Three months later

Allie leaned back into the leather sofa in the VIP box of the Atlanta Braves stadium. Beyond the glass, the humidity stuck T-shirts to backs and shorts to bottoms as the fans watched Anthony Green climb out of the dugout.

“Ant-ney!” cheered José his arms raised high in the air.

Leticia caught Allie’s eye and they exchanged smiles. This was José’s third home game, and each time Anthony came to bat he acted like it was the bottom of the ninth in the seventh game of the world series.

Thanks to Leticia’s tutoring, Allie now knew how important that moment was in baseball. Though the memories from her fairy-tale weekend with Mark still made her ache with longing, Allie was thankful that she’d made friends with Leticia and Anthony. Not only had she shared in the joy of baby Julissa joining the family; Allie now managed Leticia’s premier bath boutique in downtown. Selina worked there full time, her schedule flexible to accommodate José’s medical needs.

A wail pierced the air. Leticia cooed as she scooped baby Julissa out of the car seat and bounced her lightly.

On the field, Anthony swung and missed for the second time. “Boooo,” José yelled at the umpire.

“Shhhh, José, the baby wants to sleep,” said Leticia in a quiet voice.

“Boooo,” he whispered, making Allie’s heart melt.

Wrapping Julissa in a mint-green minkie blanket, Leticia snuggled her close. She drifted back to sleep and sighed in contentment.

Anthony stepped out of the batter’s box and adjusted his grip on the bat.

“I saw the billboard for Mark’s theater,” Allie admitted.

Leticia rocked side to side in her seat. Allie didn’t know if she even knew she was doing it; the woman had taken to being a mother naturally.

“His first show opens in the fall. Do you want to go?” Leticia asked.

“I don’t think I should.”

“Should or could?”

“Could,” she admitted. A couple days after she’d left Mark at the church—man, that sounded bad, like she’d run out on him at their wedding—a producer had been caught on tape trying to buy cocaine from an undercover cop. Her and Mark’s story lost its momentum despite Aspen’s attempts to stir up trouble. There were a few articles painting the Hollywood starlet as the victim in this situation, but she really just came off as pathetic and spoiled.

When Allie had trudged home from the diner that night, there was a car waiting to take her to Leticia’s. Her new friend was a sympathetic shoulder to cry on with an unending supply of chocolate ice cream and tissues. Over the next week, Allie went to work, repainted a nursery, and took a lot of chamomile-scented baths. “I miss him too much.”

Leticia patted her knee in sympathy. “It’s because you love him.”

“I know.” In all the time she’d been apart from Mark, she’d never dared approach the L-word in her thoughts. Falling in love with someone in a weekend was absurd. Absolutely ridiculous. Beyond reason. And totally possible when that person was your soul mate.

Anthony struck out. Allie quickly lifted her finger to her lips to remind José to be quiet.

“Bad call,” he stage-whispered.

The announcer wasted no time in moving the game along. “Time for the seventh inning stretch, folks. We’ve got a special surprise for y’all today. Would Allie Gray please step out onto the balcony? Come on, Allie!”

Allie pointed at Leticia. “What did you do?”

Leticia shook her head. “Not me, amiga.”

Allie shyly stepped through the glass door.

“Give us a wave, Allie, so we know it’s you.”

She lifted her hand and saw her movement on the jumbo screen. Laughing, she waved harder. People cheered. She waved both hands and it got louder. She finally understood why people danced like dorks and waved their baby’s arms to get on the screen. This was kind of fun.

She was watching the screen when the door opened behind her and suddenly there was Mark standing next to her on screen. But that would mean …

She turned to find him right beside her—close enough to touch. A thousand emotions swirled inside. Including joy and excitement at sharing the same three feet of space with the man she was desperately in love with, to worry over what would happen when the press caught wind of this. Her heart pounded against her ribs, threatening to break right through. She placed her hand on his chest. “If you’re trying to be sneaky, you’re not doing a very good job,” she whispered.

Mark pulled a microphone to his mouth, his eyes alight with joy. “Hello, Braves fans!”

