“What? No.” She smiled again and shook her head. “I understand what you did, showing the guys your acceptance of me, and I appreciate it. But I don’t want you to feel obligated—”
“Okay, whoa.” He shook his head. “Damn, you think too much. That wasn’t obligation, Holly.”
“It wasn’t?”
“No.” He stepped closer. “It’s nearly two in the morning, and I realize you’re probably exhausted, but let me give you a ride.”
“Honestly, Pace. You don’t owe me anything, okay? I don’t need a pity friendship from you.”
He slipped his hands in his pocket and came up with his keys, which he dangled in her face. “How about a pity drive?”
She snatched the keys so fast his head spun. With a grin, he followed her to his car and got into the passenger seat, enjoying the flash of leg as she took the wheel.
“I want you to know, I’m not usually so easy,” she said as she whipped them out of the parking lot in an impressive exhibition.
He gripped the dash. “Furthest thing from my mind.”
She slid him a look, but he kept a straight face as she drove. At her condo, she turned off the engine, grabbed her purse, and turned to him, an inscrutable look on her usually wide-open face. “Thanks for the ride. Thanks for being there when I needed you tonight.”
Then she was gone so damn fast that he barely caught her at her front door, putting a hand on her waist as she fumbled with her purse. “I wasn’t always there when you needed me,” he said quietly. “But I’d like to be there for you now.”
“Thank you. But I don’t need anything at the moment.”
“Nothing?”
Her gaze dropped to his mouth and gave him a rush, but then she moved inside. He followed her, looking around as she flipped on the lights. “Interesting.”
“What?”
“I just realized. You said I was all baseball, but you know what? I don’t see evidence of a full life here in your place either.”
“Yeah.” She looked around. “I realized that, too.” She gestured to the kitchen table, to the plant there, and a picture of them nearly two months ago now. He looked at the smile on her face and knew he wanted to see her look that happy again.
“I’m making some changes,” she said with a lift of her shoulder. “Making a few moves.”
“Ah.” He nodded. “Me, too.” Slowly he tugged her in, loving the way her breath caught. He skimmed a hand up her back, nudging her closer, and—
And his phone beeped. “Ignore it,” he whispered against her lips. “Whoever it is can take a flying leap.”
She put a hand on his chest. “It’s two in the morning. It’s got to be important.”
True. Dammit. Still holding her close, he pulled out his cell, only to have his gut tighten as he answered. “Chipper?”
“Come to the park, Pace,” the boy said, sounding harried. “Quick!”
“Are you all right?”
“No. Hurry!”
When the kid hung up, Pace immediately turned to the door. “Something’s wrong. He’s at the park. Come on.”
They got to the park in seven minutes flat, and as they got out of the car, Pace saw the three shadows standing at the park’s entrance, which was blocked off by a chain-link fence.
“It’s locked,” the tallest shadow said in disbelief. It was Chipper.
The other two shadows—River and Danny—nodded glumly.
On top of that, the For Sale sign had been nailed back up, and there was a new sign that read, Stay Off, Private Property.
“Can you believe it?” Chipper kicked the dirt in a perfect imitation of Pace on the mound. “Now we’ll have to give up playing. And we were getting good, too.”
Pace took in the three dejected kids. “No one’s giving up playing. What the hell are you doing here this late?”
“It’s too hot to sleep,” River said.
“So open a window. Do not sneak out, ever,” Pace told them. “It’s not safe. As for the rest . . .” He looked at the new sign. “I’ll fix this. Somehow.”
“How?”
“I’ll figure it out. Come on, I’ll take you all home.”
He and Holly loaded the three kids into the back of the Mustang, and Pace eyed them in the rearview mirror. “Who’s first?”
The guys looked at each other guiltily.
“What?” Pace said, twisting around to face them. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“My mom thinks I’m at his house.” River pointed to Chipper.
“And my mom thinks I’m at his house.” Chipper pointed to Danny.
“We can’t go back this late,” Danny said. “We’ll get busted.”
“Well, prepare to get busted.” Pace turned to the woman he’d hoped to have in his bed tonight. “Holly—”
“I know,” she said, her lips curved in understanding. “You have to take them to your house.”
The gang erupted with cheers.
“Yeah.” He blew out a breath. “Except . . . I’m going to need you to come, too.”
She arched a brow.
“For propriety’s sake. I—”
“I understand,” she said. “Public image and all. I’ll stay, Pace.”
“A sleepover at Pace’s!” Chipper said, and grinned. “Fun.”