Playing the Field: A Diamonds and Dugouts Novel Read Online Free Page A

“Magic.”
    She gave him a face and he outright laughed. “I don’t believe in magic.”
    Now that was really just too bad. Everybody needed a little magic in their lives. “Here, Charlie. Why don’t you take my hat for a second?” He took off his cap and handed it to the kid.
    Thoroughly engrossed in the trick, the boy grabbed it eagerly and asked, “Where’d the ball go?” He’d been scanning the ground like he was hunting for Easter eggs.
    Sonny stepped up beside him and added, “The real question is if you can bring it back.” The skepticism in her tone implied she didn’t think he could.
    How wrong she was. “Thanks for holding my hat, kid. I’ll take it back now.”
    Charlie handed it back and JP made a display of putting it on his head. “Ouch. Man, what is that?” Faking confusion, JP pulled off his hat and turned it over, inside facing up. And right there in the center of his cap was the ball, snowy white in the afternoon sun.
    The boy practically shoved his face into the ball cap. “Holy cow! How did you do that?”
    One of the guys from the Post piped up nearby, scribbling furiously on a tiny notepad. “Hey, Trudeau. Want to introduce us to your friends?” He glanced up from the pad and adjusted his eyeglasses. “You know, for the byline.”
    JP flashed his best grin. “Sure. This here is Charlie Miller, shortstop for . . .” He trailed off and glanced down at the kid in question. “What’s your team’s name?”
    Charlie puffed out his chest and stood as tall as he could. To the reporter he boasted, “I play for the Longmont Hawks.”
    Sonny spoke up, her voice soft and kind of tense. “Is this just your normal? I mean, all these photographers and stuff?”
    Glancing down, he noted she looked tense too. He was so used to being in the public eye that he forgot how uncomfortable it could be to some. “Yeah, it’s pretty much just part of life. You get used to it.”
    She looked up at him and her gorgeous eyes shuttered. “I couldn’t do it.” He opened his mouth to respond when a thump thump on a microphone turned his attention toward the low stage. The event coordinator was almost ready to give her speech. That was his cue to get moving.
    “Hey, I have to go. But it was great meeting you, Charlie.”
    His gaze slid to Sonny. A lazy smile curved his lips. “It’s been a real pleasure.”
    He watched color bloom in her cheeks and couldn’t stop the heat that started to coil in his belly. Didn’t particularly want to, if truth be told. He’d never dated a single mom before, but then again he’d never encountered one like her either. It was more than just her looks and the fact that he was seriously attracted to her.
    She had something.
    And he had the rest of the event to figure out what he wanted to do about it. Because she had a kid and if, deep down, he was just after a piece of ass, then he’d have to find it somewhere else. Unlike Drake, he couldn’t mess with that just to get naked with a woman. Guess he was old-fashioned that way.
    Turning to leave, JP stopped when a slender hand touched his arm. He felt the zing of connection clear down to his toes. It was like a thread of electricity snaking a path through his body.
    Beautiful blue eyes were waiting for him when he looked up, sparkling and a little cautious. “Thank you for taking the time with Charlie. It means the world to him.”
    Just to test the waters, JP placed a hand on top of hers and squeezed a little. He let it linger before he slowly slid it away. Then he leaned in close. His gaze slid down to her kiss-me mouth and held. He felt his arousal grow with every passing heartbeat.
    JP let it show. Let his interest be clear as day. And he saw the moment it registered with her, because her eyes went wide and unfocused.
    That’s what he thought. “Any time.”

 
    Chapter Three
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    “I STILL CAN’T believe I won the raffle, Mom. It’s so awesome!” Charlie yelled from his bedroom across the