Page 39 of Hard Hitter
Quinn shrugged. "That all depends on how much energy you have." The combination of Rae's mischievous grin and the warm summer air blowing over them as they drove by the lake with the Bronco's top off filled his chest with such joy, he felt like he was flying.
The sound of gravel under his tires brought back more memories and he was afraid he'd float away when he got out of the vehicle. He had driven to the ballpark where they'd played so many games, held countless practices, and where he'd officially recognized that he was falling for his best friend. He turned the vehicle off, hopped out, and grabbed a ball and a bat out of the back seat before helping Rae out of her side of the car.
"Quinn, you can't play ball right now," said Rae, tapping his splint under his sleeve. Quinn tossed his blazer in the back seat and pushed up his sleeves.
"No, but you can," Quinn replied, tossing the ball underhand to her with his good arm.
Rae caught the ball and looked at him uncertainly. She looked down at the ball, then back at him. "Which memory are you making up for here?"
"Not making up for," said Quinn. "Re-doing. It's one of my favorites."
"Oh, so this one's about you.”
"Yes, I'm being selfish. Come on." Quinn grabbed her arm and pulled her into the ball diamond. He handed her the baseball bat and placed his hands on her shoulders, positioning her in the right spot at the home plate, which he noted actually had a plate now.
"I know where to stand now," Rae said.
"That's not the point. Just let me have this." Quinn finished putting Rae in position, walking behind her and grabbing her hips. Rae stuck her butt out, straight into his crotch, giving a little wiggle, and Quinnhalf laughed, half groaned. Placing his hands on her hips, he reluctantly shifted her weight forward and away from his body.
They ran through this whole scene the way he’d remembered, although with some extra touching, and Quinn was surprised by how much of it Rae remembered, too.
Without a pitcher, there was no real point in squatting down into the catcher’s position, but Quinn still did. The view, once again, was not disappointing.
“You don’t happen to have another athletic skort, do you?” Quinn asked from behind Rae.
“I might,” she replied, giving him that sexy smirk again over her shoulder. “You gonna be okay back there?”
Feeling pleased that she’d remembered her line perfectly, Quinn flashed a grin. “It’s not a bad view back here.”
“You don’t expect me to actually slide into home base in this dress, do you?” Rae asked.
“I was actually really hoping you would,” said Quinn with a shrug, “but I suppose we can improvise.”
Rae shook her head then turned away, facing the field. With the baseball in her left hand she tossed it into the air and took a swing.
Crack!
The ball flew far into the outfield again and Quinn couldn't help being impressed. Something about this woman wearing this beautifully feminine dress, being able to still play ball better than some guys he knew was such a turn on. Rae took off running, not quite the sprint she'd had all those years ago since she wasn't actually racing the outfielders this time around. Quinn stood just behind home plate and watched as she hit a full sprint after passing third base, heading toward him. He angled his body and stretched out his left arm. This time, instead of sliding into home base, Rae jumped into his arms- or arm, rather- and wrapped her legs around his waist and her arms around his shoulders.
The sound of Rae's laugh as she held onto him put him on cloud nine. He couldn't remember ever feeling this happy. It was more than happiness. It was euphoria.
Rae gave him a kiss on the cheek and pulled back with a smile. Gaze dropping to his mouth, she wrapped her fingers in his hair and pressed her lips to his. Quinn's chest filled once again, with air and with something else he felt he needed even more. Heart pounding and light-headed, this was a moment he wanted to play over and over until he was ninety and couldn't catch her anymore.
Chests heaving, their lips parted but kept close together. With a smile, Quinn kissed Rae's lips again. This was going to be his last first date, and he wanted to put it all out there.
"Ask me why this is my favorite memory," Quinn said, so close his lips brushed Rae's when he spoke.
A smile formed on her lips and he kissed it again. "Why is this your favorite memory?"
He was really swinging for the fences now. "Because this was the moment I realized...I was falling for you."
Chapter 14
This was the moment I realized I was falling for you.
The words rung in her head like the loud chime of a clock. Like the Big Ben, only...bigger. Time was all she could think about. All that time. This memory they were reenacting had happened almost fifteen years ago. There was no way.
The smile faded from her face and she looked at Quinn with stunned disbelief. A nervous laugh bubbled out of her lips, "Quinn, we were thirteen."
