She sighed, a sign she was giving in. That's how Halo saw it, anyway. “How long is a season?” she questioned.
“World Series takes us to ten months.”
“Almost a year.” She met his gaze. “We need terms.”
Conditions to their deal. He'd never played within boundaries. He wasn't certain he even could. “Hit me,” he said.
“I will pay you back every cent you loan me, once I get up and running and show a profit.”
She could keep the money as far as he was concerned. He wouldn't miss it. But she was honorable. So he nodded. Agreeing.
She licked her lips. He wished he was licking them, too. “No sex.”
Low blow. And painful. “Ah, babe.” His balls were getting bluer by the second. “Some public affection, then, otherwise no one will believe we're a couple.”
“Kisses, no tongue.”
She was no fun. “Touching?”
“You can put your arm around me. Hold my hand.”
He was pretty certain he could charm his way to feeling her up. Maybe she'd stroke him down. The thought left him hard.
She noticed the bulge behind his zipper, and her eyes rounded.
“Really?”
she asked.
“It's who I am.”
She pursed her lips, thought ahead. “I'll need to explain our deal to Danny and my mom. So they don't read more into our arrangement than is actually there.”
“I'll talk to your brother man-to-man.”
“He's eight.” She clutched her hands at her sides. Unsure. “No matter how we explain âus,'”âshe made quotation marks with her fingersâ“he'll see you as family. You'll let him down when you leave.”
“Maybe I won't leave.”
“I could leave you.”
“Harsh, Alyn. Take my money, then dump me.”
“Such is life.”
“So . . . you're in.”
“I'm . . . in.”
They'd go the distance, he was certain. He'd already sketched the outcome of their relationship in his mind. One he could live with. He was happy with the ending.
They hadn't discussed when to make their announcement. Halo figured soon. Very soon. Their verbal agreement bound them now. Neither would go back on his or her word. He took her hand, and she laced her fingers with his. Her palm was small in his. Soft. Tentative.
Danny was tapping his toe by the time they reached him. He didn't question their holding hands. Instead, he reached for Halo's free one. The boy's hand stuck to his. Juicy.
The locker room was empty by the time they arrived. The contest winners and players had come and gone and moved to the field. “Let's wash your hands before we do anything else,” Halo suggested. He led Danny toward the restroom, only to glance over his shoulder and wink at Alyn. She blushed. Prettily.
Danny scrubbed, avoided getting his cast wet. He then paper-toweled his hands dry. He dunked the used towels in the trash can like a basketball player. Then turned to Halo and said, “You're always looking at my sister.”
The boy was observant. Halo was honest. “She's easy on the eyes. I like her.”
“I like her, too.”
“I might ask her on a date, if that's okay with you.”
“You stuff her now.”
“Do stuff with her now,” Halo interpreted, trying not to smile.
“Mommy and Daddy went to movies. Alyn would babysit me. They needed to grow up sometimes.”
It took Halo a second to figure out, “Some grown-up time.” Adults needed to stay connected. Danny's parents had scheduled date nights. He found that very cool.
Danny grinned then. “They would kiss in the kitchen when they thought I was playing in the yard. In the greenhouse, too. But I saw.”
“They loved each other.”
“Daddy left us.”
Death was never easy on a family. “I wish I'd met your father.”
“Mommy says I look just like Daddy when he was a boy.”
“I looked a lot like my dad, too.” He'd learned a hard lesson after his father's passing. He reflected, “It's important to be kind to people we care about.” He and his old man had never expressed regret over their arguments. Their silence. They'd never shaken hands. Never agreed to disagree. It was too late now.
“Be nice to my sister. Mommy said she's frag-able.”
“Fragile.” Halo would do his best never to hurt her. “Are we good, dude?” He held his hand out to Danny. They fist bumped, then shook. “No matter what happens down the road, you and I will go the distance. I promise.”
“Quigley, too?”
“Quiggie Sparks makes three.”
“We're the Muskets.”
“Three Musketeers.”
“Guys? Is everything okay?” Alyn called from the main locker room. “How long does it take to wash hands?”
