Page 11 of Taking the Pitch
“He is. He’s being undeniably adorable,” Hazel argues, handing Bruno his cookie. Bruno takes it gently in his teeth, like the gentleman he is, and munches happily.
I shake my head but laugh. “Alright Bruno, we gotta beat feet. See ya tomorrow, Hazel.”
Hazel waves and we head out the door, turning left in the direction of the library. It’s only a few blocks away, and it’s a nice enough day so we can walk.
A block in and I get the feeling of being followed. I glance over my shoulder and notice the same guy who was in the coffee shop is only a few feet behind me. He’s looking down at his phone again and not at me, so why do I get the feeling he’s following me? There’s plenty of reasons he would be going the same way as me… right? Trying not to let my overactive imagination get the best of me, I keep trudging ahead.
When I finally reach the library steps, I take a quick look over my shoulder to see if the man is still following me. Not only is he behind me, but he’s climbing the steps, too.
“Can I help you?” I ask, raising both my eyebrows at this man who seems to be following me.
He stops a couple of steps down from me and looks up. Forest green eyes meet my gaze. “No, but it sounds like you could use some help,” he replies, not affected one bit by my attitude.
“Excuse me?”
“I heard you talking to your friend in the coffee shop back there. No one should settle for mediocre sex.”
My cheeks instantly heat, and I take in the stranger in front of me. Dark-brown hair the color of espresso, curls out from under his baseball hat, like he’s in need of a trim. His eyes have a tired appearance to them, like he’s had a few sleepless nights lately.Join the club.Dark-brown scruff matching his hair covers his face, long enough to not qualify as a five o’clock shadow.
Who the fuck does this guy think he is?I’m about to ask him as much when he steps forward and offers me his hand.
“Judd Davis.”
I look down at the hand he offered and see ink peeking out at me from beneath his sleeves. I stare back at him, but don’t take his outstretched hand.
This is Judd Davis? Wow, he looks… different out of uniform–hotter, if that’s possible.
“Did you follow me here to…offer me sex?”
The guy… Judd…snorts and drops his hand. “Honey, you would know if I was offering you sex.”
What a cocky asshole.
“Don’t call me Honey.”
“You’re right, honey is sweet.”
Over this conversation and this guy, I turn and stomp up the rest of the steps. Bruno trotting happily at my side like nothing is wrong. Before I reach for the door, a body appears out of the corner of my eye and Judd moves past me and opens the door instead.
I stop and pop a hand on my hip. “Seriously, are you following me?”
“Don’t think so highly of yourself,” he says dryly. “I’m supposed to be here for a reading program.”
A puzzle piece slides into place, and it dawns on me. “You’re the ball player Charlie told me about.”
Surprise passes through his face. “How do you know Charlie?”
I lift a shoulder and walk through the door he’s still holding open for me. “Charlie and I have been best friends since college.”
He follows me in, then stops, looking around. We’re standing in the vestibule where the library branches off into different sections. He’s obviously never been here before. I internally roll my eyes and take pity on the man. “Follow me. The children’s area where my program is ran is this way.”
His eyebrows raise in surprise before following me down the short hallway. “Your program? I thought this was the library’s program.”
I pause at the entrance and turn to him. “The library runs it, but I’m the one who created it.”
He reaches past me and grabs the handle, opening this door for me too. His scent smacks me in the face, making my insides do a little flip.
Jesus, he smells good.Like coffee, cinnamon, and something else I can’t quite put my finger on–pine maybe? Whatever it is instantly brings Christmas memories I’ve long forgotten rushing back to me.
