Waste of Handsome (Carolina Waves #2)

by Tina Gallagher

  Groaning, I sat up and rubbed my eyes. If I call off, I’ll just spend the day obsessing about Jack. At least at work, I’ll have things to keep my mind occupied besides the sexy shortstop. I’ll just have to hide in my office while I’m there.

  Rolling out of bed, I dragged myself into the bathroom and turned on the shower as hot as I could stand it. I’d forgotten to turn on the exhaust fan and by the time I washed my hair and stretched my tight muscles in the hot water, the bathroom was full of steam. Fighting the urge to linger in my self-made steam room, I grabbed the fluffy towel from the rack outside the shower, and patted myself dry. After wrapping the towel around my dripping hair, I grabbed my robe off the hook and slipped into it then opened the door allowing the steam to billow out.

  The rest of the room felt cold after being in my cozy confines, and I tightened my robe, then went through the motions of brushing my teeth and towel drying my hair. I picked up my brush and worked my way through the knots I’d created. Once my hair was smooth, I set the brush down and looked in the mirror. The flush cheeks are most likely from the shower, but my swollen lips and the hint of razor burn on my jaw are definitely Jack’s doing. How potent is the man that my lips still look like I sucked on chili peppers hours later?

  I don’t normally wear foundation, but I’ll need it today to mask both my lack of sleep and the razor burn. That and mascara should do the trick. I don’t need lip gloss highlighting my lips any more than they are already.

  As I dry my hair, scenes from last night flashed through my head. His hands on my face, his lips on mine, his arms pulling me closer. I clicked off the hair dryer and slammed it on the vanity.

  This has to stop. I’m sure it wouldn’t take much encouragement from me to get Jack to scratch my itch, but that would only end in disaster. I’ve seen how he lives and it’s not for me. I’m not a prude, but I’m also not into casual sex and that’s all it could ever be with him. And where would I be after that?

  I need to exorcise Jack Reagan from my thoughts once and for all. It’s time to break my dating hiatus. I’ve been thinking about it for a while now, and it’s time to just do it. A guy who works at the park has been overly friendly lately. He’s just what I need. We can get to know each other a little bit, go out a few times, and I won’t have to see him every day back home.

  Perfect.

  Chapter 12

  Hannah

  Despite being physically exhausted, I’ve had a productive day so far. I finalized plans for Mrs. Garrett’s group to visit the stadium in two weeks and sent off an email to Doug Lane to see if he has any goodies tucked away I can give them. I also spoke to Karen Walsh and have tickets set aside for her and Jeremy to come when we play Boston next week. Those things added to finalizing events at the stadium and coordinating Jack’s PR activities made the morning fly by.

  My cell buzzed and I picked it up to check the text.

  I had a great time last night. Looking forward to next time.

  The phone banged against the desk as it dropped from my shaking fingers. It’s amazing how twelve words can throw off your equilibrium. I picked up the phone and read the words again. Jack had a great time last night and looks forward to next time? How am I supposed to respond to that? I can’t. I can’t possibly respond. I powered down my phone so I won’t be tempted to answer.

  A knock at my door had me jumping out of my seat.

  “Come in,” I said, folding my hands together and setting them on my desk.

  Doug Lane opened the door and walked through carrying a box.

  “Hey,” he said. “I had some free time so I figured I’d just stop by instead of answering your email.” He set the box on my desk and pulled out a cotton replica of the Waves’ uniform jersey. “Will these work?”

  “They’re perfect. Thank you.”

  “There are twenty in this box. Is that enough?”

  “More than enough.”

  Twin dimples popped out with his smile. I’m not sure where he’s from, but with his blond hair and blue eyes, Doug looks like he just stepped off a California beach.

  “Great.” He closed the box and rested his elbow on the lid, seeming to study me. “I have a surprisingly quiet day. Would you be interested in getting out of here and grabbing some lunch?”

  “Oh, I’m sorry I can’t today. I have a lunch meeting.”

  His smile faltered. “Okay, maybe some other time.”

  This is it. My chance to venture back into the world of dating. I thought I’d have to work harder to make this happen, but it fell right in my lap. I can’t let Doug leave this office without solid plans in place.

  “But I’m free tomorrow if you’re available.”

  He looked surprised, but pleased. “Sure. That works for me.”

  “Great.” The word sounded more enthusiastic than I felt, but I’ll have to apply the fake it ‘til you make it strategy here.

  “Noon?”