“Guy talk,” Halo told her when they returned. He rested his hand on Danny's shoulder, guided him to the row of lockers. The starting lineup filled the row against the south wall. “Mine,” he pointed to the second one. There were thirty preseason games. Three batting practice uniforms, five boxes of athletic shoes, a collection of sunglasses and terry-cloth wrist bands stood ready. He would change into one of his uniforms shortly, when the team met with the media.
“I like your locker,” said Danny.
“Yeah, so do I.”
Clubhouse manager Walter Atwater made the spring training locker assignments. Atwater had placed Halo by Rylan. Which was fine by Halo. Walt believed the veteran's work ethic and stability would rub off on him. An empty locker separated him from the team captain. The space was meant for Ry, yet Halo would pitch his wallet and keys on the top shelf. Oftentimes hang an extra set of clothes. The coveted real estate put him adjacent to the lounge and food cart with easy access to the showers. He could settle on a La-Z-Boy, put up his feet after nine innings, and enjoy a snack or catered meal. It was all good.
Halo glanced at Alyn. She sat in the background, on a gray-enameled bench. He smiled at her, and she smiled back. He liked looking at her. He wanted to share his career. To give her an understanding of who he was. Deep inside, beyond his public image. He turned to Danny. “Where to next? Field, batting cages?”
The boy closed his eyes, and imagined, “I've just hit a home run and I'm rounding the bases.”
“Let's go, slugger. No sliding home,” he reminded.
Halo refused to let Alyn lag behind. She was allowing him and Danny to bond, but he needed to strengthen their personal connection, too. Danny swung out the door, shot down the short tunnel, his feet flying. He would round the bases, which gave Halo a private moment with his sister.
A dim bulb lit the hallway. Casting them in shadow. He let Alyn catch up, then caught her to him. “Are we having fun yet?” he whispered near her ear.
“Danny's having the time of his life.”
“How about you?”
“I'm taking it all in.”
“Take me in.” He gave her no warning. He kissed her.
Claimed her. In an instant. He lifted her full against him, effortlessly. She stood on tiptoe. Her parted lips let his tongue slip in, and move hotly over her own. Possessive, passionate. She savored his masculine taste; the heat of his body wrapped her in his scent. All male.
Their chemistry was undeniable, strong and potent. Overpowering. So sexual, she couldn't keep her hands off him. She explored the corded strength of his shoulders; her nails scored his back. His muscles flexed, rippled, beneath her fingers. Her composure wavered. The wall pressed her back. Halo, her front. His chest was as wide and hard as cement block.
There was no sweet exchange with this man. He kissed with his entire body. He pleasured her. Appreciated her. Raw, restive, capturing, he drew her out of herself and into him. She went, willingly. He stroked her back, the high curve of her bottom. He squeezed her hips. Cupping her butt, he kept her flush against him. His breathing deepened. He was hard for her. The zipper on his jeans distended. Largely so.
Sensation pooled in her belly. She was lost to the moment. Lost in the man. He was addictive. Restless, he shifted against her. Impatient, she arched, pressed her hips tighter against him. She wanted to wrap her legs about his waist. She would have, had the side door not opened, and sunlight splashed the hallway. They were visible to a little boy's eyes.
Halo groaned, low, deep, as if in pain. Frustration etched his handsome face. He released her, stepped back. Her thighs locked before her knees buckled. She was that turned on. Danny ran inside, stopped short. Dirt smudged his face, and he was panting. Alyn was as out of breath as her brother. She concentrated on her breathing. Which was difficult.
Public affection. How much had Danny seen? If anything. She was embarrassed by their display in the hall. She'd kindled with Halo's first kiss. Her control escaped her. She fanned herself now. The fire still burned. Her breasts felt heavy. Her belly, soft. Her panties were wet.
“Did you run the bases?” Halo found his voice first.
“Three times,” Danny said proudly. “I thought you were watching me, but I crossed home alone.”
Alyn's heart squeezed. She should've been there for her brother. Clapping and cheering him on. She apologized, saying the first thing that popped into her head. “Sorry, sweetie. Halo's shoelace came untied, and he stopped to fix it.”
