Free Spring Training by Stacey Lynn Rhodes Page B

head back?”
    “Yes, we should probably see if Emery’s still there. I’d like to spend some time with him if he is.”
    “And if he isn’t?”
    “Then I’ll have to settle for an evening in with you.” Her eyes promised good things, and Aaron was torn between wishing the condo was empty when they got there, and hoping Em had seen the error of his ways and would be able to hang out with his mom before she left.
    The mental reminder of her short time there was definitely a buzzkill and there was quiet between them as they headed back to the path to the condos.
     

Chapter Ten
     
     
     
    Surprisingly enough, Emery was waiting in the living room when they walked in the door. The music still blared.
    “Hey, Ma, where’d you go?” Emery looked a bit put out. He was in his comfy, at-home attire—sweats, a T-shirt that she thought she’d used for a rag at least once, and bare feet. While she was happy that he obviously wasn’t planning to go repeat last night’s mistake, part of Teri would have enjoyed putting an empty condo to good use again.
    “Aaron and I went for a walk.” She crossed the room to plop down next to him on the couch. “He showed me a nice path along the river.”
    Aaron grabbed a remote and used it to lower the volume of the music then went into the kitchen.
    “Could he even keep up with ya? For a shrimp you sure do walk fast.” Emery grinned at her.
    She didn’t bother telling him about just strolling. He either wouldn’t believe her or he’d think it was weird. “I’m not a shrimp,” she played her part.
    “You’re too short to even be a good place to rest my arm anymore.” He nudged her.
    She smacked his arm. “You need to stop growing then. And stop leaning on me.”
    “I was going to see if you guys wanted to put a game on, but I don’t know. Is it safe to come in?” Aaron appeared with a couple of glasses of iced water. He handed one to Teri then sat in a chair on the opposite side of the room.
    “Yeah, that’d be great. And it’s just the usual bickering. This one doesn’t like to let me forget that he grew taller than me at twelve years old.”
    Emery snickered when Teri gave him a mock shove then rested against his shoulder. Emery automatically put his arm around her for a hug and they sat that way as they watched Aaron flip through the channels until he found a ball game for them to watch.
    It wasn’t often that Teri found herself distracted from a game, but her mind and gaze kept wandering to Aaron lounging a short distance away. He glanced over and their eyes met. A current passed between them that Emery was thankfully unaware of. Aaron’s heated regard traced her from head to toe and back up again, and she felt that perusal like a physical touch.
    At that point, Teri excused herself and headed down the hall to Emery’s room. She was woefully out of practice at exchanging covert romantic looks with someone while one of her kids was in the room. She took a deep breath as she double-checked her appearance in the mirror above the dresser.
    A knock came at the door. “Teri? You okay?”
    Her cheeks instantly pinkened at the sound of Aaron’s low voice. “Yes, just a moment.” She took a couple of steps to the door then paused to gather herself before she opened it.
    Aaron looked her up and down but made no effort to enter. “You all right?”
    “Fine, just needed a breather.” Now, why had she admitted that?
    “Oh yeah?”
    He was killing her, lounging there with his broad shoulder leaning against the doorjamb, a slightly smug smile on his face as though he knew exactly why she’d fled the room.
    She thought about their shower then flashed back to the uncharacteristic and raunchy comment she’d made out on the path, and couldn’t keep her gaze from drifting below his waist. The soft material of his sweats did little to hide the fact that he was just as into this flirtation as she was.
    As she watched, he dropped a hand to cup his semi-hard cock. “See