  “Perfect.”

  That said, he and his dimples walked out the door. Doug seems like a nice guy and he’s definitely attractive. Maybe spending more time with him will help me react to those things and get my mind off Jack.

  Jack

  Cal slammed a ball toward my side of second base. I turned and caught it on the hop on my glove side, then fired it to Monte. He caught it and dramatically shook his hand.

  “Yo, take it easy. This is just practice you know.”

  Dale Montgomery is one of the best first basemen in the game and can handle anything thrown his way so I know he’s just busting my ass. I want to tell him to stop acting like a pussy, but Lexi has made my vocabulary strictly G-rated. Cleaning up my language was hard...I don’t want to slip into bad habits again. So instead, I tipped my hat in his direction, settled it back on my head, and got back into position.

  Truth is, Dale probably isn’t being dramatic. I’m sure my throws to first are harder than usual today. Everything I’ve done today has been extra. That kiss last night has me so twisted inside, I have to release all that somehow.

  I stayed on the field for a few more batters, then walked to the dugout and grabbed a cup of water. After chugging down half its contents in one gulp, I poured the rest of it over my sweaty head. I shivered and sat on the bench, swiping the hair off my forehead and wiping the water from my face.

  How is it that a woman I barely noticed for years now has me so tied in knots? Since my mother died and my home life fell apart, I’ve busted my ass to be in control of all things. I worked hard to have the career I love and have worked just as hard at keeping my personal life drama free. I’m not sure which planets aligned in the past few months, but they have everything out of whack.

  Thankfully my game is as good as ever, but other than that, I feel like things are spiraling out of control. First that damn book and now Hannah. The book hype will eventually go away, but I’m not so sure about Hannah. I’ve never felt like this. I enjoy being with her, talking to her, and I sure as hell enjoyed kissing her.

  Not to sound like a total prick, but I’ve always found women to be pretty much interchangeable. Some I’ve enjoyed more than others, but at the end of the day, it didn’t matter which one I ended up with. And when was the last time I thought about any woman when I should be concentrating on baseball? Never, that’s when.

  Dan jumped down into the dugout, pulling my attention to him.

  “Everything okay?” he asked, grabbing some Gatorade.

  “Great, why?”

  He shrugged and emptied his cup in one long chug. After crushing the cup and tossing it in the direction of the recycling bin, he sat next to me.

  “You looked pissed or something.”

  “Just tired. I couldn’t fall asleep last night.”

  “You sure that’s all it is?”

  Sometimes it sucks to have people around who really know you. I placed my cap back on my head and shifted forward on the bench, working hard to fix my facial expression.

  “I’m sure,” I said and stood grabbing my
glove. “I’m gonna go hit the showers. See you at the meeting.”

  I shifted in my seat and checked my phone for the tenth time in the past five minutes. I can’t believe Hannah never texted back. Hell, I can’t believe I texted her in the first place. What was I thinking?

  A rumble of laughter through the locker room pulled my attention back to the meeting. Things seem to be wrapping up and I’ll admit, I have no idea what was said. I’m sure it’s nothing I haven’t heard before...plans for spring training, welcome the new guys who just showed up, let’s do it this year, yadda, yadda, yadda. Then we were dismissed.

  I’m sure most of the younger guys will stick around and lift or hit the cages. Normally I’d do something like that too, but I’m too exhausted today.

  “Are you hitting the weight room?” Cal asked.

  I shook my head and cringed at the twinge in my neck. “I’m beat.”

  “Everything okay?”

  “My neck and shoulders are really tight.” I moved my neck from side to side, trying to loosen it up a little.

  “Max is in the training room. I’m sure he can work his magic.”

  “Why, what’d you do?” Dan asked from behind me.

  “Nothing. Just tight.”

  I must look really rough. They’re both looking at me like I might break. The way everyone looks at my father.

  “Maybe I will go see if Max can work some of the kinks out,” I said, then looked at Dan and smiled. “Unless Sabrina is around?” Throwing that down, I walked toward my locker. My two best friends followed.

  Dan snorted. “Like I’d let my wife touch you.”

  “I think that hurt my feelings.”

  “Yeah right.”

  I grabbed my cell from the top shelf. Still no reply from Hannah.

  “They’re coming in a couple weeks, right?”

  “Yeah, they’ll be here around dinner time Thursday. Lexi is off school Friday and Monday.”

  “I didn’t even look that far in the schedule. Do we have games every day?”

