Page 31 of Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend (Catching Feelings #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY

KAYLA

I f I thought Sean’s jersey was armor, it’s nothing compared to the man himself. I feel invincible walking into the Outlaws stadium on my big, strapping husband’s arm.

The women I pass smile at me and give Sean the kind of once-over that tells me they’d look a lot longer if I weren’t here.

Sorry, suckers.

Just kidding. You’re probably wonderful and I don’t blame you for eyeing my husband, because he really is that hot.

But he’s not just hot.

Sean is masculine . He’s burly and rugged and capable and knows how to get his hands dirty?—

Yeah, okay, he’s just hot.

And then some.

Scottie greets me in the corridor with a knowing smirk. “Boss. Mr. Boss,” she says before walking a half step ahead of us toward Aldridge’s box.

Today’s the final day of our series against the Outlaws, and it’s tied at 1-1. The Outlaws’s record is a little better than ours, a fact I care less about today than I did yesterday.

Aldridge and Gordon Voss from the league are already sitting in the middle of the box, thick as thieves, when Ronnie spots us.

“Oh good, you’re here,” Ronnie says. And then her eyes fly to Sean’s, and they travel up to him in all his six-four glory. She gives me a laugh. “Winning the breakup, indeed.” Then she waves to the photographer and has him take a few pictures of Sean and me before we’re fully in the suite.

There’s enough going on that Aldridge doesn’t turn to see us. He doesn’t catch Sean’s arm hugging my waist or my hand on Sean’s chest. And he doesn’t hear when Sean whispers in my ear.

“Is GQ throwing a sports-themed party, or does he think this is what an actual stadium looks like?”

I give a throaty laugh, leaning in to Sean, who’s leaning into me.

I’m vaguely aware of Ronnie and the photographer, but unlike the million times I did things like this with Aldridge, I don’t care.

Not about my angles or my outfit, not about if my hair looks weird or I have a double chin from laughing.

I don’t care.

“Be nice,” I say.

“No, I don’t think I will,” he says, his voice sounding as gruff as sandpaper. Except delicious. His brother has a famous singing voice; I don’t know why I’m surprised that Sean’s is as appealing as it is. “Incoming.”

I pull my face from Sean’s in time to see Aldridge staring at us, wearing a mask of politeness and class that’s almost convincing.

“This must be the famous Sean O’Shannan,” Aldridge says, extending a manicured hand to Sean. “Aldridge Sinclair.”

Sean’s arm is still around my waist, but it doesn’t tighten or tense at Aldridge’s introduction. He seems too comfortable in his own skin to worry about the kind of guy who would turn a sports stadium into … this.

And now that I look at it through Sean’s eyes, I kind of agree.

Yes, every wall and light fixture could be taken from a design book, but the place lacks substance. It doesn’t have the same grit or soul that the Mudflaps’ stadium has. Veneers are pretty, but they lack bite.

Sean shakes Aldridge’s hand, and there’s no hint of sizing the smaller man up. But Aldridge is studying Sean, as well as our body language. Can he tell how much more comfortable I am with Sean’s arm around me than I ever was hanging on his? Has he ever heard me take such a deep breath before?

“Good to meet you, Aldridge,” Sean says.

They shake hands for a moment too long, and then Aldridge returns his eyes to mine. “I have to say, I was surprised when I first heard you got married. But I get it now.”

“We all get it now,” Scottie mutters to Ronnie, and I can feel Sean’s stomach tighten as he internalizes a laugh. The tips of Aldridge’s ears go red, but there’s no other sign he even heard my assistant.

“Yup. This is what happy looks like,” I tell him.

“Whatever you have to tell yourself.”

“Aldridge, you’re embarrassing yourself.”

It’s not my voice or even Scottie’s.

It’s Sean’s. And he’s speaking low enough that it’s clear he’s not trying to shame my ex so much as stop him.

“You didn’t get the girl. But we can still have a nice time today. Can’t we?”

He has zero hint of menace in his voice.

But it’s in his eyes.

And I gotta say, I like it.

I like it a lot.

“We can,” Aldridge says. “You’re welcome to join us today, Sean.”

“All right,” he says, giving my side a squeeze. “Go ‘Flaps.”

Aldridge gives a sharp laugh as we all go sit. “Let’s not get carried away.”

“So,” Sean says, “who does Fletch have starting today?”

“Gomez. And he’s been killing it lately.”

Aldridge shakes his head, but it’s not about Gomez. It’s about me. I can see him struggling to reconcile the Kayla he’s known for six years with the woman in front of him wearing platform sneakers, talking about sports, and using terms like “killing it.”

