Page 6 of Taking the Pitch (Love & Baseball #2)

CHAPTER FIVE

amelia

“You have got to be fucking kidding me,” I growl when I see the infuriatingly hot baseball player I thought about the entire walk home saunter through the doors of my building like he owns the place. “Seriously? Are you stalking me? Do I need to call the police?”

Judd’s lips tip up into a smile. “As much as I enjoy handcuffs, I prefer to be the one using them.”

I stare at him, not only because I’m shocked that came out of his mouth, but because I’m surprised at the way my body perked up at the suggestion.

I open my mouth to tell him off when Marty, my doorman, comes over from the desk.

“Miss Morgan, Mr. Davis, is there a problem?”

“Marty I–.”

Wait, Mr. Davis? No.

“Marty, do you know this man?” I ask, praying that what I’m thinking isn’t true. The universe wouldn’t be that cruel, right? Right!?

Marty visibly swallows and looks between the baseball god. Fuck, stop. No Amelia. Judd, his name is Judd. He looks between Judd and me before continuing. “Well, yes, Ms. Morgan. He lives in the penthouse. He moved in while you were on your book tour.”

I swear I hear brakes screeching and the world coming to a stop as the truth bomb Marty just dropped settles over us.

No, there’s no way. I must still be asleep, and this is just some twisted dream I’m having because I’m still jet lagged. There is absolutely no way this infuriatingly gorgeous man with ‘fuck me’ eyes, who is not only good with kids but also good with dogs with major trust issues, is living in MY apartment building. Does God really hate me this much?

“What’s the matter, Sugar? Cat got your tongue?” Judd asks, grinning down at me with a sinful smirk.

And what is with his damn pet names? “I thought you said I wasn’t sweet. Sugar sounds awfully sweet to me,” I shoot back. Jesus, why am I even engaging in this conversation?

Marty’s eyes volley back and forth between us, worry creasing his brow. Bruno also looks between us before he lets out a soft whine.

“Is he signaling you for something?” Judd asks suddenly, his playful tone gone. He takes a step forward and stares at me with…concern?

“What? Oh, no. He’s just sensitive to confrontation.” I reach down and pat Bruno’s head. “It’s okay buddy. Nothing to get upset about,” I reassure him.

Yeah, Amelia, nothing to get upset about.

Judd takes another step forward and kneels down. “May I?” he asks, looking up at me. An image of Judd on his knees, naked, pops into my head and my mouth goes dry. I give him a nod, not trusting myself to speak.

He holds a hand out to Bruno and lets him sniff it. “I’m sorry buddy, I didn’t mean to upset you,” he says softly. Bruno sniffs his outstretched hand before nosing it and pushing his head into his hand for a scratch.

Traitor.

Judd runs both hands down his neck and roughs up his scruff, letting out a deep laugh that makes my stomach flip when Bruno’s tongue snakes out of his mouth to lick his cheek.

“What do you say, big guy? Am I forgiven?” Bruno licks his cheek again, getting another laugh out of Judd.

Marty clears his throat, making me jump. I forgot he was standing there. “Is everything okay, then, Ms. Morgan?”

I eye Judd as he stands and tucks his hands back into the front pockets of his jeans, looking at me expectantly.

Turning to Marty, I give him a smile. “Yes Marty, we’re fine. Thank you. Sorry for the disruption.”

Marty dips his head and gives us one last look before he heads back over to the desk.

I turn and head to the elevators, with Bruno reluctantly following along, without giving Judd another look. I need a hot bath and a large glass of wine. Maybe I’ll just bring the whole damn bottle with me. Turning the corner where the elevators are tucked into the back of the building, I stop and suppress a groan. I’m definitely going to need the whole damn bottle.

One elevator has an ‘Out of Order’ sign strewn across the entrance. Which means I’ll now be sharing an elevator with the sexy man that just appeared at my side.

Giving me a smirk, he hits the call button on the wall. “Going up?” he asks, leaning his shoulder against the wall and crossing his arms. It should be illegal for someone to look that good in a simple black henley. His muscular arms stretch the fabric to within an inch of their life.

His chest rumbles with a chuckle. “My eyes are up here, Cupcake.” I feel my cheeks flame while I drag my eyes from his arms, up over his defined chest and to his warm green eyes that are dancing with humor.

Busted.

The elevator pings, indicating its arrival, knocking me out of my trance.

The doors open and Judd motions me in. “Ladies first.”

