Chapter 27

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Briar

E mmett parks his truck far away from the field.

"So, can I cheer for you?" I cringe because it's a dumb question, but I don't want anyone to see through us.

"Hell yes." He grabs my hand and tugs me to his side in the cab. "I can't wait until I can put the Emmett's girl shirt on you and kiss you before a game."

My heart warms with a soft, comforting glow. I want that too.

"I know I have to tell Gillian," I say, but what we have is so nice without anyone knowing.

This week, we both came home at the end of the day, showered, and fell into bed with one another. Emmett's taken me in the kitchen while I was making dinner, on the couch while I watched my favorite show, and in the middle of the night. His house has turned into a love nest, our love nest, and I don't want to bring in anyone who's going to point their finger and tell us it will never work. I love Gillian, but she'd be the first one to do that.

"Yeah, you do," he says.

Emmett hasn't pushed me to tell people, but I can feel his impatience growing. It makes me happy that he wants to tell everyone we're a couple.

"I want it too, so you know. I want to go to those bleachers and give you a good luck kiss. Maybe have you squeeze my ass."

He smiles.

"And I want to jump and cheer when you score, letting all those women know you're mine."

He wraps his arm around my shoulders and runs his hand down my hair. "I know you do."

I kiss the hollow of his neck. "Thanks for being understanding."

He kisses the top of my head. "I better get you out of here before anyone comes along."

I put my hand on his cheek, turning his head to face me and crush my lips to his. I slide my tongue into his mouth, and he grabs my waist, tugging me onto his lap. Our kiss grows in intensity.

Before we pass the point of no return, I lean back. "Good luck tonight."

His hands run down my sides, and he squeezes my ass with both hands. "Try not to ogle me too hard."

"That's a hard ask." I've been ogling him since I came to my first game last year when I visited. It's nice knowing I'm going to go home with him this time.

He pats my ass. "Time to go."

I slide off his lap and climb out of the truck from the passenger side. He gets out and shuts his door, rounding the back of his cab to grab his bag and looking to make sure no one saw us. His hand moves to grab my hand, but I slide it away, clasping my hands in front of me. He groans and dips his head back toward the sky but doesn't say anything.

We walk up to the bleachers, Emmett's finger grazing my ass before anyone notices, and he heads to the dugout.

"Hey, you," Gillian says, patting the spot next to her on the bleachers. "I saved you a spot."

I climb the bleacher, seeing her shirt that says, Ben's girl. Sadie is sporting her Jude's girl shirt stretched out over her swollen belly, and I silently bemoan not being able to wear a shirt for Emmett.

"Briar!" Wren rushes out of the dugout.

"Wren!" Bennett shouts after her. "You're the mascot."

Wren waves him off. "I don't wanna be anymore."

Bennett rolls his eyes, and all the women in the stands laugh.

Wren climbs the bleachers, sliding between Gillian and me. Why thank you, Wren.

"Daddy let me come tonight." She wiggles in her seat, her hand going to my hair. "I like your waves."

"Thank you," I say and touch her braid. "Who did your hair?"

"Romy did it in the dugout. She said she doesn't want to play today."

"No worries, I made it!" Brooks comes out of nowhere and raises his hands. He's still wearing his sheriff's vest over his Plain Daisy Ranch shirt and baseball pants.

He rounds the edge of the dugout and disappears inside.

"Seriously, Brooks, everyone knows you're the sheriff. You can take the vest off," I hear Lottie say.

"So, how are things?" Gillian asks, ignoring the commotion in the dugout.

"Good. Just been working." Thankfully, I haven't started showing that much, but it'll be impossible to hide soon, especially because summer is coming, which means I can't hide my belly with sweaters.

"'Cause you said you didn't feel good last weekend, and I keep missing you on the phone."

Which is because I always time my calls so I can leave a voicemail. She must be busy because she hasn't popped in on a surprise visit.

I shrug. "I've tried to reach you a couple times."

She nods. "And living with Emmett? How's that going?"

"Great. He's easy to live with."

Gillian nods again. "You know he's not talking to his brothers, right?"

"He said something about that. Have they not resolved it yet?"

"No. He lets Jude tell him what needs to be done on the ranch, but that's about it from what I hear."

Wren puts her hand in mine, and I silently thank her for saving me from the interrogation that Gillian's just ramping up.

"Do you think they're going to win?" Wren asks.

I look at her small hand in my larger one, and the fact that someday soon, that will be my son or daughter's hand hits me. I have to take a deep breath before I can answer.

"I'm sure. Don't they always win?" I didn't see a lot of last season, but I thought they were doing well.

"No, Wild Bull Ranch won." Walker Matthews walks up holding what I assume is the league trophy.

"He won." Wren thumbs in his direction with an annoyed look on her face.

He is annoying. Tried to hit on me last year.

"Why are you here, Walker?" Sadie asks.

"To scout out this year's competition. It's the first game of the season after all." He sits on the bleacher in front of us.

"We're playing Diamond Spur Ranch, and they're made up of five brothers plus crew," Gillian tells me. "They're pretty good when they all get along, which is rare."

"I heard they have some new stud this year. That's why I'm here," Walker says.

Sadie rolls her eyes and sighs.

He looks up at us, and his eyes fix on me. "Look who's back this year."

Wren's hand clasps mine harder. "She's Emmett's!" She narrows her small eyes at him.

"What?" Gillian's head whips in my direction.

"Wren, I'm just his roommate." I give her a smile.

She shakes her head. Did Emmett tell Bennett, and he let it slip to his daughter?

"Yes, Wren. They're just sharing space for the moment," Gillian says.

