He reached her, winced, and then said, “Hey, I gotta go, but I told the coach I’d try to come back sometime, maybe help with batting practice.” He took his hat off and caught her eye. He didn’t look away. He was standing very close, close enough that she could feel the heat from his body. His breath on her cheek. For the first time, she noticed the freckles on his nose, and his long eyelashes. He smelled like apples. She wanted to bite him.

The air around them was charged. “You were good with them. And Jose yesterday…” she stammered.

“They’re fun. And your Jose is a sweet kid. Just like his mama.”

Spontaneously, Angel stood on tiptoes, tilted her head, and leaned in to him, meaning to give him a kiss on the cheek. Instead, her lips met his.

She should have backed away, but, oh, the zing that went up her spine, the warmth that flooded her stomach … His lips were so full and soft, moving under hers, the taste of salt and sex coming off him. Her lips parted, wanting to take him in, and her arms went up, trying to wind around his neck and bring him close.

Next to them, a car honked.

Abruptly, he pushed her away, though gently. His gaze was intense. She couldn’t tell what fueled the burning green stare. Anger? Disgust?

Shame waved over her. I attacked him! Again! What’s wrong with me?

A black Mercedes SUV sat at the curb. The window powered down and the driver, a guy dressed in an expensive suit and a loud tie, beckoned at the man she had kissed. The stranger who had rejected her. The blush spreading across her face felt like fire.

“Yo! Let’s go!”

The man turned to Angel, a bemused grimace twisting his lips. “That’s my agent.”

“Get in the goddamn car! They’re on their way!”

He limped over to the Mercedes and slid in without glancing back. Before she could say anything, the SUV peeled out into the street, causing several cars to slam on their breaks and honk.

What just happened?

Suddenly, she was surrounded by sweaty seven-year-olds who were jumping up and down, shouting and laughing.

Jose tugged on her shirt, a huge grin on his face. “Mama! Were you just kissing the Duke?”

“Who?”

Her son’s jaw went slack with surprise and then delight. “That was the Duke!” He widened his stance and folded his arms, putting on his adult face. “It’s okay, Mama. I didn’t recognize him yesterday.”