Page 14

As I drive to Dallas for the late afternoon baseball game, Eloise chatters away with excitement. We’ve barely seen each other over the last few days since I worked an extra twelve-hour shift in the middle of my regular schedule. Beckett needed someone to pick up extra, and I needed a big favor, so it was a win-win. I covered the shift, and he arranged for me to get tickets to the Dallas Sentinels game.

“Are we going straight to the game?” Eloise glances over and asks, breaking the silence.

“No.” I lift her hand up to my mouth to place a soft kiss on her knuckles. "I’m hoping we have time to check in at our hotel before the game.”

“I can’t wait.” Eloise buzzes with energy. “Do you think we’ll have good seats at the game?”

“Beckett says they’re great,” I reply, hoping they’re as great as his idea for the trip. I want everything to be perfect. But being in this car with Eloise makes every moment feel that way. Her body moves closer as she giggles at something I’ve said. Her excitement is infectious, and the drive to Dallas flies by.

Checking into the hotel feels like a whirlwind. The front desk clerk efficiently processes our check-in with practiced speed, and before I can even gather my thoughts, we’re stepping into the elevator. I glance down at my watch and notice that we’re running out of time.

As we enter the room, I push open the door and let it swing wide, dropping our bags on the plush carpet beside the single, inviting bed. The room is cozy, with warm lighting and soft, neutral tones enveloping us in a sense of calm. I turn to Eloise and ask, “Are you ready to head to the stadium?”

She takes a moment to survey the room, her eyes dancing over the elegant furnishings and tasteful artwork adorning the walls. Her cheerful smile lights up her face, instantly soothing the tension that had been coiling within me. “Sure,” she replies with a carefree shrug.

The stadium is jam-packed when we arrive, a sea of bodies shifting and swaying, and I grip her hand tightly, determined not to lose her in the throng. “Let’s grab a hot dog before we find our seats,” I suggest, steering her toward the concessions.

“Sounds great," she replies, her voice barely audible over the roar of the crowd.

We grab our food and find our seats, and I can barely keep my eyes on the field. Eloise is more captivating than any goddamn baseball game, and I have a hard time concentrating on what’s happening on the field.

Her shirt clings to her body, tracing every curve that ignites a burning desire within me. Each word out of her mouth is an electric jolt. She’s open, happy, and all goddamn mine.

I notice her empty cup. “Want another beer?” I offer, not caring if I miss the first inning while waiting in the mile-long concession line. Not caring about anything but making my girl happy.

“I’d love a beer,” she replies, settling in and soaking up the atmosphere.

“I’ll be right back.” I look around, making sure there doesn’t appear to be anyone around who’ll give Eloise trouble before rushing off.

A while later, I return with two cups and a Sentinels shirt she can wear later, when we’re alone. It’s two sizes too big, and I can’t wait to see it on her luscious body.

“I saw this and thought it would look great on you.” I slide a little closer, watching her reaction as she holds up the shirt. “With nothing else.”

She puts it in her lap and reaches for my hand. “I might get chilly,” she beams, squeezing me with more strength than I thought her small fingers had. “So, you’ll have to find a way to keep me warm.” My cock nearly tears a hole through my jeans as she runs her soft thumb over my knuckles.

“Don’t worry, baby. I’ll keep you good and hot,” I promise as the game kicks off.

The Sentinels score early, and Eloise is more invested than I expected. She cheers like she’s part of the team, leaning in and pulling me along with her as the innings stretch on. The hotter the game gets, the hotter I get. I’m so goddamn hungry for her, I could self-combust.

Her energy’s infectious, and I barely notice the rowdy crowd all around us. All I know is I can’t fucking wait to get her alone and see her in that shirt, then not in that shirt. Her hair falls over one eye, and I brush it back without thinking.

“Am I distracting you?” Eloise asks, catching me staring more at her than the field.

“Just a little,” I confess, though my body says it’s more than that.

“Good.” She winks at me, and I barely resist the urge to fuck her right here in front of the other thirty-thousand people in the stands.

The crowd surges when the game gets tense, and I take the opportunity to down my cold beer, hoping it cools my jets a little. The Sentinels tie it up in the bottom of the ninth, and I hope this fucking game doesn’t go into extra innings. I’m counting down the time until I can take her back to the hotel.

When the final run happens, and the Sentinels win, we both jump to our feet.

She beams up at me with flushed cheeks and her hair sticking to her damp skin. “That was so fun.”

“I’m glad you had fun.” I pull her in closer as the crowd begins to filter out.

“Now, can we go back to the hotel?” She laughs, pressing against me with just the right amount of pressure to make me lose my mind.

“Fuck yes.” The ride back to the hotel takes way longer than it should. Eloise holds my hand as I navigate the busy streets. Each mile seems to take an eternity.