Free The Catching Kind by Caitie Quinn Page A

now.”
    I started running through all the reasons that could be. Horrible childhood, tragic love dying in his youth, the—
    “Hailey.” He interrupted my thought process. “You’re doing it again. Let it go. Just, believe me. I know me. I’m not looking for someone to fill a void. There’s no void, so…”
    He trailed off and shrugged, as if that said it all.
    I guess for him, it did.
    And that was obviously all I was getting on that. 
    I still wanted there to be something else. The romance writer in me couldn’t believe that some people were just happy with their lives without that One Person.
    When I thought about it, that wasn't a lie. Not everyone was built for the picket fence.
    But was Connor?
    Who knew...and, really, who cared?
    When this was over, he could go back to all the non-picket-fencing he wanted to.
    He'd promised to be honest and play fair, and that was all a girl could really expect from a pro-player...I mean, pro baseball player anyway.
     
     
     
     
     
     

SEVEN
     
    Our meal continued with lots of light chatter and relaxed laughter. Connor was easy to be around and I found myself telling him funny stories about Jenna, Kasey, and Kasey’s friend Jayne who we’d all basically adopted. He wanted to hear more about Franklin and wove us around danger zones that would make me sad.
    He told me about his brother Gavin moving out here and getting a house a few blocks from him while claiming it was to keep him under control. Connor said it was probably so Gavin could live it up with him.
    I suspected it had more to do with them being inseparable for so long that living five states apart didn't really work...and he just plain missed his brother. 
    I was trying to convince myself to say no to dessert when a squeaky voice behind me interrupted my chocolate-focused concentration.
    "Mr. Ryan, my mom said it wasn't you but my dad said I could come ask if it was. And I knew it was you." The boy gave Connor a smile that screamed hero worship . "I was wondering if you'd sign my menu. I asked the waitress if that would be okay."
    "Sure." Connor borrowed my ever-present pen and turned back to the boy. "What's your name?"
    "Jeremy." The little boy breathed his name out like it was a prayer, a crazed hope that this was real. 
    I'd seen it before. The magic of meeting your hero. My friend Jenna had a huge following and I watched again and again as girls came up to hug her and take pictures. They talked about her character Chloe as if she were a friend they'd grown up with. 
    "So, Jeremy, do you play baseball?"
    "Yes. On my town team. We got to play a team from one town over for the first time last week."
    "Wow. You’re already playing other towns? What position do you play?" Connor hadn't even picked up the menu he was supposed to be signing yet. It was as though he was having the most important conversation in the world and couldn't have any of his focus split.
    "Catcher."
    " Catcher? ” Shock and awe. “They always amaze me. How do you keep your balance down there all the time?"
    The boy giggled, but I guess it was a good question because he went on to explain his squat to Connor, the boy talking, the man nodding.
    "Well, let me sign this for you. I don't want to keep you from your meal.”
    He picked up the menu and spent some time over it before handing it off to Jeremy. While he was writing, a man wandered over.
    "Jeremy, I said there and back. I'm sure they'd like to get back to their meal."
    I laughed at the accidental echo, both used to politely send a child in the right direction. Amazing how some adults didn't realize hero worship always outranked lasagna.
    "It's not a problem.” Connor stood and offered his hand to Jeremy’s dad. “Jeremy was telling us about the difficulties of being a catcher. Lots of balance needed for that."
    The father looked grateful as Connor handed over the menu—and a little surprised.
    I'd never thought about what that playboy image might do to his relationship with