Only with You (The Best Mistake 1)

Needing no further encouragement, Ryan scampered down the stairs, holding his too-large cap with one hand, glove held protectively in front of him just in case a fly ball happened to find its way into his waiting mitt.

&nb

sp; “You’re still with the gym rat, right? Your assistant’s sister?”

Gray growled at the mention of Sophie. “I don’t want to talk about her.”

“Who? The girlfriend or your assistant?”

“The assistant. I specifically look forward to weekends because it’s the one area of my life that Sophie hasn’t bulldozed with her good moods and chatter. And don’t call Brynn my girlfriend. She’s just…a woman I’m seeing. Sort of.”

Barely.

He’d only spoken to her briefly since her ridiculous plan of a double date had exploded. He should definitely call her. Maybe arrange dinner for tomorrow.

Gray frowned. The idea didn’t hold as much appeal as it should.

And the hell of it was, Gray should be feeling guilty about the way the failed double date had gone. Not just because he’d sent Brynn home with another man, but because Gray hadn’t cared.

Weighing even more heavily on his conscience was the fact that sitting in companionable silence with Sophie had been a good deal more enjoyable than several of his strained silences with Brynn.

Which was ridiculous. Brynn was perfect for him. She had a respectable career, cared about her image, read the news, and paid attention to politics. She wasn’t wedding- or baby-crazy.

Didn’t have distracting curves or wear inappropriate clothes or act like she was chronically on the verge of throwing glitter at random passersby.

He realized that once again, Sophie had wedged into his thoughts.

He tried to push her back.

Maybe it was time to take things with Brynn to the next level. He’d already waited longer than average to pursue any sort of physical relationship with her. Gray kept telling himself it was because he didn’t want to rush Brynn.

He refused to consider that there were other motivations for his reluctance to sleep with Brynn.

He waited for the idea of Brynn in bed to appeal. Nothing. Not the slightest stir. He felt…bored.

“I don’t think we’re working out,” Gray muttered. Hell, it hadn’t been working out from date one, but neither one had a good reason to firmly break it off. Perhaps because they were both too damn polite.

And polite wasn’t good enough.

Ian dug a hand into a bag of peanuts. “Ashley will be disappointed. She’s been trying to marry you off forever.”

“She has?” Gray asked with genuine surprise. He’d always figured that women didn’t see him as the husband type. He either got labeled as a consummate bachelor or a love-’em-and-leave-’em prick. It wasn’t a reputation he fostered, per se, but he’d become resigned to it. He obviously lacked something that women were looking for when it came to long-term commitment.

At least that’s what Jessica had told him.

Ian’s voice jerked him back to the present. “Sure, Ash always has about a half-dozen single women in her book club alone who are dying to meet you. She’s described you as being the strong, silent type. Women love that shit.”

Gray grunted.

“So what happened? I thought you liked Brynn.”

“I do,” Gray said truthfully. “That’s the trouble. I like her. That’s it.”

Ian paused in munching his peanuts. “Sounds simple. Maybe simple’s what you need after Jessica…”

Gray remained silent as he watched the Mariners’ third baseman hit into a double play. “It’s kind of boring,” he said finally.

“No offense, but ‘boring’ is kind of your thing these days. I thought you liked things predictable.”