Claimed by Love (Love in Bloom: The Ryders, Book 2): Duke Ryder Page 13

He spun her in his arms and his eyes rolled over her face, lingering on her lips so long she nearly took him in a kiss. “You mean the rosy flush on your skin?” He dropped his eyes. “Or the way your nipples are crying out for my mouth on them?”

  She moaned, despite herself, and when he stepped even closer, she held her breath. She was that close to giving in. One whiff of him could shatter her resolve.

  “Yeah, I see it,” he whispered. “And I like it. A whole hell of a lot.” He lifted her chin, forcing her to look into his serious eyes. “You’re fighting the inevitable, baby. We’re meant to be together. I feel it in my bones, and trust me, at closer to forty than thirty, I know the difference between infatuation and this.”

  “This…” She was tumbling like Jill, right down that big old hill. Bump, bump, bump!

  “We don’t have to name it, and you can try to fight it, but I won’t let you walk away from us, Gabriella.”

  “I don’t want to walk away from us. Just put us on hiatus.”

  He laughed, a wholehearted belly laugh. “Seriously? You think I can stay away from you? I’m so drunk on you, kardia mou, I hear your voice when you’re not even there.”

  Ohmygod. “Wh-what did you just say?”

  “I hear your voice—”

  “No, the other part.”

  “I’m so drunk—”

  “Duke!” She pressed her hand to his chest, reveling in the mischievous twinkle in his eyes. She went up on her toes, aching to be closer. “You called me ‘your heart’ in Greek.”

  “I might have studied up a little last night.”

  “Duke.” His name came out drenched in emotions.

  “I’m all in, Gabriella. There are risks for me, too, but I want this. I want you.”

  She couldn’t say a word, because she wanted to be all in, too. He leaned in for a kiss, and with his hand on her back, they continued walking toward the school.

  “I have a date with David, but I’m glad you came by to tell me your plans. While you’re creating space between us, I’m going to just carry on with my life, okay?”

  Her stomach sank. “What does that mean?” He was letting her go after all? Suddenly her idea seemed very, very bad.

  “It means you do what you have to, and I’ll do what I have to. I don’t play games, baby. You’ll learn that about me. Not that I think you’re playing a game. You’re just confused. Underestimating what you’re capable of.”

  “No, I’m not confused.” Okay, maybe that wasn’t completely true. She was confused by the incredible rush of feelings she had for him, but not about what she was capable of handling. “I know what you do to me, and I know I need a clear head so that when you come to my grandfather with your plans for the island, I can help steer you back in the right direction.”

  He stopped walking again. “Excuse me?”

  She thought about the responsibility her grandfather had entrusted in her and the sense of power she’d felt after talking with him. She needed to hold on to that resolve.

  “That’s right.” She clenched her teeth to keep them from chattering. “And if you’re too far off the mark, then we’ll just have to find another investor.”

  His eyes turned serious. “You don’t need to threaten me, baby. I don’t break promises.”

  Apparently unwavering confidence had a name, and it was Duke Ryder. And she’d never seen anything so hot.

  He placed his hand on her back and said, “I’ll never underestimate you, baby. I have as much faith in you as I have in myself,” before walking right past her and into the schoolyard.

  She wanted to tell him she hadn’t meant it, that she hoped it would never come to that, but she’d created this fissure for a reason. She needed it, even if he didn’t.

  Chapter Sixteen

  THE WHITE CLAPBOARD schoolhouse was tinged with dirt, the siding cracked but holding strong. The stone foundation looked newly repointed, and the roof had patches marking recent repairs. Duke imagined that at one time the schoolhouse had been the pride of the community, the gathering place for kids and families. He tried to imagine Gabriella as a young girl, and he wished he’d known her then. Wished they’d grown up together so he would have been there for her when she left the island. He turned to ask her about what it had been like, but she was too far away, still standing by the edge of the path.

