He trudges into my room, all drowsy and adorable.
“What are you doing here, Shane?”
“I left as soon as I could after my game.” He sits on the edge of my bed and reaches for me.
I go to him instantly, stepping between the invitation of his parted thighs. His hands fall on my hips. The gentle scent of orange lingers in the air around him. My heart stutters.
“I didn’t want you to be alone tonight,” he whispers.
I brush back those temperamental golden curls that are always falling forward and swallow hard. “I appreciate that.” More than he knows.
Because I do need him. I didn’t think that was a possibility tonight. He had an early night game, another tomorrow. But even with that, he’s made the two-hour drive down here.
“What do you need?”
“Just you, Sunshine.”
“Let’s get ready for bed, then. You’ve got me.”
And with those three words, life breathes back into me.
FORTY-FOUR
SHANE
We slip into bed,and I pull Jed to me so he’s resting on my chest. I drift my fingers through his curls. I hadn’t realized his hair was curly when I first met him, but it’s grown out a bit. He’s not blessed with my gorgeous ringlets—not everyone can be that lucky—but they’re still pretty nice. I pull on one. Really nice. I inhale deeply, and the minute the familiar mixture of cinnamon and Jed hits my senses, everything inside me settles.
He leans into the touch, and my stomach flips over. It’s almost like my presence is what he needs.
“How’d the Clippers do?” he asks.
“Shit show.” I can feel his grimace against my bare chest. “It’s not surprising. A lot of shuffling going on. I’m back at short now. Shirk took over at second. Henderson will hopefully be back soon.” He came back for a couple Double-A games, but apparently his ankle wasn’t ready. “Thompson was on the mound and, dude, I have no fucking clue what was wrong with him, but it was ugly.”
“Probably in a bad headspace with Araujo leaving. Those two are really close. And they were roommates.”
The room falls silent. He pushes off me and rolls to his side so he can face me.
“How…how was Devereux? Now that the news has landed.”
“Dev is as lovable as a fucking bull and we’re all wearing red. He’s pissed, JJ. They banned him from the locker room. He and Paulie were having the most violent death glare war I’ve ever witnessed in the dugout during the game.”
“Woof.”
“Yeah, like I said. Shit show. But we’ll sort through it.” I wince. “My head wasn’t really in it either. I was a bit reckless. Got picked off.”
His eyes widen.
“I know.” I tousle my hair and let out a huff. “I was just ready to steal all the way home every inning. I wanted the gameover.”
“You do know that’s not how it works, right?”
I grin at him, and my heart melts at the way his eyes light up when he sees it. “Don’t question my logic.”
His gaze falls to my smile, then flicks back up. “You haven’t kissed me yet,” he whispers.
I slide a hand over the light scruff on his jaw and lean in. “Oversight.” Then I dust a kiss over his lips.
His arm comes around me and pulls me tight against him. Warm skin, hard muscles, strong hands. I sigh into him. It’s like falling into my perfect place, the spot that was created just for me.
