him move. The prospect was titillating.
She spied Jackie in a seat a couple of rows up behind first base and scooted into the open seat next to her.
“Sorry I’m late. There was an accident on the bridge.”
Jackie smiled. “Hey, there are four innings left.”
Alana tucked her bag under her seat. She’d brought a heavy fleece and a cap, knowing better than to trust San Francisco weather in June. No one ever knew when the fog and wind would roll in, sending temperatures down to a bone-chilling fifty degrees.
“I haven’t seen Scotty pitch since last year.”
“I was surprised when you called,” Jackie said. “Hadn’t thought baseball had captured your fancy.”
“I couldn’t resist seeing all of you. And it’s been forever since I’ve seen Alex or Chloe.”
Jackie raised a brow. “Your guy Matt’s on first base. They walked him. Alex made it to third.”
“He’s not my guy.” She turned her eyes to the field.
Matt crouched and put his hands to his thighs, then took a few steps off the base. The Rockies’ pitcher threw to first, but Matt made it back with time to spare. Before Alana could blink, he’d taken another lead. The pitcher pulled his glove to his chest and threw. In the time it took for the ball to reach the catcher, Matt stole second. He seemed to prowl the bases more than just run them. His movements were sleek, almost primal, radiating a visceral energy that resonated in her as if she’d been a tightly strung instrument and his every move strummed her. He seemed to have a different but equally mesmerizing effect on the opposing team.
Jackie caught her staring at Matt and shot her one of those looks that only a girlfriend can.
“I’m considering just a taste,” Alana said, feeling the need to explain.
“I imagine a taste of him could be addictive.”
Jackie had met Marcel. They hadn’t hit it off. Jackie had been subtly encouraging her to find a new guy ever since.
“Cross my heart,” Alana added. “He has a kid. And since I’m not in the market to become a stepmom, that puts a definite boundary around any liaison.”
“Your stepmom couldn’t have been all that bad.”
“On the contrary, my stepmom was, is , great. She saved my spirit, so to speak. She’s the one who urged me to keep at my painting and opened me to all the things you scientists consider woo-woo. It was my mother who freaked out and made the cordial, blended family my dad had hoped for nearly impossible.”
Jackie made an indignant face. “I never said woo-woo. And considering what happened to me last year, I’m having to rethink the vast powers of the invisible realm. I’d never have picked Alex, for example. Chalk the love of my life up to woo-woo,” she said with a chuckle.
A serious look quickly eclipsed her smile. “I heard Matt’s wife died in a plane crash. His child has no mother.”
Alana nodded. “Right. But I know the level of commitment my stepmother had to make, what she put up with. I’m not cut out for that.”
“You underestimate your capacities,” Jackie said with a cluck of disapproval. “But I can’t imagine how Matt does it, raising a child alone and staying in the game. And I can’t believe he’s pulling off a three-twelve batting average.”
“I can’t believe you know his batting average.”
“Alex told me at breakfast this morning. Right up there with state of the world.” Jackie tilted her head toward the field. "Not to mention it's right up there on the scoreboard."
Alana wrinkled her nose but didn't laugh. “Matt’s daughter, Sophie, signed up for all the camps at the ranch this summer. Matt told me she did it herself, online. I didn’t know six-year-olds could do such things.” She smoothed her hair which had caught in a gusty breeze. “My grandmother must’ve been out of her mind to start up summer camps for kids.”
“Is it too late for me to sign up? Sounds like loads of fun.”
“ You are taking the third camp session out on your
She spied Jackie in a seat a couple of rows up behind first base and scooted into the open seat next to her.
“Sorry I’m late. There was an accident on the bridge.”
Jackie smiled. “Hey, there are four innings left.”
Alana tucked her bag under her seat. She’d brought a heavy fleece and a cap, knowing better than to trust San Francisco weather in June. No one ever knew when the fog and wind would roll in, sending temperatures down to a bone-chilling fifty degrees.
“I haven’t seen Scotty pitch since last year.”
“I was surprised when you called,” Jackie said. “Hadn’t thought baseball had captured your fancy.”
“I couldn’t resist seeing all of you. And it’s been forever since I’ve seen Alex or Chloe.”
Jackie raised a brow. “Your guy Matt’s on first base. They walked him. Alex made it to third.”
“He’s not my guy.” She turned her eyes to the field.
Matt crouched and put his hands to his thighs, then took a few steps off the base. The Rockies’ pitcher threw to first, but Matt made it back with time to spare. Before Alana could blink, he’d taken another lead. The pitcher pulled his glove to his chest and threw. In the time it took for the ball to reach the catcher, Matt stole second. He seemed to prowl the bases more than just run them. His movements were sleek, almost primal, radiating a visceral energy that resonated in her as if she’d been a tightly strung instrument and his every move strummed her. He seemed to have a different but equally mesmerizing effect on the opposing team.
Jackie caught her staring at Matt and shot her one of those looks that only a girlfriend can.
“I’m considering just a taste,” Alana said, feeling the need to explain.
“I imagine a taste of him could be addictive.”
Jackie had met Marcel. They hadn’t hit it off. Jackie had been subtly encouraging her to find a new guy ever since.
“Cross my heart,” Alana added. “He has a kid. And since I’m not in the market to become a stepmom, that puts a definite boundary around any liaison.”
“Your stepmom couldn’t have been all that bad.”
“On the contrary, my stepmom was, is , great. She saved my spirit, so to speak. She’s the one who urged me to keep at my painting and opened me to all the things you scientists consider woo-woo. It was my mother who freaked out and made the cordial, blended family my dad had hoped for nearly impossible.”
Jackie made an indignant face. “I never said woo-woo. And considering what happened to me last year, I’m having to rethink the vast powers of the invisible realm. I’d never have picked Alex, for example. Chalk the love of my life up to woo-woo,” she said with a chuckle.
A serious look quickly eclipsed her smile. “I heard Matt’s wife died in a plane crash. His child has no mother.”
Alana nodded. “Right. But I know the level of commitment my stepmother had to make, what she put up with. I’m not cut out for that.”
“You underestimate your capacities,” Jackie said with a cluck of disapproval. “But I can’t imagine how Matt does it, raising a child alone and staying in the game. And I can’t believe he’s pulling off a three-twelve batting average.”
“I can’t believe you know his batting average.”
“Alex told me at breakfast this morning. Right up there with state of the world.” Jackie tilted her head toward the field. "Not to mention it's right up there on the scoreboard."
Alana wrinkled her nose but didn't laugh. “Matt’s daughter, Sophie, signed up for all the camps at the ranch this summer. Matt told me she did it herself, online. I didn’t know six-year-olds could do such things.” She smoothed her hair which had caught in a gusty breeze. “My grandmother must’ve been out of her mind to start up summer camps for kids.”
“Is it too late for me to sign up? Sounds like loads of fun.”
“ You are taking the third camp session out on your
Similar Books
