Holly sucked in a breath, painfully aware that she was probably still persona non grata around these parts. And it was then, while trying to lie low, that her cell phone buzzed. “You coming?” Gage asked in her ear.

“Um, what?”

“Get your ass down here. You have a player to kiss.”

She dropped her phone, stuffed her camera in her bag, and raced to the clubhouse, passing by several of the training staff and maintenance staff, all of whom greeted her. At the door to the clubhouse, Gage pulled her in for a hug.

Stunned, she hugged him back.

Henry smiled at her. All the guys smiled at her, some even hugging her as Gage had. Hell, Wade gave her a smacking kiss right on the lips, lingering over it until she was yanked out of his arms and into another pair that she knew like the back of her hand.

“Hands off,” Pace said over her head to Wade.

Wade grinned broadly. “Aw, that color of green looks so hot on you.”

Gage pushed Wade clear. “You two have a shower room to get to in a damn hurry.” He pretty much shoved them inside. “You know the drill.”

When the door shut, Holly leaned back against the tile wall, her heart so full she could scarcely stand it. “I think we’ve had our quota today already.”

Pace grinned as he came in close. Trapping her against the tile with a hand on either side of her face, he stepped into her. “Maybe we’re due for more than our fair share.”

“I’m game.” She was still smiling when he kissed her, but at the first touch of his lips all humor faded, replaced by a familiarity that was as natural as breathing and a heat that never failed to amaze her. She wound her arms around his neck, loving the feel of his bigger, stronger arms pulling her up against the body she planned on nibbling every single inch of later. He smelled like soap and deodorant and Ace Wrap and she inhaled him in—

“Okay, that’s all we have time for, thank you.” Gage fisted his hand in the back of Pace’s jersey, pulling him free.

“Wait,” Pace told him. “I’ve got to—”

“Later.”

And just like that, he and Pace were gone.

A little dizzy, Holly made her way back to the stands, where just before the first pitch, Sam appeared at the empty seat next to her. “Is this seat taken?”

Holly looked up at the woman she’d become such good friends with and felt her throat tighten. “Yes. By you.”

Sam sank down next to her. “I’m so sorry, Holly. I’ve given you such a hard time, and it wasn’t your fault and I’m just so . . .” Her eyes filled. “Sorry.”

Holly hugged her. “You were only protecting your team. I get that. I heard about Jeremy. Are you okay?”