Free Sliding Into Second by Ella Jade

I’m going to prove you wrong.”
    “Don’t count on it.” She pushed up, cupping the back of his head and kissing him hard.
    “I never back down from a challenge, love. You know that.” He sat up on his knees, pulling her into his lap and reaching for the strip of packets on the nightstand.
    “So, game on?”
    “It’s on, sweetheart.” He tangled his fingers in her hair and attacked her lips with a possessive force. “I hope you can handle it.”
    She liked him unrestrained and wild. This could work. She could have him without any expectations. Her heart would remain intact this time. She’d make sure of that.
    * * * *
    Nic fidgeted with his tie. He hated playing dress up, but sometimes it was necessary. He waited in the bar area for Rosalie. There was no way that, after spending all day in bed with Sage, he was going to let her have dinner with Jason and her parents. Not without him.
    “Hey.” Rosalie came up from behind him and tapped his shoulder. “Sorry I’m late.”
    “It’s cool.” He turned and hugged her. “I owe you.”
    “You can just hook me up with one of your hot teammates. I’ve got my eye on your pitcher.”
    “Pax?” He smiled. “You’re a little late. He’s in love with a lovely Greek goddess named Sophia.”
    “That sucks.” She crinkled her nose. “How come she wasn’t in the stands when he was pitching in Chicago?”
    “That’s between them. I was a little too busy trying to win a game to pay attention to his love life.”
    “Well, who would you suggest then?”
    “None of them. They’re all dogs and not worthy of my Rosie girl.” He took her hand. “I’d kill any one of them.”
    “Well, that’s what I want in exchange for helping you.” She giggled as she bumped his side with her hip. “I want a baseball player of my own.”
    “I’ll see what I can do.” He cringed at the thought of any of his teammates dating Rosalie. Even though she had grown into a stunning beauty, he still saw her as the kid with braces and glasses. His kid sister. “So, is Sage going to freak when she sees me?”
    “Probably.” She led him down the hall to a private dining room. “You spent the night together, huh?”
    “She told you that?”
    “She didn’t have to,” she said. “I’m staying with her over the break. She texted me last night and told me she wouldn’t be home. When she got in this afternoon, she was exhausted.” She smirked. “Lucky girl.”
    “Rosalie?” He cleared his throat. “We’re not going there.”
    “You know she’s here with Jason, right?”
    “What’s the deal with the two of them?” He couldn’t get a clear picture of their relationship.
    “He’s her safe haven.” Rosalie stopped when they got to a small waiting area. “It’s how she protects herself. There’s no commitment between the two of them, so she can’t get hurt.”
    “There’s no one else in her life?”
    “Are you kidding? She has serious abandonment issues.” She looked up at him with sincerity in her eyes. “Sorry.”
    “I deserve it.”
    “You do realize she’s trying to protect herself from you too, right? She’s not going to let you hurt her.”
    “I wouldn’t hurt her.” That was why Sage didn’t want their feelings to get in the way. She proposed a physical relationship because she was afraid he’d leave again. The only reason he was playing along was to get her to drop the wall and see that they could have something more than what they had before.
    “You have a lot to prove to her.”
    “No kidding.”
    “Hello, Ms. Millan,” the hostess said as she made her way to the U-shaped check-in area. “Your family is waiting for you.” The pretty brunette’s eyes connected with Nic’s. “And your guest.”
    “He’s a hot baseball player,” Rosalie said, but the hostess didn’t take her gaze away from his. “Just won the World Series too.”
    “I know who you are.” The woman flaunted a flirty smile. “Congratulations.”
    “Thank you.”