Walker chuckles. "We all know Emmett doesn't see anyone exclusively. He usually picks them up after I'm done with them."

Gillian's hands go over Wren's ears. "What is wrong with you? There's a little girl around. You shouldn't even be here."

Walker cringes, looking somewhat repentant. "Sorry, she's usually not at the games."

"I'm six now, so Daddy said I can come." She wiggles her shoulders, giving him attitude. It's kind of cute. "Watch what you say."

Wren looks at me, and I nod in agreement that she told him off. She puts one foot up on the bleacher in front of her, crossing her leg over it. She's so cute.

The umpire calls the coaches in, and Jude goes to home plate along with the coach of the Diamond Spurs. They do what they do, and a coin is flipped.

"We're home," Jude says, and all the players go to their positions on the field.

Emmett eyes me from shortstop, then his attention falls on Walker.

"There's Daddy!" Wren points toward left field. Bennett waves, and she claps for him. "And Emmett. Do you see him?"

Gillian is staring from Wren to me.

"I do. Shortstop."

Wren snuggles closer to me, and again, Gillian's eyes shift to our clasped hands.

The first player goes up to bat. Scarlett pitches and the ball goes right between third and shortstop. Emmett and Ben race for the ball. Emmett says he's got it, but Ben continues for it, so Emmett bulldozes him with his shoulder.

"Whoa," Gillian says. "That was unnecessary."

Ben falls to the ground and Emmett gets the ball, throwing it to first. They get the runner out. Ben gets up, brushing dirt off his legs, and Emmett says something I can't hear.

I don't say anything to Gillian.

The next batter strikes out, and the one after that hits a fly ball. Wren stands, watching her dad run for the ball, but Lottie comes in to catch it from centerfield.

"That was a good catch," Wren says as if she's convincing herself.

"It was."

Then we're up to bat.

"Looks like he changed the lineup this year," Gillian says to Sadie.

"You don't want to know how much he's stressed about this." Sadie shakes her head.

Ben comes out of the dugout first. He used to be the four-hitter if I remember correctly. He looks pissed off, but goes up to bat, swings at the first pitch, and gets a line drive to right field, safe at first.

The second batter is Lottie, who also gets on by an error from the third baseman.

Brooks comes out of the dugout. "Maybe if you weren't staring at her ass, you wouldn't have bobbled the ball," he calls to the third baseman before going back in to sit down.

"So protective," Walker says. "What's going on with them?"

"Nothing," everyone says in unison, though I think we all believe something is happening there.

With two runners on base, Romy is next up to bat. She drags her bat and rolls her eyes. "Why would you put me third? Last year I had a negative average."

"What's up with her?" Sadie asks Gillian.

Gillian shakes her head. "I don't know. She's never liked playing, but she's usually more into it."

Wren's mouth crinkles as though she doesn't know either.

Romy bunts and runs to first. The catcher and pitcher don't know whose ball it is, so she's safe. Wren jumps up and down, clapping.

Then Emmett comes out of the dugout, and the way Wren screams his name, you'd think he's a celebrity. She turns to me. "Emmett's up!"

I can't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. "I see."

"Am I missing something?" Gillian asks, eyes narrowed.

I shake my head.

Emmett gets into position, and I admire his physique and feel proud that he's mine. No one here knows it, but this man has been giving me record-worthy orgasms for the past week.

The first pitch is a strike.

"He can't handle the fourth spot. He's too explosive," Walker chimes in with his opinion.

"Shut up, you bully," Wren says.

If I was her mom, I might discipline her or tell her to sit down on the bench, but I'm not, and she's right. Walker Matthews needs to keep his mouth shut.

The next pitch comes in, and Emmett swings and misses. I bite my lip, worried that maybe I'm bad luck. I saw him strike out so many times last year.

Another pitch comes in, and he swings, connecting the bat to the ball, and it sails over the infield, dropping right between second base and centerfield. Ben hustles to score, and Lottie gets to third while Emmett is at first.

Unfortunately, not much happens after that. The next inning, Emmett and Ben are back in the infield. A pop up comes their way that Emmett is camped under, but Ben shoves him out of the way, catching the ball.

Emmett gets up and storms at Ben, tackling him and shouting, "What the fuck?"

I place my hands over Wren's ears.

They battle for dominance, rolling around as if they're nine years old. Ben gets a punch in on Emmett, then Emmett nails Ben across the cheek with his fist.

"Brother brawl," Walker says.

I want to kick him off the bleachers.

All the rest of the Plain Daisy Ranch players go over, and Jude gets in the middle of them. Emmett and Ben eventually get to their feet, both holding their cheeks.

"He's only letting you bat fourth to make you happy because you act like a fucking baby," Ben shouts.

Emmett goes after Ben again, but Jude gets in the mix, holding him back. But then Ben yells at Jude, and pretty soon, it's a three-way fight, all the brothers shouting at each other.

Sadie grabs my hand. "They'll work it out. They always do."

I'm not sure what the look on my face must be that would make her tell me that.

"Everything will be all right," she says, squeezing my hand.

I turn to her, and she smiles sweetly, as Sadie always does.

Fear pricks my spine. Does she know?

"If they could only control their tempers," Gillian says.

Wren goes to the fence line. "Stop beating up Emmett!"

Bennett comes over to the fence and bends down to talk to her.

"I wish I had this on video," Walker says. "Left my phone in the truck though."

Gillian puts her foot on his back, pushing him off the bleachers. He stumbles and turns toward her.

"Sorry, I was stretching and didn't realize you were so close." She shrugs with a saccharine smile.

In a huff, Walker takes his trophy and leaves.

All three brothers continue to yell and point fingers while the rest of the cousins hover around the backstop, waiting for them to finish.