Oh boy. His chest was smooth and warm and hard as stone, and she wanted to both touch and nibble.

And lick. Could she pretty please lick?

“Holly?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you all right?”

She could hear genuine worry in his voice. Interesting. As was her body’s reaction, which was an urge to curl in and cuddle.

Cuddle.

She never cuddled.

She was too busy to cuddle. “Yes. I’m fine.” She struggled to get up, but again he held her still.

“Give yourself a minute.” He was also irritated, which was really unfair, because she’d almost had that ball.

Okay, she hadn’t almost had that ball. “I’m really okay.”

“Good.” He leaned in very close. “Fother mucker?”

“There are kids present.” Embarrassment blocked her throat until he ran a surprisingly gently finger over her forehead. “Ouch!”

He frowned, and she said, “I’m okay.”

“Tell me what your name is and why you’re such a pest, and maybe we’ll agree that you’re okay.”

She lifted a hand to his face. “Did you know when you’re irritated, you have a very slight Southern accent? Actually, it’s more of a drawl. Texas?”

His gaze narrowed. “Your name,” he said tightly.

“Holly, and I’m just doing my job.”

“Not playing ball like that, you’re not.” But he let her slide out of his arms. “A reporter writing on the sport should be able to play it.”

She rolled her eyes, decided it was a gift that she even could, and got shakily to her feet. Ignoring the throbbing ache between her eyes, she smiled into River’s terrified gaze. The poor kid was pale, and looking like he’d just killed a puppy. “I’m okay, River, I promise.”

“I’m sorry I threw so hard. I mean, who knew I even could? And you took it right dead center, too.” Giving her an instant replay, he poked himself between the eyes. “Bull’s-eye. And then you went flying backward like you’d been shot, and hit the ground solid.”

Yeah, she remembered that part all too well. “In my research about baseball players, I’ve learned they have faster reflexes than the norm.”

“If that’s the case, I don’t think you’re a baseball player,” Chipper said solemnly.

She sighed. “I think you’re right. Well, I hope I was at least entertaining.” She rubbed her temples and wished she hadn’t been in such a hurry to get up, because her legs felt wobbly.

Pace was watching her carefully, slipping back into his shirt, which was really a shame.

“What’s my name?” he asked her.

“Hot Arrogant Baseball Stud?”

He blinked.

“Sorry. I think the hit loosened my tongue. But I’m fine,” she said quickly when she saw the boys’ horrified reaction. “Really.”

“Good, cuz it’d have sucked to kill Pace’s girlfriend,” River said with huge relief.