Free Lucky 13 (Deadlines & Diamonds) by Morgan Kearns

an extra long one, ” Shayne said.
    Ricky choked.
    Matt snorted .
    Ricky forced his mouth closed, but couldn’t tear his eyes from the amused face of Matt’ s mother. Her chocolate eyes swam with the laughter her pursed lips kept at bay.
    Damn, if she whipped off a one-liner like that in front of the guys, he’d be toast! X would probably castrate him in his own kitchen.
    “Um, Ricky?”
    The headshake was meant to clear his thoughts, instead it sent them on frappe. He blinked and focused on Matt instead of all the very naughty things he wanted to do to Shayne. “Yeah, kid?”
    “Batting cage ?”
    For a split second, he thought of Shayne dressed in only a helmet and cleats , sandwiched betwe en his body and the chain link with h is bat…
    “Ricky?”
    “Yeah.” Maybe he should call the guys and cancel this little meet and greet. Having Shayne under his roof for the very first time affected him in ways he hadn’t expected. Every time he turned around , he saw her pressed against something. Or bent over it. Or…
    “Ricky!”
    “Sorry, dude. I’m having a hard time thinking.”
    “On where the batting cage is?” Matt rolled his hazels.
    “It’s right out back.” He motioned for Matt to follow him. “Come on, I’ll get you all set up.” Never would it have crossed his mind for Shayne to keep her distance, but he prayed she wouldn’t touch him. He was coiled so tight, a single touch from her and he might boooing! clear into next week.
    Walking up to the French door, he swu ng it open wide, holding it for them to walk outside. Matt shot through, oohing and ahhing about the huge yard, the built-in barbeque, the swimming pool, the batting cage.
    Shayn e, however, didn’t ooh or ahh. S he stepped up to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Aren’t you going to say hello?”
    Some date he was. “Absolutely. Come here, mujer bonita .” He bent down to put his mouth on hers. He tasted. He consumed. He welcomed. “Hi.”
    “Nice place you got here,” she said a little breathlessly.
    “Thanks.”
    Bats clattered to the ground, interrupting their moment.
    Shayne snort ed softly. “I think that’s his way of reminding us he’s here.”
    “I gotta admit I’m a little distracted.” He ran his hands through his hair.
    Shayne watched the action then put her fingers to his scalp. “You kinda made a mess of it.”
    “You’ve kinda made a mess of me.”
    Her full lips turned down. “I’m sorry. We can—”
    “You’re not goin’ anywhere.” He kissed her cheek. “But you gotta promise you won’t talk about the length or width or weight of my bat when the guys get here.”
    She laughed, choking on it when he scowled.
    He put his lips to her ear. “The things I wanna do to you…” He let the phrase drift into a growl.
    She swayed and gripped tighter to his shoulders. Her breasts brushed his chest with every breath. After a few moments of not saying anything, she retreated from his embrace, brushed her hands over the front of her tank top, smoothed down her shorty-shorts and stuck out her hand.
    He glared at it, but took it anyway.
    “I promise ,” she said with a shake, “to be on my very best behavior. I will not talk about your bat if you will refrain from telling me the things you wanna do to me.” She shivered. Her eyes closed for a brief second. “Deal?”
    “Deal.”
    She sighed. “Now what do we need to do?”
    “Can you make hamburger patties?”
    “You got eggs, bread crumbs and onions?”
    “Yes.”
    She nodded, grinned. “My hamburger patties are so good, you’ll never let another woman ever make them for you ever again.”
    He saw the holy-crap-I-did-not-just-say-that flash across her face. Unacceptable. “You’re probably right. I’ll show you to the kitchen.”
    “You should probably show Matt around the batting cage first.”
    Matt! Damn, he’d forgotten all about the kid. He currently stood at the gate to the cage, helmet on, bat resting on his shoulder,