  He tried to make sense of what she’d said. Obviously she knew herself better than he did, but did she really, if she didn’t think she could handle separating their relationship from the investment process? He knew from her reputation as an attorney she was capable of handling anything she put her mind to. He didn’t expect their relationship to be easy, especially once they got to the actual proposal negotiation, and he didn’t want to force himself on her, but he wasn’t about to let the best thing that had ever happened to him walk away. He’d just have to try harder to help her see that she could do this.

  With that decided, he spotted David leaning against the far side of the building, and just beyond, a group of kids huddled together. David was a handsome kid, with big brown eyes and thick dark hair, but like most prepubescent boys, he was all knees and elbows in his T-shirt and shorts. Duke had always had a soft spot for the underdogs.

  “Hey there, buddy,” he said as he came to David’s side. “How’s it going?”

  David shrugged. “A’right, I guess.”

  “You ready to toss a few balls?” He leaned down to grab the bat, glove, and ball lying on the ground.

  David eyed the group of kids, who weren’t paying any attention to them.

  Duke motioned toward the other side of the field. “Come on. Let’s go show them what we’ve got.”

  “Not much to see,” David said as they crossed the field.

  Duke glanced over his shoulder, searching for Gabriella, and found her sitting by the back of the school, watching them. She met his gaze, then looked away. His gut fisted, but he was there to help David, and he couldn’t let his emotions get in the way of that.

  “Okay, big guy,” Duke said. “What position do you play?”

  “Outfield.”

  “Outfield. Cool. The first thing you need to know—and this is a life lesson, so listen closely…Rule number one of any sport is to be confident. Act like you do things well, and everyone else will think you do. If everyone believes you’re good, that’s half the battle. The other half is making it real.”

  “Yeah, right. I’m not a kid,” he said with all the arrogance a thirteen-year-old could muster. “I know making it real isn’t going to happen.”

  “First, you are a kid, a very bright and capable kid. Second, it’s the truth, so smile and tell me you’ll try it.”

  “Fine. I’ll try it.”

  He wasn’t giving in on the smile, but Duke let that slide. “Good. Now let’s throw this ball around and see if we can teach you to catch.”

  David’s eyes shifted to the other kids again.

  Duke touched his shoulder to get his attention. “Eyes on me. Concentration is key to doing well in any sport.” He waited for David to put on his glove. Then he put some distance between them and called out, “Ready?”

  David looked at the other kids again.

  “David, focus, buddy. Pretend they don’t exist.” He waited until he had David’s full attention; then he threw the ball to him.

  David held his mitt out. The ball plunked off the edge of it and fell to the ground by his feet.

  “That’s okay. Toss it back here.”

  David threw the ball hard. It hit Duke’s mittless hands so hard it stung. “Wow, you’ve got a good arm.”

  He shrugged one shoulder. “I guess.”

  Duke tossed him the ball again, and it landed in his mitt, then rolled out. “David, when the ball hits your mitt, close your fingers around it. Watch.” He closed the distance between them and set the ball in David’s mitt. “Close your hand.” David did, trapping the ball. Duke turned his mitt upside down, and the ball remained in David’s glove. “See? Anticip
ate the catch. Then the second it hits, you close the mitt.”

  “I told you I suck.”

  “First of all, you’re breaking rule number one. What is rule number one?” He stole a glance at Gabriella, glad to see she was watching them again. She looked so beautiful with the afternoon sun shining down on her. He wished he could run over and try to smooth things out between them.

  “Act confident.”

  David’s voice brought Duke back to their conversation. “Right, and do you know what comes next? Rule number two?”

  David shrugged.

  “Believe rule number one. Rule number three?” Duke said. “Do everything within your power to make it happen. Got it?”

  David laughed. “Got it.”

  Duke walked back to the mound and tossed the ball again. David caught it, and he threw it so hard that Duke cursed under his breath.

  “Hey, buddy? Has anyone ever asked you about pitching instead of playing the field?”

