by M. A. Foster
“You came early to check up on me,” he says with a hint of anger in his tone.
“No.” I shake my head. “I know it looks that way, but that’s not true. I really did come to surprise you.” My voice cracks, and then I burst into tears all over again.
Liam’s arms come around me, pulling me to his chest.
“I’m sorry. I’m tired, and these pregnancy hormones are making me—”
“The what?” He jerks his head back to look down at me, his mouth hanging open, and a hopeful expression crosses his features.
I nod. “That’s why I’m here. I couldn’t wait until this weekend to tell you.”
Dropping to his knees, he wraps his arms around my waist and presses a kiss to my still flat stomach before looking up at me with tears in his eyes. “I’m gonna be a dad?” His voice is shaky and full of awe.
I nod, smiling as tears continue to stream down my face.
Turning over his shoulder, he shouts, “I’m gonna be a dad!”
Once the initial pregnancy shock wore off, Liam scooped me in his arms and carried me to bed. We slept until the next afternoon. After listening to our baby’s heartbeat on repeat for a solid hour while staring at the grainy sonogram picture, we called our families to tell them the news. Most people prefer to wait until they’re through the first trimester before announcing a pregnancy, but not Liam. He called everyone in his contacts list, including his agent. I was surprised he didn’t hire one of those planes with the banners on the back. Of course, Milana was thrilled for us and invited us over for dinner. I have to admit, Liam was right, she’s pretty cool. Actually, she’s amazing.
I stayed in California with Liam until he had to leave for spring training, and then I flew back to Florida. I went back to work at the medical center for another month, then packed up my clothes, said goodbye to my family, friends, and Princess Buttercup, and went back to California to be with my man.
He said there was nothing for me in California and that our life—our home—was in Heritage Bay. But he was wrong. Liam is my home, too, and wherever he is, that’s where I want to be.
MAY
VANESSA
“In honor of National Nurses Week, on behalf of the LA Heat, we would like to thank the men and women in the healthcare industry for your kindness, compassion, and dedication.” On the jumbotron, “Thank you from the bottom of our hearts” with a stethoscope in the shape of a heart scrolls across the board.
Applause and cheers ring out around the stadium, and my gaze moves back to the field where the players are warming up. Milana bumps her shoulder against mine and directs my attention back to the jumbotron. The camera is zoomed in on me. The announcer continues, “We have a special nurse in the stands today. Vanessa Abbott, please stand up.”
I look over at Milana, confused. “What is happening right now?”
She shrugs, but there’s a knowing smile on her face. “Just go with it, babe.”
As I stand, the applause and cheers grow louder.
“Miss Abbott,” someone calls out, and I look over to see an usher standing at the end of the aisle. He gestures for me to follow him down the steps and onto the field where Liam is waiting.
“What are you up to?” I ask, grinning.
Curling an arm around my waist, he tugs me to his side, pressing a kiss to my temple as he rubs a hand over my swollen belly. “You’re throwing the first pitch.”
“Okay,” I drawl, nervously.
Liam chuckles. “I’ve seen you throw a baseball, Vanessa. You’ve got this.” It’s true. I’m no Cam Parker or Tyge Reynolds, but I know how to throw a baseball.
“Ladies and gentlemen, in honor of National Nurses Week, Nurse Abbott will be throwing the ceremonial first pitch, and catching the pitch is the Heat’s own Liam Mackenzie.”
The crowd roars, and I suck in a breath.
Liam’s brows pull together in concern. “You okay?”
I smile wide. “Yeah. I’m good.” If I tell him that I just felt our baby move for the first time, there’s a huge possibility he’ll pick me up and carry me off the field.
Placing a ball in my hands, Liam guides me to a space between the pitcher’s mound and home plate. Justin Bieber’s “Baby” blares over the speakers, and I snort. Liam gives me a knowing smile. “Wait for me. I’ll tell you when to throw the ball.” His eyes flick over my face. “Are you sure you’re okay?”
