Chapter Eight

Sawyer

Two things I’ve discovered in my brief time here is that this group may be the closest family I’ve ever met, and at the same time, they’re probably the dirtiest. And considering I’ve spend the past ten years on the road, traveling with guys who have perfected the art of the hook-up, that’s fucking saying something.

The grandparents are…well, they’re a hoot. I couldn’t even tell you when the last time my face hurt this much from smiling. Not much in life has given me reason to smile lately, so it feels awesome just to sit in a lawn chair with a beer in my hand, laughing at the inappropriate banter of the Summer clan.

Listening to their stories and their teasing makes me miss my family.

I end up staying to the end of the party. Partly because the company is so easy and comfortable that I feel like I have real friends for the first time since I don’t even know when. For the last decade, everyone wanted something and friendships felt…off. Forced. I’m not saying I didn’t find valuable friendships with certain teammates along the way, but nothing like I feel right now. I can see myself having a beer with these guys on a Friday night after a long week, sure, but it’s more than that.

It’s more than a few guys sitting around, bragging about who they bagged the night before or the new luxury car they bought their wife to keep her happy. It’s an instant camaraderie that I felt that first night at the bar and sense it even further now that we’re all together in a family setting.

I didn’t realize I was missing it until it practically slapped me upside the head.

The other reason I find myself tearing down tables and stacking them in the back of Levi’s truck is because of AJ. I crave more time, more moments with her. She’s helping pick up her sister’s backyard and put it back together after this shindig, so that’s what I do too. Plus, I can keep snacking on these bacon-wrapped scallops that Levi made. They’re fucking delicious.

“Thanks for your help,” she comes up beside me after the final dish has been taken inside.

“It was no problem,” I reply casually, shoving my hands into my pockets to keep from taking her into my arms and kissing the shit out of her.

“Hey, AJ, you about ready?” Jaime hollers from the back door, her purse tucked under her arm.

It’s late, the breeze off the Bay cool, even for late August. I see goose bumps pepper her arms as she gazes up at me, eyes hooded under long, dark eyelashes. Her eyes fill with confliction, and I know it’s time to make my move. Stepping closer, I’m rewarded with the scent of her lotion and sweet perfume. She smells like sunshine, all fresh and intoxicating.

I want to be the one to take her home. I want her in my car, just like she was that night many weeks ago. I want a chance to find out if this indescribable chemistry is as undeniable as it feels. And fuck yes, I’d love to finish what we started that night in July.

But not tonight.

Tonight, I want the chance to spend more time with her, even if it’s just a trip across town, because I can’t seem to get enough of her.

She feels it. Her eyes shine with resolve, and maybe a little question too, as she turns her head a bit to answer her sister. “Actually, go ahead. I’m gonna catch a ride with Sawyer.” Her eyes never leave mine.

Jaime snickers from the doorway. “You’re gonna get a ride, all right.” The insinuation is there and makes me smile.

AJ rolls her eyes. “Knock it off, Grandma. Some people can demonstrate self-control.”

“Whatever,” she replies before throwing a smile my way. “Nice to meet you, Sawyer.”

“Nice to meet you, as well.”

“Drive safely. Remember to keep the horse in the barn until you’re safely at home,” she adds, giggling like a little girl.

“Says the girl who’s about to give road-head,” AJ retorts, earning another laugh from her sister.

“I heard road-head! Let’s go,” Ryan’s voice boosts through the night, as he comes up behind his wife and slaps her on the ass.

After quick goodbyes, we’re left alone again. The air becomes electrically charged and I suddenly can’t get to my car quick enough. I’m silent as I watch the breeze lightly blow her brown hair across her forehead. My fingers twitch as I bring them to her face and brush back the strands.

“Are you ready?” I ask, not really sure what I’m referring to. Ready to go? Ready to indulge in another mind-blowing kiss? Ready to see where this chemistry takes us?

Yes. All of that.

I lead her around the house and toward my car. My hand rests comfortably on her lower back, the hem of her top riding up and revealing just a sliver of warm flesh. She’s silent as I open the door and she slips inside. Her toned legs look six feet long as she sits in the seat, her tanned limbs looking delicious against the black leather. My heart pounds like a snare drum in my chest as an all too familiar sense of déjà vu washes over me.

I wonder if she’s thinking the same thing.

We’re both quiet as I pull away from the street and start driving. I have no idea where I’m going, but I keep moving. At some point, she’s going to have to tell me where she lives, right? Otherwise, my only option is to head to my place, which doesn’t sound like a bad idea in the least. Or I could just ask her where she lives.

That’s probably the better idea.

Fuck knows if I take her back to my place, I’m going to strip her naked and lick every square inch of her sexy little body.

