Amy’s heart constricted. Life could change in an instant, and many times not for the better. They were both proof of that. “And you blamed yourself.”
“Yes. That’s part of the reason I started drinking so much. I wanted to forget that the last time we were together we argued over a stupid gallon of milk.” He blinked and shook his head as if trying to chase the memory away. “And tonight, it felt like it was happening all over again.”
“But it didn’t. I’m hurt, but I’ll heal.”
“Yes, but it reminded me of how quickly things can change. I was half out of my mind on the way over here. The fear of losing you made me realize what a damn idiot I’ve been. Ever since that day in the gym, after the press conference, I’ve been upset about something that had absolutely nothing to do with you, and I took my anger and my frustration out on you. You’ve dealt with so much since your father died, but instead of being supportive, I treated you like you were some sort of criminal.” He gently squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you, and I’m sorry I hurt you. It’s the last thing I ever wanted to do, and yet I did it anyway. If you can’t forgive me, I understand why, but I hope you will because I love you and I can’t imagine a future without you in it.”
“But…but you said we rushed into a relationship,” she said, hardly able to believe what was happening. Why she was playing devil’s advocate was beyond her. Maybe the pain medication was messing with her head, but as much as she longed to hear it, she didn’t want Rick to confess his love for her because he felt guilty, or because she might have died in the accident.
“I said that out of anger, but it wasn’t true. From the first moment I saw you at Stylus, you intrigued me. I’m not claiming it was love at first sight, but it was damn close.” He shifted forward on the chair, moving closer to her. “Do you remember the first time I kissed you and I freaked out because I thought about Jill?”
“Yes.”
“That was when I knew you could be important to me. Anyone else might not have been as understanding. You encouraged me to continue grieving if that’s what I needed to do. Your actions since we met showed me what kind of person you are, and I’m ashamed to admit that when you needed my support and understanding the most, I let you down. Earlier tonight, you said that I couldn’t forgive you for not telling me about your past, but there’s nothing to forgive.”
“Do you really believe that?”
“Yes. After what you went through in Barstow it makes perfect sense you’d have a hard time talking about it.”
“I didn’t want you to think less of me, but since that day in the gym I’ve come to realize that I let the people who had slut-shamed me and accused me of killing Bryce make me think less of myself. I lost track of who I am, who I’ve always been.” She paused as emotion threatened to overwhelm her. “And I’ve decided that I won’t let that time in my life define me anymore. I have an amazing son and I’m building a good life. That’s what’s important.”
“Do you know what I see when I look at you?” he asked. She shook her head, and then he continued. “I see a beautiful, caring woman, and a wonderful mother. You’re the strongest person I’ve ever met, and even though I had put Jill’s death behind me and I’d moved on with my life, I didn’t start living again until I met you. You brought me back to life.” Rick lifted her hand, then gently kissed her palm. “I love you, Amy. And I want to build a future with you. If you’ll have me.”
Amy’s heart swelled with unbridled happiness. Oh yes, she’d have him. And if she wasn’t immobilized in a hospital bed, she would have sat up and flung her arms around him. “When I came back to San Francisco, all I wanted to do was save as much money as I could so I could leave California for good. I wasn’t looking for love. In fact, I was pretty sure love only existed in movies and books. But then you came along and I realized I was wrong. It does exist. Good men who are trustworthy and kind do exist. I know because you’re one of them. I’ve never said this to any man before, but I’m saying it to you. I love you. And that future you talked about building? Count me in.”
Rick’s eyes flared with emotion as he leaned forward and their lips met in a long, deep kiss that would have weakened her knees if she’d been standing. Too soon, he pulled back, but the tenderness of his gaze made up for the absence of his lips.
“By the way, in case you’re wondering,” he said softly. “I love Danny, too.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” Amy grinned. “Because we’re a package deal.”
A smile slowly tipped one corner of his mouth. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Epilogue
Amy was used to the breathtaking scenery in San Francisco, but the view of San Diego Bay from the balcony of the two-bedroom suite she, Rick, and Danny had occupied for the last two nights was spectacular in its own way. Under a clear sky, a handful of sailboats skipped and dipped over the sparkling blue water, and on the promenade, tourists and San Diegans alike strolled along the water’s edge with their families or their pets enjoying the beautiful summer day. A year ago she never would have imagined she’d be in San Diego, staying in a luxury hotel and attending the All-Star game to watch the man she loved start for the National League. But here she was.
The last five and a half months had been a blur of happiness, despite the eight weeks it had taken for her collarbone to heal. Learning to do everything with only one good arm had been difficult, but she’d gotten through it with the help of Danny, Jade, and the O’Briens.
Rick had helped too, until he’d had to report to spring training in mid-February. After that, they’d kept in touch via phone and video calls, and when the spring training games started in March, Rick had arranged for her and Danny to fly to Scottsdale on a few weekends to watch the games and spend time with him. She’d gotten to know some of his teammates and their wives and girlfriends, and while rooting for the Blaze alongside them during those pre-season games, and then the first half of the regular season, she’d discovered that baseball wasn’t so bad after all.
