Read Online Love Bats Last (The Heart of the Game) by Pamela Aares - Free Book Online

in front of them.
    Bev smiled at Gage, then tracked her gaze to Alex. “I like the cake you brought too,” she teased.
    “The protocol brush-up session is next week.” Gage grinned. “Jackie’s got a ten-hour slide show and it’s all text.”
    “ Twelve hours now, smart-ass, and you’re giving it,” Jackie parried.
    Alex laughed as he sat down at the head of the table. Jackie slid her gaze away, but not before seeing the sparkle of amusement lighting his eyes. When she realized she’d absent-mindedly twisted a strand of hair around her fingers, she undid it and helped herself to a slice of cheesecake. She eased a bite onto her fork, studying it carefully and concentrating so she wouldn’t meet his gaze.
    But as she savored the silky sweet texture, she looked up. It was a mistake. The man had a gaze that could charm a cobra. The slow smile that curved into his lips and lit those snake-charming eyes made her dart her focus back to her fork.
    “I think we need more cheesecake,” Bev said, twinkling a challenging glint at Jackie as she stood.
    “A woman after my own heart,” Gage said, following Bev across the room.
    “Gage told me about Scrappy,” Alex said as he slipped into the seat vacated by Bev. “I’m sorry. It must’ve been hard for you.”
    She shifted a few inches to the side and away from him. Bodies had electromagnetic charges that stretched out about ten feet; she’d written a paper about the effect. Right now his charge was entirely too strong and it was messing with her brain. She slid another inch away.
    “Part of the job.” She’d tried for a matter-of-fact tone, but her eyes teared up. She couldn’t believe it. The guy said one nice thing and she went teary-eyed? She glanced down at her lap.
    He nudged her. She lifted her head and took the tissue he held.
    “Must be the cheesecake,” she said.
    “Might be the stress,” he said.
    He reached into the pocket of his jeans and handed her another tissue. She felt the heat of his hand as he passed it to her and the light brush of his fingers against hers. She registered everything about him—his scent, the crinkles at the corners of his eyes, his laser-like focus. The one currently aimed at her.
    And his concern.
    She was losing her mind.
    “Do you walk around with these sorts of things?” she said, waving the tissues. “I mean as part of some Galahad rescue kit or something?”
    “You’re welcome. And no, rescuing creatures in distress is your department.”
    He smiled then, and it was all she could do to keep from tearing up once again. She was definitely, definitely losing it.
    “Gage told me you went out to the Farallons. I’ve always wanted to go out there.”
    “Did he tell you that I upchucked for four straight hours?”
    “Five.”
    She managed a smile, even though her stomach did a little flip as their eyes met. “That’s why we don’t let him do PR.”
    That she’d cried in front of him was bad enough; she could well do without the jitters that being near him sent skittering through her, jitters that in the face of his charm and ease told her that the energy crackling between them was likely more routine for him than it was for her.
    “I have hit the mother lode,” Gage said as he dropped into the seat beside Jackie with a plate piled with lasagna, tacos and spaghetti. Nestled next to the lasagna were two pieces of rather lopsided cheesecake. “Want another one?”
    Gage looked into her eyes, then flushed and shot a questioning glance to Alex. Gage had never seen her cry. No one at the Center had.
    “There’s um...” Gage fidgeted with his plate. “Well, there’s blueberry and chocolate chip. Thought you’d like the chocolate chip.” He reached over and pushed one of the wobbly slices onto her plate.
    Bev returned with her own loaded plate, and Jackie was grateful when the attention turned away from her. Alex rose from his seat and held a chair for Bev.
    “No,” Gage said. “Do not do that.” He gave