She gaped at him. "I haven't played in years."
He shrugged. "Then maybe you're not as good as you thought."
"Screw that. I'm in. When's the next game?"
"We practice Sunday afternoons, which would be tomorrow if you can make it. Games are on Tuesday nights. Usually someone is out of town or can't make it because they're working late, so we always need bodies. They'd love to have you--if you're any good, of course."
"Oh, I'm still good. I might be rusty, but I'm still good. And I can make practice tomorrow."
He liked seeing that fire ignite within her. He didn't exactly know everything that had gone down in her marriage, but he'd bet Tom hadn't built up Loretta's self-esteem any. He'd also bet he hadn't played with her, either, hadn't explored Loretta's fun side. Deacon had always known Loretta as someone who enjoyed life to the fullest. Maybe she'd lost some of that over the years.
He intended to rectify that. Not only in mother, but in daughter, too. He settled in to watch the game on TV, satisfied he was off to a strong start by inviting her to join the softball league.
"Dammit, Deacon."
He pulled his attention away from the game. "What?"
"Well, now it's dark outside, and I want to go dig out my glove and warm up my arm."
He laughed. "I can come over before practice tomorrow and warm you up."
"Would you? I don't want to walk in there completely cold."
"Sure."
"Thanks. Remember when we'd play catch over at your dad's farm?"
"Yes. And you always told me I stood too far away and you couldn't throw that far."
She cocked her head to the side. "You have a faulty memory. It doesn't matter how far away you stand. I can throw the ball just fine."
"I guess we'll see tomorrow, won't we, champ?"
"I guess we will."
He could see her mind working as she tapped her fingers on her knees while she watched the game. Finally, she stood. "I need a glass of wine. You want something?"
"A water would be good, thanks."
"I'll be right back."
He watched her walk off, and he could tell by the way she moved she was riled up now. Good. He enjoyed seeing her a little edgy.
She came back with a full glass of wine in her hand.
"Sure it wouldn't have been better to bring the whole bottle and a straw?"
"Oh, aren't you the funny one?"
"Usually."
She took a long, deep swallow of wine, then another. Deacon felt the tension in her body as she sat next to him. Maybe something was on her mind and she needed the wine to get it out. He watched the game, figuring she'd either say it or not.
When she emptied the glass, she set it on the table, then shifted to face him. "You should kiss me now."
Not much shocked Deacon, but that had. "What?"
"Kiss me, Deacon. It's not like you don't know how."
"I know how, Loretta. I'm just trying to figure out why you'd ask me."
"Because there's this tension between us, and we should eliminate it."
He studied her, squinting a little so he could zero in on her features. "Are you drunk?"
"Of course not. Not yet, anyway."
His gaze scanned her empty glass. "That's why you poured the oversized glass. A courage drink."
"Maybe a little."
He stood, then took her by the hands and hauled her off the sofa. "Loretta, if you wanted me to kiss you, all you had to do was ask."
He slid his hand around her neck to cup her nape, drew her mouth to his, and paused.
Her gaze lifted, and he remembered what it was like to be drawn in by her sweet amber eyes.
"You sure you want this?"
She pressed her palms against his chest. "Oh yes."
Yeah. So did he.
He pressed his mouth against hers.
Chapter 13
* * *
LORETTA DIDN'T KNOW what possessed her to ask Deacon to kiss her. Some form of temporary insanity, probably. But right now his mouth was on hers, hard and insistent, and felt nothing like it had back in high school.
This was the way a man kissed a woman. This was the way a woman wanted to be kissed. It was a dizzying, toe-curling kind of kiss that let a woman know the man who kissed her knew exactly what he was doing, exactly what he wanted.
She knew what she wanted, too--a lot more of this. She grabbed his shirt and hauled him closer, rewarded with his groan. He snatched her hair in his fist and deepened the kiss, exploring her mouth with his tongue until she thought she might collapse from the overwhelming sensations. His work-hardened body pressed against hers, and his free hand drifted down her back to cup her butt, drawing her close to his erection.