The crowd cheered. He whispered in her ear, his warm breath sending shivers of delight down her spine. “I’m done hiding how I feel about you.”

Was he … were they … was this …?

Mark continued, “I’m Mark Dubois. Atlanta is my home and I love this city.” The crowd cheered. “This is Allie Gray and she’s going to lead us in ‘Take Me Out to the Ballgame.’”

Allie’s hand flew to her mouth. She shook her head. The crowd laughed.

“You can—you’ll be great.” He tipped the mic away. “The words will be on the screen and I’ll be right here with you.” He laced their fingers together. “Sing.”

Allie took the mic. She gripped tight, the plastic sliding in her slippery palm. “Hit it,” she said, and the crowed clapped as the organist started the ol’ tune.

“Take me out to the baaaaaall game.” She couldn’t believe that was her voice filling the stadium. The thrill of performing shot up from her toes, strengthening her courage.

Mark started swaying the two of them from side to side. It wasn’t hard to move Allie—she was so shocked he could have knocked her over with a feather—or a paintbrush.

“Take me out to the crooowd.”

Mark tugged her closer and Allie was all too willing to go. If he was here, and they could truly be together, then she wanted to be as close to him as possible. If this was a dream—and she hadn’t ruled out that scenario yet—then she was going to enjoy every second.

The crowd had all joined in, their voices rising up from under the box seats. “Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jack. I don’t care if I never get back.” On the big screen a baseball bounced over each word, keeping them all in time.

Mark kissed her temple and Allie fumbled through the next line. His chest bounced as he chuckled, and she almost whacked him with the mic.

“For it’s one, two, three strikes you’re out.” Allie went for the big finish, pulling the mic away from her mouth so she had the right volume. “Ball game!”

She dropped the mic to her side and waved with her other hand. Mark did the same right up until the image on the screen changed to the pitcher in his warm-up.

Allie rounded on Mark. She took his face between her hands and pulled him down for an urgent and demanding kiss. Mark didn’t take any time to catch up to her train of thought—or train of kisses, as it were. His arms enveloped her and she ran her hands down those broad, round, hunky shoulders of his and back up to the back of his neck, where she pulled him even closer, bending back in the process.

When she absolutely had to come up for air, she loosened her hold but didn’t let go.

Mark stood them up and kissed her forehead. She leaned into his lips, fluttering her hands across his chest. “I’m sorry. I just couldn’t let you leave without doing that.”

Mark tipped her chin up so their eyes met. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“But Chloe …?” Leticia had explained about Mark’s custody battle with his ex-wife. A sharp pain erupted behind Allie’s eyeball every time she thought about the damage she had done to his case.

“Chloe is moving in with me at the end of the month—it’s been settled.”

“Wha—how?”

“Apparently, owning a theater is a respectable job—according to Judge Jamison it is, anyway. Beau’s still not convinced.”

Allie felt her cheeks widen. “She’s yours?”

“Until she’s eighteen.”

“Mark! I’m thrilled for you.”

“She asked if you could come over for Sunday dinner and a movie.”

“I’d love to.”

“It’s a date.” He brushed his fingers over her cheek.

“Yeah it is.”

“Kiss. Kiss. Kiss.” The crowd’s cheer broke through Allie’s contemplation of Mark’s rather amazing blue eyes. They were captivating—or had taken her captive. She glanced at the big screen to see what everyone was yelling for, and saw her and Mark with the word KISSCAM scrawled across the bottom in giant red letters.

Embarrassed, she buried her face in Mark’s neck. Darn it, he smelled so dang good she had a hard time remembering why she hadn’t just gone ahead and kissed him.

“Kiss. Kiss,” they continued to call.

Mark moved her back and cupped her cheeks with his palms. “Allie Gray. I’m in love with you and I want the whole world to know it.”

“I love you too.” She had to rush the words out before he kissed her. This time, Mark’s movements were sultry and slow. Allie vaguely registered the crowd cheering as she sank into Mark’s embrace—right where she belonged.