For Addison, what she felt watching AJ posing and chatting with his adoring fans was different from what she used to feel with her dad. The guy was hands down one of the sexiest guys she’d ever been around. And Addison was no stranger to being around sexy baseball players. He was making it obvious he was gunning for more with her. As flattered as she was, it scared the hell out her. She wished she could be like one of those many groupies that guys like AJ had. She just couldn’t. Even now, as she watched the bimbo fluttering her lashes and asking to pose for a photo with him, Addison’s smile flattened. Clearly, these girls would jump at the chance for a fling with him.

Addison’s heart literally ached at the thought of doing so and knowing she wasn’t his one and only. It was almost maddening that she wouldn’t be able to just shake it off for the sake of indulging herself in what could be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be with the man she’d been drooling over for years.

Then their eyes met again. Even over the crowd of people, he gazed at her in such a way that she knew he could easily own her heart after so much as one kiss. It’d be brutal to have to see or hear about him with anyone else like Miranda after any indulging she might give into. Nope. She wouldn’t allow it. She’d be strong, no matter how tempting it ever got. Period.

The small mob around them grew fast. Addison knew from experience, especially in this day and age of social media, how much bigger this would get if they didn’t get out of there soon. She leaned over to Clair’s ear. “It’s getting late, mamas. We need to get Harrison home soon.”

Clair was noticeably disappointed but complied, tugging at AJ’s shirt. As soon as he bent over and she said something in his ear, he began saying good-bye to everyone. It was still just a little after nine, but Addison had had a feeling it would take them a while to get out of there, and she’d been right. By the time they were in the car, it was twenty until ten.

Luckily, Harrison didn’t live too far from the pizza place, and they made it there in time. He thanked them all, saying he’d see Clair online tomorrow. Clair reminded him she wouldn’t be online until after tomorrow’s game when she got home.

“They play chess against each other online,” Addison explained when AJ’s brows pinched at Clair’s reminder.

The pizza place was a little further from her parents’ home, and as expected, Clair’s seven-year-old body gave in to the day’s excitement. She was knocked out cold by the time they reached Addison’s parents’ home.

“Don’t wake her,” AJ whispered when he turned to look at Clair in the backseat. “I’ll carry her in.”

Without thinking, Addison placed her hand on his thigh. It felt as she’d always imagined it would.

Delectably hard.

AJ looked down at her hand as she withdrew it. The instant change in his demeanor was a living thing. The power behind those sultry eyes was terrifying, but not because she felt threatened by him in any way. It was just a brutal slap of reality. The man was an absolute dream. Addison wasn’t so sure she’d be able to stand her ground if he ever did try anything.

“I was just gonna say,” she said, ignoring her pounding heart. “If you pull up further, you’ll be closer to the back door. It’s a little closer to her room.”

His eyes fell to her lips, and right then she knew she was in trouble. Not only would she not stop him if he tried to kiss her, but certain body parts were already tingling in anticipation of him doing more.

Chapter 8

AJ

AJ had two rules when it came to women. He didn’t play games, and he didn’t beat around the bush. If he was in it for nothing more than sex, he made it clear up front. There was no sense in making promises he didn’t intend to keep for the sake of getting in their pants. Too many were able and willing to give it up for nothing more than the fun of it or even bragging rights to have to lie his way into anyone’s panties.

He’d always known that, if he ever wanted more than just a good time, he’d be up front about that too. There was nothing stupider than when he heard guys get all bent out of shape when they found out the girl they’d been bagging, no strings attached, was screwing someone else too. In most cases, the guys were just selfish pricks. They didn’t want to stop bagging other chicks, but they wanted one in particular for themselves exclusively.

In other cases, some guys had fallen for their part-time girl for real but were afraid of losing what they did have with her if they pushed for more. That was just insane. AJ had always known it. If he ever fell for anyone he was screwing, he’d be damned if he wouldn’t just tell her, and she’d either agree to exclusivity or he was out. No way would he stay in a relationship with anyone he felt more for, knowing it was an open one.

No fucking way.

He’d known for weeks if he ever took the risk of trying for anything with Addison it wouldn’t be a casual fling or even a one-time deal. If he were going to risk it, it was all or nothing. With Addison, he wouldn’t even be willing to sleep with her the onetime just to get it out of his system, not with what he felt for her now.

If they did agree to something more and it didn’t work out, at least he could say he tried. It’d probably be even more brutal to have to see or hear of her with someone later, but that was a risk he was willing to take if it meant the chance of so much more. He still didn’t know enough about her, but he knew himself. What he’d been feeling ever since the day he met Addison was like nothing he’d ever felt.

After thoughts of Addison had distracted him throughout the entire game today, he decided to take Clair up on her offer for tonight. He needed to confirm if what he thought he’d picked up from Addison in Toronto and Niagara Falls was just a fluke or if she might actually be feeling the same thing he was.

The moment in the car earlier was promising. Addison’s response to his eating up her sweet lips with his eyes had been a welcoming one. It if hadn’t been for Clair in the backseat, he would’ve already gone for it. So he was actually thankful for Clair now. He could easily give into the temptation of tasting Addison’s lips, devouring her mouth if she let him, but he didn’t want to go there until he had a few things straight.

They got Clair into her room, and AJ waited for Addison out in the front room while Addison changed her and got her under her blankets. He circled the front room, looking at the photos on the different wall cabinets and in the expensive-looking frames that adorned the walls throughout.

He had to chuckle at some of Addison’s photos as a little girl. Clair had been right when she said you could barely tell them apart. There was one collage in particular where they’d purposely put photos of the two side by side using photos of Addison at the same age as Clair.

“She is so out.”

AJ turned at the sound of Addison’s voice. “I was surprised she didn’t wake up when I picked her up.”

“Oh no,” Addison said, smiling and shaking her head. “She’s been so excited about this weekend all week: first, because you guys would be back in town then because of today. So she was up early this morning with her papa making pancakes and getting ready for the big day. When she has a day with this much excitement, she knocks out good and hard. Nothing short of a freight train crashing through the house is gonna wake her up now.”

Good to know.

“Your parents gonna be home soon?”

“No.” She shook her head. “That banquet they went to is in Highland. It’s too far. They’re not driving home tonight.”

Perfect.

He waited until she walked up next to him to look at the collage he’d been smiling at. “It’s funny that Clair and I look so much alike because I look nothing like my mom’s childhood photos.”