Read Online Hector (Season One: The Ninth Inning #3) by Lindsay Paige, Mary Smith - Free Book Online Page A

baseball. Before I can reply, we’re called to our table. We’re seated with Lanny and Minnie on one side and Zoey and I on the other. The waitress takes our drink orders before disappearing to fix them.
    “Hector, how are you enjoying Memphis?” Minnie asks, wasting no time.
    I glance at Zoey and smile. She has definitely made me love Memphis more. “So far, so good. Some of the people could be a little less stubborn, but over all, I’ve been liking my time here.”
    “Aw, that’s so sweet.” Lanny puts her hand over her heart. “You’re adorable; I think we’ll keep you.”
    “Oh my God, really?” Zoey says, shaking her head. “He isn’t a stray dog.” She faces me and what she says next makes Minnie laugh. “Sorry, she’s the emotional one.”
    “I don’t mind if she thinks I’m adorable and wants to keep me around. At least she knew it right away.” I give her a pointed look before turning my attention back to her aunts. “Did Zoey tell you how we met?”
    “Well, she gave us a vague overview, so you can go ahead and tell us the truth,” Minnie answers.
    “A few teammates and I went to the bar one night. Being the beautiful woman that she is, I tried to flirt. She wouldn’t give me the time of day. So, I kept coming in as often as I could, for two months, and I kept asking her out or asking for her name. After being a little sneaky, I was able to find out her name, and eventually I got her number.”
    “Zoey,” Lanny hisses. “It took you two months to tell him your name. How come?”
    “I...well...I didn’t know him that well. I don’t just blurt out my personal information,” Zoey explains with a lie.
    “He asked for your name, not your social security number.” Lanny rolls her eyes and faces me. “I swear I taught her manners.”
    The waitress comes for our order, so we place it before I can mention Zoey’s lie.
    “You blurted out your name when that girl asked you,” I point out. “You just didn’t tell your personal information to me . I’m sure y’all taught her better. I think she wanted to see how long I’d keep coming in before I gave up. Unfortunately for her, she didn’t realize that wasn’t an option.”
    “Oh, that’s the sweetest thing ever,” Aunt Lanny coos. “I’m keeping you and you must come to dinner at our house.”
    “He needs to come to the gallery and see the charcoal,” Minnie speaks up.
    “Shhh!” Zoey hisses, her face suddenly red.
    “The charcoal? Is that the one you did while you were talking to me?” I ask.
    “I’m never bringing any friends around you two ever again.” Zoey eyes her aunts. “The charcoal is horrible. Aunt Minnie is half blind and thinks it’s good.”
    “Hey, I’m not blind. It’s stunning, Hector. Do you want to see it? I have a picture of it on my phone. I’ve been showing everyone.”
    Zoey gasps, her eyes widening with fear. It’s then I realize she’s most likely saying her work is bad because she’s terrified of what others will think of it. “You have?”
    Minnie ignores her. “Hector, would you like to see it? You are the muse.”
    As if that means I should automatically have permission to view it. I must admit that I love seeing her flustered like this. And after seeing the artwork in her home, I’m dying to see what she did when she was on the phone with me. I glance at Zoey as the waitress drops off our food because I don’t want to say yes if she truly doesn’t want me to see it. “Do you mind if I see it?”
    “I’m sure she’s shown all of Memphis. Go ahead.” Zoey shrugs, but it’s a forced action. She’s extremely nervous.
    “Here.” Minnie hands me the phone.
    “Wow,” I breathe once I see it. How can she seriously think it sucks? I study and admire it some more before lifting my awed gaze to Zoey. “You should mindlessly doodle all the time if this is the result. She’s right; it’s stunning. Even more so in person, I bet.”
    “Hector, are you in town Thursday?”