Adjusting the sudden discomfort in my pants, I turn to my passenger. “Are you gonna tell me where you live?”

“Oh, ummm, yeah. Turn right at the next stoplight.”

Following her directions, I pull in front of a small yellow house with a little white picket fence around the front walk. It’s cute and quaint and seems perfect for my favorite math teacher. With my car in park, I hop out and meet her around the passenger side of the car.

“You don’t have to walk me up,” she says as she grips my hand and stands beside my car.

“I want to.”

I don’t comment on the fact that she doesn’t let go of my hand as I walk her up the concrete steps that lead to her front door. “Thank you for the ride,” she says, pulling her keys from her purse.

“You’re welcome.” My eyes are glued to hers and I can see everything swirling around within those green orbs. Excitement, hesitation, and maybe even a little resolution mix together in a tornado of emotions. “Go out with me.”

I blurt the words without giving a single consideration, and frankly, there’s nothing for me to think about. I want to date her. I want to take her to dinner and maybe a movie. I want to work for her affection in a way I haven’t had to in years. The prospect of wooing her, not knowing if a second date is a guarantee just because of my fucking name or occupation, is thrilling.

Almost as thrilling as the thought of stealing a kiss at the end of that date.

“But we work together,” she says softly.

“We do,” I confirm, reaching up and slipping a loose strand of hair behind her ear. “It’s not forbidden, and to be completely transparent, I wouldn’t care if it was. I’d love to take you out, AJ. A real date, where I pick you up and we go have dinner. I’ll probably hold your hand as we walk to the car, and if I’m a really good boy, maybe you’ll reward me with a goodnight kiss.”

AJ raises a single eyebrow, the faintest smirk playing on her full, kissable lips. “Well, I don’t know about that. Maybe I’m not the kiss-on-the-first-date kinda girl.”

I can’t help but smile at the memory of her sexy little body wrapped around mine, as we started toward my hotel room, flashes through my mind. I knew nothing more about her than her first name, but neither of us cared. Of course, that night didn’t end the way either of us anticipated, but it was still quite memorable.

Stepping into her personal space, I slide my hand up her jaw and thread my fingers into her hair. Her eyes dilate dark, filling with need and anticipation. “That’s all right, sweetheart. Something tells me you’ll be worth the wait.” Leaning forward, my lips connect with the warm, soft skin on her forehead. The slightest little gasp slips from her lips, causing all the blood in my body to rush just south of my belt and my lips to linger just a bit longer than probably deemed appropriate.

“Go out with me. Next Saturday.”

Glancing down, I’m rewarded with a genuine smile and sparkling eyes. “Okay.”

And now I’m the one smiling. Big. Like a fool.

“I’ll see you Monday at school,” I say, taking a step back and severing the contact I crave with her. Something flashes across her face. Disappointment, maybe? Like she needs the same contact I do.

“Monday,” she confirms with a nod.

I watch as she unlocks her door and pushes it open, about to step inside. “Oh, AJ?” She quickly turns around. “How do you take your coffee?”

Her eyebrows bunch together in confusion, but she answers. “As much cream and sugar as possible. I prefer caramel lattes so I have to doctor up the nasty, weak coffee in the teachers’ lounge to get it as close as possible,” she says with a shrug.

I nod in confirmation and shove my hands into my pockets. AJ lets herself into her house, turning and facing me once more before shutting the door. Neither of us says a word, but a whole conversation is had with our eyes.

Something is brewing between us. Hell, something has been cooking since that night we left that bar together. It’s been simmering, slowly building the most electric charge I’ve ever experienced. There’s no telling what’ll happen when I finally get my hands on her naked body, my mouth against that delicate skin.

My cock throbs in my shorts just thinking about it.

“Good night,” she whispers before slowly closing the door. I listen for the latch to secure before returning to my car. I’m picturing all of the glorious things I want to do to her body when we finally get to finish what we started. We’ll start with a date, but ultimately, I want so much more from AJ Summer.

Sure, her body.

But more importantly, I want her time.

* * *

“Randall! How’s it goin’, man?” my former teammate and probably closest friend Joel Cougar hollers into the phone.

“It’s going, Joel. How’s it hanging?” I ask in return, waiting for his familiar reply.

“Hangin’ to my knees, but the ladies don’t complain,” he quips before a bark of laughter booms from the cell phone in my hand, making me smile.

“Same ol’ Joel.”

“And same ol’ Sawyer,” he replies over the sound of muffled voices.

“What’s up, man?”

“Just finishing up practice. Headin’ to DC in a few weeks. Thought maybe you’d consider makin’ the drive. That Podunk seaside town is only about three hours away from Nationals Park, ya know?”