Mentally giving myself a shake, I lift my chin and walk straight into the elevator and tuck myself into the corner, trying to keep as much distance as I can in this tiny box. Judd follows me in and turns to the panel. “What floor?”

“Ten,” I say, pulling my phone out of my pocket, so I have something to do other than stare at Judd.

Judd hits the ten and puts his phone up to the screen and taps the PH button, then turns towards me as the doors close, sticking his hands back in his pockets and leaning against the side of the elevator. “So, what type of service dog is Bruno?” he asks, nodding towards him. Bruno’s ears perk up at his name and his tongue flops out of his mouth as he happily pants beside me.

I pull my bottom lip into my mouth and bite down. I hate this question. Most people roll their eyes when I tell them he’s an emotional support animal, like I’m just using it as an excuse to take him everywhere with me, when in fact he’s not a regular support animal. “He’s, uh, an emotional support animal,” I tell him, looking him in the eye, wondering if he’ll do the same. But to my surprise, he doesn’t.

“What’s he trained to indicate?” he asks, completely shocking the hell out of me.

“He, uh. I–” I stumble over my words, my mind trying to process the fact that Judd’s not judging me like so many people have before. I take a breath before trying to answer him again. “I have anxiety, severe anxiety, and he can sometimes stop me from going into a full-blown attack by bumping me with his nose.”

Judd nods again. “So when he bumped you at the library, he was trying to prevent an oncoming attack?”

I drop my eyes and nod. Embarrassment taking over that I was on the brink of an attack at the library and that Judd of all people noticed. Usually the library is a safe space, but between the stress of my program being at risk of shutting down and the stress of traveling for my book tour, my nervous system was already maxed out.

Judd closes the short space between us and reaches out, gripping my chin and tipping it up to make me look at him. His delicious scent invades the small space between us. “Don’t ever be embarrassed about that,” he whispers. “Do you understand?”

My breath catches in my chest and my heart rate skyrockets like it does when I’m anxious, but this time it’s not the anxiety making it race. It’s the zap of energy I feel when Judd touches me.

“I need to hear you say it, Amelia. Do you understand that is nothing to be embarrassed about?”

“Y-yes,” I manage to whisper.

“Good.” He drops my chin and steps back to his place against the wall just as the elevator comes to a stop. The elevator dings and the doors open, waiting for me to make my exit.

On wobbly legs, I convince my feet to move and leave the elevator, turning around just in time to see Judd give me a wink before the doors close completely and continue its ascent to the penthouse.

Leaving me wondering,

What the hell just happened?

A half bottle of wine later, I’m soaking in the tub, still replaying what happened in the elevator.

What the fuck was that?

I take a sip of my wine when my phone pings, announcing a text. Wiping my soapy hand on my towel, I set my wineglass down and grab the phone off the table next to the tub and unlock the phone, reading the group text.

Charlie

So how did today go? Judd mentioned you not liking him? Did he do something?

I sit up so fast, water threatens to slosh over the edge. He tattled on me to Charlie?

Me

He tattled on me? Wow, I did not expect that. Was his ego damaged?

I set my phone back down and pick my wine glass back up as my phone pings again.

Hazel

Uh-oh, did the meeting at the library not go well?

Charlie

He didn’t tattle. I asked him how it went and he straight up said you didn’t like him. And knowing you, something set you off. Sooo, what happened?

Me

He looks… different out of uniform.

Hazel

Oh do tell.

Hazel

*GIF* eating popcorn

Charlie

uh, yeah I guess? I don’t really notice? Or see how this has anything to do with you having an issue with him. He’s a really nice guy Millie, besides his brother, he’s probably one of the kindest guys in the league. So, what gives?

Great, of course he is.

Me

Hazel, remember that guy that was in there this morning when I swung by?

Hazel

*chokes on pretend popcorn* NO! It wasn’t!

Me

Oh, it was.

Charlie

I feel like I’m missing something… Video chat!

Me

I’m in the bathtub.

Charlie

We were roommates in college. I’ve seen it all, Millie.

I’m just about to send a text telling her Hazel hasn’t, when my phone rings requesting a video chat.

I sigh and gather as many bubbles as I can to cover my boobs before accepting the call.

“Ladies,” I say before I’m cut off by Charlie.

“Spill, woman, what happened at Hazel’s this morning?”

“Well, hello to you too,” I say, taking a sip of my wine.

