“Remember how you asked me about not drinking and I told you about the teammate who had a problem?”
With her heart lodged in her throat, Anna could only nod.
“What I didn’t tell you is that my senior year some guys on the team asked me to hang with them one Friday night. What they didn’t tell me until we were heading out to a field was there was a keg, a bonfire and some girls.” He grew quiet as his arms tightened around her.
Anna wanted to tell him that the rest of the story didn’t matter, only it did. She wanted to know as much as he was willing to share. She stroked a soothing hand down his back. “I got invited to that kind of party not long after we moved to Colorado.”
“Were you a wild, party girl, Anna?”
She laughed. “Hardly, but I desperately wanted to feel included.” Her hand stilled a second. “Only, my brother heard about it and threatened to rat me out to Mom if I went.” Her hand stroked along his back again. “Instead he took me to some horror movie marathon.”
“He looked out for you.”
“I guess, although at the time I was plenty mad at him.”
“You were better off at the movies.”
“So, did you go to the party?”
“Yes,” he said. “I wasn’t about to give up the chance to feel normal, to have a normal teenage night.” She frowned at his words, but before she could comment, he continued. “I don’t remember getting home or climbing into bed. Hell, I don’t remember anything beyond the first two drinks. I have no idea how Richard found out what I’d done, but I do remember him throwing open the door to my room, where I’ll add I’d been passed out still in my clothes and shoes. He grabbed me by the neck, dragged my still drunk ass out to the car and drove me to the field, where he had me run sprints until I puked my guts out four or five times. Then he made me pitch until I thought my arm would fall off. Only then did he let me go home, take a shower and get some sleep. Of course, the next morning, he had me up at dawn so I could do my regular conditioning drills.”
“How.” Anna had to stop and swallow down bitterness for a man who could be so hard. “How could he treat you this way?” What she wanted to ask is how his mother could have allowed it to happen.
“Richard told me he was doing it to make me a better ball player.”
“And you believe he did.”
“It’s hard to argue when I’ve got a contract and plans to be back on the field pitching very soon.”
For the first time she heard doubt in his voice. That’s when Anna realized that while her father had been absent much of her life, having a father around all the time might not be as smooth or pleasant as she’d always imagined. At least when her father had been home he’d been interested in their lives. Yes, there had been times when she, or even Andrew and their mother, had rebelled against his attitude or opinion of the way they lived their lives in his absence. But there were also lovely memories, all the more precious because they’d made the good-byes and long absences so difficult.
Now, she faced much of the same with the man beside her. Which meant she needed to make as many memories with Quinn as she could. And pray that they filled the gap when he was gone.
“Quinn.” She rolled over so that she could straddle him as she’d done earlier. She leaned over to run soft kisses along the scar on the inside of his elbow before she looked down at him. “You’re so much more than a ball player.”
She cradled his face in her hands, and yielded to the emotion she could no longer deny. Defying time, right or wrong, pain or joy, separation or the everyday, she loved this man. As tenderly as possible she kissed him and let that love soothe old hurts.
Years of getting up early for conditioning drills had Quinn awake before sunrise. This morning, however, he had a warm and generously sexy woman snuggled up beside him. His arm didn’t ache, he felt satisfied and yet hungry for more of the woman he liked as well as desired, and later today he finally had permission to toss a few easy pitches from the mound.
All in all, his life looked pretty damn good this morning. And a major reason why was purring softly in her sleep as she shifted against him.
A part of Quinn, the part that had enjoyed the warmth and hold of her body last night, wanted to enjoy and feel all that power and passion again. Another part of Quinn, the part that enjoyed Anna Reynolds out of bed as much as in the bed, demanded he be still. He’d made no promises. She’d demanded none. They’d come together last night, enjoyed each other, knowing their time was short-lived.
So, why did that thought rub like a blister on his pitching hand?
“Hmmm.” Anna’s hand slid over his hip as she snuggled a little closer. “I have to say.” She pressed a kiss to his chest. “I really like the way my summer has started.”
He lifted her face for a long kiss. He could get used to waking every morning to the taste of her, the way her mouth opened and welcomed his.
“What do you usually do in the summer?” he asked.
“Sleep late.” Her laugh was low and full of mischief. It shot right to his groin. “You’re messing with my plans, Quinn Lancaster.”
He didn’t want to think about summer, because it meant facing that summer would end. By then he believed he’d be gone. Instead he swore they’d both enjoy the time they had. “That’s fair, since you’re messing with mine. I’m usually up and working out by this time.”
“Really. Well, let me just say, thank you for keeping in such excellent shape.” With another low laugh, she rolled, bringing him on top of her. With one smooth move, he sank inside of her. In addition to her taste, he liked the feel of her. She closed her eyes on a hum as she arched. Then she looked up at him. “But I’m certainly not complaining that you’re here instead of working out. You?”
