She waved her arms in the air, which didn’t get her much attention because the kids were too excited to hold still. “All right, kids, let’s play ball!” They stopped and turned her way. “Who likes baseball?” Over half the hands came up. “How many of you have played baseball before?” A few hands dropped.
St. George had excellent tee-ball and peewee leagues. Elise’s triplet brothers had come up through the program, moving over to accelerated ball in seventh grade. They were all amazing ball players with scholarships lined up for college. Elise was super proud of them and bragged often. Not that Elise was a slouch either. She’d played college softball. A knee injury brought her home and to the Redrocks, but that girl could play.
“All right, well …” Tilly checked her watch. “I think we should start in the locker room.” The team had a game that night, but their little tour shouldn’t be in the way of anything important. And it was always such a thrill for the kids to see the locker room.
She herded the group down the stairs and through the back hallways, all the time talking about how things worked, who was in charge of what, and telling them tidbits about the players. “And Juan Castillo is allergic to spinach.” She grinned when this brought up a chorus ofI’m allergic tocomments.
One little guy with chubby cheeks and dark hair tugged on her arm. “I can’t have gluten.”
“There’s a lot of people who can’t have gluten. It’s a common allergy.”
“Do any of the players have that?” He was so hopeful, so full of hero worship just waiting for a target.
“I don’t think anyone on the Redrocks is, but I know there’s a player on the Phillies who does. I’ll bet he could eat dinner at your house and be fine.”
The kid grinned so big he looked like a jack-o’-lantern. “He could. We keep our house gluten free.”
“That’s awesome!” She offered him a high five. She was so caught up in his earnest excitement that she didn’t check the locker room before they entered. All twenty of them, seventeen kids and three adults, walked in on Brayden and Gunner having a heated discussion.
Tilly’s gaze immediately buzzed to Brayden. She took in the determination in his eyes, the anger in his clenched jaw, and the frustration in his closed fist. Whatever Gunner had said had really ticked Brayden off. They stood like two alpha males, horns locked.
She cleared her throat loudly. They turned to see who was interrupting, and their demeanors flipped. Gunner pasted on his public persona, the same one she’d seen in the staff meeting.
Brayden’s eyes were all over her, drinking her in. The heat that had always been between them turned into an inferno. “Tilly, your hair,” he whispered in awe as he stepped forward, his arms out to pull her close. Time slowed down to a stop, and the room was suddenly theirs. Tilly’s heart swelled, shaking off the outer crust she’d managed to develop to protect herself. The welcome, the awe, the love in Brayden’s eyes was all she needed. She moved towards him, her body responding without asking her head if it was a smart idea.
Gunner coughed into his fist. The sound was harsh enough to stop Tilly before she fell into Brayden’s embrace. She turned her back to him, so close that his body heat skimmed along her skin and his scent, part leather, part alpha, filled her senses. She blinked in the fog.
“Hey, guys. I’m Gunner Pinch.” Gunner offered high fives and rubbed heads.
Tilly remembered herself. “Gunner is the newest pitcher for the Redrocks.”
The kids were properly awed, but their eyes darted back to Brayden.
She stepped to the side and held her hand out. “And this is Brayden Birks.”
“No way!” Her chubby-cheeked little friend surged forward. “Will you sign my shirt?”
Brayden laughed. He glanced at Tilly, exchanging ahe’s awesomelook. “Are you sure your mom won’t get mad?”
An intense pang lurched through Tilly. She’d read him so easily. Even now, as his eyes cascaded down her newly freed hair, she knew that he was imagining what it would feel like to slide his fingers through it.
And nowshewas imagining what it would feel like to have his fingers in her hair.
The whole group surged to surround Brayden. He worked the room, teasing kids, rubbing their heads as they grinned up at him.
Gunner sidled up next to her. “They know I’m the one who actually plays baseball, right?”
She leaned over so she could talk quietly. “Brayden’s kind of a legend with kids. He’s toured all the elementary schools in the area and a few of the middle schools. He inspires them to go after their dreams, to work hard, and to learn from everyone they can.”
Gunner grunted.
She laughed lightly. “Don’t worry. They’ll soon think you hung the stars too.”
He lifted a hand and fingered the ends of her hair. “This is new.”
She bit her lip. “I was ready for a change.”
He cocked his head. “Were you, now?”
