by Lyssa Layne
“I was there all night with the guys and not a single photographer was there. How do they always find you?” I ask.
He shrugs and squeezes my leg. “Guess they only care about the good-looking ball players.”
I laugh and lean my head back against the car seat. Jace’s hand rubs me over my shorts and I moan.
“Want more of that, baby?” he asks in a whisper. At the next stoplight, he leans over me and reclines my seat. His fingers unbutton my shorts and he tugs them down.
The light changes and he slips one finger between my legs, rubbing on my hot button. I groan and grind my hips against his hand. My vibrator is nothing compared to the real thing. By the time we get back to the loft, hot and bothered is an understatement. Pulling into the parking garage, Jace’s fingers stop and I open my eyes.
He looks at me with a raised eyebrow. “Want me to finish you off with my hand or with this?”
He takes my hand and rubs it over his member begging to be released from under his shorts. I rub my hand over him and unzip his cargo shorts. He slides the seat back as I kick off my shorts. I step over the center console and straddle him, lowering myself onto him. He brushes my hair back and his face softens.
“Do you want a condom?”
I lean down and kiss him softly. “You told me I’m the only one… am I?”
He nods and begins to thrust into me slowly. I tilt my head back and let out an “mmm.” Jace’s hands slide under my shirt and he lightly brushes my breast. This is an entirely different man than the one I was with last time. I kiss him and despite being in a cramped car, we make love to each other.
He moves in and out of me slowly, rubbing my happy spot, making sure I get off before him. My whole body shudders at the sweet release. I keep moving until he experiences the same thing. I fall onto him, my head on his shoulder as I try to catch my breath. He gently rubs my back as he breathes deeply as well. This is the tenderest moment I’ve experienced with him.
“Nikki,” he whispers, “I know I’m not the same man I was in college, but know that I love you. I always have and I always will.”
He loves me? Did he just say that he loves me? My heart shifts into overdrive as my body starts to shake.
He pulls me against him tightly. “Baby, are you okay?”
I nod against his neck and he kisses my cheek. I softly whisper back, “I love you too, Jacen Richards.”
He grins as I call him by his full name, then he lifts me up, pulling himself out of me. I pout, already missing it. He kisses me softly and says, “Let’s go inside.”
We quickly pull on our shorts and he holds my hand as we head to what can only be called our home. The thought briefly freaks me out, but I try to push it away.
Once upstairs, he draws us a warm bath, complete with bubbles and champagne. In the tub, I lean back against him as his hands mindlessly trace over all the curves of my body. I think I could get used to this. His lips brush over my ear and he whispers, “Happy birthday.”
Opening my eyes, I see a long slender baby blue box that’s obviously from Tiffany’s. I turn my head to look at him, surprised. “Jace, you didn’t have to get me anything.”
“Yes, I did. Open it!” he says excitedly.
Flipping off the lid, I open it and see a diamond bracelet. It’s platinum with seven round diamonds. Glancing at the tag, I see it’s over a carat in diamonds and designed by Elsa Peretti, so I know the price tag isn’t cheap. I finger the diamonds one by one. “Jace… it’s gorgeous.”
He leans his head by mine and I feel him smile against my cheek. “Just like you. Now you can replace that old charm bracelet you’ve had since college,” he says and moves to take it off.
A deep feeling of sadness washes over me. The bracelet is from my father… and Grant. He sets it on the edge of the tub and replaces it with the new diamonds. I turn around and kiss him, muttering thank you in between our lip locks. Not wanting to ruin the moment, I decide I’ll wear the charm bracelet when he’s not around.
CHAPTER 15
His shoulder’s dropping. He’s wincing and he doesn’t even know it. I can see this from the outfield. I look around and see Michael not even paying attention to him. Instead he’s talking to one of the new female interns. Jogging to the infield, I tap my boss’ shoulder and point to the mound where Grant is pitching. Michael slowly turns around, I can see the look of irritation on his face.
Nodding at Grant, I ask, “Do you see that?”
Michael watches him and shrugs. “He’s fine.”
