Twice in a Lifetime (Love Found) Read Online Free PDF Page B

was no leap, no rush—and it pissed him off. He swung his eyes back to Allie, chatting with Reese on the bleacher. His breath quickened. His fingers remembered the feel of her and prickled. He wanted to glide them across her skin again. Find that little mole on the back of her shoulder and run his fingers over it. Run them through her curls and mess them up.
    “Twenty-two now, huh?”
    “Jesus, Jake. Don’t you say hello?”
    “Did. You were a million miles away.”
    No, only as far as the sixth row. “Go away.”
    But Jake merely picked up a bat, spun it like a top on his middle finger. “Heard you had a birthday party last night.
    “No big deal. She baked me a cake.” Chocolate. And he licked frosting from her fingers. Made a wish after she lit the candles, too. Silent, bawdy, and—sigh—unfulfilled.
    She stood over the cake, waving a knife. “Hey Ben, what size piece do you want?”
    He ambled up behind her and drew to a stop. His hands meandered down her sides and didn’t stop until they reached her backside, where they gripped soft curves. “This big is perfect.”
    “She’s waving at you.”
    He turned his back, faced the field before Jake could give him shit for his smug smile. “They’re waving at you , moron.” The opposing team was taking the field again, ready for battle. It was time to get serious.
    Preparing for his at-bat, he shoved a helmet onto his head, over hair that curled along his nape and defied the edge of the hard shell. His biceps bunched as he shifted the bat over his shoulder. He stepped up to the batter’s box and performed the same warm-up ritual he had since high school, stomping his left foot twice, pawing the dirt with his right, a bull preparing to charge. A couple of strong swings and he stepped to the plate, took his stance.
    The pitcher wound up and released the ball. Low in the outside corner, coming fast. His pants snugged against his butt and thighs as he stepped into his swing. There was a loud crack as lumber connected with leather and he skied it, sending the ball flying over the left field fence, mere inches inside the foul pole. Fist pumping, he rounded the bases until he landed firmly on home plate, surrounded by teammates.
     
    Hair damp, he stepped from the locker room. Allie waited for him, that riot of curls caught up in a stubby ponytail, her tank top neatly tucked into cut-offs. Not his type, but damn, she looked good. Was it because he hadn’t fucked her yet he was all tied up in knots?
    “Reese and I came to watch you play.”
    It was right to settle his arm across her shoulder. Natural. He led her toward her car. “Pretty good game.”
    “Pretty good? You were sensational, Ben.”
    Her enthusiastic smile was good for his ego. Loosened the ropes so he could breathe again. The scent in the air was pure Allie, fresh and sweet. He wanted to kiss her. Needed to taste those heart-shaped lips of hers. Glide his tongue across them until she opened up and he could slide it in and taste the honey inside. Long and slow and deep.
    Jake cat-called from across the parking lot.
    And somewhere private.
    It was better he stick to the present, leave his fantasies for… later. He snagged her neck in the crook of his elbow and tugged until she bumped up against him. “Yeah, I did okay. Good thing we won. We needed that one.”
    “You won? Oh, sure. Right. Of course you won.”
    Allie, nervous? Imagine that. And damned if she didn’t turn an interesting shade of pink. Just how far into her blouse did her blush go?
    “You guys were awesome.” She ducked out from under his arm as they approached her car. Her bright hazel eyes skittered between him and the ugly cracked blacktop.
    What would she do if he kissed her—really laid one on her—right here?
    She beeped her car unlocked.
    Would she kiss him back, run her arms around his waist then up and over his shoulders? Lock them around his neck? Sink into him? Jesus, he was hard.
    With a twist of her lush, rosy lips