Maybe it was the wine that made her feel light-headed, but she was more inclined to believe it was Deacon. He'd always had an effect on her, even as a boy.
Deacon wasn't a boy any longer. He was all man, and she wanted him. And when he pulled his lips from hers, his mouth traveling down her throat, she let out a whimper.
Yes. She needed to get Deacon into her bedroom. Her nipples were tight points of need, and every part of her quivered.
"Deacon."
He responded with an "Mmmm" as he continued to kiss his way along her collarbone and shoulder.
"Let's move this to the bedroom," she said.
He stilled for a second, then lifted his head and stared at her. The desire in his eyes only served to drive hers higher.
He kissed her again, wrapping his arm around her, but this time, the kiss was gentler, as if his own internal storm had calmed. Hers, on the other hand, still raged out of control. And when he pulled his mouth from hers and took a step back, she knew they weren't headed toward her bedroom.
"Loretta, I think we need to take a step back."
She inhaled a deep breath. "Okay. I understand. You don't want this."
He moved into her and took her hand, pressing it against his hard cock. "I think you know better than that. I want this. I want you. But I don't think tonight is the right time."
She lifted her gaze to his, saw the dark passion flaring in his eyes. "Why not tonight?"
"Because I think a part of you is alone for the first time in a long time, and you don't want to be. And maybe I don't want to be just a bed warmer for you tonight."
She opened her mouth to object, then closed it. Was that what she was doing? She had to admit, with Hazel gone, and her all alone at the farm, the loneliness had hit her harder than she'd expected. Was she reaching out to Deacon--enticing him into her bed--for all the wrong reasons? "You might be right about that. At least partially."
"Secondly, I just don't think I'm ready yet."
She wondered what he wasn't ready for. Ready to forgive her? To open up old wounds? Or to start up something with her that might end badly again? They'd already covered some deep topics tonight, and she was suddenly too tired to delve any further.
She nodded. "That's fair. I'll walk you out."
Otis had gotten up and wandered toward her, so he went outside with them. Deacon walked beside her, but he didn't hold her hand or touch her in any way. She had to admit that left her feeling cold and a bit out of sorts.
But when he got to his truck, he turned to her. "I can come by tomorrow at noon and we can throw the ball around a bit before softball practice."
At least he wasn't pushing her away. "That sounds good. And thanks again for the work you did and for helping me out today."
"Anytime." He started to get in the truck, then stopped, turned and came toward her, drew her against him, and kissed her--a long, deep kiss that fired her up all over again. When he let her go, he said, "You know, it's taking all the willpower I have to walk away from you tonight."
That, at least, made her feel a lot better. "I'm not the one who stopped."
His expression was filled with regret, with passion. "Yeah, I know. I'll remember that when I have to take a cold shower because my dick's hard and I can't sleep."
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Her lips curved. "Good night, Deacon."
"Night, Loretta."
She watched him drive away, then sighed once he was out of sight.
Deacon had been right about one thing--she was lonely. But had that been the catalyst for the kiss? She didn't think so. She'd been lonely before and hadn't once asked some guy to make out with her. No, this had come from something else--a need she had for Deacon.
She didn't quite know what to do about that.
Otis did his business, then came back to sit at her side. She rubbed his head.
"Ready to go to bed, buddy?"
He looked up at her with total adoration in his eyes.
"Yeah, I miss Hazel, too. Come on, doofus. You can sleep in my room tonight. But don't eat my shoes."
She held the door open for Otis, then walked inside and shut the door.
Chapter 14
* * *
LORETTA WAS THRILLED to discover she hadn't lost her prowess at first base.
Not all of it, anyway. After all, she wasn't seventeen anymore, and she couldn't do a split reaching for a ball. But she could still field and throw, and she could still hit. After she'd worked the kinks out at Sunday's practice, she'd gone into tonight's game with renewed confidence in her abilities. So far, she was two for three with a single, a double, and two runs batted in.