I throw up my hands. “His shoulder is dropping and he’s in pain. It’s obvious!”
Michael yells out, “Adamson, how’s the arm feel?”
Grant nods and winds up for another pitch. Michael looks at me with a smirk and shoos me away. I walk to the dugout to grab a drink of water and see Benny standing beside me. He looks up and grins.
“Saw you and Richards getting cozy in his Benz.”
My face flushes. Apparently a reporter followed us into the parking garage and snapped a few pics of us kissing in the driver’s seat. Luckily, nothing too incriminating was caught, but it was still embarrassing.
“We thought we’d lost them,” I mumble.
Benny laughs and pats my shoulder. “You’re so naive, Colie. Richards loves the pap, why do you think they’re always surrounding him?”
They’re always around us but what is Benny trying to get at? I furrow my eyebrows and Benny squeezes my shoulders.
“Notice they hardly ever follow your boy Grant or me? Richards drops hints, gives them tips as to where he’ll be. Colie, you need to be careful. Don’t let all this go to your head and get hurt like Grant did.”
Now I’m totally confused. Jace wouldn’t do that and what does he mean about Grant? Luckily, Benny goes on without my asking.
“Adamson ever tell you about his ex?”
“A little, but not the whole story.”
Benny leads us to sit down on the bench as he starts to fill me in on the details. “Grant married his high school girlfriend. They’d been together for a while. When he hit it in the big time, she ate up the fame. Always making a big to-do about where she was going, making sure pictures were snapped, she loved being in the limelight. Grant went along with everything to make her happy. Halfway through his first season, she was out partying with some friends. The paparazzi tagged along at her request. On the drive home, she was posing for the pap in the car beside her, not paying attention when she ran a red light and hit another car. She walked away from the accident without a scratch, but the other driver was paralyzed from the waist down.”
He stops, letting it all sink it. No wonder Grant hates the photographers…and his ex-wife.
“Your boy sent her on her way and hasn’t heard from her since. Rumor has it she tried dating another ball player but he was smart enough to ask for a pre-nup and she split.”
I stare at Benny. I can’t even imagine the pain Grant experienced. No wonder he always tried to stay away from the photographers and protected me from them, unlike my current boyfriend who puts me on display for them.
***
Juggling the phone between my ear and the pot full of hot water in my hands, I dump the contents into a strainer in the sink. The water splashes against the bowl and steam blows in my face.
“Colie, what are you doing?” Jace asks through the phone.
I hold my cell against my ear as I cook a turkey burger on the stove. “I’m cooking dinner,” I respond.
He chuckles and says, “You’re cooking? Order out or have something delivered, babe.”
“Jace,” I say with an exasperated sigh, “I can cook my own dinner.”
“But you don’t have to, baby. You need to learn to spoil yourself.”
I hardly think ordering out is spoiling myself, but I don’t say anything. Instead, I dive into uncharted waters. “If we lived together, I’d cook for you everything night,” I say in a seductive voice.
He lets out a moan. “M
mm…only if you cook in the buff,” he teases.
I bite my lip, not sure where to guide this conversation. I decide to take the plunge. “Jace, have you thought about our future?”
“Sure, babe. After October, I plan on staying in New York with you during the off season.”
I release the breath I was holding. It’s a start. “What about long term…not necessarily with me? I mean, do you ever want to get married? Have kids?”
He laughs again. “Gonna be kind of hard to have any kids.”
I shrug as I place the burger on my plate and respond, “You could get a reversal or adopt.”
Silence. Oh shit, I’ve gone too far. I hear him pop open a beer in the background and take a long guzzle. “Nikki, when the time comes and we make that lifelong commitment, if you want kids, I’ll make it work, okay?”
My face lights up and a huge grin hangs on my face. He didn’t say if, he said when, and he said he’d make it work. We would be parents! We’d have our own family! “Seriously?” I ask like a teenager who was just told she was getting a car.
“Nikki, I told you I love you.”
That he did.