  “If I can’t catch, how can I pitch?” David shifted his eyes to the other kids again.

  “You’re kidding, right? Plenty of pitchers can’t catch very well. Your arm is on fire. Give me your glove.” Duke slid David’s glove onto his hand and handed the ball to David. “I want you to pitch this to me as hard and as fast as you can.”

  David walked out to the pitcher’s mound and Duke crouched at home plate.

  “Whenever you’re ready, buddy.” He could feel the heat of Gabriella’s gaze, and as he shifted his eyes for a quick look, David burned a perfect fastball right over home plate.

  “Damn, kid. You sure you’re only thirteen?” Duke threw the ball back and tried to catch Gabriella’s eye, but she seemed to look away every time he looked over. It took all his focus not to take a few minutes from David to try to talk to her, but he didn’t want to do that to David when he was just beginning to gain confidence.

  They practiced for another half hour. The kids who were talking by the school had moved in closer and were watching them.

  “Have you ever thrown a curveball?” Duke asked as he approached the mound.

  “No. I barely ever get to touch the ball.”

  “It’s time for that to change. Your hands were made for pitching, and there are very few people in the world who can say that. The curveball is all about the topspin and the grip. With those incredible hands, you’re going to kick some batter butt.”

  David smiled, and it warmed Duke’s heart.

  “The grip is fairly simple. See the stitching on the side of the ball? You hold the ball so the U shape is facing you, upside down, like this.” He gripped the ball between his thumb and first two fingers. “Here, you try it.”

  David took the ball, turned it, and gripped it exactly as Duke had shown him.

  “Good, how does it feel?”

  “Good. Like a baseball.” David laughed.

  “Cocky, aren’t you?” Duke teased. “That’s good, actually. Keep it up. Now, the goal is for the ball to curve as it reaches the plate. To do that, you need to put topspin on the ball. Topspin generates wind resistance with the laces and causes the pitch to drop. Once you master this, you can learn the slider. We’re going to make you your team’s secret weapon.”

  “Cool,” David said with another wide smile. “That would be awesome.”

  “Believe it?” Duke asked.

  He nodded.

  Duke held his hand up for a high five, and David returned it with a strong slap.

  “Good, then let’s make it happen. You already know how to throw a fastball. With a curveball, you’re going to throw it just like a fastball to here.” He went through the motions of throwing a fastball and stopped when his elbow and arm formed an L, his arm perpendicular to the ground. “Then you turn your hand inward.”

  David mimicked the motion perfectly. “Like that?”

  “Dude, you’ve got this.” Duke patted his shoulder. “But there are a few key elements to keep in your head at all times. Your middle finger is the key to this grip. You’ve got to find the place where the seam provides the most resistance against your middle finger.”

  “I can do that.” David’s eyes turned serious as he gripped the ball.

  “And you know how I said your big hands were ideal for pitching? Well, the other key is that you keep the ball from resting on your palm. Most guys can’t do that. Their fingers are too short.” Duke stole another glance at Gabriella. He waved, and the half wave she gave back pierced his heart.

  David held up his hand, a smile spreading across his lips as he showed Duke the gap between his palm and the ball. “Dude, I’ve got this.”

  “You sure do, buddy. Remember, when you release, it’s not like releasing a fastball. You’re pulling down the front of the ball, trying to increase the rate of rotation and create as strong of a spin as you can.”

  “Like this?” David practiced the motion a few times.

  Duke explained the proper angle of his elbow and arm at release, the hook of the wrist, the path of the ball and how it differs from that of a fastball, and finally, he explained how David’s stride could affect the pitch.

  He watched David practice the motion until he felt comfortable, and then David practiced pitching. He was a natural. After half a dozen tries, nearly every ball curved perfectly.

  “This is awesome. Can we practice until dark?” David’s increased confidence showed in his consistent eye contact, the excited inflection of his voice, and the way he stood up tall, owning his lanky body with pride.

