“Why did you want to see me again?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why did you ask Tenley and Rowan to have their wedding at the hotel?”
“I told you, I wanted to apologize, to give you a chance to see Linc’s box, so you’d understand how much you meant to him.”
The skin gathered around her eyes, her stare pained. “So you did it to ease your own conscience?”
“What? No.” He could feel things spiralling out of control, but he didn’t know how to stop it. “I did it for you, because I thought it would help you. Give you some sense of peace or closure or…” He shrugged when he couldn’t find the words to make her understand. “I don’t know. I just knew I had to see you again.”
“Why did you sleep with me again?”
Damn. Her questions weren’t getting any easier. “Because I wanted to. I thought that’s what you wanted too. Are you regretting it now?”
“After your little announcement today? How can I not?”
“My announcement?” He was tired, drained mentally and physically, but he couldn’t recall saying anything that would warrant her mood, except… “Are you talking about the possibility of me signing with another team at the end of the season?”
“Don’t you think we should have talked about that before we slept together? The fact that you could be leaving again in a few months?”
He was a professional baseball player. It was common knowledge that he was a free agent at the end of the season. The baseball analysts had been talking about it since spring training. If she thought he was trying to keep secrets from her, that was just about the worst-kept one in professional sports. “Maybe we should have. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to—”
“Make me fall in love with you again?”
His breath got trapped in his throat as he stared at her. He knew he loved her, but he’d never imagined she could feel that way about him again. “You love me?”
“Don’t look so surprised. I made love to you, didn’t I? Did you think that was just sex for me?”
“No.” Given their history, there was no way either of them would have walked through that bedroom door if a physical release was the only objective. “I knew it was more than that. But we had so many issues to work through. I wasn’t sure it was even possible for us to—”
“Build a life together?” She watched him carefully, waiting for his response. “Or is a future with me even something you want?”
He inched closer to her on the sofa, knowing her back was against the armrest and she had nowhere to go. “I would give anything for another chance with you. A real chance at the life we could have had. But you’d be giving up so much to be with me. How can I ask you to do that?” He wasn’t even sure his conscience would let him.
“How can you even think about walking away from me again?” Another tear slipped down her cheek as she stared at him. “That’s what I kept asking myself today. But then I thought about how hard you’ve worked. You love baseball. You should do what’s best for you and your career. Logically, I know that. But—”
“I can play baseball here.” If she were asking him to give up the game he loved, that would be tough, but she wasn’t. She was asking him to take a chance on them and stick around. That he could do. “I put my contract negotiations on hold during the season because I didn’t want to be distracted. That’s the only reason. I love being here. It’s my home, and I’m damn lucky that I get to wear our uniform and represent our state.”
“You’re not after more money?” she asked, raising an eyebrow. “The reporters have been saying if you keep playing the way you have been, you’ll drive your price higher and that’s why you haven’t signed a new contract.”
He chuckled. “Would I turn down more money? No, obviously not. But it was more about the terms. I want five years, and they were only willing to give me three.”
“Oh.”
“Five years would mean I could finish out my career here, and that’s what I want. Especially if we work out. I don’t want you to uproot your life to follow me across the country, but I couldn’t stand to leave you either.”
She smiled. “I’m so happy to hear you say that. After today, I wasn’t sure what you were thinking.”
It wasn’t until he saw her smile that he finally felt he could breathe. He pulled her into his arms, kissing the top of her head. “I know it’s a lot to ask, but I need you to trust me, sweetheart. I would never intentionally hurt you again.”
“It would kill me if you left again,” she whispered, burying her face in his neck. “I don’t think I could handle that.”
“You want me to sign that contract? I will. I’ll walk into the office tomorrow and tell them to hand it over.” His agent would have a conniption fit, but he didn’t care. Ace would do anything to make Dani feel safe and secure in what they were building.
“I can’t ask you to do that,” she said, looking up at him. “That wouldn’t be fair to you.”
“You wanna talk fair?” He brushed his lips across hers. “It’s not fair that you don’t get to have your family in your life. It’s not fair that they’re making you choose between them and me. I hate that.”
“They’re not making me choose between them and you, Ace.” She sighed as she rested her cheek against his chest. “They’re making me choose between the past and the future. I choose the future.”
He ran his hand over her silky hair, wishing he could say or do something to make this easier for her. “We can take this as slow as you want to, you know. I’m not going anywhere. Just tell me you believe that.”
She tipped her head back to look at him as a smile spread across her face, easing the knot in his stomach. “Slow is overrated, don’t you think?”
Ace had always been a proponent of slow in relationships. The only exceptions had been with Stacey and Dani. With Dani, he’d been desperate to hold on to her. With Stacey, he’d grown tired of being alone.
“Slow is definitely overrated.” He kissed her, releasing every ounce of the fear and anxiety he’d been carrying all day. “But any time you need to pump the brakes, you just let me know, okay?”
She smirked as she looked at his lap. “Um, I’d much rather pump something else. You game?”
“Baby, I’m always game.”