He doesn’t recognize me.

And I’ve never felt more like myself.

We sit down in the luxe padded seats and watch the first inning, which ends scoreless. And soon, it’s easy to forget I’m watching a game in my ex’s suite instead of simply watching a game with my boyfriend.

Husband.

You know what I mean.

I didn’t realize how much I loved PDA before Sean, but I do.

Appearances mattered so much in my former life that every touch with Aldridge felt like it was part of a larger plan.

Someone was always watching. I didn’t know if we were touching because we cared about each other or because we were posing for something.

But right now, Sean is leaning forward, and I’m tickling his back because I want to. And when Carter hits a two-run double in the second inning, giving us a lead, Sean and I both jump up and hug.

“That’s what I’m talking about!” I yell before grabbing Sean’s face and planting a kiss on him.

Yes, there are cameras here. Yes, the whole point of this weekend is for Aldridge and me to do press together, to drum up enthusiasm for the Mudflaps that helps the league.

But I don’t kiss Sean for any reason other than I want to.

When we sit back down, Aldridge is looking at us.

“How about a friendly wager?” he says.

“Like donating to each other’s favorite charity?” I say.

“Or wearing each other’s jersey in public for a week,” Aldridge says.

“No,” Sean says. He puts his hand on my thigh, a little above my knee. It’s funny how it can feel so natural—so right —but also so thrilling at the same time.

“Someone’s getting nervous, eh, O’Shannan?” Aldridge chuckles, as if he’s the kind of guy who uses men’s last names. “Don’t like the idea of my name on Kayla’s back?”

“No,” Sean snorts, squeezing my thigh and looking at me. His eyes drop to my lips, and I have to stop myself from leaning forward to kiss him. “You’re not wearing my wife’s name on your back.”

A few laughs sound behind us, and I look back to see Gordon Voss laughing with Ronnie. “You’d better believe that’s going in the caption,” Ronnie says.

“No, leave that out,” Gordon tells her. “No need to humiliate an owner.”

Ronnie drops her voice so low, I can barely hear it. A glance at Aldridge tells me he’s straining to hear as much as I am. “I thought we were trying to play it up for the press?”

But Gordon doesn’t respond. I don’t know if he pulls her away or shakes his head, or what, but the conversation ends there.

Sean’s eyes tense, like he’s picked up on the same thing I have. This whole weekend was supposed to be about our rivalry.

Wasn’t it?

Aldridge alone looks satisfied after their exchange.

And that makes my back itch, right between my shoulder blades.

The Mudflaps win.

Aldridge shakes our hands like we’re all friends here.

“I’ll get with your assistant about getting one of your jerseys,” he says.

Sean’s hand tightens around my back, but I shake my head. “Nice try. You can donate to the Carolina Fosters Foundation.” I look at Ronnie and Gordon. “Let’s make sure we add that to the coverage of this weekend, okay? The donation?”

Gordon’s nod isn’t as bright as Ronnie’s, but he agrees.

“Good meeting y’all,” Sean says, shaking hands with everyone.

“Thanks for coming,” Aldridge says to me. “I know this was a sacrifice. It means a lot that we got to catch up, Kayla.”

“I’m glad we could get it done,” I say, even if I mean I’m glad it’s over.

But Aldridge isn’t done with me. “Meryl’s furious with me, you know,” he says, making me swallow hard. “She can’t believe I lost the best thing that ever happened to me.”

“You didn’t lose me,” I say. “We didn’t work anymore.”

“I blame myself for that,” he says. Like he means it. “Though maybe not as much as she does.”

I can’t help but laugh. “I believe it. Give her a hug for me when you see her next. And Phineas and Louisa.” My stomach feels like it’s boiling just mentioning their names. “I miss them.”

“They miss Auntie Kay, too.”

When it’s time to leave, I give Aldridge a sad smile that I’m glad Sean doesn’t see.

I wouldn’t want him to get the wrong idea.

“I’ll see you Monday,” Scottie says. “Have a good honeymoon, lovebirds.”

Sean takes my hand as we walk out of the box and head toward VIP parking.

“What should we do now, Cap?” I ask.

“Whatever you want, Boss.”

“In that case, I could really go for some more barbecue.”

“If you think I’m letting Big Hank steal you away, you’ve got another thing coming.”

“Oh yeah?”

“Yeah.” He brings my hand up to his mouth and kisses it. “But I could eat.”

I smile. I’ve eaten dinner and breakfast in front of this man, and it keeps getting easier. Especially when I’m starving like I am now. “Perfect.”

“Your pick,” he says when he opens the door to his truck. “But I’m buying.”