Page 248 of Out of Left Field

My heart jumped into my throat, nervous for him even though it was just a game and there was literally nothing I could do to help him.

The twelfth inning came around and it was Everett holding the ball, staring down at Wes Allen behind the plate. I shouldn’t have been nervous. His pitches were dazzling. One knuckled so violently on the way to the plate that even the commentators shouted with amazement and praise. In the end, Pittsburgh was sent packing. The game was finally over.

I picked up my phone to record my nightly message for Everett and realized I didn’t want to congratulate him over the phone and attempt to sleep alone in my bed. I wouldn’t sleep. I didn’t want to be alone.

I was so very tired of being alone.

So instead I put my phone in my purse, grabbed my keys, and got in the car.

Everett and Isaac called their house the Brady Bunch house because they each had their own entrances and separate suites, plus Hunter Holland’s mother lived there as well, serving as Rosie’s live-in nanny. She also generally kept the house running for two ADHD men who struggled to focus on anything that wasn’t the highest priority in their lives.

I waited in my car on Everett’s half of the driveway, my heart pounding in my chest. I’d never surprised a man before. I honestly didn’t even know what I expected. I just knew that I needed him.

Weeks of dating had been good for me. Everett was the same but different. He was older and wiser. Quieter. More contemplative. But now that he was more open with me, I saw the silly, vulnerable, boyish side I missed so much. It was in there, just buried under carefully constructed layers of protection.

Headlights flashed and my heart jumped into my throat, lodging in place. What if he didn’t want me here? What if he wasn’t into this? What if…

He parked beside me and was at my door so fast he must have run. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” I slid out of the car just as Everett leaned closer. We didn’t touch but it sure as hell felt like we did. As usual we were electric near each other and it took my breath away. “I uh, couldn’t sleep. You were, I mean great game. Congratulations.” Why couldn’t I catch my breath?

Everett smelled like soap and as usual, my body responded to his presence without my permission. My heart sped up, my skin tingled, and the urge to plaster myself to him overwhelmed me.

His eyes flashed with anger and frustration. “Don’t fucking lie to me. I’m trying so hard, Willa. I’ve been nothing but an open book and it fucking hurts when I can see you are lying to me.”

“I’m not lying! Dammit, Everett!” He was so close and I was so turned on and nothing was coming out right.

“Then what’s this look? Why are you here?”

Because I want you. I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him hard.

At first Everett froze. Then he dropped his bag and wrapped me in his arms. “Oh. This what you need, babe?”

I hummed, deepening a kiss that now felt like the most natural thing in the world.

“You want more?”

I nodded. I wanted so much more. But the words were stuck inside me. Thank goodness Everett was in the mood to do the talking. He kicked my car door closed, left his bag in the driveway, and carried me to his door.

As soon as we were inside he pressed me to the wall, his eyes wild with need that mirrored my own. “Is this real or am I hallucinating?”

“I’m pretty sure this is real.”

He searched my eyes, then nodded almost to himself, his thumb strumming my cheek. “I want you so bad, but the second you say stop, we stop. One bad vibe and we roll this back for another day. Got it?”

This man. His sweetness might be the death of me. I might simply combust on the spot from his love. I clutched his face and kissed him with everything I had.

He nudged my legs apart with his knee, his hand traveling up my thigh to my loose pajama shorts. “Does my girl need some relief?” He palmed me.

It felt so good I ground harder against him. “I need you.”

“Fuck,” he moaned, leaning his forehead against mine. “That’s the hottest thing I’ve ever heard.”

“Take me to bed.”

He groaned but didn’t move. Instead his fingers slid beneath my shorts. “You’re about to go off, aren’t you? It’s been too long. Let’s take the edge off.”

I whimpered as he worked me over. It had been too long. I was hot and needy, so ready that all it took was a growl, a carefully placed hand, and I was soaring.