Playing Fastball, page 7
“You think I’m going to pick your pocket when I just gave you back the money I could have used for Donut’s vet visit?”
“Maybe I’ll let you pick it, if it’s for a good cause.” He petted the puppy, who slathered him with teeny-tiny licks. “Come on, don’t be so uptight. It’s only a movie.”
A smile crept up her face and she nodded. “Sure. Except I thought you wanted your friends to see us together.”
“Why would I want that?” He tucked the puppy into his jacket and zipped it partway. “You’re the one who thinks I’m doing this on a dare.”
“Aren’t you?” She put on her denim jacket. She was wearing jeans and boots and a simple white T-shirt. Nothing sexy or fancy.
Cripes. He wasn’t going to seduce her at this rate. She was too suspicious.
What did a man say to a woman to get her in bed? All the ones he’d hooked up with before had practically thrown themselves at him. He hadn’t had to use any charm or lines.
“You’re beautiful,” he repeated the first line most movie stars said. “And I want to see more of you.”
“You do? Me? Why?”
“Because you have this cute dog, and I like you,” he said, trying not to strangle on his tongue. The problem with women was they wanted so much reassurance. Do I look fat? Are you seeing anyone else? Did you like it? Will we see each other again? Which was why he preferred them in bed with their mouths occupied and their only sounds screams of pleasure.
This one was going to be a hard nut to crack.
She slipped him a sideways glance. “You’re strange, you know? But I kind of like you, too.”
Timmy suppressed a groan. How the heck was he going to get himself out of this mess? It was supposed to be a quick “caught in the act” scenario staged to make his father throw Tina out of his life, but all wasn’t lost.
If Tina liked him, maybe he could still take her home and let his father catch them kissing on the couch.
He just had to play his cards right.
What would a suave movie star say?
“You like me enough for a kiss?” He tapped his lower lip and winked.
She rolled her eyes and huffed. “You sure you don’t have a hidden camera or something? Do you really want to kiss me?”
“Only if you want me to,” Timmy said, miffed that she hadn’t jumped at the chance. He was, after all, the Rattler with the Golden Arm, this coming season’s Cy Young Award winner, and the likely MVP of the World Series.
“Nah, not right now.” She took his hand and dragged him toward the door. “I don’t trust you.”
She didn’t trust him?
What about her? The thief, the ex-con, the betrayer of secrets, the gold digger, the leech, the … kind-hearted woman who took in little Donut and gave back the two hundred dollars she could have used for the puppy’s veterinarian fees.
He closed his hand around hers and swallowed his pride. Maybe the reason Tina wasn’t interested in him was because she was after bigger prey—his billionaire father.
Had they been kissing or doing the dirty?
There was only one way to find out.
Timmy turned and pulled Tina into his arms, making sure not to crush Donut, whose face stuck out from his partially zipped jacket.
He played out the kissing scenes in the movies. The look. The slow lowering of his head, mouth relaxed.
She held his gaze, her light-brown eyes widening.
He leaned closer. She really was pretty. Her lips were natural and pink, not garishly painted. Her eyelashes were pale but feathery, and she had a dusting of tan freckles across her nose.
Using his free hand, he smoothed a strand of her flyaway hair back from her face, relishing her smooth, baby-soft cheek.
Was she going to let him kiss her?
He waited with bated breath as he did the practiced lean and turned his head. He’d like to believe she wouldn’t knowingly kiss both a father and a son. So …
Tina tipped her face up toward him and kissed the side of his cheek, forcing Timmy to conceded defeat and kiss her cheek.
Her eyelids fluttered and a sweet smile brightened her face. “Now that that’s out of the way, we can relax and go see a movie.”
“Right.”
Except he was anything but relaxed. He’d failed, failed, failed. Tina was probably going to report back to his father and they’d have a laugh together at how he’d tried to beg a kiss from her and got one on the cheek instead.
Timmy turned toward the door and hid his frown.
There was no way Tina Lee was going to be his stepmother.
