Leslie Kelly - Boys Of Summer - Sliding Home / Fever Pitch / The Sweet Spot

But Janie…well, Janie had chickened out.

Because while part of her suspected Riley had been interested, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t turn her down. Even going into it with eyes wide-open, knowing it would be about nothing more than a wild, never-to-be-forgotten one-night stand, her pride could still be savaged by a casual rejection.

The second time she’d run into Riley Kelleher—a month later in Mr. Smith’s room—had convinced her to forget the whole thing. Because, that day, she’d flirted, dropped some sexy hints and laid down some serious innuendo. And the man had practically run away in terror. How totally depressing.

She was a flavor all right. Vanilla. Strictly plain, boring and unseductive. Just Janie. Just vanilla.

“I should’ve gone for a bat boy,” she muttered as she put the lid on the box, resecured it with a crusty rubber band and shoved it on a crowded shelf.

“What?” Callie asked from behind.

Janie swept a strand of her brown hair back into its ponytail. Then, knowing she couldn’t explain her reluctance to someone as strong as Callie, turned around. “Nothing.”

“It’s not nothing. I want to know why you backed down.”

She backpedaled. “Attendance is great, the team will bounce back again. It may have been a big scare for nothing. If Donovan pays back the loan to that Vegas slimeball in time, the Slammers won’t go.”

“Which means you’ll still be here painting fantasies in your head five years from now when you should have leapt on them.”

She couldn’t deny it. Because Callie was absolutely right.

“Who is he, anyway, your dream guy? Tell me that much, and I’ll help you figure out how to get him.”

Ha. Callie, with her perfect face, great figure and sexy red hair wouldn’t have to do more than wave. Janie, on the other hand…well, it would take some real effort, if not a complete makeover. “I don’t really want to say.”

“I’m here, armed with three spoons and some Riley Ripple.”

Janie couldn’t help flinching as Babe Bannister entered, carrying sinfully delicious ice cream, vanilla swirled with ripples of chocolate fudge and raspberry. This flavor, named after the Slammers star pitcher, was her new favorite.

Sometimes, she had to admit, vanilla could be very, very good. Especially when it was…rippled.

The thought made her go soft in warm contemplation. But remembering she wasn’t alone, she forced herself to straighten up. She knew she’d been unsuccessful in disguising her reaction because a second later, Callie let out a loud “Aha!”

Oh, rats.

“It’s Riley Kelleher,” Callie exclaimed.

“No, I said it’s Riley Ripple,” Babe clarified.

“Her fantasy,” Callie said over her shoulder.

“You fantasize about my ice cream? That’s great.”

Janie could only grunt.

“Her dream man,” Callie said, laughter in her eyes. “Riley Kelleher is Janie’s seduction target and I now understand why you haven’t done anything about it. Goodness, Janie, when you decide on a conquest, you do aim high. The star of the team?”

“I know, I know. He’d never even consider…”

Callie put her fingers over Janie’s mouth. “Don’t you even think that. You’re lovely and he’d be damn lucky to get you.”

Babe’s nod set her blond curls bouncing and made her curvy figure jiggle in a way that her new boyfriend probably loved.

Janie didn’t wiggle. Ever. Not if she jumped up and down. Not even if she stood on her head. Or in a wind tunnel.

She grabbed the ice cream. “Forget it,” she said as she dug in, the chocolate and raspberry creating a cacophony of sinful excitement on her tongue. Much like Riley would, she imagined.

Not happening.

“I won’t forget it,” Callie said, looking her over. “You know what? I like this idea. You might be just what Riley needs.”

“A skinny fan-girl?”

Callie pinched her. Actually grabbed her arm and pinched her with her strong fingers. “That’s enough of that.”

Rubbing her arm, Janie began to laugh. “Okay, Mama.”

“If I were your mama, you’d stop trying to hide your looks.”

Babe, digging out a big spoonful of ice cream, nodded her agreement. “She’s right, you know. You’re exactly Riley’s type.”

Janie cast a doubtful look down at her unimpressive curves. “Uh-huh.” Then she licked her spoon, unable to stop thinking of Riley. And ripples. All those yummy, muscular ripples.

“I mean it,” Babe said. “He needs a nice, normal woman with class. Brodie says Riley’s a good guy, despite his reputation and his bad press from a few years ago.”

Callie backed her up. “I’ve known him since Donovan first bought the team. Riley went through a total dog phase after his divorce. But since then, he’s just been a great guy who ignores the skanks who follow him around.”

Well, she wasn’t a skank. There was that. But she was not at all convinced the man wasn’t a player. She’d seen Riley’s magnetism up close and personal. No way could he be that good with women if he didn’t get a lot of practice with them.

“What does it matter whether I’m his type or not?” she muttered. “All I wanted from the man was a one-night stand. Hot sex. Because there’s no way on God’s green earth I’d ever let myself actually fall for someone like him.”

Callie frowned, looking almost disapproving. “I just said he’s not a bad guy, despite his past.”

“Dogs and new tricks…ever heard of them?”

“Second chances, ever heard of them?”

“Okay, forget you being his type,” Babe said, cutting them both off. “You’re right, you said all along this would be a wild fling. Just because Callie and I batted out of the ballpark and found true love doesn’t mean you have to, or even want to.”

She did. She just wasn’t fool enough to think it would be with someone like Riley Kelleher.

Babe continued, “So, you can just have a couple of amazing booty calls with the pitcher, then go on with your life.”

Janie couldn’t help laughing. “Booty calls, huh?”

Callie rolled her eyes, but also smiled. “I still say you two are a great couple. But if booty’s all you’re after…”

“It is.” Janie wouldn’t even allow herself to consider going after more. Not a woman like her. Not with a man like Riley.

She was a plain Jane. And he was a superstud.

Uh-uh. It’ll never happen.

Sighing heavily, she admitted, “I’d be lucky to get a call for a beer, much less booty. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly the gorgeous, seductive, booty type.”

Maybe once she had a man naked she was. Her few previous lovers had always seemed…pleasantly surprised by her enthusiasm. But getting a man into bed wasn’t her strong suit.

“You’re lovely,” Callie said as she reached for Janie’s ponytail holder and tugged it free, sending her long hair tumbling. She lifted it and started piling it on Janie’s head, leaving a few tendrils draping down over her shoulders. “As for seductive? Well, honey, I know all about making yourself that.”

Babe was tugging Janie’s glasses off her nose. “I know a little something about makeovers myself.” Then, without warning, they both dove for their handbags and grabbed bottles of makeup, tweezers and containers of eyeshadow. Janie could only sputter as they began to smear and spread, highlight and pluck.

Unable to do anything but sit still for fear one of her eyeballs would get poked out, she put up with it for a few minutes, then tried one more time to protest. “Guys, I can’t…”

“Yes, you can!” they both said as they each took an arm and spun her around. They were watching while she caught a glimpse of her reflection in a mirror hanging over her desk.