Tory frowned. "What do you mean?"
Trish wiped at her eyes. "Toby and my husband were in a bad car wreck a year ago. Barry was killed instantly and Toby was partially paralyzed. For weeks in the hospital, Toby was unresponsive to everyone. He wouldn't eat or speak. And then one day Ash and a friend of his came in and were singing with the kids on Toby's floor, handing out gifts. When he saw Toby, he went over and the next thing I knew, he had Toby laughing again." She sniffed. "Just look at them out there . . . God love that man."
Ash was holding Toby low to the ground so he could dribble the ball while his brother tried to block him. Lifting him up, Ash feigned to the right and ran at the basket so Toby could slam dunk it again. The boy lifted his arms up and whooped in triumph. Ash tickled him before he cradled him in his arms and ran him back over to his mother.
He set Toby back in his wheelchair and wiped his arm over his sweaty face. "All right, Tobe, we have to get back to the game. But Zack wants a rematch afterwards."
"He's on!"
Ash ruffled his hair before he glanced to Tory. "You doing okay?"
"Fine."
"Cool. But stay away from Sunshine's oatcakes. Talon says they're disgusting."
"Hey!" Sunshine shouted indignantly. "I'll get you for that, Ash."
Laughing, he stood up and returned to the center of the court.
"How are you doing, Toby?" Trish asked, her voice full of concern. "Did that make you hurt more?"
He beamed. "Nope. I feel great. Ash says I'll be walking again this time next year."
His mother winced as if the thought made her ache. "Oh baby . . . you know what the doctors think."
Toby lifted his chin. "I believe Ash. He says I'll be walking and I will. Just watch and see."
Tory smiled at the little guy. "That's the spirit."
Toby took her hand while they watched the rest of the game and cheered for his brother Zack.
When the game ended, Talon grabbed a ball to shoot again.
Ash scoffed at him. "Stop embarrassing the gene pool, Celt."
"Shut-up, T-Rex." He shot and missed.
Ash came to stand in front of Toby, arms akimbo. "Ready, squirt?"
"Ready."
Ash picked him up and looked at Tory. "You know how to play?"
"It's been a while, but yeah."
His grin taunted her. "Want to join us for a game?"
"Love to."
Talon handed her the ball as he came to sit beside Sunshine and drink some water. "I'm tired of being laughed at. Go avenge me."
Tory took her jacket off before she bounced the ball on the floor. Ash held Toby to his chest. "All right, Toby, let's annihilate the kyria."
Toby frowned. "Kyria?"
"Lady."
"Oh. Okay."
Tory feigned left and twisted around them as she ran at a basket. She was almost to it when Toby grabbed the ball and Ash put him up on his shoulders. Shouting in glory, Toby shot it at the basket and scored.
"And the crowd goes wild. Ahhhhh," Ash mocked the sound of cheering fans.
"Hey Ash?" Zack asked, running up to them. "Can I dunk one too?"
"Sure." He held Toby out to Tory who took the boy. He wrapped his little arms around her neck and made her melt while Ash grabbed his brother and put him up on his shoulders.
Zack dunked the ball and held his hands up in triumph while he bounced on Ash's shoulders.
Trish came forward, shaking her head at them. "Okay boys, tell Ash thank you, but it's time for us to go and let the next team have the court."
Toby pouted like a pro.
"Aw, mom," Zack whined as Ash set him on his feet.
Then Ash took Toby from her arms and carried him back to his wheelchair. "Don't worry, squirt. We'll beat Zack in a couple of weeks when I'm back in town."
"Okay and don't forget next Saturday! Nine a.m. sharp!"
Ash gave him a staunch Roman salute. "Ever at your service, my lord and tormentor." He brushed his hand over Zack's hair. "You played unbelievably well today. Keep practicing, kiddo."
"Will do. Bye Ash."
"Bye guys."
Tory walked up to him as they left. "You are so not an asshole."
He glanced down at her, making her wish she could see his eyes through his dark sunglasses. "Trust me, I can be. But I have a height requirement before I break ass on someone."
Talon snorted as he walked past them. "Yeah, take it from someone who's had his ass broken by him. Ash ain't all fun and games."
Without thinking, Tory put her hands on Ash's hips and leaned against his back. The moment she did, she realized she'd made a mistake as a wave of desire hit her so forcefully, it was all she could do not to pull his lips down to hers. Oh dear heaven, the man was sweaty, but he didn't stink at all. Instead, he smelled so good she wanted to take a bite out of him.
And all she wanted to do was run her hands down that hard chest and nibble him until he begged her for more.
Ash couldn't breathe as he hardened to the point of pain. Thank the gods he wasn't wearing tight pants. And the thought of her hands only being a few inches away from his cock only made him ache more.
Clearing her throat, she stepped back. "How many more games do you have to referee?"