Page 96 of Obsession (Temptation 4)

Julia

I’d never realized how loud a baseball game could get until this moment. It was mind-boggling to think Lachlan was able to concentrate with this level of noise coming from the stands.

And the game hadn’t even started yet.

Since we’d arrived at the ballpark earlier this afternoon, Imogene had been on cloud nine. Lachlan introduced us to all the players, each happily posing for a photo with Imogene and signing the baseball she’d brought with her. He even spent some time with her to help her practice pitching.

After this, she probably wouldn’t sleep for days, her excitement at an all-time high, despite the events of the past several days. This was exactly what she needed. What we all needed. A return to life as normal.

Or as normal as could be when you were dating a professional baseball player.

Six months ago, if you would have told me this would be my life, I’d have laughed. And not over the fact I was dating a celebrity or someone much younger. But that I was dating at all. That I’d finally taken a risk and gotten over my fears.

Just goes to show how much life could change when you least expected it.

And I certainly never expected Lachlan Hale.

“You ready?” Dax asked Imogene, looking down at her with all the admiration one would expect from a big brother.

At first, I was unsure how Imogene would feel about it.

Or how Dax would.

But there was no awkwardness. It was as if they’d known each other their entire lives.

That was Imogene, though. She had a natural ability to charm everyone.

“I’m ready.”

“Good.” He gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Give ‘em the heater, then we’ll watch the game from the owner’s box. How does that sound?”

She beamed, bouncing in her shoes. “Sounds like the best day ever.”

Dax chuckled, then winked at Imogene, walking away to talk to a few reporters while we remained on the sidelines as they announced the players for the visiting team, quite a few of their fans filling the ballpark.

But when they started the introductions for the hometown team, the stadium went wild, especially when they announced the starting pitcher —Lachlan Hale.

My heart swelled with pride and something so much bigger than love as he ran past me, giving me a sly wink on his way out to the first-base line. Taking off his hat, he waved at the tens of thousands of fans chanting his name, many of them wearing his jersey.

I’d seen him play before. Hell, I’d even come to a game in order to tell him I chose him. That I wanted to take a risk.

But being on the field during a playoff game, hearing the fans go wild for him… It was surreal.

After the raucous cheering finally died down, they brought out a singer to perform the National Anthem. With each verse, I felt Imogene’s nerves increase, knowing it was almost time for her to throw out the first pitch. When it was over, Lachlan jogged toward us, a brilliant smile on his face.

I thought the sight of him in a suit was enough to make me want to rip off my clothes.

But seeing him in his uniform up close?

My imagination was on overdrive with all the fantasies the sight conjured.

“Ready, pipsqueak?” Lachlan asked, holding up a brand new ball, his long fingers gripping it as if they were born to do just that.

I suppose they were.

“Absolutely.” Imogene beamed as he placed the ball into her glove.

Taking my hand, he led me out onto the field, Imogene on his other side as the announcer’s voice echoed in the stadium.