Damon (The Protectors #1)(39)
After their three outs Mitch was giving them their positions leaving Nicole for last. “Callahan, go to center field.”
“No.” Damon, who came up behind her, answered before she could head out. “I can't protect her out there.”
“Damon I'll be fine.” Nicole sighed. “No one is going to do anything with this many people around.”
Damon eyed Mitch, not budging. “First base.” Mitch nodded.
“I don't play bases.” Nicole refused not wanting to sound like a baby, but wanting to play where she knew she could do good. She hated playing bases and sucked at it.
“For shit sake.” Mitch grumbled. “Take short stop and send Eddie to center.”
Both Nicole and Mitch looked at Damon who was staring at where short stop would be. When he nodded Nicole grabbed her glove and headed out on the field. Damon headed around the dugout toward short stop where he would be close. Jared was close behind him.
Damon stood on the sidelines his senses on full alert. He knew it was a matter of time before a hit was made. The longer it took the more alert he became because he knew it was coming. These people didn't give up until they got what they wanted and they wanted Nicole dead. Exactly who wanted her dead was still a mystery.
After getting the lay of everything Damon relaxed enough to watch the game. He was surprised at how good a player Nicole actually was. He really shouldn't be surprised. He watched as she played her position good heartedly taunting the other team and laughing when they taunted back at her. Her blonde hair was pulled up in a sloppy ponytail, her ball cap pulled low over her eyes. She was one of the shortest players on the field, but she played with no fear driving for balls, throwing people out all the while being the most beautiful woman inside and out he had ever known. The thought of someone wanting to hurt her sent anger surging through his body.
Cheering the last out Nicole started to head to their dugout as she looked over at Damon and stopped, her hands still together in a clap. It was as if her whole body stopped except for her heart which beat a hard frantic tempo in her chest. His stare was so intense it made her shiver and her legs feel like rubber. Her feet started toward him until Pam slapped her arm around her shoulders leading her toward the dugout talking a mile a minute. Peeking over Pam's shoulder Damon walked along slightly behind them outside of the field, but his eyes never left her. “Wow...” Nichole whispered looking away her body having all kind of needy feelings running rampant.
“Wow what?” Pam chuckled looking closely at Nicole. “Why are you so flushed? You getting too hot?”
“Yeah, too hot.” Nicole giggled shaking her head. Damn that vamp was going to cause her to have a freakin heat stroke.
The game continued, but Nicole was too busy watching Damon. He hadn't looked at her much since and she willed him to do again. The feeling was outrageous. She knew she wasn't one of those women who needed a man to make her life better, but man, it had felt good and she would like to have that feeling just one more time...dammit.
“Strike!” Sid yelled from behind home plate.
Nicole glared back at him. Crap, she was batting and staring at Damon. What the hell was she doing?
“What?” Sid flipped his mask up glaring back at her. “You want a do over?”
“What in blue blazes are you waiting for Callahan?” Mitch yelled in his annoying coach voice. “Hit the little white ball.”
Glaring at the catcher when he chuckled she got in her ready stance and concentrated on the pitcher. She swung and missed.
“Strike two!” Sid yelled.
“How'd ya like that one Callahan? If you need a more girlie throw I can do that for ya.” He demonstrated by taking a slow step forward like he was going to toss it nice and slow underhand.
“Crap.” Nicole hissed under her breath. A-hole out there was not going to strike her out. “Come on, stop taunting like a girl and throw the ball.” Nicole grinned as Jim's face flushed in anger. Nicole watched the ball all the way in and swung as hard as she could. The bat and ball connected almost taking Blevins head off. Dropping the bat she took off to first then rounded to go to second, but stopped seeing Blevins screaming and yelling heading right for her.
“You did that on purpose.” Jim bellowed as the benches cleared players yelling over each other.
“Jim, you know that's not true.” Nicole chuckled backing away knowing that Jim was just kidding. “Cause if I would have done that on purpose I would have hit ya.” Nicole glanced over to see Jared holding back Damon. She gave him a thumbs up letting him know she was okay. They always ended the games with a bench clearing so both teams got thrown out and no one was really a winner. It was after all a charity event not a regular season game which she played on through the summer.
Soon everyone was laughing walking off the field while the spectators cheered and headed toward the food. Nicole had lost sight of Damon, but saw Jared waiting for her.
“Nice game.” He grinned. “Thought you were going to behead the big guy for a minute.”
Nicole chuckled shaking her head. “Nah, Blevins isn't a bad guy. Just talks a lot of smack and I wanted to take him down a peg or two, not kill him.”
“He went to cool down.” Jared answered the question she hadn't ask, but wanted to badly. “Thought he was going to kill that guy when he charged you yelling.”