Morning After (A Reynolds Security Novel) (6 page)

Ethan's team was up to bat first. She assumed the first guy up to bat must be Jace because three women in the top row began to cheer enthusiastically when he stepped up to the plate.  She glanced up over her shoulder as casually as she could muster. There were two brunettes and a blond. All perfectly put together. It would appear than none of them had been drug out of the house without makeup.  She tugged self-consciously at the hem of her shorts. At least she had shaved her legs that morning.

"Just ignore them." Erica turned and saw an older woman to her right. "They get a little rowdy but they are more nuisance than anything else." She said when Erica met her gaze. Jace hit a double on the first pitch and the girls cheered like crazy. Ethan was up next and there was some pointing and giggling from the peanut gallery but no cheering. Erica swallowed any potential embarrassment and yelled. Ethan glanced up at her as he approached the home plate and grinned.  The woman sitting to her right looked at her again, this time she joined her in cheering. When Ethan hit the ball she put her fingers to her lips and whistled loud and long. It was a single. Now she had drawn the attention of the women on the top bench. She could feel their eyes on her and it made her supremely uncomfortable.  The next batter hit a pop fly which was caught and he was called out. The next two batters struck out. Ethan never made it past first base and Jace didn't get off third. When Ethan's team took the outfield she was surprised to see that Ethan was pitching. She began cheering again reminding herself that he had spent the last two days helping her and putting her at ease. Cheering for him seemed a small price to pay. The woman on her right scooted closer and held out her hand.

"I'm Norma." She smiled.

"Erica." She shook the woman's hand and they began to chat. The next three innings went much the same. Ethan's team scored three runs, the other team scored two. It was in the end of the fourth inning that the catcher on Ethan's team went after a pop fly and collided with a runner trying to make his way home. The collision didn't look bad at first but when the catcher didn't immediately get up, Erica took a closer look.  The catcher was clutching her knee. The runner she had collided with knelt beside her. After a moment he waved to the bench and the players surrounded her.  Erica stayed where she was, she could no longer see the catcher, only the people surrounding her. After a few minutes the catcher emerged in the arms of the runner she had collided with. Erica couldn't suppress a smile, he looked as if he would carry her all the way home, or anywhere else she wanted to go.  It wasn't until the rest of the crowd decided to disperse that Erica looked for Ethan. When she finally spotted him he was almost right in front of her. He smiled at her and she smiled back despite the fact that his appearance made her suspicious.

"Remember when you said if I needed a catcher..."

"No." She said before the words were all the way out of his mouth.

"You can do it."

"No I can't, it was girls fast pitch softball and it was years ago!"

"I bet you still remember how, it's not much different."

"Ethan I can't, I haven't even thrown a ball in years."

"I'll help you warm up."

"So what's the verdict?" Erica looked up at the new voice and saw the first baseman with the fan club. She realized with a start, she had seen him before. He had been in the coffee shop with Ethan.  "Are you going to help us salvage the only lead we've had all season?"

"I really can't, I haven't played in years."

"Haven't you been watching Darlin'? You don't have to be good to play on this team." Ethan and Jace both laughed and Erica was warmed. They didn't take themselves too seriously. They weren't overly competitive. They were just out to have a good time. 

"All right."
She sighed and the grin that lit up Ethan's face was worth it. "Does anyone have some gear I can borrow?"

Jace took off to find some gear and Ethan held his hand out to her to help her step off the bleachers.

Erica could not have felt more conspicuous or uncomfortable if she tried. The borrowed uniform and gear didn’t fit right. The pants were too tight in the hips and waist and the jersey was too tight in the bust. She felt like she was trying to wear an adolescent boy’s clothes. Thankfully the catcher’s gear covered up the most embarrassing areas. She stretched as much as she could in the tiny public restroom. She felt a little better when she sank down into the catcher’s stance. It felt natural, familiar. She could almost hear her dad cheering, yelling at her to keep her eye on the ball. Ethan threw her a few practice pitches and before she knew it she was behind a batter.

Mercifully the game wasn’t too strenuous. She caught a couple of fouls and tagged out a couple of runners. All in all it was actually less intense than when she had played in high school but she could definitely feel the soreness in her legs. They won but as soon as the game was over Erica’s main concern was getting back into her own clothes. She hurried towards the same public restroom she had changed in previously and quickly stripped off the gear in the small space. She was tired, she was sore, she was sweaty and dirty. But oddly she was exhilarated at the prospect of celebrating with Ethan. 

When she was finally all put back together she exited the stall only to discover she wasn’t alone. The blond cheerleader from the bleachers was primping in the dingy mirror. She met Erica’s gaze and smiled.

“Great game.” The perky blond said between lipstick applications.

“Thanks.” Erica looked in the mirror and was slightly aghast. Her face was dirty and sweat streaked and her ponytail had loosened and let her hair slip free haphazardly around her face.

“So are you Ethan’s sister?” The woman asked. Erica felt the barb, the question implying that she wasn’t hot enough to be a girlfriend or a date.

“We’re friends.”

“Oh, that’s nice. I guess someone should have warned you he really hates the cheering.  Jace likes the attention but not Ethan.” Erica offered the woman a tight smile.

“I’ll keep that in mind.” She left the bathroom not bothering to straighten out her hair or wash her face. She immediately regretted that when she found Ethan waiting for her just outside the bathroom. His face split into a wide grin and her heart stuttered. He was sweaty and dirty as well, but on him it was hot.

“You were great.”

“Yeah and I am going to feel it tomorrow.” She laughed.

“Come on, the whole team is headed to Jack's to celebrate.” Jack’s was a popular sports bar. The last thing she wanted right now was to be seen in public.