CHAPTER 16
Sweat drips down my back. I hate baseball in July. It’s miserable no matter what part of the country you’re in. The humidity in St. Louis though is atrocious. The team should be moved based on the weather alone. Wiping my neck with a towel, I watch Grant on the mound and cringe. He has to be in a lot of pain based on how far off his pitch is. Luckily, the shortstop snags the third out and the boys jog in to bat. Grant sits beside me and pats my leg without saying anything.
“How’s the shoulder?” I ask, watching his face for the real answer.
He nods and touches my wrist, finding the diamonds instead of my usual charms. “Where’s your bracelet?” he asks with a frown as he pulls his hand back.
“I…must’ve worn this and forgot to take it off,” I stammer.
Grant shakes his head but doesn’t say anything. Truth is, it’s still hopefully lying by the bathtub at the loft in New York.
My phone vibrates in my pocket and I check the message. It’s from Tosh: Mr. Richards just pitched a no-hitter and would like for you to fly out tonight to celebrate with him.
I text back: Bottom of the fifth, can’t fly out until game is over.
I send another one to Jace: No-hitter? Awesome, babe!
Grant looks over. I hold up my phone and announce, “Jace got a no-hitter.”
He mumbles something I can’t hear and walks down the dugout. My phone beeps again. This time it’s from Jace: Get your fine ass out here to celebrate! Flight leaves at seven.
I glance at my wristwatch and see it reads three already. I’ll be cutting it close but I think I can make it.
Our batters go down one, two, three. I’m surprised to see Grant heading back out to the mound. I try to catch Michael’s eye but he doesn’t look in my direction. I wish Benny were in the dugout so I could quiz him on how Grant’s been feeling, but he’s still in the bullpen. After seeing Grant flinching with his throw, I walk down to Michael.
“Adamson needs out and at least a week of rest.”
He shrugs without looking at me.
“Michael—”
I start again but he interrupts me. “Adger, he says he’s fine. Drop it.”
“Michael, you know just because they tell us they’re fine doesn’t mean that they are. It’s our job to pick up on their cues.”
The words are barely out of my mouth when we hear a collective gasp around the stadium. Michael and I lock eyes before we turn to the field and see Grant clutching his pitching shoulder. Michael takes off for the mound and I’m right behind him. I stand back, letting him evaluate Grant while I chew nervously on my bottom lip. Michael nods and says, “I think you can face a few more batters today.”
“What?” I exclaim, both men looking at me. “Michael, his arm is killing him and we’ve got fresh pitchers in the pen. Take him out and let him rest it. We need to check again to make sure it’s not a tear.”
Michael spins and steps directly beside me. We’ve got forty thousand pairs of eyes on us and our every action is being scrutinized. He plasters on a smile but under his breath, he says loud enough for both Grant and I to hear, “Adger, Adamson may have requested you for spring training but you’re off his care now. If you want to keep your job, stop questioning my calls.”
Ever so slowly, my eyes move to Grant. Tears blur my vision so I can’t see him clearly but I can make out the deer caught in headlights look he has on his face. I feel as though my whole world has been ripped out beneath me. Without saying a word, I jog back to the dugout.
Every player and coach is watching me in silence as I walk the length of the bench and into the tunnel leading to the training room. Slamming the door behind me, I scream as loud as I can and let the tears spill down my face. As I’m stuffing my belongings into my backpack, the door opens. I know who it is without looking. Only one person would run after me. I don’t even look up as I say, “Don’t…just don’t say anything.”
He takes a deep breath and in a low voice says, “Colie, it’s not what you think. I didn’t—”
I walk over to him, puffing up my chest so we’re touching. I’m not going to let him try to sweet talk me. I know I look like a hot mess—sweaty, red blotchy face from crying, flyaway hairs from the humidity, but at this point, I don’t care. I push his chest as I cut him off.
“You didn’t what? Talk Michael into letting me go to spring training? You know how bad I wanted to go, but I wanted to go on my terms, Grant. I need to prove myself to him, let him know I’m important to this team, that they need me.”