Right now she stood on second base and Zach Powers was up to bat. Deacon had scored on the double she'd just hit, so he was in the dugout, hollering and cheering for Zach to drive her home.
Her focus was on Jane, who was currently coaching third base. Jane would let her know whether to stay at second base on a hit or run for home. And when Zach singled to far right field, she took off. When she reached third base, Jane signaled for her to keep going.
She did, noticing the catcher crouching down to make a play at home plate. She dug in and ran for all she was worth, making a headfirst slide at the plate. She felt the tag, but heard the ump holler out, "Safe!"
Elated that she had scored, she leaped up and was surrounded by her teammates and friends.
"That was one hell of a hit," Reid said, patting her on the back as she made her way back to the dugout.
"And an even better run and slide into home," Sam said. "Though judging from your knees and arms, you're going to pay for that slide."
She looked over her skinned elbows and knees and grinned. "Totally worth it."
They ended up winning the game by six runs, and everyone decided to head over to Bash's bar for drinks and food to celebrate their victory. Deacon had picked her up after he got off work and brought her to the field, so he asked if she wanted to go to the bar to celebrate.
She definitely wanted to go.
"I haven't felt this good in a long time," she said as they got out of his truck and headed toward the door.
"Is that right?"
"Yes. A little exercise, some camaraderie. I'm really starting to feel part of Hope again."
He stopped. "You've been here awhile now, Loretta. Are you saying you haven't felt that before?"
She shrugged. "A lot of my friends from high school moved away. Some didn't take too kindly to my return. I've lost a lot of friendships. It's nice to have made new ones."
He frowned. "Why would people be upset about you coming back?"
She moved forward, so he came with her. "Let's just say not everyone is as friendly, as welcoming, or as forgiving as the new friends I've made."
Deacon had no idea what to make of what Loretta had said. But since she had walked inside the bar, he didn't get a chance to ask her.
He made a mental note to do that later.
Loretta looked around the bar. Jane and Will and Chelsea had already set up a big table for them. Jillian Reynolds walked in behind her. Her face was smudged with dirt from the ball field.
"Hey, Jillian," Loretta said. "You have dirt on your face."
Jillian gave her a crooked smile. "I do? I guess I should go wash that off. I'll be right back."
Jillian skirted to the restroom and Loretta headed to the table.
"I'm sorry you couldn't play with us tonight, Chelsea," Loretta said as she pulled up a chair.
"Oh, I never play. Sports are not my thing. But Bash plays when he has a night off, which he didn't tonight, unfortunately. Good thing you were there, though. I was just filling him in on how good you were."
"Thank you. I appreciate that."
Sam and Reid came in just as they got their drinks, followed by Emma and Luke and Des and Logan. Molly and Carter arrived shortly thereafter.
"Now it's a party," Sam said, lifting her glass of wine. "To Loretta, a great addition to the Blasters softball team."
"I'll drink to that," Emma said, "even if it is just iced tea."
"Between the nursing mothers and the pregnant women around here, there aren't too many of us drinking alcohol these days," Loretta said.
"Oh, we'll more than make up for what the rest of them aren't drinking," Molly said with a wink.
"Agreed. I'm single, not pregnant, and more than willing to have a drink or two," Jillian said.
Loretta noticed Jane was drinking a glass of water, but she'd heard no official announcement yet, so she wasn't about to ask. Instead, she decided to order an appetizer or two for the table in celebration.
"I'll be right back," she said, then got up and headed to the bar.
"What can I do for you, slugger?" Bash asked.
She laughed. "How about an order of some nachos and potato skins?"
"I'll have those right up for you."
"Great. Thanks, Bash." She turned and had started to push away from the bar when three women surrounded her.
"I cannot believe you had the nerve to come back here."
Loretta blinked, then sighed as she recognized them. Tanya Baker, Piper Swift, and Krista Friedman had been her three best friends in high school. They had been on the cheerleading squad together. They'd done everything together. They had been the fearsome foursome. Inseparable.