I’m ready to burst at the seams, but instead I nod, keeping my smile firmly in place knowing the cameras are on me and thousands of people are watching. “I’m fine. Just nervous.”
“Me, too.” He winks before jogging back to home plate.
I fight back an eye roll, because what does he have to be nervous about?
Liam squats behind home plate with his glove open. With a jerk of his chin, I send the ball over home plate and into his glove. The crowd cheers as he straightens and holds out his hand, motioning for me to stay put. Tossing his glove and the ball to a teammate, he jogs toward me, dropping to one knee at my feet.
“What are you doing?” I ask with wide eyes.
“Grand romantic gesture.” He pulls a ring box from behind his back, and my hands fly to my mouth.
“Liam,” I choke out.
“Vanessa Abbott, I love you so much. You are my first love, the love of my life. You make me happy. You make me laugh. You challenge me, yet you’ve never tried to change me. I’m a better man with you by my side. What do you say, Freckles? Can I be your husband again? Will you marry me?”
Somehow, I’m able to choke out a yes between sobs. Jumping to his feet, Liam wraps his arms around me, burying his face in my neck as he spins me around carefully. My eyes snag on the jumbotron and the words “SHE SAID YES” flashing across the screen.
Liam leads me off the field. “I hope you mean that, because we’re flying to Vegas after the game.”
I narrow my eyes. “Liam, my father and your mother will kill you.”
“No they won’t. Look up.” He jerks his chin up, and I lift my gaze toward the suites to find Liam’s entire family, my father, Kelly, Piper, and my best friends all waving frantically.
I gasp. “They’re all coming to Vegas?”
“Yep,” he says with a grin.
“I get to be Freckles Mackenzie again?”
He nods once, still grinning. “Yep.”
My eyes flick over his green ones, and a smirk tugs at my lips. “You did good, Baller.”
His grin widens. “You and me.”
I throw my arms around his neck. “Always.”
FIVE YEARS LATER
LIAM
“You frow like a girl!”
Everyone within earshot gasps except for my mother, whose cackle can be heard around the entire park. My jaw drops in shock, and my eyes nearly fall from their sockets.
“Cameron Rose Mackenzie!” Vanessa shrieks from the other side of the fence.
I look over my shoulder to see Vanessa struggling to stand, one hand on her swollen belly and the other flailing in the air. Her face and neck are three shades of red from mortification.
“Vanessa, sit down,” I command before shifting my attention to the cackling woman beside her who’s holding my two-year-old son, Ozzie, in her lap. “It’s not funny.” I point at her. She just grins and keeps laughing.
“I wonder where she got that from,” Cam says with a chuckle before jogging over to the pitcher’s mound to console his son.
“I think now is a good time to introduce your son to heckling,” I call out to his back, biting back a grin.
I make my way over to home plate where my daughter is still standing. The plastic bat she was holding is now at her feet, and her hands are covering her face.
What can I say? My girl is a beautiful savage, just like her mother. Other than her bright blue eyes—which she inherited from Vanessa’s mother—Cameron is all Vanessa down to her long eyelashes and adorable freckles.
My son is all Mackenzie, from his black hair and green eyes
to his stubborn personality and hot temper. Although, his stubbornness could also be from Vanessa.
And baby number three? I’m sure he or she will be another perfect blend of the two of us.
Five years and almost three kids later, life is good.
Better than I ever could’ve hoped for.
Once the shock wore off and reality kicked in that I was going to be a dad, I called my agent and informed him that when my contract ended with the Heat, I wanted to go to Florida. Either way, I was moving back to Heritage Bay, so I didn’t care what he did, but he had to make it happen.
He made it happen.
The Heat offered me more money, but Tampa Bay had much more to offer.
Vanessa, my family, and Cam.
For me, being a baller was never about the money and all about my love for the game.
I played out the last two seasons of my career with the Tampa Bay Thunder alongside my best friend, and when it was over, we both retired.
We started together and we finished together.
Cam runs a baseball camp for kids in the summer and works year-round as a private pitching coach.