Beep, beep, beep sounds from my phone making me look at Hazel’s half of the screen. “Hazel, are you actually making popcorn?” I ask and I see her pulling a bag out of the microwave.

“What? It sounded good after I sent that text.” She shrugs.

My stomach rumbles at the suggestion of food and I realize I haven’t eaten anything since this morning. I also realize I’m going to have to order in because I still haven’t gone grocery shopping since getting back into town.

“Are you going to answer my question?” Charlie asks, pouring her own glass of wine.

“Let me order dinner first. I still don’t have food in the apartment, and I haven’t eaten since Hazel’s.” Clicking over to my browser, I type in the name of my favorite Chinese place and order enough food to feed a family of four. I have about 20 more minutes of soaking time before my food should arrive.

Clicking back over to my video chat, I see both women staring at me, waiting for me to spill the tea.

“So where were we?” I ask innocently.

“You were going to tell Charlie about how you announced you have a shitty sex life while at the café to none other than Judd Davis.”

I sink down further in the tub as Charlie chokes on her mouthful of wine. “You did WHAT!?”

Hazel and I spend the next couple of minutes telling her about our conversation at the counter this morning and how we didn’t think he was listening, which fun fact, apparently, he was.

“So, is that the problem?” Charlie asks, sounding like it’s not much of a problem.

“Wellll, not exactly,” I say, taking another sip of wine. “I might have accused him of offering me sex.”

Hazel barks out a laugh and Charlie stares at me like I have three heads.

“To be fair,” I explain before Charlie strokes out. “What are the odds the guy in the café turns out to be the same guy I need help from? Plus, like I said in my text, he looks different out of uniform,” I explain the rest of the events that happened on the library steps before stopping to finish off the rest of my wine.

“I have to give you that, Millie. I served the guy, and I didn’t even recognize him. You can’t fault her on that, C,” Hazel says in my defense before shoving another handful of popcorn into her mouth.

Charlie pinches the bridge of her nose and blows out a breath. “Okay, besides all of that. What seems to be the actual problem? Are you embarrassed? Is he mad? I’m still lost here Millie.”

You and me both sister.

“The problem is Charlie , he fucking lives in my building! I found that gem out after getting back from the library today and threatened to call the cops on him for stalking before I knew he lived in the penthouse . To which he told me he prefers to be the one to use the handcuffs.”

Both women stare at me with matching shocked looks on their faces.

“No one’s going to say anything?”

“You lucky bitch,” Hazel says finally, while Charlie still stares at me in silence.

“I don’t see the lucky part of this Haze.”

“He wants to fuck you,” she says, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

“I don’t think so. I think he just enjoys fucking with me. There’s a difference.” I don’t tell them about the elevator. I hold that piece of information back until I can wrap my head around it more.

“Do you want me to find him a different program? I know it would leave you back at square one, but I don’t want you to be uncomfortable,” Charlie says, worry lacing her voice.

I sigh. “No, despite us butting heads, I can tell he actually truly cares about it and is a really good fit for it.” I sit up and reach for the wine bottle, dumping the rest into my glass. “Plus, he made friends with Ruby.” Both women gasp. They know all about Ruby and how much it pains me I can’t adopt her and haven’t found her the absolute perfect home yet, either.

“Maybe he can adopt her!” Hazel says excitedly.

I lean my head back against the tub. “I just don’t think that would work with his travel schedule during the season. Plus, how would Ruby feel to get adopted, then sent somewhere else off and on throughout the year? It’s just too chaotic for a rescue dog, especially one with trust issues like hers.”

Charlie nods in agreement. “Our schedule is insane and it truly wouldn’t be fair to her.”

Hazel sighs. “Well, it was a good thought, at least.”

“Look on the bright side Hazel, maybe this means she’s coming out of her shell more and can be adopted soon.”

My phone pings with a text. Opening it, I see it’s Marty from the front desk, letting me know my food is here.

“Ladies, my food is here. I’m going to go eat my weight in Chinese food now.”

“Hey Millie, before you go, are you sure you’re okay with this? I can find something else for both of you if it’s too much.”

I don’t even need to think about it. “I’m sure, Charlie. I feel better after talking with you guys. After the interview next week, maybe he’ll just be one of those silent investor types and all I’ll have to do is avoid him at my apartment.”

Really, how often could we run into each other? After the other elevator is fixed and if I use the stairs more than I currently do, I bet I hardly see him.