Free Blake (Season One: The Ninth Inning #2) by Lindsay Paige, Mary Smith Page B

won.” I animate my hands in a dramatic fashion as if I’m on a theater stage, telling a tale. I toss my hands up in victorious motion as we walk out the lobby and onto the street.
    “Then my mother calls and tells me her feminist-loving Women’s Society is going to auction off, yes I did say auction , women at the Children’s Hospital benefit. Guess who’s on the list? That’s right. Me. Now, some old guy is going to pay a fortune to have dinner with me and try to cop a feel the entire time.” I growl in frustration as we continue walking.
    “Will it make you feel better that I’ll be there?” he grumbles.
    “You’re going? Really?” I’m going to see Blake Foster in a tux? The image is almost lickable.
    “Yeah, I am, unfortunately. Jack and Mom want me there.”
    “A family night?” I’m not sure if it’s a question or a statement. I can see it all over Blake’s face that it’s the last thing he wants to do.
    We walk up another block until Blake stops outside a brick building and opens the door. The name on the wall: Callie’s Bar and Grill.
    “So, how do you know this place?”
    “Felix says his brothers love this place. I thought we could check it out for ourselves.” He leads the way to a small table against the far wall.
    “Oh. So, are we ordering wine, beer, or plain old water?” I pick up the menu on the table.
    “Whatever you want. I’m getting water though. I don’t drink while we’re on the road.”
    “I don’t think they have steamed veggies here.” I lay the menu down for him to see and read it upside down. It’s like the first time we ate together.
    His dazzling smile appears. “No? I don’t know if I can eat here then.” There’s a playful tone in Blake’s voice.
    “Sucks to be you then, Blakey, because I’m starving.”
    “I guess I can make an exception then. What are you getting this time?”
    I moan in delight as I point to the one thing that looks the most delicious on the laminated menu. “Chicken wings. Hot, sticky, chicken wings. Mom hates when I eat them because she says it’s not ladylike, but it’s so yummy.” I lick my lips as if the gooey goodness is on there. “What about you? Do you want the celery stick they give with the wings?” I giggle.
    The waitress comes by and we put in our orders. Blake ends up getting a fish sandwich while I order a small basket of wings with extra wet napkins.
    He shakes his head as the waitress goes to put in our order. “I never thought you had a rebel in you. What else do you do that your mom wouldn’t exactly approve of?”
    “Lots of things. I wear white after Labor Day. There are times when my purse doesn’t match my shoes. I’ve had sex before marriage, which almost killed her to find out. I’m not married and will be thirty in couple of years. Oh, and I still haven’t given her grandchildren.” That last one seems to be a big one for my mother lately.
    “What about with your dad?” He swirls his straw around in his glass of water. I’m not sure why Blake’s asking all these questions, but I’ll play along.
    “Dad? He is much different than Mom. He has his strict ways, but it’s mainly with our work ethics. I’m sure you know how much my dad is worth, but he makes us pay our own bills. Harmony and I don’t get our trusts until we’re thirty-five, and Dad taught us that hard work is how you get through life. Hard work, kindness, and truthfulness.”
    “He sounds like a good person,” Blake says softly.
    “Both of my parents are. Mom is as wonderful as Dad.” Saying that makes me smile, and it’s the truth; my parents are wonderful.
    “That’s good.” He seems unsure of what else to say. Blake crosses his arms on the table and his t-shirt looks as if it’s about to rip from his biceps. He’s looking all around the room as if he’s trying to escape.
    “Your mom seems to be helping out with the benefit. How is she liking it?” Maybe talking about her will help him focus.
    “She loves