Yeah, I’m well aware that the Rangers are heading to Washington DC in a few weeks. I know their damn schedule probably better than most of the guys on the roster. “Yeah, I could probably make it up. I’ll check into getting tickets for the Sunday game.”

“Let me. I’ll get you a seat right behind the dugout so we can give ya shit the whole time,” Joel says with a chuckle.

“Actually,” I start, clearing my throat, “if you’d get me two tickets, I’d appreciate it.”

Silence follows my request. “No shit? You seeing someone?”

I shift in my chair on the back deck, the blazing sun not the only thing causing me to feel like I’m in the hot seat. “Kinda,” I say, not really wanting to get into it any further. “It’s new.”

“But, you’re wanting to bring her to a game? With all the guys there? With you-know-who there?” I don’t need to ask who he’s referring to. The weight of his words can only implicate my ex.

“It’s not likely I’d see her. It’s a big park.”

“True. And Carrie wouldn’t be caught anywhere outside of the air-conditioned WAG box,” he adds, referring to the wives and girlfriends box that is set up at every ballpark. By the end of the game, Carrie had no clue how I played or what my stats were, but she could tell you all about who was screwing who and who’s shiny new diamond was bigger than everyone else’s.

I snort at his comment because it’s true. Carrie loved being married to a baseball player for status, not because she cared for the game.

Or me.

“Anyway, I’ll get ya two tickets, man. They’ll be at will-call.”

“Thanks.” A mixture of anxiety at returning to a ballpark for the first time since my injury and excitement to smell the grass and hear the sound of the bat cracking against the ball. Hell, maybe they’d let me wipe some chalk on my hands for old times’ sake. It has always been one of my favorite scents.

Well, that and AJ’s perfume.

I wonder what she’d say if I took her to Washington to watch a game. Will she bitch and whine like Carrie, or would she scream at the shit calls the umps make and trash-talk the batters? Something tells me she’s more of the latter than the former. AJ doesn’t scream high maintenance, but she doesn’t exactly say bleacher babe either.

I guess time will tell. I’ll have a date or two under my belt to get to know her better. Maybe I won’t say anything about the game until after our date on Saturday. This way, if it isn’t her thing or we don’t hit it off the way I envision, there’s no weirdness or hard feelings. But something tells me AJ will be the surprising change I need in my life. No, I wasn’t expecting to find a woman I’m interested in so closely after my divorce or relocation to Jupiter Bay, but I’m not about to question it.

“Tell me about the hottie, man. I mean she’s hot, right?”

Laughing, I decide to indulge my friend just a bit. “She’s gorgeous.”

“Tell me more,” he grunts before I hear a door slam before the background noise is completely gone.

“Why is it suddenly quiet? You’re not locked in the bathroom, about to stroke one out, are you?”

“Not in the locker room. I’ll wait until I’m home alone tonight to spank it to mental images of your new girl,” he teases. Even with the humor in his words, I still see red.

“I’d kill you,” I growl, not even caring that I’m giving him the exact response he wanted.

“You didn’t give a shit that everyone and their brothers saw your wife practically naked in a magazine, but you’re getting all bent out of shape now?” He pauses for dramatic effect. “You really like her.”

No point in denying it. “I do.”

“Good for you, dude. I can’t wait to meet her.”

“Never mind. I’m not bringing her now.”

“You better! I want to meet this chick who has your dick in knots and your balls in her hand.”

“I don’t know about that, but I enjoy spending time with her. We’ll see if it goes anywhere,” I add casually, taking another pull from my beer bottle.

“Anyway, I need to get off here. We’re in the weight room after practice this afternoon before catching a flight to Chicago tomorrow morning.” The guys are getting ready to start a three-game series tomorrow night against the Sox.

“I don’t miss those Sunday practices.” The words are spoken aloud, but are mostly for myself.

“I bet not,” Joel groans as someone pounds on the door. “Gotta go, man. Griffin’s itchin’ to get in the john before practice starts.”

“I’ll see you in a few weeks,” I tell him.

“Awesome. I’ll email Shelly as soon as I hang up and get those tickets for ya.”

“Thanks, man.”

“Later,” he says before signing off, leaving me alone in silence.

The waves gently crash against the shore as the Sunday afternoon sun blazes high in the sky. I can’t get over how much has changed in the last several months. Injured. Let go from my contract, ending my career. Divorced. Relocated to another state. My first teaching and coaching gig. It’s a lot to take in, that’s for sure, but nothing that I can’t handle.

Especially when I think about having someone like AJ by my side.

Smiling, I finish off my beer and head inside. There are still a few boxes to unpack and my home office to set up. Plus, with every tick of the clock, I’m that much closer to seeing a certain brown-haired math teacher who makes my dick hard and my dirty fantasies flare to life.

Five days of AJ before next Saturday.

Date night.