At the All-Star break, the Blaze were tied for first place with the Dodgers, and Rick had been voted into the All-Star game in the catcher’s position by a landslide. His hard work during the off-season had paid off; not only was he the team’s starting catcher, he had already hit fourteen home runs and currently led the league in batting.
As soon as her collarbone had healed, she had begun shadowing Jade in hopes of landing the senior executive assistant position. Although they were friends, Jade didn’t coddle her, and after seeing everything Jade was responsible for and how well she handled it, Amy had a newfound respect for her best friend. Jade had made a complex position look easy and Amy had no doubt Jade would be as successful in her new role at Logan-Johnson as she had been as Adam and Nick’s assistant. As for Jade, she was thrilled about her promotion to junior sports agent, well, except for the part where she had to work more closely with Trey. There was still no love lost between them, but Jade was a professional and somehow she’d make it work.
Although Amy hadn’t returned to her part-time job at Stylus, she still kept in touch with Cynda and Ronnie, and just last week had joined them for dinner at a new restaurant at the Embarcadero. Cynda was dating a guy from her church, and Ronnie was taking summer classes at USF in the hopes of graduating early. They hadn’t seen Kirby Ferrara at the club in months, but they’d shared the latest gossip on the young socialite and her family. Evidently Kirby’s father was being investigated for insider trading as well as tax evasion and Kirby was getting hammered on social media. The shoe was on the other foot, and it couldn’t have happened to a more deserving bully.
As for her not so illustrious past. It wasn’t something Amy thought about anymore. The story in the City Inquisitor was old news, and in April she’d received a call from the lead detective on Bryce’s case informing her they had arrested a young man that had regularly purchased drugs from Bryce and were charging him with the murder. She’d been happy to hear the news, but dou
bted it would change his friends and family’s opinions of her. And that was fine. Their opinions—good or bad—no longer mattered.
Turning from the lovely view of the bay, Amy moved to the glass-topped coffee table, grabbed her tote bag and the room’s key card, and headed for the door. With a smile, she slipped out of the room. Her two favorite guys were waiting for her on the promenade and she couldn’t wait to join them.
Especially after last night.
Sitting next to Danny on a bench facing the deep blue water of San Diego Bay, Rick leaned back, extended his legs, and enjoyed the warmth of the sun on his face. After a hectic few days, it was nice to relax and enjoy some downtime. He’d been deeply grateful to be voted into the All-Star game by the fans, and when he’d started the game last night he’d actually gotten a little choked up when his name was announced over the PA system. Several players from around the league had been voted in more than once and maybe weren’t as excited as he was, but after almost losing his career after Jill died, he didn’t take the honor lightly.
The National League had won the game and his pitch calls were decent. He’d caught first for Trey for two innings, and then for the Diamondbacks star pitcher for one more inning before Tom Morgan, who’d been named the National League’s coach, pulled him out of the game to give J.T. Sawyer a few innings behind the plate. The local Padres fans had gone wild. They loved J.T., especially after he’d given them a treat by winning the Home Run Derby the night before.
As exciting as the All-Star festivities were, something more important than baseball was on Rick’s mind. He glanced at his watch. Amy would be joining them shortly and he still hadn’t done what he’d set out to do when he and Danny left the suite to get ice cream from the ice creamery situated in the quaint shopping village on Harbor Boulevard.
“When are we going to the zoo?” Danny asked, swinging his legs on the bench and licking his ice cream cone. After much deliberation, he’d ended up getting his favorite flavor: chocolate chip cookie dough.
“As soon as your mom gets here.”
“I can’t wait to see the pandas. Did you know that when a baby panda is born it’s eight hundred times smaller than his mom?”
“Nope. I didn’t know that.”
“Did you know they poop a lot?” Danny asked with a grin.
Rick chuckled. “Can’t say I knew that either. The question is how do you know that tidbit of information?”
“When you said we were coming here and we were gonna go to the zoo, I looked up the zoo’s website on my tablet. They have a panda cam and a bunch of neat stuff about pandas. Did you know that two of them came all the way from China? That’s a long trip. I bet they were tired when they got here.” Danny held up his half-finished cone and grimaced. “I’m full.”
Rick pointed to a trash can several yards away. “You can toss it in there.”
“Okay. Be right back,” Danny said, then jumped up off the bench and raced toward the trash can.
Watching Danny’s retreating back, Rick’s throat tightened. A little over five months had passed since Amy and Danny’s accident, and every day since then he’d been grateful that Amy had given him a second chance. More than that, she’d given him a new life. One that he would never take for granted because he knew how quickly it could be taken away.
Danny skipped back and plopped on the bench next to him. “I wish Mom would hurry up,” he said impatiently.
Seizing the moment, Rick sat up and shifted toward Danny. “Before she gets here I have a question for you. It’s important.”
Angling his head, Danny squinted at him. “Do you wanna know what I want for my birthday? It’s next month, you know.”
“Yeah.” Rick smothered a grin. Danny had been dropping hints about his upcoming ninth birthday for a few weeks. “I know, but this isn’t about your birthday.”
