The Game Changer (The Perfect Game 2)

Cassie dropped her sunglasses over her eyes and pulled me away from the subway exit. “Come on. ” She giggled, and I wanted to make out with her like some lovestruck teenager in the back of a movie theatre.

“I thought we were meeting at the café?” I reached down for her hand, interlocking her fingers with mine.

“Nora gave me the afternoon off. She wouldn’t take no for an answer, so I’m all yours, Carter. ”

“She probably knew I’d get lost. ”

“Probably. ” She smiled. Her lips were so tempting I wanted to suck them into my mouth and never let them go. “So how was your first subway ride?”

Shaking the visual from my mind and willing my dick to calm down, I refocused my thoughts. “Interesting. ”

“But amazing, right? I mean all the different people from so many walks of life gathered in one place together. I freaking love the train stations. ”

I shook my head with a huff. “You would. ”

“What does that mean?” She swatted my shoulder.

“It just means that you see the beauty in everything. Even the ugly, dark, disgusting subway stations. ”

“I just think they’re cool. A little scary sometimes, but still cool. ”

Cassie pointed to the red-and-white checked awning up ahead. “That’s where we’re eating. ”

“I gotta be honest, Kitten. I feel like we’re betraying Sal. ”

“No!” she whined. “We’re not, I promise. This place isn’t even Italian. It’s French. ”

I stepped ahead of her to open the restaurant door when a woman’s voice said, “Oh my God, are you Jack Carter?”

I turned to face the woman as Cassie stopped midstep.

“Oh my God, you ARE Jack Carter! I’m a big fan. You’re an amazing pitcher. Can I get a picture with you, please?”

I glanced at Cassie and saw her lips form a tight-lipped smile. So I pulled her close to me and put a polite but firm smile on my face as I told the woman, “I’m sorry, but I’m about to go eat with my girl. Some other time. ”

“Please! Just one picture? Or an autograph? Can you sign something for me then?” I watched as she buried her hands into her oversized purse, searching for God knows what.

“Please understand, I’m just trying to have some personal time right now. I’m sorry. ” I turned my back to the overzealous fan and held the door open for Cassie.

“Sorry, babe,” I said, stroking her hair.

“It’s OK. Why didn’t you just give her what she wanted?”

The hostess smiled but didn’t interrupt us. Instead she grabbed two menus and waved us toward the back of the small café as we followed her lead. “I didn’t want to. ”

I pulled Cassie’s chair out for her before sitting down across the table and removing my cap.

“Your waitress will be with you shortly,” the petite brunette said before she bounced away.

“What do you mean, you didn’t want to?” Cassie leaned forward, her hair flopping in front of her eyes as I swept it away with my fingers.

I sucked in a breath. I hadn’t told her any of this yet, this part of my master plan, but I guessed now was as good a time as ever. “I’m trying to limit my contact with them. ”

Her eyes narrowed. “You’re trying to limit your contact with whom? Your fans?”

I leaned across the table. “Just the female ones. ”

There. I admit it.