He would have to get creative, but he was going to save his father one way or the other.
ELEVEN
Tina couldn’t believe how retro the drive-in was. Other than all of the late-model cars parked around them, her surroundings could have come out of the nineteen fifties: a huge neon sign at the entrance with a flashing arrow, heavy metal box speakers on poles that provided the sound even though there was a car radio option, and best of all, carhops on roller skates serving the burgers, fries, and sodas.
She opted for a chocolate milkshake and laughed when Timmy worried about the weight of the serving tray hooked onto the top of his expensive window glass.
“Hurry and take your jumbo milkshake off the tray,” Timmy said.
“I’m saving it for dessert,” she retorted. “Besides, we need the tray for Donut.”
She let Donut stand on her lap and put his paws up on the tray where she picked off pieces of hamburger meat for him.
“Fine, then let me hold onto the drinks,” Timmy said. “Or at least put them in the cupholders.”
“Don’t worry.” Tina chuckled as she passed him his burger and drink “If your precious glass breaks, I’ll pay for it.”
She was relaxed and cheerful after dissing Timmy and his missed kiss. Oh, she’d been tempted. Who wouldn’t be when one of the most eligible bachelors in Phoenix wanted to kiss her?
Just looking into his gleaming ebony-colored eyes and being so close to his muscular magnificence stirred up all sorts of naughty things in both her mind and body.
But Tina was smart enough to know he had another motive. Like Lennie said, he couldn’t possibly see anything in her plain, nondescript looks. She’d almost snorted when he said she was beautiful.
Timmy gave her a raised eyebrow. “I’m not worried.”
“Yes, you are.” Tina handfed the puppy. “You’re as tense as a springboard.”
“No, I’m not.”
“Come on, I’m no one’s fool.” She picked up her burger and took a juicy bite. He, on the other hand, hadn’t even unwrapped his, nor had he sipped his soda. “Are you upset you didn’t get a kiss?”
“No.”
“I don’t let men who don’t like me kiss me.”
“I do like you.” He sighed loudly and steered his gaze toward the movie screen where the previews had started to run.
“Then you shouldn’t be upset when I tell your dad about this drive-in. I’m sure he’s never been to one.” Tina truly savored the charbroiled hamburger. Bringing up Timmy’s father was sure to get a rise out of him. “I bet he wouldn’t mind the tray hanging onto his window glass.”
“I’m younger than him.”
Tina glanced at the pitcher’s profile. “Isn’t that obvious? What’s your point?”
“That I should be the one taking you skydiving and doing all those dangerous things, not him.”
“Are you jealous of your dad?” Tina gave him a sideways glance. Could it be he really did like her?
“Of course not, but he’s old, and he has to be careful with his heart.”
She wasn’t sure if he meant physically or otherwise. Yan often joked about having a heart attack, but from what she could tell, he was fit and in good condition.
“Your father and I are friends, that’s all.”
He edged toward her with narrowed eyes. “Do you like him better or me?”
“Oh, my goodness.” Tina put the hamburger down on the tray and let Donut nibble on it. “You are jealous. You think I’m dating your dad.”
“You spend too much time with him,” he grunted.
“Because he’s my friend, and he has plenty of time to do fun things.” She put her hand on his shoulder. “I wouldn’t mind doing things with you, but you’re always busy, and well, I didn’t even know you liked me.”
He gave her a shy grin. “I just figured it out.”
“You mean it’s not love at first sight? You’re not going to give me that ‘I was smitten from the moment I met you’ story?”
“I don’t do lines.”
“Wait, are you serious?” Tina raised an eyebrow. Ever since she’d first been aware of Timmy from his rookie year, he was one big bar fly, full of lines stolen from old nineteen eighties movies and TV shows.
“Not with you.”
“I somehow recall a Screaming Orgasm drink order. Isn’t that a line?”
She was pleased to see his skin redden.