“Okay.” Danny cocked his head. “But if you wanna know what I want for my birthday, I’ll tell you.”
“I do want to know, but not right now.” Rick met Danny’s curious gaze and suddenly the words wouldn’t come. Who knew this would be so nerve-wracking? Just do it, he ordered himself and continued, “Last night, after you went to bed, I asked your mom to marry me and she said yes.”
Danny’s eyes widened and a second later a huge smile lit up his face. “Does that mean we’ll be a family? A real family that lives together?”
“Yes. That’s what that means. A real family living together in the same house.”
“Our apartment is really small.” Danny’s eyebrows pinched together. “Will you fit?”
Rick laughed. “We’re going to get a bigger place.”
“With a yard and a puppy?” he asked, his voice rising with excitement.
“Maybe. We’ll have to check with your mom on that.” Rick cleared his throat. “So, what I wanted to ask you is after your mom and I get married, how would you feel about me legally adopting you?”
Danny went still. “So you’d be my dad. For real?”
“Yes. You’d be my son and I’d be your father.” Rick blinked as emotion swamped him. He couldn’t love Danny more if he’d been his biological son. “I love you, Danny, and it would make me very happy if you wanted to call me dad instead of Rick.”
“Dad,” he said softly, trying it out, as his chin trembled slightly. “Would...would I get to be Danny Taylor?”
“Yep. If that’s what you want. Do you think you could get used to that?” Danny nodded, then leaned against him. “Hey, are you okay?” Rick asked, wrapping his arm around Danny’s slim shoulders and pulling him close.
“I’m fine,” Danny’s voice was slightly muffled. After a few seconds, he leaned back and looked up at him, his eyes shiny with moisture. “I’ve always wanted a dad. Ever since I was a little kid.”
“And I’ve always wanted a son.” He ruffled Danny’s hair. “Looks like we both got what we wanted,” he said, then looked up as Amy strolled toward them, her blonde hair shining in the sun. Over Danny’s head, he gave her a thumbs up. She lifted her hand and smiled—the same beautiful smile she’d given him last night when he asked her to be his wife. That he’d found love a second time in his life was a miracle, and if by some chance Jill was watching over him, he knew she was happy for him.
“Mom!” Danny jumped off the bench and ran toward her, almost knocking her over as he barreled into her and threw his arms around her waist. “Rick’s gonna be my dad!” he said, his voice carrying over the promenade and attracting smiles from several people within hearing distance. Rick watched as Amy leaned down and gave Danny a hug, then straightened and held out her hand to show him the engagement ring Rick had slipped on her finger last night after he’d proposed to her on the balcony of their suite.
Unable to keep the sappy grin off his face, Rick got to his feet and headed toward his new family. They had one full day to spend together before returning to San Francisco and he couldn’t imagine spending it with anyone else. “Are we ready to hit the zoo?” he asked after he kissed Amy’s cheek.
Amy lifted her tote bag. “All set. I’ve got sunscreen, water, and my camera. I can’t wait to see the pandas. Did you know that giant pandas are only the size of a stick of butter at birth?”
“Really?” Rick raised his eyebrows, then looked at Danny. “I didn’t know that. Did you?”
A smug smile tilted the corners of Danny’s mouth. “Who do you think told her?”
“I should have known,” Rick said, as the three of them, with Danny sandwiched in the middle, walked back toward the hotel. “So Danny, are you ready to tell me what you want for your birthday?”
Danny looked up at him, then Amy, his eyes glowing with happiness. “I already got it.”
Acknowledgments
To Jodi Henley, Amber Drappier, Angela Haddon and Nicole Snyder: Working with you has been a pleasure. Thank you all for your contributions to Playing for Keeps.
About the Author
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Alison now live
s in Southern Nevada where she’s finally learned to tolerate the blistering summers and is no longer surprised by the slot machines in every grocery store.
When not working at the day job that pays the bills, keeps a roof over her head, and supports her book and chocolate habits, Alison spends most of her free time writing. But when she takes a break, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and spending time with her family and friends.
For more information on Alison’s upcoming releases, you can sign up for her newsletter at alisonpackard.com.
Also by Alison Packard
Love in the Afternoon (Feeling the Heat #1)
The Winning Season (Feeling the Heat #2)
A Christmas for Carrie (Feeling the Heat #2.5)
Catching Heat (Feeling the Heat #3)
Breaking His Rules (Feeling the Heat #4)
Stealing Second (Feeling the Heat #5)
Hearts on Fire
Crossing the Line
Playing for Keeps © 2018 by Alison Packard
Ebook: ISBN 978-0-9863551-4-1
Print: ISBN 978-0-9863551-5-8
Cover Design by Angela Haddon
www.angelahaddon.com
Edited by Jodi Henley
Copyedit by Amber Drappier of DTech Editing Services
Formatting by Nicole Snyder
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. All trademarks are owned by their respective companies and are denoted by the use of proper capitalization of the company and/or brand.
Playing for Keeps (Feeling the Heat Book 6) Page 29