But now it was like they were mortal enemies, and for no other reason than Loretta had divorced Tom Simmons. And that, in their eyes, made Loretta a social pariah. This wasn't her first run-in with them since she'd returned to Hope. They'd made their feelings about her clear when she'd first opened the bookstore. She'd hoped it would be the last time she saw them.
Apparently not.
"If you'll excuse me, ladies." Loretta started to make her way around Tanya, but Tanya stepped in her path.
"If you think we're just going to allow you to have friends in this town, to laugh and have fun and have a business of your own as if you didn't totally break the code, then you are wrong."
The code? The code? She fought back a laugh. "Oh my God. That was in high school, Tanya. Twelve years ago."
"And it still holds true today. You stay true to your man. You fly the colors of fidelity and honor."
What a joke. If only they knew what a cheating bastard Tom had been. Of course, to women like this, that code only worked one way. Social status was everything, and sometimes sacrifices had to be made. Like sacrificing their own dignity and self-respect.
"Get out of my way."
Piper moved in and got in Loretta's face. "You will not succeed in this town. We will ruin you."
She knew better than to engage them, but frankly, they were pissing her off.
"You three should get a life. And maybe grow up in the process."
"Oh, we have lives," Krista said. "Rich, successful ones. So did you, once, until you threw it away by divorcing a fine man like Tom Simmons. What were you thinking, Loretta? And taking up with the likes of that group over there?"
Krista motioned her head over to the table where her friends were sitting.
She couldn't believe these women in front of her were once her friends. Maybe she'd been blind back then.
Okay, no maybe about it. There were a lot of things she'd been blind to all those years ago. But cold reality had hit her now. "Tho
se people are my friends, and if you insult them, you insult me. Not that you have any understanding about what true friendship is like. Now get the hell out of my way before I knock you on your ass."
Piper huffed. "You wouldn't dare."
"Try me."
Josie had come up behind her. "What's going on here?"
"Mind your own business, shortcakes," Krista said.
Josie moved up to Loretta's side, and there was fury on her face. "What are you, twelve?" She looked over at Loretta. "Are these girls bothering you?"
Loretta noticed Josie's use of the term girls, instead of women. "They're definitely bothering me."
Piper looked over at Josie with disdain. "Sugar, go back to your table before someone hurts you."
"Oh, it's on. I'm not wearing earrings and I left my purse in the car, so I'll be happy to kick the shit out of all three of you right here."
"Is there a problem here?"
Deacon had shown up. So had the rest of her friends. All of them. The women as well as the men.
Krista sniffed. "Yes, there's a problem, all right. But you can have her."
Just as Loretta had suspected, as soon as they were outnumbered, their bravado evaporated. All three women pivoted and walked away.
"What the hell was that about?" Chelsea asked.
"Snobby bitches that I used to call my friends. But it's over now, especially since Josie threatened to beat them up."
"A little firecracker, aren't you?" Zach asked, grinning at Josie.
"I got into my share of scrapes when I was younger. And those women looked like a gust of wind wouldn't hold them up. I could have taken all three of them."
Deacon laughed. "You threatened to do just that."
Josie was obviously still pissed as she glared after the women who had walked back over to their table. "Loretta would have backed me up, wouldn't you, honey?"
"You bet."
Chelsea shot the group a vicious look as they headed back to the table. "Do we need to finish them off? Because I might be pregnant, but I think I could still take all three of them down."
Bash came over from around the bar and put his arm around Chelsea's shoulder. "Calm down and keep your heels on, tiger. I don't think we're going to have a girl brawl in the bar."
"We're not?" Zach asked. "Because I was about to lay money on our women. Those three looked like they wouldn't dare do anything to break a nail."
Loretta grinned. "Thanks for coming to my defense, all of you."
"Want me to ask them to leave?" Bash asked. "Because I don't have a problem booting their designer-clad asses out the door."