He flexed his hips, ran a hand down her torso so that he could use his thumb to tease and pleasure the center of her. He immediately felt her muscles tighten around him, and leaned down to capture her mouth for one long, sweet kiss before he answered. “Not at all.”
After they loved, they dozed. When they next woke, they showered. And the steam that filled the bathroom wasn’t only from the water.
“I didn’t think to ask. Do you have a game or practice today?”
Quinn finished rubbing the towel over his head and shifted. He found Anna, with a towel wrapped snug around her torso, sitting on the closed toilet seat, smoothing lotion over her legs. Her hair was wet but had been combed and worn slicked back, revealing the fresh contours of her face. This was what it must be like to share a bathroom and all the intimacies that occur in this room with someone you trust and want to share your life with.
“Quinn?” When he blinked, he saw she stood, frowning at him. “Is something wrong?”
“No.” He mentally shook his thoughts loose. He wanted to lift a hand and rub at the constriction in his chest, only he couldn’t afford to give it that much importance. “No game tonight, but there’s always practice. After the Sunday afternoon game, we’ll board the bus.”
“You’re leaving?”
“There’s a three game series a couple of hours away with the bonus of an off day between the second and third game.” She’d gone pale, accenting more than usual the cinnamon brown of her eyes. Too late he recalled her comments about always having to say good-bye while growing up. Traveling for baseball was such a part of his life that he’d never given much thought to how it might impact someone in his life. “Anna.” He stepped to her, took her hands in his. “Playing baseball is what I do. Traveling is part of the job.”
“Why do you have to go with the team? It’s not like you’re pitching.”
“I’m part of the team. I go with them.” He kissed her. “Can I say I like knowing you don’t like hearing that I’ll be gone?”
She looked at him, and he’d bet good money she was shoring up some internal defense. He didn’t like it, didn’t want to hurt her, but he could understand and actually appreciate her facing the reality of their relationship. He would b
e wise to use some of that away time to do the same.
“As long as you don’t think I’ll be doing nothing but sitting around, waiting for your return.”
“Does that mean you don’t want to see me when I get back?” he asked.
“That might depend on what your plans are.”
“I want to take you out to dinner.”
“A date?” She bit down on her bottom lip. “Aren’t we a little beyond that?”
“No.” He tugged her closer, wrapped his arms around her. “I want to go somewhere with you where people will see us together. I want to hold your hand and flirt with you in candlelight, all the time fantasizing about what you’re wearing under your dress. Wondering how it’s going to be to strip everything off of you.” She sucked in a breath and he again found her mouth irresistible. To hell with thinking and caution. “Damn it, Anna, I want to spend every minute that I can with you.”
“I won’t tell you good-bye.”
He knew her words were about more than a three day road trip. Still, a part of him – the young boy with a biological father who’d never wanted anything to do with him, and a stepfather who saw him as a commodity – cheered.
“Good,” he said and kissed her. Then, because he really enjoyed the taste of her, he did so again. “Now, let’s have some breakfast.”
Chapter 5
“What will you do now that school is out?” Quinn asked as he topped off their coffee cups.
Anna plated a stack of the cinnamon toast that he’d adorably asked if she knew how to make, and slid them on the counter that served as both a separation between the kitchen and living space as well as her eating area.
“I still have some classroom cleaning to do.” She came around the end of the counter and sat beside him. It felt comfortable to sit with him, enjoying the breakfast she’d cooked instead of her usual cold cereal or yogurt. “And part of the summer is spent preparing for next year.”
“I thought teachers got the summer off.”
“Right, just as teachers leave the school when the final bell rings.”
“You don’t?”
She forked two slices of toast onto her plate, followed by two strips of bacon. “Don’t you do baseball stuff when you’re not in the game?” Quinn followed her example – tripling the serving. She felt a low level hum of heat when she thought of how much energy they’d both expended during the night and morning. She had the passing thought that she should go grocery shopping if Quinn continued to spend the night with her. Then she thought again. Why stock her pantry when on any given day he could get the news that he would be leaving?
“Why did you become a teacher?” Quinn asked.
“It felt right,” she answered, pushing aside her unfinished plate. “And even with preparations for next year, I still have the bulk of the summer to myself.” She finished off her coffee. “Actually I have an appointment this afternoon to look at a potential house to buy.”
“Really?”
“I’m not sure I can afford anything around here, but, hey you don’t know if you don’t look, right?”
“Well, I have time before I’m due at the field. Why don’t I go with you?” He leaned over to lightly kiss her. “I have no trouble spending someone else’s money.”
“What about you? Where do you live when you’re not slumming in The Barracks?” she teased with a nudge of her shoulder against his.
“I have an apartment.” He drained his glass of milk, and used a paper napkin to wipe his upper lip. “But if you let me go with you, it’ll give me practice for when I get around to looking for something more permanent for myself.” She kept quiet, refusing to consider that he might stay. “Do you ever miss traveling? Not,” he said, “moving, but just seeing other places?”
