“That’s why I called you here, to show you.” He pulled his phone from his pocket, showing her the document he certainly wasn’t supposedto see, let alone take a picture of when he’d been treating the mayor’s Doberman for suspected chocolate ingestion.
Brittany’s mouth dropped open as she read the screen. “I guess you’re not as evil as I thought you were.”
“I take care of sick animals all day. How evil can I be?”
“Maybe…” She licked her lips, and Aiden had to fist his hand to keep himself from doing something rash. “Maybe I made a mistake and judged you too harshly.”
“Maybe? I think you owe me more credit than that.”
Brittany scoffed, but the gesture felt empty with her attention fixed on his mouth.
It was too much—Brittany being this close, smelling like sugar and cinnamon, looking at his lips as if they were more delectable than any of her confections.
The second Aiden gripped her waist, her fingers framed his jaw, pulling him—
Someone yanks my corded earbud out of my ear, and I nearly faceplant onto the treadmill’s control panel.
“What the heck?” I ask Trevor, our team’s catcher, as I continue my breakneck stride. “They were just about to kiss. That’s always the best part.”
Since there are no mirrors in the cardio section of this spring training facility, just gorgeous views of the Arizona mountains, I didn’t see my teammate approaching. I should be running outside, enjoying the mild winter weather, but Patrick, our manager, wanted us to stay on campus this afternoon so wecould do media between workouts. A red-tailed hawk circles in the clear blue sky, and I can’t help but sigh.
It’s good to be home—or as close as I ever got tohomegrowing up.
Don’t get me wrong. I love my newest hometown of Virginia Beach and, more importantly, my baseball family at the Waves, but it’s nice to spend several weeks in one of my favorite cities from my childhood.
Trevor sets his hand on the treadmill rail, a wry smile quirking his lips. “What book are you two reading this time?”
Byyou twohe means me and his wife, Kenzie. They got married two weeks ago in a spontaneous courthouse ceremony before he whisked her off to a cabin in the woods for a cozy honeymoon of puzzling, staring deeply into each other’s eyes, and professing their love…or something. I wouldn’t know because I can’t convince a woman to stick with me longer than a few weeks, let alone two years.
Increasing the speed of the treadmill, I ignore the sharp twist in my chest.
It was after complaining about my romantic woes to Kenzie at Trevor’s annual Christmas party that she suggested our two-person book club. She’s an avid audiobook reader and recommended that I listen to a few romance books because, quote “the best men in the world live between the pages of a book.”
Kenzie quickly added, “Trevor is an exception.”
I’d like to think I’m an exception too, but after overhearing my most recent ex complaining about me before she realized I was standing outside her car, I clearly have things to work on. I’m always courteous and respectful, because my momma would smack me upside the head if I wasn’t, but…
I wince, remembering the cutting words.
“Listening to him is like being on the receiving end of a firehose on full blast.” Kiera snorts. “It’s like, do you have an off switch? And then when we’re out, he has to talk to everyone, wants to do everything. He bounces from activity to activity like an overstimulated toddler. I get that he’s loaded and is gone half of the month, but even with that, it’s too much.”
Too much.
That descriptor had been attached to me before I could even read.
Tenny, you have too much energy.
Tenny, you’re talking too much.
Tenny, quit wiggling. You’re moving too much.
“It’s an enemies-to-lovers rom-com,” I answer my teammate. “From Ann Howard’s small-town series.”
Trevor blows out a breath. “I could never understand how two people who supposedly hate each other could fall in love.”
I shrug, the increased speed of the treadmill making conversation challenging now.
“Anyway”—Trevor double taps the rail with his palm—“Diamond Breakdown’snew beatreporter is ready for you.”
