Catching Her Heart (For the Love of the Game)

by Jody Holford

  She sucked in a breath. “What?”

  “My knee might be healing but something else is up. I don’t want to face the MRI alone and I’m hoping you’ll go with me. Once we see what’s what, I’ll talk to Isla and Cruz about announcing my retirement at the beginning of next season. But I wanted to talk to you first. I want to share all that I am and all that I have with you. You mean everything to me, Addison. I was so worried about where my life was going professionally and I’ve realized it just doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, regardless of what I do, I just need to know I’m coming home to you.”

  One tear slipped over, and he caught it with the pad of his thumb. “Say something.”

  She could survive without him. She loved her life. Having him in her life didn’t make it complete. It just made it better.

  “If I go with you now, with everyone watching, making you look like the romantic hero in some sappy love story, you’re going to owe me.”

  The smile on his face tugged directly on her heart strings. “I have to say, I never thought I’d look forward to being indebted to anyone. What did you have in mind?”

  She slid her palms up his chest, laughing at the chatter that had turned to hooting and whistling and all sorts of suggestions for the two of them to engage in.

  “I was thinking, I go with you now, I’ll even throw in the kiss they’re all chanting for but that means you’re my plus one to every event I have to attend from now on.”

  “That seems almost fair but not quite even. I mean, you are an exceptional kisser but every event is a lot. You really like to socialize.”

  “I do. But I’m flexible. Do you have a counter offer?”

  His arms wound around her, yanking her close. “Yeah. That whole plus one thing? I want it in writing.”

  She laughed, scrunched her brows. “Like a contract?”

  He pressed a kiss to her forehead and slid down her body until he was on one knee. “Sort of. One that says I’ll be your plus one from this day forward for as long as we both shall live.”

  When he pulled a small, light blue box out of his pocket, the crowd gasped right along with Addison. Sawyer gazed up at her and took her left hand as he flipped open the lid. A dazzling oval solitaire sat atop a thin, white gold band, shining at her like Sawyer’s smile.

  “I love you, Addie. I don’t particularly care when or where, but I want to marry you. I want to spend my life making deals with you. Making you smile. Making you as happy as you make me. Will you be my wife?”

  She could only nod as he slipped the ring on her finger. Tears burst free and then she was in his arms, her face nestled into the crook of his neck. People laughed and cheered but Addie just focused on him; on them.

  When he pulled back, kissed the tears on her cheeks, she saw the brightness in his own eyes. “One more thing,” he whispered.

  “Anything,” she said. Because that’s what she’d give to be with him. Always.

  “You said it once that night but you haven’t said it since.”

  She smiled and cupped his face in her hands. “I love you, Sawyer McBain. I don’t even remember what my life was like before you, and I had no idea how I was going to get over you when I didn’t want to.”

  “I promise you’ll never have to.”

  He didn’t make promises lightly. And he never made them in public. Until now. As he kissed her, twirled her in the center of the airport, she laughed through watery tears. This was, hands down, the best deal she’d ever made. And it was just the beginning.

  Epilogue

  She didn’t mean to cry. She’d promised herself she wouldn’t. But as they waved off Isla and Cruz, who sped away in a long, sleek, silver town car, the tears fell. Addie was so happy for her best friend. Maybe traditional fairy tales weren’t true but the ones where the girl dreamed of being everything she ever wanted and having a loving man by her side as she reached her goals? That one had come true. Not just for Isla, but for Addie as well.

  “You okay, baby?” Sawyer’s arms wrapped around her from behind. The cool air was pushing people back in to enjoy the rest of the party but she just wanted another minute under the Nashville sky.

  “I am. I’m just happy for them. So happy.”

  He rocked back and forth, snuggling her closer. “You want a winter wedding?”

  Addie shivered. “I don’t think so.”

  “Thank God. It’s freezing out here. How about we head back in.”

  She turned, pressed her lips to his and then let herself be led straight to the dance floor. Their bodies fit together like a lock in a key. Music drifted around them, others danced and laughed, drinking and singing. But Addie just held on to Sawyer and thought about how far she’d come from last year. She hadn’t known what coming to Nashville would bring her, but she never thought the answer would be everything.

  Isla had been a vision in her white, sweetheart-neck gown, long sleeves with delicately embroidered lace, a sexy, somewhat vintage flair at the hips and miles of silk and organza between the skirt and the train. Liam looked like he was going to float away from happiness.

