Page 7

CHAPTER SEVEN

Emerson

Kelton has always been an amazing big brother to Alizabeth. But after they lost their mom, she needed him more and that’s when things shifted. Their father lost his way and Kelton stepped in, playing father, mother, and brother.

He’s a good guy.

Liz needed to hear him tell her she’d gotten it right. It’s one thing she’s always needed. His praise, and her Granny June’s means the world to her. Her father drinks a lot and it’s sad, but there isn’t much relationship left between him and his kids.

So watching her, watch him, practically bouncing on her toes in anticipation makes me laugh.

“You did good,” he finally tells her and reaches out hooking her around the neck. She laughs, pinches his side when he pulls her in making him wiggle away faster than he yanked her toward him.

The man he’d become in such a short time didn’t go unnoticed.

Rugged, strong, he was more built, more confident.

Seeing him again took my breath away, but I hadn’t expected it not to.

From a young age he’d been my crush. Every guy I’ve ever dated I’ve compared to him, which isn’t fair.

I mean, he’s everything and they don’t have a chance from the start.

My entire body strums with energy in his presence. I stand within a few feet of him, hoping that he doesn’t see just how much he affects me.

“Okay Joey.” Liz steps back and turns toward the realtor. He’s been standing around for the last hour with dollar signs dancing in his eyes. He knows he’s had Alizabeth from the start and now he has Kelton too. “Now let’s talk price.” Liz nudges him back into the house.

What he doesn’t know is that my best friend is studying finance and she’s a whiz with numbers.

He has no idea the whirlwind he’s about to face.

“That poor guy is about to meet a tiny tornado.” Kelton chuckles.

“Yeah.” I laugh and I look over to see Kelton looking off toward the direction they’ve gone. “She’s going to eat him alive. Poor Joey is definitely going to feel this day for weeks.”

He is completely oblivious to me staring at him, and the longer I do the faster my pulse races.

Chiseled jaw, thick arms and strong shoulders, his waist tapers down and the way his jeans fit him is incredible.

I know I am staring but these last couple years have been really good to him and I can’t seem to look away.

“How’ve you been, Em?” he asks and I quickly look off hoping that he didn’t catch me staring. Instantly I feel the heat in my cheeks.

“I’m good,” I say with a shrug. “You’re doing pretty good too it seems.” I look around knowing already that this place will soon be his.

“I’m doing alright.” He smiles, the dimple in his cheek popping out to say hi.

That dimple always gave me butterflies. He’s such a man, but still the young guy who was my first love.

“You know me though,” he adds and I lift my gaze to meet his.

“Give me an open field, a glove, and someone at home plate hitting me fly balls and I’m good.

It’s never been about the big stuff. I’m happy with a couch, cooler of cold beer, and a television and I’m set.

I don’t need all the crazy shit. I don’t like flashy and the last thing I want to be is arrogant. ”

“You can buy yourself things without being arrogant, being proud of how far you come is a healthy thing. It’s how you present it to others that can be taken as arrogance.” He holds my stare and I try not to show how it’s affecting me. “That is up to you.”

“This place is like a fortress, I guess that all goes with the fame.”

“More like you have to go to the extreme to keep your privacy.” He moves in a little closer with his hands tucked deep in his pockets. “People are crazy. Had a lady get arrested at yesterday’s game for throwing her bra out into the field at me.”

“No way!” I laugh, because seriously?

“Way,” he says with a nod, while smiling the entire time.

“I’m just a guy who loves ball and gets paid to play.

I try not to let all the other shit get to me.

” I can see that he is still Kelton James, the kind, protective guy he’s always been.

The stardom hasn’t taken that part of him away and I am so thankful.

“By other shit you mean the fact that you are on a commercial wearing only your boxers and holding a bottle of cologne.” Don’t get me wrong, I’ve got that commercial saved on my computer’s hard drive. I watch it often. “Or what about that energy drink.”

He only nods, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips.

“What did they use to get you all glistening like you just stepped out of the shower for that one?”

“Glistening?”

“Yes,” I can’t hold back my laughter, “glistening.” He is trying to fight his own laughter, but come on.

“Body shimmer oil,” he finally says with a chuckle, no longer trying to hold back. “Then they spritz water over my chest, face, and arms so it will bead up.” I raise a brow and his laughter only intensifies. “They paid me big bucks to let them oil me up.”

“I bet they did.” I won’t admit that I’ve kept up on him, all his endorsements, his stats, his love life. “How many beautiful women did they have lined up offering to rub you down and spray you all over?”

He holds up one finger. “Eduardo.”

Instantly without any chance of holding it in, I burst out laughing. I’m talking bent over at the waist holding my stomach.

“Seriously?” I say through the tears. “They couldn’t even get you one?”