***
Ace woke up the next morning with Dani in his arms, knowing exactly what he had to do. He fired off a text to his agent, asking him to arrange the meeting and instructing him not to ask any questions. He’d made his decision.
He watched her sleep as a smile stretched his lips. Even if the team was only willing to give him three more years, that would give him and Dani more than enough time to build the kind of relationship nothing could destroy.
Last night had been incredible. They’d talked. Laughed. Made love multiple times before they finally fell asleep as the sun was creeping through her bedroom blinds. Thankfully, she had the day off and he didn’t have to meet with the team brass for a couple of hours. After that, he had to prepare for the last game in a four-game series before they hit the road for seven. He didn’t want to leave Dani, but away games were something they’d both have to get used to.
As long as he knew he was coming home to her, he could handle being away. Before, he’d come home to an empty bed and a lonely house. No one to talk to or laugh with or share a meal with. Dani had changed all that. She’d changed his life.
“Morning,” she whispered, rolling into his arms. She kissed his chest. “Have you been awake long?”
“Just long enough to remind myself how lucky I am.” He brushed his lips across her cheek, smiling when she curled her hand around his jaw. “It’s not like me to get all sappy, but getting a second chance with you is more than I ever expected.”
“Speaking of second chances, think your parents might be willing to give me one?”
His parents couldn’t wait to see her again, and he wanted to be there when they did. “No question. You know they loved you.”<
br />
“I loved them too.” She sighed as she rolled onto her back. “But something happened between us after you went away. I’m not sure if they told you?”
“No.” He looked down at her as he rested his head in his palm. “What happened?”
“They tried to talk to me in court, but I couldn’t. I just walked away. I’ve always felt bad about that.”
“You shouldn’t. I’m sure they understood that you and your family had a lot to deal with.”
“Have you had a chance to talk to them about us?” she asked, wrapping her hand around his wrist.
“I told them we’ve reconnected, but I didn’t know how much more I should tell them. I thought I’d let you decide that.”
She pursed her lips as her eyes drifted toward the ceiling. “I know they were expecting me yesterday. I hope they weren’t too disappointed that I didn’t show.”
“I’m sure they’ll understand.” He still had questions about yesterday, but he was hoping she’d volunteer the information without him having to probe deeper. “Maybe when I get back from this next road trip, we can have them over to my place. It’ll give you guys a chance to—”
“Do you mind if I see them on my own?”
“No, but wouldn’t you rather I be there?” He knew Dani could handle herself and that his parents would never be cruel to someone he cared about, but their relationship was still so new. He didn’t want to take any unnecessary risks.
“I think the dinner is a great idea when you have a day off,” she said, turning onto her side to face him. “But we have some unfinished business, and I think I’d rather deal with that first.”
“Whatever you want, babe.” He kissed her forehead. “I think I’ll grab a shower. I’ve got a meeting in a bit, and I can’t be late.”
She grabbed his arm when he swung his legs over the bed. “Ace?”
He looked at her over his shoulder. “Yeah?”
“I really do love you.”
He grinned, thinking those were just about the sweetest words he’d ever heard. “I love you too, sweetheart.”
Chapter Sixteen
Dani stood on the doorstep of the house that had been her second home growing up, wondering what she should say to the people who’d loved her like their own daughter. Before she lost her nerve, she took a deep breath and rang the bell.
“There she is!”
Ace’s father was a slightly shorter, thicker, graying version of his son, and just seeing him again made Dani’s eyes burn with tears. “Hey, Charles.”
“Bet, come on out here!” he yelled, pulling Dani into a bear hug. “It’s so good to see you, honey.”
“It’s good to see you too.” She laughed, still choking back tears. “I’m sorry I couldn’t make it yesterday.”
“No need to apologize.” he said, taking off his silver-rimmed reading glasses and setting them on a nearby hall table. “You’re here now. That’s all that matters, right?”
“Oh my goodness!” Elizabeth Phillips, known as Bet to her family and friends, rounded the corner, her eyes wide as she opened her arms to Dani. “Oh, how I’ve missed you. You don’t know how happy I was when Maceon told me you’d be paying us a visit.”
“You look wonderful,” Dani said, handing over the bouquet of fresh-cut flowers she’d picked up at the florist.
“Thank you.” Bet wrapped her arms around Dani. “So do you, honey.”
The years had been good to Bet. She was as slim as Dani remembered, with the same kind smile and warm hazel eyes. She was petite, a full head and a half shorter than her strapping son, but she more than made up for it with her big personality.
“Come in here and tell us what you’ve been up to,” Bet said, linking her arm through Dani’s. “Charles, would you mind putting those in some water for me and grabbing that tray I left on the counter?”
“Sure thing, sweetness.”
Obviously Ace’s parents were as happy and in love as they’d always been. It made Dani’s heart hurt even more for her own parents, who were missing out on the life and love they could have been sharing.
“My son tells me you’re managing The York now,” Bet said, beaming at Dani as they sat down in the living room. “Good for you. I’ve heard wonderful things about that hotel.”
