game today?”