Danny lowered his gaze. “Halo's wearing loafers, sis.”
Her cheeks heated. Halo had the balls to laugh. He lightly cuffed Danny on the shoulder, admitted, “I stole a kiss.”
“You can steal more if you want.” Danny gave them permission.
“No more,” she assured him. “We're done here.”
“For now,” said Halo. “Let's go, guy.”
Danny banged out the door. Excited, and nearly tripping over his feet. Alyn and Halo followed more slowly. He took her hand with the ease of a long-time boyfriend. They'd only been a couple for an hour. Yet everything seemed easy, comfortable. Meant to be, although she knew it wasn't long-term. She would take him one day at a time. That was all she could afford. Becoming too involved, too fast, would complicate her life forever. She couldn't afford for that to happen.
On the field, Halo chased Danny around the bases. Danny was beside himself from the attention. He jumped with both feet on home plate, raised his arms high, then turned and hugged Halo.
“This is a great ballpark,” said Danny. He pointed toward the batting cages on the far side of the bullpen. “Can I swing, just once, please, Halo, please.”
Alyn's heart slowed. She didn't want her brother to get hurt. “Your cast,” she reminded him.
Halo figured out a way to ease her mind and make Danny happy. “The ball machine can be regulated, but there's no slow pitch. I'd need to stand behind you, and go hand-over-hand on the bat. Will that work for you?”
She watched it all unfold from outside the fence that surrounded the batting cages. Halo loaded the ball machine, and set the speed of the pitches. Alyn thought they still came fast, but her brother wanted faster. Halo was light-handed on the bat. Still, he protected Danny's cast when her brother stepped into a pitch. They connected on ten of twelve balls. Danny was elated.
Halo gave Danny a fist bump. “Superstar,” he praised.
“Now what?” her brother wanted to know. Still hyped, and ready to go.
Halo glanced at his watch. “You and Alyn need to go back to Rogues Plaza,” he directed. “Locate Jillian, our community liaison. You met her at the bonfire. There's designated seating for the contest winners and media. You'll have a good view of all that goes on.”
He gave Danny a final pat on the shoulder, then kissed Alyn full on the lips. Her whole body sighed. “Later, babe.” He left them then; jogged back toward the locker room.
The man looked as good going as he did coming, she thought. He filled out his black T-shirt and packed his jeans. His body shouted agility and strength. He'd left a permanent imprint on her from the hallway.
Danny took her hand as they walked toward the front of the facility. He looked up to her. “Halo likes you.”
She missed a step. Stumbled. “How would you know that?”
“He told me.”
“When, sweetie?”
“When I was washing my hands.”
They'd had a private conversation amid the soap, water, and scrubbing. “Anything else you want to tell me?” she prodded, but didn't press him. She respected their guy time.
Danny gave it some thought. “He and his daddy looked alike.”
“And . . .”
“Him, Quigs, and me are Three Musket-ears.”
He gave a little hop, and she knew he'd relayed all that he remembered, all that was important to him. She let it rest. They soon rounded the corner of the stadium, and became part of a large crowd. Alyn couldn't believe the number of people already gathered, along with those who stood in line at the gate.
Jillian saw them before they saw her. She waved them down. “So glad you're here,” she greeted. “Halo has texted me a dozen times in ten minutes, making sure you have the best seats available. The man can be persistent.”
“Wherever we're assigned, we'll be fine,” Alyn assured her. She didn't have to be front and center. The top row of the bleachers worked for her.
“I've left two rows open for the contest winners,” Jillian informed them. She pointed to the lower left, to the empty spaces. “Fans will try to sneak down to be closer to the players. So grab a space now. The guys should be here shortly. They'll field media questions. Then chat with the crowd. It's a fun hour.”
Alyn and Danny settled beside Eleanor Norris. The ninety-year-old wore a wide-brimmed straw hat, a long-sleeve blouse, white gloves, and slacks. “Sun will never touch my skin,” she told them. She had a lovely complexion.