Dani looked around the room. Some things had changed, like the furniture, TV, and lamps, but many of the pictures were the same, as was the furniture placement. She remembered sitting in this room with Ace while his parents were out. They’d talked, made out… and planned their future.
“I love it there,” Dani said, trying to focus on the present. “It’s steeped in rich history, but we’re trying to keep up with the times too. In fact, the Russian tea room will be undergoing a renovation soon. I’m pretty excited about that.”
“Speaking of tea,” Bet said when her husband returned carrying a huge tray, “I hope you’re still a tea drinker like me?”
They’d had some wonderful talks over tea while Dani waited for Ace to return from baseball practice. Dani had never consumed a caffeinated beverage until Bet introduced her to tea.
“Of course I am.” She admired the spread of fine china cups with a hand-painted tea pot and homemade biscuits with pats of butter. “This looks wonderful.”
“I miss this,” Bet said, pouring tea into two cups. “Having tea with you. Catching up on what’s been happening in your life.” She looked at her husband and smiled when he curled his hand around her shoulder. “We’ve both missed you.”
“I’ve missed you guys too,” Dani said, clearing her throat as she tried to blink back tears.
The Phillips’ had lost their oldest son a couple of years before Dani met Ace. And while she would have expected them to be sullen and withdrawn, they’d been anything but. They were warm and welcoming, often telling her how much Ace’s older brother would have liked her.
“I’m just going to go brew a cup of coffee for myself with that fancy contraption our son bought us.” He winked at Dani. “Be right back.”
“Charles looks wonderful,” Dani said, watching him leave. Her father was approximately the same age as Charles, but he looked ten years older.
“Retirement agrees with him,” she said, smiling as she set the tray on the coffee table between them. “He was reluctant at first. He loved his job with the city, but Maceon talked him into retiring after he paid off our house and bought us a little vacation property in Boca Raton for our fortieth wedding anniversary.”
“That’s sweet,” Dani said, thinking how nice it was that Ace wanted to take care of his parents. Not that she was surprised. He’d had a unique relationship with them. While most teens were rebelling, Ace was always respectful of his parents and their rules. Except that one night. “I’m glad you guys are taking it easy now. You deserve it.”
Bet laughed. “I don’t know that we’re taking it easy. We’re busy with golf, gardening, volunteer work, and friends. In fact, I think we’re busier now than we were when we were working. But at least now we’re doing what we want to do, so we’re grateful for that.”
Dani smiled at Charles when he returned and sat beside his wife on the two-seater loveseat. “I’m glad Maceon got the opportunity to do what he wanted to do too,” she said, knowing it was time to address the real reason for her visit. “The odds must have been stacked against him when he got out.”
“They were,” Charles said, his voice breaking. “But he was determined.”
“I’m sorry that I refused to talk to you in court that day,” Dani said, forcing herself to make eye contact with both of them. “That was inexcusable.”
“Nonsense,” Bet said, frowning. “You were still reeling. Anyone would have reacted the way you did.”
“Bet’s right,” Charles said, stretching his arm out behind his wife. “We understood completely. There were never any hard feelings, sweetheart. At least on our part.”
Dani set her cup on a coaster when she realized her hands were shaking. “I know my father
called to tell you I was pregnant.”
Her parents had been livid when they found out she was carrying Ace’s baby, and her father had called the Phillips’ house, ranting and raving about how their son had not only taken Linc, but he’d stolen any chance Dani had of a future too.
“We gave it a little time because we knew how devastated your parents were, but we showed up on their doorstep one day demanding to see you.” Bet leaned forward to touch Dani’s hand. “You were carrying our grandbaby after all. We had to make sure you were okay. That’s when they told us about the miscarriage.”
“They tried to convince me it was for the best,” Dani said, biting her lip as she felt pain slice through her as if it had just happened yesterday. “But I was already so in love with that baby. I was almost twelve weeks along and…” She closed her eyes, shaking her head. “The baby was already a part of me.”
“That must have been so difficult for you,” Bet said quietly. “I’m sorry we couldn’t have been there to help you through it. I’m sorry Maceon couldn’t have been there. You know he would have been, had he known.”
“Why didn’t you tell him about the baby?” That was the real reason for her visit, to understand their motives for keeping her secret.
“We were going to,” Charles said, “but we decided it was your place to tell him, not ours. That was another reason we went to see you that day, to encourage you to reach out to Maceon.”
“I would have,” she said, linking her hands as she leaned forward. “I want you to know I wouldn’t have kept it from him, if the pregnancy had progressed. As angry and hurt as I was about what happened, I wouldn’t have prevented him from being a father to his child.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Bet said with a sad smile, “but we never thought you would have. We know you loved our son too much to hurt him that way.”
“You must have been shocked when you found out we were back together,” Dani said, reaching for one of the homemade biscuits she’d loved so much as a teen. She wasn’t hungry, but she needed something to do with her hands, so she set one on a plate and slathered it with butter while Bet and Charles did the same.
Hit and Run (Summer Rush #2) Page 15