Page 22 of Payoff Pitch
I cross my arms and lift an eyebrow. “When a coach asks you what position you play, what’s the right answer?”
Andie yells out, “Third base.”
Harper looks at me skeptically. I’ve learned in my short time with her that she’s very smart and very contemplative. Her wheels are always turning. She knows there’s a reason I’m asking the question. I see it in her face the moment she knows the right answer. “I think I’d tell them wherever they need me.”
I smile at her. “Correct. Always be a team player. You’ll play wherever the coach wants you to play. You should learn as many positions as you can while you’re young. You never know where you’ll be needed, and if you’ve learned every position, coaches will love having you on their teams.”
We spend the next thirty minutes doing drills as they attempt to learn the advanced throwing technique. They fail miserably, but by the end there are a handful of good throws. It’s not easy to learn, but they’re determined.
At some point, we hear a voice from the balcony. “Softball time is over. The fun queen is here.”
I look up and see another little girl with dark hair holding her hands in the air doing a little twirl. Even from down below, I can see her piercing ice-blue eyes. Standing next to her is an exceedingly attractive man with dark hair and a huge smile. He’s in a business suit. He looks a little young to be her father, but who knows? Maybe he’s her older brother.
He shouts out, “Are you two going pro yet?”
They giggle as Harper waves to him. “Hi, Trevor. Is Cassandra with you?”
He shakes his head. “No, she’s at work. Sorry to disappoint.”
Andie smiles conspiratorially at Harper before shouting, “Where’s Brandon?”
Harper whispers to me, “Dylan’s twin brother, Brandon, is super cute. Andie has a crush on him.”
Trevor smirks. He knows why they’re asking. “I dropped him at a friend’s house. Sorry, Andie.”
He looks down at me. “Hildy, you look better than the last time I saw you. Have you lost weight? And the hump on your back is gone. Congratulations.”
The girls all start giggling uncontrollably, and he winks before he waves at me. “I’m Trevor Knight. You must be new. I’m Dylan’s dad.”
I wave back. “Hi. I’m Bailey Hart. Nice to meet you.”
Am I living in a sexy dad factory? Tanner, Trevor, and Andie’s father, Beckett, are all gorgeous men. I think I’m developing a daddy fetish.I know I am.
He gives a genuine smile. “I need to get back to the office. Thanks for having her. Andie’s dad will give her a ride home later.”
“No problem.” I turn to Andie and Harper. “Do you two want to keep playing or do you want to swim?”
Harper begins to pick up the balls. “We need to swim. Dylan is super smart, but she hates sports.”
I place my hand on my hips. “You can be both. You’re smart. I think I’m pretty smart, and my sister is probably the smartest person I’ve ever met. She got straight A’s her whole life.” I whisper, “Don’t tell her I told you. She likes to keep it a secret.”
Harper laughs. “Her secret is safe with me. Let’s go swimming. I’m hot.”
The four of us change into our bathing suits and head into the gorgeous pool, complete with a slide and waterfall. The three girls are so much fun. They’re all smart and a little sassy, but Dylan is the sassiest. Not in a disrespectful way. She’s very witty and confident. I wonder what her mother is like.
I ask her, “How old is your dad? He looks so young.”
“He just turned thirty-four. We had a big party for him. Our family is huge, and everyone wanted to celebrate him and his twin brother.”
“Only thirty-four? Your parents had you fairly young.”
She shakes her head. “My mom isn’t young. She’s old. Even older than Andie’s dad. She said she’s a cougar.”
I can’t help but laugh. “Can’t wait to meet her.”
As dinnertime nears, Tanner isn’t home and the girls are all hungry. I find a few frozen burgers in the freezer and fire up the grill. With the way the house is set up, I’m able to flip burgers from the deck and still keep an eye on them in the pool.
At some point, I hear a noise behind me. I turn to see Tanner practically drinking me in. I’m suddenly feeling exposed in my bikini, though his lingering gaze fills my body with tingles.