  “Day off Sunday. Maybe we can rent a boat again and head to the Keys for the day. I know Sabrina would love it and Lexi’s been bugging since she missed it last time.”

  “I’ll call Tom and see what he has available,” I said. “You in?” I asked Cal.

  “Definitely.”

  “And probably Monte, too,” I said. “Anyone else?”

  “I’ll ask the usual suspects and let you know,” Cal said.

  By “usual suspects” he means guys we trust and know won’t get totally wasted, act like assholes, or do anything else that will ruin the day.

  “You guys headed to the weight room?” They both nodded. “I’m going to see if Max can do something to loosen me up. See you later for dinner?”

  “Sure thing,” Cal said. “Meet at your place at six?”

  “I’m Facetiming Sabrina and Lexi at six. I’ll come down when I’m done,” Dan said.

  Living in the same complex definitely makes planning things a lot easier.

  “Sounds good.”

  I checked my phone one last time before heading down the hall to the trainer’s room. At this point, I don’t expect Hannah to text back, but can’t keep myself from checking anyway. I think the lack of sex is making me pathetic.

  Surprisingly, I found Max Rigsbee alone. This room is usually buzzing with activity of some kind. Maybe the fact that it isn’t is a good sign that we’ll have an injury-free season.

  “Hey Jack,” Max said. “What’s up?”

  “Not much,” I said. “But my shoulders and neck are a little tight. Do you have time to work your magic?”

  “Sure.” He patted the table he’d been cleaning when I walked in. “Hop up and let me check it out.”

  I settled onto the table and scooted back. Max walked behind me.

  “Did you do pull anything or strain it?”

  “No, I just woke up tight,” I said. “I stretched before hitting the field earlier and felt okay while I was out there, but once I stopped, it tightened up again.”

  “You’re not kidding. It’s like touching concrete.” Max rested his hands on my shoulders and rotated his thumbs into my shoulder blades, moving them up to my neck then back down again. “Do you have some time?” he asked. “I can really dig in and loosen things up.”

  I nodded. “I’m done for the day.”

  His hands left my shoulder and he walked around the table to face me. “Take your shirt off and lie face down.” He walked over to the shelf of lotions and potions and grabbed a blue tube and held it up. “This is okay for you, right?”

  “Yeah, no issues last time I used it.”

  As a kid, my skin was really sensitive and I had severe eczema. Unfortunately both of those things followed me into adulthood. It’s not as bad as it used to be and I do whatever I can to keep things under control, but it doesn’t take much to throw things out of whack.

  I settled onto my stomach and tried to relax so Max could do his thing.

  Chapter 13

  Hannah

  You can’t ignore me forever.

  Jack’s text speaks the truth, but I can ignore him for now and that works for me. We don’t have another event until next week and I’ve put avoiding him on my to-do list. So far, so good.

  Unfortunately the out of sight, out of mind principle doesn’t apply in this case. It’s especially difficult to keep him out of my mind when I’m planning events that revolve around him.

  A knock on my door pulled me from my thoughts.

  “Come in.”

  The door opened and Doug stepped inside.

  “Are you ready for lunch?”

  I looked at the clock on my computer, surprised to find it’s a little past noon. The morning has flown by.

  “Yeah definitely,” I said. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize the time.” After locking my computer, I grabbed my purse from under the desk and stood.

  “Have you been to the Black Whale yet?” he asked as we exited my office.

  “No.”

  “It’s a local place right on the water. Seafood dishes are their specialty, but they have a good selection of burgers, sandwiches, and salads on the menu, too,” he said. “Does that work for you?”

  “That sounds perfect. I love seafood.”

  “You’re definitely in the right place for that.”

  Those adorable dimples made their appearance around his smile.

  “I was at a fundraiser on the beach the other day and the buffet was amazing. So much fresh seafood, and the fresh vegetables were amazing,” I said. “Not that we’re lacking seafood back home, but it seems like there’s a different variety here.”

  “I’m parked out front today,” he said and instead of taking the right to exit toward the lot at the back of the stadium, we turned left to go out the main doors. I avoided looking at the field as we walked through the concourse. I don’t want to lay eyes on Jack right now. Hell, it’s bad enough I’m thinking about him.

  As I dug around in my purse searching for my sunglasses, my phone buzzed. Without thinking, I glanced at the screen and spotted another text from Jack.

  You have my favorite shoes. I’m walking around barefoot.