“That was a drink order, nothing more. But now … I’m starting to get really curious about you, and I want to get to know you.” He leaned over the console, edging into her personal space. “We should start dating.”
Well, that was direct—if he wasn’t playing her.
His cologne washed over her, woodsy and sporty, and he was staring at her like he wanted to devour her—in a good way.
Tina could barely catch her breath with Timmy so close to her inside the sports car. Her heart pounded, and pulses of excitement dashed through her veins. Was it possible for him to actually be attracted to her? Could it be she was about to get lucky? Or at least a millionaire boyfriend?
“You don’t really know me,” she hedged as she teetered toward giving in and kissing him. “Name one thing you like about me.”
“Your bravery.”
“Lie.” She regained some of her footing. “Brave is the last way anyone would describe me.”
“But you are.” Timmy’s gaze on her was steady. “You live all alone in that apartment. You went back to work at the bar after you were attacked. You keep trying to get Jeanine to like you again, even though she keeps ignoring you. You’re taking care of a blind puppy. You don’t have parents to bail you out if you can’t make the rent.”
“A lot of it isn’t being brave, but not having a choice,” Tina admitted. “I don’t ever want to go back to prison, and I want to keep a clean nose. Do everything right. It’s not easy, but I’m all I got, and I need to make the best of my life.”
“That’s freaking attractive.” He moved closer as if going for a kiss.
She swallowed a sigh.
He was freaking attractive.
Way out of her league.
And she’d never done an Asian guy before.
It might be interesting and hot, all that smooth skin and lips that were just right, not too thin and not too plump. Not to mention the bronze tan over solid muscle, and yeah, call her a sucker for those narrow eyes of his, so sexy, like he was examining her and skeptical at the same time.
But no, something was wrong here. This was going too easily. Nothing in her life worked out easily—unless it was a trap.
She ducked and put her hand up, touching his face and holding him back. “Let’s watch the movie. I think it’s getting started.”
“Let me have a sip of your milkshake then,” Timmy grumbled—another ploy to get the weight of her drink off his window glass.
“Sure.” She passed it over and smirked at him. Even if she couldn’t figure out why he was acting so attracted to her, she rather enjoyed the cat and mouse game. “Ought to cool down your jets, hotshot.”
He sucked the straw loudly and leaned his seat back, eyes focused on the large movie screen.
Tina finished sharing her burger with Donut and returned the tray to one of the carhops skating around. Timmy was too quiet, so she put Donut on his lap, and twined her hand in his.
Tina Lee was the most frustrating woman in existence.
Timmy gritted his teeth to keep from howling as he stared at the movie featuring a female superhero. What was it with these females who thought they were tough enough to fight a man?
Okay, so she was in top condition, he’d grant her that, but the fight scenes were so fake with skinny Lara Croft duking it out with a man twice her size. One slam from that musclehead in real life, and every bone in her body would be broken.
Timmy’s grip tightened on Tina’s hand, and he winced each time the man kicked and pummeled the heroine. Weren’t these movies encouraging domestic violence?
Men could get the wrong idea and believe women to be tougher than they were. Able to punch, kick, box, and grapple their way out of all kinds of trouble.
Okay, so Lara Croft wasn’t a total badass. She got her fair share of being beaten and she was vulnerable, especially emotionally where it concerned her father.
Wasn’t that Tina to the T? She acted prickly and bristly and wore boy’s clothes and a backward baseball cap to seem tough. Perhaps she was vulnerable too—wanting a father? Not a sugar daddy?
Her hand felt good in his, and having Donut curled up asleep in his lap was nice, homey, and normal. He took another breath and relaxed, letting himself sink into the story.
He’d bet Tina was as smart and resourceful as Lara Croft, maybe more. She’d had to survive on her own for much longer than she should have. It must have been hell growing up in a foster home where abuse was taking place. Everyone on the baseball team had followed the story of George Simpson getting out of jail, stalking Jeanine, and then shooting her boyfriend, Kirk Kennedy, a catcher on their team.
