Sliding Home (36 page)

In truth, the tattoo had a
more significant meaning, one shared only with his wife. Sex with Dayne was
like sliding home forever. She was his rush and emotion. His peace and clarity.
His grace and greatest pleasure.

She totally did it for him.

He reached into the cooler,
popped a cold one. “We should add an indoor pool to the architectural plans.”

Dayne slid her sunglasses
down her nose, met his gaze. “You've made a dozen changes already.”

He shrugged. “What's one
more? I liked your ideas of a pantry, an arch between the living room and den,
and the addition of four children's bedrooms.”

“Think we can handle four
kids?”

“Could they be any worse
than Ruckus?” Ruckus had bobbed over to Cimarron and now licked the big dog's
face. “He can be sweet.”

“Tell that to Psycho.”

Dayne chuckled. “The
wedding photo of Ruckus attacking Psycho's wingtip is my favorite.”

Kason had to agree. He
could still see Psycho's pained expression as his best man tried to detach
Ruckus from the heel of his formal dress shoe during the wedding ceremony.

Ruckus had yelped, fought,
clenched his teeth on the leather. Psycho had picked up the min-pin and handed
him to Kason for disciplinary action during the ring exchange.

Kason had settled the pup
in the crook of his arm and Ruckus had quieted. He'd only wanted attention.

Gayle de Milo had designed
Dayne's ring. The one-of-a-kind princess-cut chocolate diamond set amid a
circlet of pink diamond chips was as unique and beautiful as his bride.

Dayne and he had kept the
wedding casual. She'd worn a white sundress and he'd gone with a
black-and-white striped shirt and black slacks.

They'd invited Rhaden, and
Psycho had brought his wife, Keely. The Dixons had shown up for the outdoor
reception, as had his teammates. The celebration had gone long into the night.
Rogues knew how to party.

Now, as their afternoon
progressed, Kason poured coconut lotion onto his palm, oiled his wife's inner
thighs.
 
“Any regrets about getting
married in the woods?” he asked.

“Psycho asked if our
children would be raised by wolves.”

Kason actually smiled. He
and Psycho had agreed to disagree. Risk Kincaid had a more serious injury than
originally diagnosed and he wouldn't return for the season. That left them
cocaptains through the playoffs and a possible World Series.

With Risk on the disabled
list, Alex Boxer remained in center. Boxer had slowly come into his own. His
cockiness had become competent play.

The rookies had stumbled
out of the gate, but gained momentum. They'd found heart, hustle, and now their
souls were in the game. The Rogues remained in contention.

Starters Chase Tallan, Zen
Driscoll, and James Lawless would return within a week. The team sat second in
the National League East. A series win against the Raptors could elevate them
to first.

Kason nudged Dayne's foot
with his own. They'd had enough pool time. “I catch a six A.M. flight to Ottawa
in the morning. Let's call it a day.”

She tapped her watch. “It's
only four thirty.”

“I've other ways to spend
our time.”

Bending toward the pool, he
retrieved the bobbing Ruckus and unhooked his safety vest. He toweled off both
dogs, and the min-pin dragged the biggest towel back to the trailer.

Kason snagged Dayne's hand,
drew her up. Her sexy oiled body stuck to him. He liked her scent: coconut,
peaches, and sun-warmed woman. He wanted her in his bed.

“What's for dinner?” he
casually asked as he emptied the kiddie pool.

“I put a small roast in the
oven earlier.” Dayne shut off the hose.

“Salad?” Not his favorite.

“Coleslaw.”

Much better. “Potatoes?”

“Twice-baked.”

“Rolls?”

“Texas toast.”

“Pudding?”

“Butterscotch.”

“Sweetheart, it's time to
eat.”

Dessert came first and
dinner, hours later.

That night, in bed, Kason
Rhodes broke his record for sliding home. He scored six.