Made to be His ( The Archer Family 1)

He’d known it the moment he’d suggested it, and still he couldn’t bring himself to take the offer back. The whole ride to the stadium, he’d considered it. Had thought maybe he could make up an illness and get himself out of this whole mess.

The line he’d drawn between himself and Andy was so far behind him he couldn’t see it in his rearview, but he was still edging closer, like she was magnetically charged specifically for him.

And the more time he spent with her, the more he thought that might be the case.

It had been this way between them once before—easy and casual. A long, long time ago, when they’d both still been in college and he and Matt were still dreaming of making the pros. Too bad he’d been too stupid back then to see what a catch she was.

Sure, she was gorgeous now, but the more time he spent with her, the less it mattered. She could have been a troll for all he cared. He just wanted to spend time with her. Wanted to kiss her again the way he had earlier and do so much more.

Looking at her now, sliding from his truck in her bare feet, he wondered if she felt the same way. There was still a slight distance from her, and he had to wonder if it was because he wasn’t her type. Or because he’d gone too far with their kiss. Or because of his friendship with Matt.

Or because of the accident….

The thought was a constant refrain in the back of his mind, but he pushed it away. If she was upset about Matt, she wouldn’t be here.

“You brought me to the stadium?” she asked, her gaze roving over the massive building in front of her. “Is this even legal?”

“Legal is a relative term.” He smirked and ushered her toward his secret passage.

He’d figured it out a few years before, and ever since he’d come here more often than he was willing to admit. After games and when the season was over—as it was now—and the place was like a ghost town.

There was something about it that comforted him. It was more than just the usual feeling he had when he was playing. No, when the adrenaline of competition had worn off, this place still called to him. It was his place for quiet reflection.

His sanctuary.

They ducked under the last security fence until finally they were in the stands, looking high over row upon row of empty seats. He made for the worn-out circuit box and pushed, watching as each of the stadium’s massive lights flickered and then bloomed into life.

"Wow." Andy's breath caught. "This is amazing."

As if she'd forgotten he was with her, she hopped down the flights of stairs, like a child let loose at a carnival. When she reached the first concrete railing, she leaned over and shouted, "Hello."

When no echo answered her, she faced him with the most distracting pout ever created by man.

"It doesn't work like that," he called after her and made his way down the stairs.

"Can we go out on the field?" she asked, slightly breathless.

"You know, other women would have been more excited about the shopping spree."

She quirked an eyebrow and flew down the steps again until she was finally in the row above the dugout, leaning over the railing like she was seriously considering the jump.

He followed behind her again, and when he was finally beside her, she asked, "Will I mess it up if I go out there?"

"No. But let me go first." He climbed over the railing and stood on the metal roof of the dugout. He held a hand out to her to help her over, but she didn't take it. Instead, she straddled the railing in her dress and swung over the iron like she was on the monkey bars.

"You can't be trusted," he said.

She smiled in response before jumping from the roof and rolling onto the dirt below. He followed suit, though he opted to land on his feet instead of her messier technique.

"So this is what it's like?" She ran her hands over the front of her dress and it was a struggle not to watch her fingers as they curved over her breasts, down her flat stomach, and over her toned thighs. Even as he repeated over and over to himself not to watch her, he found his gaze fixed on her cleavage, on her slightly-too-short dress.

Thank God she was too busy staring at the empty stands to notice his attention. If she had so much as glanced at him, he would have been completely found out.

Swallowing hard, he nodded. "Yeah. It's pretty cool."

Finally, she directed her attention toward him again and said, “So why did you bring me here?"

"You sounded like you needed to think. This is where I do my best thinking." He strolled to the pitcher's mound and sat. From that angle, her legs went on forever. Maybe if he could convince her to stay there, feet away from him, he'd be able to get a better perspective on the situation, too. It couldn't be so bad to be with Andy. She was a grown woman. Matt would understand.