  The other kids were watching with interest, moving in closer. One of the boys, a blond-haired, serious-eyed kid who looked to be around David’s age, crossed the field toward Duke and called out, “Hey, can you show me that?”

  Duke didn’t want to take any time or attention away from David, but he had an idea of how to help David even more.

  “Actually, I can’t hang out too much longer, but David here is a pro. I’d bet he can show you a thing or two, if he wants to.”

  The other kid turned hopeful eyes to David. “Would you mind?”

  Duke took a step back, giving David space to take control, hoping like hell that his newfound confidence would remain.

  “Sure,” David said with a hint of nervousness.

  Duke caught his eye and lifted his chin in a way that he knew David would translate to, You’ve got this.

  David stood up a little taller and said, “We’re throwing curveballs. Let me see your hands.”

  Two more boys joined them, holding up their hands to show David, too. David was smiling now, looking the others in the eyes. Duke listened to the smart boy tutor the others on what he’d just learned. Positively elated, he turned to share the moment with Gabriella—but she was gone.

  Chapter Seventeen

  GABRIELLA SAT ON the front porch of her villa reviewing the file for the McGrady case. The evening breeze carried the sweet scent of the flowers Duke had left for her. They were proving to be just as much of a distraction to her as Duke was. Watching the way Duke connected with David, with the perfect blend of confidence and care, had been too hard. She’d felt herself getting even more swoony over him, and she’d come home to take her mind off of him. But when she’d found the flowers on the porch, she’d stumbled over those emotions again.

  She’d made arrangements to go back home to New York tomorrow. With the McGrady case looming, she needed to be on top of her game. At least that’s what she’d told herself when she’d made the arrangements. If she stayed on the island with Duke, she’d never be able to resist him. She didn’t want to resist him. But eventually that proposal that was hanging in the wind would come to fruition, and she didn’t want to ever look at Duke and see the man who ruined the place she loved. It was better to table their relationship until that was over, wasn’t it?

  Her heart squeezed with the thought. She definitely needed space, and a few hundred miles should do the trick.

  She picked up the note Duke had left with the flowers and read it for the millio
nth time.

  Don’t overthink us. Good things are going to happen. Can’t wait to hold you in my arms again. Xo, Duke.

  Even his handwriting was neat and commanding, like him. She traced his name with her finger, then did the same with the phone number he’d written below. She went inside to retrieve her cell phone and add his number to her contacts. At some point, the island negotiation would be over and maybe then they could spend more time together. If it went well. His promise came reeling back to her. I will do my best to make this island a place where you would not only be proud to live, but that you will feel just as passionate about as you do now.

  “Hey, baby.”

  She lifted her eyes and her insides went soft at the sight of Duke on the other side of the screen door. He was there, even after she’d told him she needed space. She should probably be irritated, but it had the opposite effect on her. His dark eyes grazed over her, warming her like a caress. His voice was husky and low. She wished she could memorize his voice and play it over and over in the time between now and when the island transaction was done.

  “May I come in?” he asked.

  “Yes, of course.” She set down her phone and the note and went to him as he opened the door. “Thank you for the lovely flowers. They were so unexpected.”

  “Just like you,” he said as he leaned down to kiss her cheek. “You missed David’s big finish.”

  She didn’t resist when he touched his fingertips to hers. She wanted that connection. It calmed her anxiety over how cold she’d been to him earlier, threatening to bring in another investor. Oh, how she’d hated to say it, but she’d needed the barrier. The barrier he was apparently choosing to ignore.

  “How did he do?” she asked.

  “His catching needs work, but he’ll get it. He’s a really bright kid. Turns out he’s also a talented pitcher. Picked up on curveballs right away.” He cupped her cheek. “But I didn’t come here to talk about David. He was teaching the other kids to throw when I left a while ago.”

  His eyes roamed over her face as she tried to picture the nervous boy teaching other kids to do anything.