“Justine is a brick wall,” he said with a chuckle. “I mean, that’s a good thing. We get the occasional crazy fan.”
“I’m not crazy, I promise.” I held up a hand.
“I will take your word for it,” he said, flashing me a smile over his shoulder. I had very little interest in baseball, other than following Washington while Lee worked with the team and now the Bats, but I knew Nate Becker’s name. Although he seemed very sweet and normal, it was hard not to be starstruck or swoon a little at that lethal grin.
He led me down a long hall and past the entrance to the locker room. My cheeks heated when I spotted a couple of the players without shirts on in my periphery, not expecting to go this far behind the scenes.
“And here are the offices,” Nate said, knocking on a half-open door. “Doc, you have a visitor.”
Nate pushed the door open, and my eyes landed on Lee’s back, the muscles working under his black shirt while he made notes. Lee swiveled around, his brow furrowed until he caught my gaze.
“Stella?” His jaw dropped before his lips curved into a slow grin.
“She was trying to get past Justine, and I overheard her say that she was here for you,” Nate said. I spotted his smirk, but as handsome as Nate was, my only focus was on the man in front of me.
Old habits died hard. Or not at all.
“When… What… Just get over here,” Lee stammered, closing the distance between us in one step to pull me in for a hug.
I laughed, falling into Lee’s arms and letting out a squeal when he lifted me up by the waist.
“It’s so fucking good to see you,” he whispered, his breath fanning hot against my neck and sending goose bumps down my back.
The rush from being this close to him probably wasn’t healthy or normal for seeing an oldfriendagain. But I’d decode and deny my feelings later and enjoy the moment for what it was.
The last time I’d seen Lee in person had been when his travel schedule had collided with mine a few months ago, and we’d had a long, great dinner at the hotel we’d both ended up staying at for a night.
But I could go a day or a year without seeing Lee and he’d still have the same effect on me, despite my actively trying to stop it.
“I’ll let you guys catch up before the game starts. Nice to meet you, Stella.”
I laughed when Nate tipped his hat at me. It was the perfect time to ask for his autograph for Bailee, but I was too preoccupied.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
I shrugged. “What kind of surprise would that be?”
“It’s a great surprise.” He flicked his wrist to glance at his watch and frowned. “I need to get back with the trainers, but how long are you visiting? Do you have time for an early dinner after the game?”
“I’m not visiting. I’m staying and not working at the moment.”
“Staying?” Lee repeated slowly, a deep crease denting his forehead. “You’re serious? No more life on the road?”
“Staying with my mom, in fact, until I get a place.”
“At the assisted living senior center?” The corner of his mouth quirked up.
“Not permanently.” I glared at him. “Until I find a place.” I averted my gaze from Lee’s narrowed eyes and the extra layer of stubble on his cheeks that I wasn’t used to. I spotted a few gray bristles at his chin and dotting at his temples, making him even more attractive.
Of course.
“That is something we’ll need to talk about later.” His blue eyes, still bottomless and even sexier with the extra crinkles at the corners, seared into mine.
“Yes, sir. I’ll fill you in, I promise.” I forced a smile, unsure how much I should fill him in. My brother didn’t know anything other than that Zach and I had broken up and I’d moved out, as the details would probably make him go AWOL from his army post in Japan.
“Good.” Lee’s eyes thinned to slits, but his mouth quirked up on one side. “Where are you sitting?” He held the door open for me to step through. I dropped my gaze to the floor to avoid fixating on the bulge in his bicep while he stretched out his arm.
“I got a cheap seat on the first level from the box office.”
