The Trade(80)

I chuckle from his change of subject. “Yes. It’s vital. It’s why I haven’t been seriously injured. Something you should consider given your position as catcher.”

He slowly nods and then asks, “Think you can help me with my cool down, show me what you do? I want to be able to play when I’m older, and we all know being a catcher puts a shorter timeline on my career.”

I pat his back. “I got you. Now tell me what you want to talk about.”

“Yeah.” He sits on the table across from me, his eyes fixed on where I’m using the Theragun on my quads. “I don’t want to come in here like a big brother and try to scare you off, but I do feel like I have the responsibility to tell you something about my sister.”

“Anything that will help make this relationship grow, I’m all ears.”

He smiles softly at me. “I’m sure she’s talked about her ex, how he cheated on her, the lack of communication, all of that.”

“Yeah, how you didn’t destroy the motherfucker with your bat is beyond me.”

“She told me when we were on an impromptu vacation. I almost flew back to the States in my bathing suit to murder him. She told me he wasn’t worth my time. Still not sure I agree with that.”

“Me neither,” I answer honestly, unsure of how any man could treat a woman so terribly. Or anyone for that matter. I’ve always prided myself on being kind to people, no matter who they are. Although, if I ever saw Ansel in person, not quite sure how kind I’d be.

“But he damaged her self-esteem. She considered you out of her league, that she wasn’t good enough, and she thinks she’s damaged goods. I know I don’t have to say this to you, but I figured I would anyway. If you’re not serious about her, please don’t go far with this only to break her heart. I’m not sure what it would do to her.”

I nod, hating that Natalie, this beautiful and vibrant woman who captured me with just a smile from across the room, could have so much self-doubt.

I switch off the Theragun and level with Jason. “I appreciate you telling me that. And I’ll be honest with you. Milly has been trying to get me to date for a long time, and I’ve turned down the idea repeatedly. But then I saw your sister at your fundraiser. I saw her smile first, heard her laugh second, and then fell for her eyes third. Something shifted inside me that night. I called Milly afterward, telling her all about my conversation with Natalie, how I was going to ask her out, how I felt this connection, this strong pull that I’ve never felt before. And when she told me Natalie was married”—I shake my head—“I felt defeated. Luckily for me, no one knew she was going through a divorce. I didn’t know that until St. Croix. My point is, I know she’s special and not because of what people have told me about her, but from the way my body reacted to her. I’ve never wanted a relationship during a season until her, and I’ll be damned if I don’t make sure it works out.”

I haven’t seen this side of Jason Orson before. Completely serious. Devoted. Straight-faced. Natalie is lucky that she has him in her corner. And now she has me.

“That’s all I wanted to hear.”





Standing tall, I knock on Natalie’s door and then stick my hands in my pants pockets. I’m not going to lie . . . I’m a little nervous.

After I left the stadium, I spent a good hour—yeah, a fucking hour—trying to decide what to wear. The thing about Neptune’s Rooftop is they have a strict dress code and I only have a few suits that fit me right now. I’ve put on some muscle, so the shoulders and arms are tight on my jackets, leaving me with two options. I chose my navy suit, paired it with a light blue button-up—thankfully we don’t have to wear a tie—and styled my hair with more product than normal. I must have looked at every angle of my body at least a dozen times before I left to come pick up Natalie and finally settled with “hopefully she thinks I look good.”

I wait impatiently, desperate to see her again. It’s been twenty-four hours, and after spending a week with her at my side almost every hour, it feels like a lifetime since I’ve been able to look directly into her deep blue eyes.

Heels click across the floor, announcing her approach.

Holy.

Fuck.

Hair curled in that wavy way I like, she’s holding on to the door edge, wearing one of the hottest dresses I’ve ever seen. It doesn’t have a deep neckline showing off her tits, and it’s not short, giving me a peek at her legs, but it is skintight, so I’m enjoying every inch of her fantastic curves. And when I say skintight, I mean there is no doubt in my mind she’s not wearing underwear right now.

The dress crosses over her delicate collarbone and suctions all the way down her sleek arms. Her chest is framed, highlighting her large breasts, only to be deceived by her waist and then flare out at her hips and ass. The dress falls just past her knees, and she’s paired the maroon color with nude heels that make her calves look fucking phenomenal.

She fucking showed up tonight, and I’m feeling like I’m not dressed up enough to be taking this girl out on my arm.

I drag my hand over my mouth and take her in one more time. When my eyes return to her face, she’s blushing, but also has a sense of pride in her eyes—just what I like to see.

Reaching out, I slide my hand along her waist, loving the buttery feel of the fabric of the dress, and I lower my lips to her ear. “You look insanely sexy, Natalie.” I take in a whiff of her perfume and sigh. “And you fucking smell like heaven.” I move my lips across her jaw, to her mouth where I angle her mouth upward and press a light kiss.