“Oh Ethan I can’t.”

“Why not?”

“I need a shower for one thing.”

“We all need showers.” He laughed. “Come on, you have to come, you’re our good luck charm.”

“What?”

“This is the first game we’ve won. You have to be the key.”

“I don’t think so.” She laughed.

“Come on, you have to be starving.” He opened her door and looked into her eyes.  She felt a melting sensation that felt suspiciously like her defenses and relented.

“Fine,” she sighed, “You win.”

“I love to win,” he said and shut the door.  Erica immediately pulled the visor down and looked in the mirror. She tried to do something with her hair but it was so dried from the sun and dust it was like straw.

“I have an extra ball cap if you want.”

“That would be great.” He reached behind the seat and tossed her a black ball cap. She turned it around and saw that it was a Raiders cap.

"Oh you have got to be kidding me!"

"What?" He quickly looked over at her alarmed tone.

"You are a Raiders fan?" She held up the cap and he grinned.  "I can't wear this. I'd rather just have my dirty hair," she said haughtily and he laughed.  He reached behind the seat and pulled out another cap, this one said Reynolds Security on it.

"Better?"

"Yes, thank you." she barely suppressed a laugh and he shook his head.

By the time Erica had her hair tucked through the loop on the back of the cap they had arrived at their destination. The place was already crawling with baseball players that had left the field before them. They threaded their way through the crowd and managed to find an open semi- circle booth in the back.  The waitress had just taken their drink order and dropped off chips and salsa when someone slid into the booth on the other side of her.

“Hi Jace Carpenter.” He held out his hand.

“Erica Sanders.” She shook his hand.

“You’re from that great little coffee shop, right?”

“Yeah, and you’re from the South and call everyone sugar.”

“That’s right.” Jace laughed a big booming sound. “Thanks a lot for your help today. You’re good, we should draft you.”

“Ha, no I don’t think so. I don’t think I am going to be able to move as it is.”

"Well you don't want to stiffen up, you
gotta keep moving, come on let's dance." He grabbed her hand and tugged her out of the booth.  She glanced back at Ethan, he didn't look happy but he made no move to stop them. She reminded herself that they weren't dating, they were only friends, and let Jace pull her out onto the floor. She loved to dance, surprisingly it was one of the only times she wasn't self-conscious about her body. She used to go with Zoe and Suzy all the time. They hadn't gone out much lately.  The music was catchy and upbeat. Jace was a good dancer but she was already tired from the game. She made it through the first song but pled exhaustion halfway through the second.  When she returned to the table she realized that they hadn't ordered before she left.

"I'm sorry, you didn't have to wait."

"It was no problem. I'm not in a hurry." He smiled and she slid into the booth next to him. "You like to dance?"

"I love to but not after playing baseball. I am such a
wuss." She groaned and he laughed.  Jace returned a short time after they ordered and slid in next to her.

"Do you play darts?"  He asked without preamble.  She eyed him for a moment.

"I can play darts, I can also play pool, and even pinball since I saw a machine over there, but not today, today I am not moving from this spot. Play darts with him." She pointed at Ethan and Jace grinned.

"Nah, he kicks my ass."  Jace grumbled. Ethan grinned and Erica laughed.

"So, you think I won't."

"No way."
He was goading her with his arrogance and she knew it but she couldn't help herself.

"Fine, one game," she sighed. This time Ethan followed them.

"You're awful short, you sure you don't want to stand a little closer?" Jace goaded and she glared at him.

"Tell you what, I'll stand back here and when I beat you, you can buy the drinks."

"I bet you drink something fruity, with pineapple juice!"  Jace wrinkled his nose.

"I bet they're expensive too," she whispered loudly.  Jace and Ethan both laughed.

Jace wasn't laughing after she beat him soundly.

"Damn, I think I would rather dance." Jace laughed. "You
gotta beat Ethan now, so I have something to give him crap about tomorrow.

"You
wanna play?" She looked at Ethan who was sitting on a nearby stool.

"No thanks, I am good."

"What's the matter, don't want to get beat by a girl?" He smiled and slid off the stool he approached her slowly and her heart rate increased.

"You have a little competitive streak don't you?"

"I like to win too." She arched a brow at him in challenge and he grinned. After he threw his first set of darts she rounded on him.

"Don't you dare hold
back!" She emphasized the implied threat by poking him in the chest.

"I wasn't."

"Yes you were." She insisted, getting in his face as much as she could; being so much shorter.  "You're trying to let me win." She poked him accusingly with her finger. He leaned down so their noses were nearly touching.

"Prove it." He whispered. She glanced at his lips and swallowed, trying to think of something to say. Her mind was a total blank. Instead of moving away he moved forward, sealing his lips to hers. She lifted her chin automatically giving him a better angle. She felt his tongue sweep across her lower lip and she opened to let him in. He tasted like the cola he had been drinking and something unique to him. She clutched his shirt to steady herself. Her stomach was doing somersaults as he deepened the kiss. His tongue swept over hers, teasing and inviting rather than invading. When he finally pulled back she felt a rush of disappointment then just as quickly she realized they were in a public place. They were in public and she was ready to start stripping off her clothes after one kiss.
One amazing, mind scrambling, knee melting kiss. She quickly pulled what was left of her wits around her. She pushed him back a step.

"Ethan, I don't do casual sex." She said firmly.

"Excuse me?"

"I don't do casual sex; I don't think there is any such thing. When I invite someone into my body there is nothing casual about it. Now throw your dart."

"It's your turn," he said automatically.

"Oh, I'll go then."  Ethan watched her, a riot of emotions rolling through him. He was shocked, impressed and more than a little turned on. He had never felt anything so intense just from a kiss.