Tina had been caught in the middle of it all. She, too, had been George Simpson’s foster daughter. Although she was never sexually abused, she’d allowed him to break into Jeanine’s apartment—then filed a false police report to cover her ass.
Timmy shook his head, not paying attention to the rat-tat-tat-tat of the machine gun fire among the many fight and chase scenes in the movie.
Was Tina the sneak and betrayer everyone believed her to be? The thief who’d steal from her own foster sister? Or had she only covered up for George Simpson who’d stolen Jeanine’s sex toys and sexy underwear by saying she’d taken them?
Why would she help a known child abuser and risk jail time for a monster?
The more Timmy tried to make sense of Tina, the more his mind tangled up in loops. It didn’t make sense.
“You look like you’re trying to figure out the movie,” Tina said.
He spared a glance her direction, and an aching tightness seized his chest. She was more alone than Lara Croft because she never knew who her father was. That had come out in the trial, along with the fact her mother had kept her locked in a closet before the foster care system stepped in—only to place her in an abusive home.
Talk about jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
How had this resourceful child survived?
“I see you in the movie,” he said.
“Hardly.” Her eyes darted sideways, and a faint smile teased her face. “I run from trouble and hide from danger. I’m not too stupid to live.”
“Are you saying Lara is?” he remarked, pointing to the screen where the heroine was sneaking around the village, all stealthy and covert.
“All heroes have to be brave, or there wouldn’t be a story,” she said. “Me? I’m a chicken wuss, but I live to see another day.”
“You don’t believe you’re brave, but you are,” he said. “That’s why you’re still here. A survivor.”
She sighed. “I hide from danger, and trouble always finds me anyway. I’m like the roach scuttling for the crevices and baseboards but gets stepped on or gassed when the lights are turned on.”
“I think you’re pretty badass, living all by yourself and taking the bus at night.”
“Necessity, Mr. Li. Necessity. It’s the only place I can barely afford.”
“Must be hard to go straight and narrow,” Timmy said. Understanding dawned on him. Not everyone had wealthy parents who pushed him to succeed and financed his education, training while encouraging him and emotionally supporting him to achieve his dreams.
She tilted her chin back at the screen. “Let’s watch the movie.”
He gave her hand a squeeze, wanting to kiss her, to protect her so she’d never have to hide in dark corners again. She was resourceful and smart, a thin, petite woman with pointy elf-like features. He could picture her as a thief character in role-playing video games. High intelligence, agility, cunning, and stealthy, able to disarm traps, pick locks, and purloin treasures.
Pretty too. Her pale skin glowed ghostly in the darkness of his car, and she seemed like a delicate flower, yet one with harsh thorns. His heart skipped a few beats as a strange feeling tightened his chest.
He wanted to know everything about Tina Lee, and after finding out, he was going to fix it for her and give her the love and doting she’d missed growing up.
Was this how his father felt about her?
An icy fist gripped Timmy’s gut, and he clenched his jaw.
No way was he becoming attracted to her. That wasn’t the plan. But still, underneath that prickly façade was a woman, a hidden flower, like the ones that dot the desert, blooming overnight and disappearing just as quickly, in stealth mode. Beautiful blasts of color, deep purples, radiant pinks, and brilliant oranges and yellows, bursting and caught only by the most patient of all photographers—the ones who waited, alert and ready, to savor that rare desert flower and its fleeting bloom.
Except he was too impatient. A fastball pitcher, straight down the middle, and unwilling to wait.
Nope. He and Tina were not made for each other. This was going to be a fast and done deal. Over with as soon as his father turned his back on her.
Timmy swallowed and caressed the palm of her hand with his thumb. Tina had no doubt been betrayed so many times in her young life. It was why she didn’t trust anyone.
What would it take for her to trust him? And could he break that trust if he’d earned it?
His heart rate sped as the movie on screen reached a climax. Lara Croft trusted no one but her father. And it was that trust that gave her the power to prevail.
