Alex stepped up to the plate, the bat firm in her hands.
Bobby gave her a quick grin from his place behind her.
Greg, the pitcher, threw the ball.
"Strike one!" Bobby called.
"Thanks for that observation," Alex told him.
"Strike two!" came after the second ball.
"I'm going to hit you with this bat in a minute."
"Just watch the ball. Keep watching the ball until it connects with the bat."
The next pitch connected and Alex was off and running.
All too soon, Bobby could see a problem. Alex was heading for home plate, where he stood. The ball was also heading for him.
Dammit.
Alex started to slide and it almost seemed as though the ball were homing in on him.
Next thing he knew, he was on his back, Alex sprawled atop him. He could feel the ball in his mitt, and he relaxed his grip, feeling it roll out.
"SAFE!"
Alex looked down at him, a smirk on her face. "Gotcha."
Bobby nodded. "You certainly did. You're a good baseball player."
Alex stared at him for a moment, then leant down to whisper in his. "You and I will talk about that later."
With that, she got up and headed back to the dugout.
Bobby took a deep breath. Why did he have the distinct feeling he was in trouble?
Game finished. Women 8 Men 7.
Bobby let the hot water run over his aches and pains in the locker room. He really shouldn't be playing baseball anymore, but he couldn't help himself.
He turned off the water and wrapped a towel around himself, heading out to find his clothes.
And then he froze.
Standing in the middle of the locker room, was Alex Eames. Staring. At him.
Her eyes widened.
His eyes widened.
"I'll uh, let you get dressed."
"Why?"
"You're half naked."
"No I'm not," Bobby replied.
She sent him a look. "You're wearing a towel."
"And if I took the towel away, then I'd be half naked, because I'm still wearing the stupid cap."
Alex narrowed her eyes. "Why ARE you still wearing the cap?"
Bobby frowned. "It's fused to my head."
She scrutinized the cap. "It's too small for you."
Bobby rolled his eyes. "That's WHY it's fused to my head."
Alex continued to stare at the cap. It was safer than looking any further down. "How about you get dressed and then I'll help you get the cap off?"
Bobby arched an eyebrow. "Are you uncomfortable?"
"No," she replied defiantly. "Just thought you might be."
He took a step towards her. "I'm not."
She put a hand up. "Don't."
"Don't what?"
"Because here we have to be Ben and Emily." Her eyes locked onto his. "And that's not how it's going to be."
"We have to go out to dinner tonight. With Greg."
"I know."
"I plan to take my time with you."
"I'd hope so."
Bobby sighed. "After dinner?"
"I'm not going anywhere." She turned around so she couldn't see him. "Now get dressed before I change my mind."
He smirked. "That's a dangerous thing to suggest."
"Getting dressed?"
"Changing your mind."
"I'm not turning around."
Bobby smirked as he got dressed.
"Hi," Greg smiled, opening the door as Bobby and Alex arrived. "Come on in."
"Thanks," Bobby said, his hand resting at the small of Alex's back.
"Claire! Ben and Emily are here!"
"Hi," Claire said, her head poking out of the kitchen. "Just getting dinner on."
"Would you like a drink?" Greg asked, showing them into the lounge room. "Beer, wine…?"
"Beer would be fine," Bobby said. He turned to Alex. "What do you feel like?"
"Wine would be nice," Alex replied.
Greg went over to the bar, getting the drinks and returning. He gestured to the couch, where Bobby and Alex took a seat.
"Great game today, Emily," Greg told her. "Great homerun."
"Thanks," Alex replied. "I couldn't have done it without Ben."
Bobby arched an eyebrow, glancing at Alex.
She smiled slightly. "He taught me all I know."
"Really? Ben left us under the impression that you didn't really ever talk about playing baseball."
Bobby choked on his beer.
Alex glanced at him for a moment, rapping him on the back with her hand. "Okay there?"
"Yeah, sorry," Bobby answered, sipping some more of his drink. "Went down the wrong way."
Alex looked back up at Greg. "He was being modest."
"And trying not to terrify you all," Bobby grinned.
"Well you did a damn good job of it," Greg replied. "So, Emily, you like your job?"
Alex nodded. "Yeah. I like the kids there. It's great working with them."
Claire came in then. "Hi, Emily. Ben. So nice to finally put faces to the names."
"Nice to meet you," Bobby said, shaking the proffered hand.
"Emily was just telling me about her job," Greg told his wife.
"It must be very rewarding," Claire told her.
"It's good," Alex replied. Her mind strayed to Emma, before Bobby's hand on her knee brought her back to the conversation at hand.
"Clara seems to have taken a special shine to you too," Greg told them. "Lucky things."
Claire rolled her eyes. "Greg!"
"Well, it's true," Greg replied. "She likes getting to know new people so she can suck them into her peculiar world, but she's never taken a shine to people like she has to you." He grinned slightly.
"Flattered?"
"Extremely," Bobby joked.
A buzzer broke the conversation, and Claire stood up. "Sounds like dinner's almost ready."
"Need some help?" Alex asked, ready to get up.
Claire shook her head. "Not at all. You guys keep on talking."
Alex was surprised at how much she enjoyed the simple dinner and talking with Claire and Greg. And at how easy it was to be Bobby's wife.
Or pretend wife.
Funny how she kept forgetting that part.
The food was wonderful. Claire was an excellent cook and Alex had almost fallen out of her chair with surprise when Claire had offered to give Alex the recipes.
And she really was starting to…fit in to Bobby's life.
It was a scary thought.
Yet a pleasing one.
"Here are those recipes, Emily," Claire said, handing over some pieces of paper. "Really easy and really quick, which makes them real useful around this house."
"I'm sure they'll come in handy at our place too," Alex assured her. "Ben and I get really busy sometimes."
"Things certainly get crazy in our house," Bobby agreed.
Alex tried not to laugh. That was the understatement of the century.
"We should probably get going," Bobby said. "We still have some unpacking to do tomorrow."
"Ah, unpacking. That's why we never move," Claire chuckled.
Greg groaned. "Unpacking is a nightmare." He stood up. "Thanks for coming tonight."
"Thanks for having us," Bobby said, shaking his hand. "Claire, beautiful meal."
"You're welcome, Ben," Claire replied. "Emily, it was lovely to see you."
"You too," Alex said. "Thanks so much for the recipes."
"Anytime. If you need anymore, just ask," Claire promised her.
"Thanks," Alex said. "Night!
TBC