Some Like It Charming - By Megan Bryce Page 0,6
better hope she didn’t hear you. It’s not wise to threaten a woman’s only child.”
Mackenzie nicked the ball, fouling it out in right field.
Ethan tsked. “Mm. Too bad. That would have been good if you’d actually hit it.”
She fought to keep her laugh back but she was afraid he knew how funny he was. She said, “You just love being catcher, don’t you? Get to talk all you want and no one can shut you up.”
He squatted, holding his glove out, and she stepped back in the box. He said, “It’s one of life’s greatest pleasures.”
“It’s not going to be too much fun when I’m sliding in getting you all dusty.”
Another ball thrown in a little too high and she shook her head at the pitcher. “What, am I an amateur here?”
Ethan threw the ball back with a laugh. “I’ve only got one thing to say before you hit that homer you’re waiting for. You slide into me with your cleats up and I’ll paint your backside red.”
“I’m sure the paparazzi would love a picture of that.”
“They won’t be invited–”
Mackenzie hit the ball, felt the sweet spot, and knew it was going to be a long run for the outfielder. If there’d been a fence, it would have been over it. But she ran the bases and headed home anyway. She heard Ethan cuss when she ran across the plate. And she couldn’t help but notice that his grandmother was very excited, and his mother wasn’t.
Mackenzie grinned at Ethan. “Sorry I didn’t get the chance to slide. Maybe next time.”
“Hell.”
Ethan hit a double at his turn to bat, and when he finally made it to third base, he said, “Why am I not surprised you’re on third.”
“I guess it’s the same reason I wasn’t surprised you were catcher.”
“Each to his own strengths. I like to play with people’s minds, you like to play with people’s balls.”
She blinked and turned to stare at him. For a second he just grinned at her, and then he figured out what he’d said and tipped his head to the sky and cracked out a laugh. She glared at him and when he saw her expression, he bent double, laughing uncontrollably. All the players turned to them, most of them concerned he’d hurt himself since he was clutching his stomach and couldn’t breathe.
“Is he okay?”
“Ethan, you okay?”
Mackenzie crossed her arms. “I think he’s choking on something. Maybe his foot.”
Out of the corner of her eye she saw his mother stand up, a worried look on her face. Mackenzie looked at her and shook her head. She said loudly, “He’s fine. He just thinks he’s hilarious.”
Ethan gave a thumbs-up sign but could not stop laughing, and everyone wanted to be let in on the joke.
There was no way in hell Mackenzie was going to repeat what he’d said, but shortstop gave a little snigger, and she closed her eyes. No one was ever going to forget this game.
“Oh God, Mackenzie. I’m sorry. I meant you liked to be in on all the plays.”
His apology left a little something to be desired since he was still laughing so hard he couldn’t stand up straight. And she could hear barks of laughter round the bases and bleachers.
He glanced up at her face and bit back another howl of laughter. He stepped off the base and hugged her. His arms wrapped around her, trapping her crossed arms in front of her, and he lifted her off the ground.
He said, “Aw, honey. I’m sorry. I’ve got to start thinking before I open my mouth.”
“Put me down, you idiot.”
“Not until you accept my apology.”
“Oh, I accept it. My lawyer, however, is going to have a field day with this.”
He set her down, grinning at her. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and walked her toward the pitcher’s mound.
“I am going to kill you, Ethan.”
He kept an iron grip on her shoulders and spoke loud enough that most of the players and crowd could hear him.
The laughter stopped slowly and everyone watched with cheery faces.
“I just want to apologize to Mackenzie and everyone here. Almost everybody knows that she and I have had an ongoing battle of wits since she started working for O’Connor Capital and we like to have fun with each other. We were just razzing each other at what positions we like to play and what I meant to say was she likes to be in on all the plays, and third base is a great position because