  “What are you thinking about?”

  “How happy they seemed. How perfect it was.” She leaned back to see him. With her heels, the top of her head came to his chin.

  “I’ll do anything it takes to give you the same kind of happiness, Addie. Whatever you want. Always.”

  Her hand rested over his heart. She loved the feel of it beneath her palm. “You make me happy. I don’t need anything this fancy or elaborate. I just need you promising me forever in front of our family and friends. And the life together that comes after that moment. That’s what I want.” She hoped that his mom’s phone call over the holidays was a step toward rebuilding their relationship and by the time the wedding came, she and his brother would attend.

  “It’s what I want too. I never thought I would. I love you. It’s hard to make you understand how much.”

  “Since I love you back, I’d say I get it. So, what were you thinking? Summer wedding?”

  He laughed and she realized what she’d said. “Huh. Maybe not during the season?”

  Sawyer shook his head and she grinned. During the season, she’d be down a groom and a maid of honor. She’d worried he offered to retire for her but that turned out not to be true. In fact, he was feeling pretty good and they’d decided, together, that he should play one more year. His MRI had shown arthritis and while it could have been much worse, Addie was able to research treatments that helped with the pain and they were both confident he’d be ready for next year.

  She’d asked him more than once if he was sure that was all he wanted. He’d answered that yes, from his baseball career, it was all he wanted. They’d informed Cruz and Isla together. Instead of seeming sad when he’d shared the news, he’d seemed excited. Maybe because he felt like it was a choice and not because his body had given up on him. On the way home, he’d shared the highlights of his career with her and told her he was looking forward to the next stage even if it wasn’t entirely mapped out.

  “No. Maybe not. Plus, I’d rather not wait over a year to marry you.”

  “No. You’re right. That won’t work.”

  “I have an idea,” he whispered, leaning in for a kiss.

  “What is it?”

  “How do you feel about Valentine’s Day?”

  Her heart twirled around in her chest and swooned. “Seriously?”

  “It’s soon, still winter but edging toward spring. It won’t be impacted by baseball. Your first big event with Alyssa isn’t until the end of March.” He stared at her expectantly. She and Alyssa had decided spring was a great time to launch and were currently working on gathering more support. Their organization, All In, would educate people on a variety of causes they could support and how to do it. In addition, they’d have targeted fund-raisers based on issues closest to their donors’ hearts.

  Her smile grew and Sawyer tightened his hold on her. “We could pull it off. I don’t
want to wait to make you my wife.”

  “That’s like a month and a half from now!”

  He grinned. “It is. But why wait when you’ve found what you didn’t even know you were looking for.”

  She laughed and threw her arms around his neck. “I can’t think of one good reason not to.”

  “Then I think I just secured myself a Valentine for the rest of my life.”

  “You absolutely did, Sawyer. You absolutely did.”

  “Regardless of what happens this season, I think you might be my greatest catch ever.”

  Addie’s laughter bubbled. “Despite the slightly cheesy line, I can’t help but agree.”

  He kissed her nose. “I’ll buy you ice cream if you promise not to tell anyone about my cheesy lines.”

  “Deal. And, just saying, I’m no professional, but I think my catch was pretty fine as well.”

  His mouth closed over hers and she lost herself in kissing him. When he pulled back and pressed his forehead to hers, he whispered, “Guess that makes us even.”

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  Acknowledgments

  First, because I forgot to thank him in the last one, to BA for your awesome insight into baseball and always being willing to chat/text/email about it. Thank you more than I can say.

  To my family who waits patiently for me to finish one more page whether I’m writing, editing, or reading.

  To Stacy, thank you for your guidance, suggestions, and insight. Loved working on this series with you.

  To my online people, I appreciate you so much. Being able to bounce ideas off of you, share words and lean on you helps so much.

  To Cole, Stacey, and Tanya, you deserve a special shout out. You’ve been there since the beginning and only get more supportive. Thanks for being not only readers but friends.

  To anyone and everyone who is part of helping me get words on a page. And to everyone I forgot to mention. And also, to readers. Thank you for wanting to read my words.

  About the Author

  Jody Holford lives in British Columbia with her family. She’s a huge fan of Rainbow Rowell, Nora Roberts, Carly Phillips, Rachel Gibson, Sophia Kinsella, and Emily Giffen. She’s unintentionally funny and rarely on time for anything. She writes multiple genres but her favourite is romance.

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