I just took a coaching job with University of Heritage. Coach Bill, the old perv, retired, and I took his spot.
Vanessa and I still live in our house, and either we’ll have to stop having kids or buy a bigger one.
Dropping to my knees, I gather my little girl into my arms. “Cami, look at Daddy.”
Keeping her hands over her face, she shakes her head, her sobs growing louder.
“Liam,” Vanessa growls in warning.
She’s in full mama bear mode.
“Cami.” I pull her hands away from her face. “Why did you say that to Trace?”
Her chest heaves. “Be—” She exhales a shuddered breath. “—c-c-cause he—” Another shudder. “Wasn’t frowing the ball right.”
I bite back a laugh. Okay. I’ll admit she might have a little of her daddy’s temper. “Okay, but that was only his first throw. You have to give him a chance. Now, let’s go tell Trace you’re sorry.”
I press my hand to her back and lead her to the pitcher’s mound. “I’m sorry, Trace.” Her apology is sweet and sincere.
“Okay,” he says in a bored tone.
“Now hug it out,” Cam says.
The two hug, and I walk Cami back to home plate.
Cam and I move to stand behind home plate near the fence.
“He’s gonna strike her out,” he says.
“Nah. She’s gonna send it straight down the middle.”
He grins over at me. “Wanna bet?”
Two female voices shout from behind us. “No!”
THE END
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I hope you enjoyed Liam and Vanessa’s story. This was the hardest one I’ve written to date.
There are so many people to thank for accompanying me along this journey.
First, thank you to my family for all your support. To my husband, for keeping me fed, caffeinated and hydrated while I’m writing. I love you.
A huge thank you to my alphaholes and beta bitches, Angie Hallock, Kasey Sullivan, Amy McCoy Crull, Polly Heard Smith, Stephanie Rash, Katrina Smith, Dee Shelvey, Andrea Luna Galante, and Kelly Tucker for your support, feedback and laughs along the way.
Thank you to my street team, Katrina, Toni, Mandy, Stephanie, Rachel, Tammy, and Tawnya.
Thank you to Andrea Adams at Bookend Designs for this hot af cover and sexy teasers. And for putting up with my squirrel moments.
Thank you to all the ladies in my Mayhem reader group for your daily encouragement.
Thank you to the ladies at Hot Tree Editing, Becky, Donna, Kristin, and Mandy. I love you ladies.
Darlene Avery-Ward thank you for just being you. You are the kindest woman with the biggest heart. Thank you for answering my nursing questions.
Thank you Nikki Ash, Natasha Raulerson, Jessa York, Renee Webb, Nicole Dykes, and S.E. Roberts for putting up with my annoying messages.
Thank you to the ladies at Give Me Books Promotions, Natasha at RRR Promotions, and to all the bloggers who read, reviewed and shared Baller. Without you none of this is possible. I’m forever grateful.
And lastly, thank you Abigail Davies with Pink Elephant Designs for formatting this book.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
M.A Foster was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. She’s married to her high school sweetheart and mother to two grown boys. She loves fur babies, chocolate, lattes and all things sparkly. When she’s not reading or writing, she’s either catching up with friends and family or chatting with her readers and fellow author friends on Facebook.
You can connect with her at one of the following:
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Website: http://mafosterbooks.com
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BALLER PLAYLIST
https://spoti.fi/3geB6sx
ALSO BY M.A. FOSTER
Click here to read The Life & Death of a Rockstar for free.
http://mafosterbooks.com/life-and-death-of-a-rock-star/
HERITAGE BAY SERIES
Jaybird (Zach and Jayla):
https://amzn.to/3jS3AdT
Mackenzie (Cole and Harper):
https://amzn.to/39Om61Z
Cougar (Cam and Emerson):
https://amzn.to/2Xc1Ouh
Marriage, Mayhem, & Happily Ever After (Wedding Novella):
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Love Spell (Levi and Hazel):
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COMING 2021
Stalkers: A Dark Romance Anthology:
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