She wished she’d kept the conversation on a more casual topic. “Don’t you get tired of being on the road all the time?”
“I’m really not when you look at the numbers. During the season we play as many home games as we do away, along with the occasional off day. Then, there’s the off season.”
“Do you live close to your family then?”
“No.” He rose and started clearing the plates away. “I live my life, they live theirs.”
Is that the way he’d think and feel when he left here? When he left her? She knew how it felt to be the one who moved away, knew how it felt to be the new kid on the block or at school. As much as she’d wanted to find a place, to settle down and stay, she really hadn’t given much thought to the fact that more than the military could take a person away. Corporations moved employees every day, people relocated for college or another job. Like others in similar situations, she and her mother had settled here in Barefoot Bay to start fresh and get away from grief and memories.
Recalling what he’d told her about his stepfather, she wondered if Quinn thought that by keeping distance between him and his family he could escape bitter memories. And, while their hot summer fling would end, no matter when or how far away Quinn went, he’d remain in her heart.
“Thanks for coming with me,” Rachel said.
“Sure.” Anna stared out the window and tried not to think about how she’d spent the last three days doing little more than missing Quinn. She hadn’t gone with the other girlfriends or wives to send the team off. She had yet to decide whether or not she’d meet the team when Quinn returned. She was trying to put distance between them, trying to keep things as casual as possible. And yet, she missed him. They had talked on the phone every night he’d been gone, but it wasn’t the same as him being beside her.
“Well, don’t hurt yourself with all that enthusiasm.” Rachel laughed as she steered her car around a corner.
Anna turned to her friend. “I’m sorry.” She ran a hand through her hair, recalled the feel of Quinn’s fingers doing much the same. Conflicting emotions pinged inside of her, leaving her restless and confused.
“Are you going to tell me where we’re going and why?”
“Were you ever sick much as a child, Anna?”
“Not really.”
“You’re lucky then.”
Anna had a sudden chill. “Oh, Rachel, are you sick?” She reached out and placed a hand on her friend’s arm, discovered it felt clammy. “What’s going on?”
“I could use something cold to drink.” Rachel suddenly steered the car into a parking space in front of the Super Min, as the local convenience store was known. She’d been warned that this was where to go if you wanted to hear the hottest local gossip.
Their arrival was announced by the bell hanging above the door. Anna saw two women standing behind the counter.
“Hello, Rachel,” one of the women called out as she walked to the refrigerated wall. “Bet you’re glad school is out.”
“It’s always a mixed bag. On the one hand it’s nice to have some quiet and the time to enjoy it.”
“The way I hear it,” said the second woman. “You’ll soon be spending time on the campaign trail with your husband.”
“Charlie hasn’t made an official announcement, one way or the other.” Rachel’s pale face had gone a little whiter. She pulled a cold can out of the refrigerated wall and Anna heard the aluminum clatter against the metal frame of the door. Anna stepped forward and Rachel sent her a contrite look before she started for the counter. “This is my friend, Anna Reynolds. Anna, this is Charity Grambling.” She gestured to a short woman with frizzy caramel colored hair. “And her sister, Patience Vail.”
“You’re the teacher who sat in the dunking booth all afternoon,” Charity said.
“Yes.”
“I heard,” Patience chimed in. “She’s the one that Quinn Lancaster’s been leaving tickets for at the ball park.”
“Really?” Rachel asked, leaning against the counter in a way that gave all three women clear sight of her. Anna knew her face heated. Then it felt even warmer when she spotted Quinn’s photo among several others tacked behind the counter.
“I heard the two of t
hem spent a day looking at houses.”
“No,” Anna protested. “That is, yes we looked at houses, but not together. Well, yes we were together while we looked at the houses.” Anna drew in a deep breath as she tried to gather her composure. The other three women waited in silence. “I’ve decided to look into buying a house. One of my own. Quinn simply went along with me to look at a couple and give me an opinion. I think I’ll get a drink after all,” she said, and turned away. She heard whispers, a light laughter, and, when she approached the counter to pay for her drink, was aware of being closely given the once-over.
“What kind of house are you looking for?” Charity asked.
“That’s been a problem already,” Anna answered as she pulled a bill out of her purse. “I’m not sure what I want, and so far nothing has really caught my eye.”
“Oh I think something’s caught her eye well and good.” Charity grinned at her sister. “It’s just not a house.”
“We should get going,” Rachel said before Anna could argue. “See you ladies around.” With a firm hand on Anna’s arm, she guided them out the door. “I don’t know how they do it, but those two have the inside track about everyone and everything around here.” They got into the car and Rachel looked over at Anna as she popped the tab on her can and took a long pull. “I drive. You talk. And don’t spare the details.”
“That depends. Are you asking as my friend or as my boss?”
“I can’t believe you have to ask. I would never use whatever you’re going to tell me against you.”
“Some parents might since I teach their children.”
“Maybe so, but they didn’t get those children from under a rock.”
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