Unguarded by Tracy Wolff Page A

of both, she thought wryly, even as she wondered when the disappointment would outweigh the relief. Wondered if it ever would.
    â€œCome on. I have one more place to take you tonight.”
    She started to ask him where they were going, then decided against it. Let him keep his surprise—the last one had been more than worth waiting for.
    But when they stopped in front of a huge sports complex, she glanced at him, puzzled. “We’re going to watch a kid’s baseball game?”
    â€œNope. No game tonight.” But he went through the front gate anyway.
    â€œWell, if there’s no game, then what are we doing here?”
    â€œWe’re going to hit a few.”
    â€œHit a few what?” she asked blankly.
    â€œBalls.” His wicked grin was back, the one he’d used to convince her to plan his party and check out his house and go on this date with him. “We’re going to have a go at the batting cage.”
    Of course they were. Because, really, where else would Shawn Emerson finish up a date but at a kid’s athletic complex? And how odd was it that she was actually excited by the prospect?
    â€œCome on. You can pick out a bat while I get us a cage.”
    â€œYou make it sound like we’re at the zoo.”
    â€œThat description isn’t as far off as you might think, especially on Saturday mornings.”
    â€œReally? You spend enough time here to know that, hmm?”
    â€œI coach a kids’ baseball team. Our games are here on Saturday mornings, so I do spend more than my fair share of time here.” He winked, then headed off to the cashier’s booth at the front of the park.
    She watched him go, bemused. Though she’d figured out that he was a big kid at heart, she never would have pictured Shawn as the type to donate his time to a kids’ baseball league. Yet, the more that she thought about it, the less it surprised her. His gentle, generous treatment of her had already convinced her he was a stand-up guy.
    She walked over to the bats and ran her hands over a few as she waited for him to come back. The sad fact was she wasn’t overly skilled at softball, never had been—even in school. Which meant that she had no idea what she was testing the bats for. Though some felt heavier than others, she didn’t have a clue which one would work for her.
    When Shawn returned a couple of minutes later, she had picked out a shiny blue-and-silver bat. “Is that the one you like the feel of?” he asked curiously.
    â€œI don’t know. I picked it because it was pretty.”
    â€œNot a big baseball fan?”
    â€œI don’t mind watching it, but I think I was fourteen and in Freshman P.E. the last time I held a bat. I can’t say I’ve missed it.”
    Shawn picked up a few bats, wrapped his hands around their bases and held them up as if he was actually going to hit a ball with them. “So, that’s what you meant by testing them?” she asked.
    â€œYeah. What did you think I meant?”
    She shrugged. “I didn’t have a clue.”
    â€œWe’re going to change all that.” He held a bat out to her. “Here, try this one.”
    â€œIt’s not as pretty as the one I chose.”
    â€œTrue, but the one you picked is meant for a ten-year-old kid. You’re a little too tall for it.”
    â€œOh.”
    â€œYeah. Now, come on. I promise to go easy on you.”
    â€œI’ve heard that before.”
    â€œNo doubt.”
    But as Shawn led her to a nearby batting cage and cued up the ball machine, Rhiannon found herself looking forward to taking a turn at bat. While softball had never been her sport, she’d spent most of her life swimming and playing tennis. She hadn’t done either in the past couple of years—hadn’t done much of anything to be completely honest—and for the first time, she found herself missing the thrill of physical activity. There was