Dare You To (Pushing the Limits, #2)(51)

“Yes.” Scott flashes a smile, the kind I understand; this      office is hallowed ground. The phone on his large mahogany desk rings. “Give me      a sec.”

I start to head out when Scott stops me. “Stay. This won’t take      long.”

I love this man. I could spend hours in this office drooling      over his stuff. Speaking in correct grammar and a business voice, Scott chats on      the phone. I hover over a bat signed by Nolan Ryan. This could be my office      someday. Hell no. This will be me.

Across the room is a table of framed pictures. Scott and Pete      Rose. Scott and Albert Pujols. The picture frames are angled slightly toward the      center of the table. Each person in the frame more important than the last. When      I get to the middle, I see a wedding picture of Scott and his wife and my      respect for the man grows. He values his family.

I frown when I spot the small 4 x 7 photograph. It’s of a child      and Scott. At least I think it’s Scott. I pick it up. He’s young and looks dorky      wearing the old-school version of the Bullitt County High baseball uniform. He      holds a girl. Barely out of toddler years. Maybe five. Entwined and pinned      everywhere in her long blond hair are pink ribbons. The white fluffy dress makes      her look like a princess. She has her arms squeezed tight around Scott’s neck.      Her smile is contagious and her eyes are the deep blue of an ocean, almost      exactly like...

“Elisabeth loved ribbons,” Scott says behind me. “Bought them      for her every chance I could.”

No way. “This is Beth?”

He takes the frame from me and gently places it back as the      very center picture on the table. “Yes.”

He says it with the heaviness of a man mourning. Hell, I guess      he is grieving. Beth is a far cry from the happy child in that photo.

Scott’s lighthearted tone returns. “I picked Allison up from a      dinner last night and ran into your mom. She said you finaled in a state writing      competition.”

My eyes flicker away. Dad must love that everyone in town now      knows. “Yeah.”

“Your dad said you’re bent on going pro out of school, but      there are a lot of colleges that would die to have a pitcher with your      potential. Especially if you have academic talent.”

“Thanks.” I don’t know what else to say.

“Want to tell me what’s going on with you and my niece?”

I freeze. And that is what I call throwing a changeup. Scott      loses his easygoing grin and I notice he shares Beth’s eyes. He doesn’t blink      either. Time to man up. “I asked her out.” Because of a dare. “And she said yes.      She said that you’d want to meet me first.”

“Where are you taking her tonight?”

“To my pitch-coaching lesson, then to wherever she chooses to      eat. There’s a...” Taco Bell—I should skip that one. “McDonald’s and an      Applebee’s nearby.”

Scott nods as if he’s processing how to perform brain surgery.      “Where are you taking her Friday?”

“Not far. Actually, it’ll border your property and my dad’s. My      best friend lives on the other side of you and we invite friends over to hang      out.”

Scott fights amusement and tenses at the same time. “You’re      taking my niece to a field party.”

I swallow.

“I grew up fifteen miles from Groveton,” says Scott. “I know      what a field party is, having attended more than a few myself.”

Busted. “I thought it would be a good opportunity for her to      spend time with my friends.”

Scott rubs his jawline. “I don’t know.”

I have to give him more. Lots more. “I like Beth. She’s      pretty.” Yeah, she is. “She’s more than pretty. She’s not like any girl I’ve      ever met before. Beth keeps me on the edge. With her, I have no idea what’s      coming next and I find that...” Amazing. Thrilling. “Fun.”

Scott says nothing back and I’m glad. Until I said the      words—words I thought I was creating to impress him—I had no idea they were      true.

A sexy voice, one I know all too well, causes my stomach to      levitate like I’m at the top of a roller coaster, then plummet. Beth heard every      word. “You’re kidding.”

“It’s impolite to eavesdrop.” Scott keeps his back to her and      his eyes glued on me.