Grant’s hair is slicked back with sweat and he’s got a smidge of dirt on his cheek that I’d normally wipe off, but I don’t dare touch him. He grabs my hand and links his fingers with mine. “Colie, we do need you… I need you,” he says in an even lower voice, almost a whisper.
My heart races as our fingers lace together, but I quickly pull my hand away. “You need me, huh? What’d you do? Pay Michael so it would better your chances to get me in bed? Too bad that didn’t work,” I quip and grab my bag.
He sinks back, leaning against the table, but doesn’t say a word. I storm out of the room and head to the airport.
***
I feel bad for the person sitting next to me on the plane. I haven’t showered, I smell like sweat, and I’ve been crying for over half the flight. I shouldn’t have said that to Grant. I know that’s not what he did. He would never do anything like that. I reach down to touch my charms he gave me and sigh when I touch diamonds instead.
The plane pulls into the gate as we land. The fasten seatbelt sign switches off and I grab my backpack, which is my only bag. I didn’t go back to the hotel to get my suitcase, I just wanted to get the hell out of Dodge. I text Jace to let him know I’ve landed. I’m not sure if he or Tosh be picking me up, and I’m really not sure who I prefer to see first. At least with Tosh, I know there won’t be a crowd, but I need to feel Jace’s arms around me, comforting me.
Nearing security, I see the flashes going off and I know Jace is there. I pick up my pace, ready to be in his arms, and I’m just hoping he’s in the mood to play boyfriend and not famous ball player. I watch him from the safety of the Plexiglas that separates us. He’s giving an interview to one of the reporters, I’m sure about his no-hitter. Maybe I could sneak by and just meet him at the car.
Someone clears their throat and I turn around. It’s a female TSA agent, and she’s all kinds of intimidating with her hands on her hips. She nods toward Jace. “Ma’am, he’s one of us, just like you and me. Nothing fancy so let’s keep moving.”
I nod and wipe at my eyes. I know my make-up is gone, but I’m hoping to salvage the tear streaks down my face. Her burly hand grabs my bicep and I shake my head. “I’m going, I’m going…” but she doesn’t let go.
“Well, hell’s bells, honey. You’re the girlfriend, aren’t you? Tell
me, are you really with Adamson too?”
I shake my head no, tears threatening again. She frowns and lets go of my arm. “You crying over Adamson or Richards?”
I try to talk but tears fall down my cheeks and the woman pulls me into a tight embrace, so tight I can barely breathe. “Honey, two hot men after you? It’s hard, I know, but you’ve gotta follow your heart, you hear me?”
If only it were that simple.
She takes me by the hand and drags me down the corridor. She nods to the women’s bathroom and points inside. “Go clean yourself up. I’m on break so I’ll stand guard. Don’t want those crazy paparazzi people snapping your photo looking like that.”
I glance down at my outfit. Is it that bad? As I look in the mirror, I see it’s worse than I thought. I splash water on my face and undo my braid. I flip my hair down and stand up. Looking in the mirror, I see my long blonde mane is now a wavy mess, but it hides the flyaways. I dig in my backpack and find a few make-up essentials: foundation, mascara, lip gloss and reapply. Taking a deep breath, I study the mirror one more time and figure this will have to do. Walking out, I touch the agent on the arm and mumble thanks.
She lets out a whistle and exclaims, “Damn, girl! I wish I could look like that with just ten minutes in the bathroom.”
I laugh and shake her hand. “What’s your name?”
“Agnes.”
“It’s been a pleasure to meet you, Agnes, and I really appreciate your help.”
She winks at me before she says, “Honey, I’ve been in the same situation…” As we walk back down the corridor, Agnes tells me about the love triangle she was in back in high school. Her next door neighbor and his best friend were both fighting over her. Luckily, she picked her neighbor because the other man is still living at home under his “momma’s roof.”
We get back to the security gate and she nods to the crowd. “Want me to bust ‘em up for ya?”
I shake my head, knowing Jace is enjoying the attention. I give her a quick hug and she wishes me good luck as I make my way toward the media hoopla.