“Do you like being spanked?”
“And now, I think it’s time for this conversation to end. I’m not even going to ask how you got my number in the first place, by the way.”
“Parker gave it to me. He figures he owes me one. By my count he owes me a hell of a lot more than that. The important thing is that you have my number now, Marigold. You need to use it.”
“I do?”
“If you’re brave enough, yeah. If not…”
“Are you baiting me, Bat-Boy?”
“I just want to know if the woman I plan on getting involved with has grit or not, baby. That’s all.”
“Damn you,” she gripes, but I can tell she’s trying to keep from laughing.
“Night, baby.”
“Night, Slater,” she says, hanging up.
I stare at my phone for a little bit after she hangs up. I’m already missing the sound of her voice in my ear.
“Marigold Lucas…you’re mine.”
CHAPTER9
Marigold
“Aren’t you supposed to be on the field, Bat-Boy?” I ask, and shit, I think I might be blushing.
I’m sitting in the bleachers beside Kage and Slater is standing in front of us in his uniform and damn does he fill out his uniform freaking good. It takes all I have not to move my gaze down and check out the goods he’s packing. I do it—well, mostly. I’m a woman and men in gray joggers catch my eyes, but I’ve discovered gray baseball pants are hypnotizing. It’s been a little over a week since Slater called me. I won’t lie. I was hoping that he would call again. He hasn’t, though. I realize he left the ball in my court. I almost caved once or twice—or more. The truth is I’m Ida Sue’s youngest daughter. I can be stubborn as hell.
“You haven’t called me.”
He’s upset. You can hear it in his voice. It’s more than that, though. Slater has always been easy, laidback, and full of humor when we’ve talked. He’s almost deadly serious now as he stares at me.
“My brother will suspend you if you don’t get out there,” I warn him.
“Tell me why you didn’t call me, Marigold.”
“Because Marigold isn’t your name? I mean, if you want me to call you that, I can. It just seems kind of silly,” I respond.
Kage snickers in the background and my own lips twitch. Slater, however, doesn’t find me a bit funny.
“Guys, do you care to give me a little room so I can talk to my girl?” Slater says talking to the couple below us.
“His girl?” Kage whispers, elbowing me.
“They paid for tickets, you can’t just ask them to move,” I point out.
“Sure thing Mr. Daniels. Can you sign this for me?” the guy asks, practically falling over himself to move him and his girl over to make room for Slater.Jesus pizza.The man is not helping me at all here.
“Will do. Tell you what I’ll take it back with me and get the team to sign and bring it back when I get a break.”
“Oh my God, that’d be awesome,” the girl practically squeals. It’s not like Slater is Elvis. This is minor league baseball damn it.
Slater doesn’t respond to them. Instead, he leans down on his knee and gets in front of me, placing a hand on each of my knees. I try to ignore the way his touch seems to brand me. The heat spreads through my entire body making that mostly impossible.
“You were supposed to call me.”