Pitch Perfect

by MCLANE, LUANN

  “Good to hear it. Look, I know it’s my call, but Noah and I really do have your best interests at heart.” Ty gave him a tired grin. “Not to mention, the more guys we send up to the minors, the easier it will be to recruit. Everybody wins.”

  “You gotta like win-win situations.”

  “It could be that for us all,” Ty said as he lowered his feet to the floor. “You know that Noah is from Cricket Creek, right? It’s important for this team’s continued success since it means revenue for the entire town. Local businesses, especially the shops, inns, and restaurants, will benefit from strong attendance at the ballpark.”

  “Last season must have gone well. There seems to be growth along Main Street.”

  “You’re right.” Ty nodded. “But the first year we were new and exciting. We need to keep filling the seats.”

  “And you do that by winning.”

  “Yeah, but sending you guys up is important too. It’s exciting for the fans to see the success of the players they come out to watch. We had Logan Lannigan last season, and as far as I can see you’re the most talented player we have this year. I want to see you get back where you should be, Cam.”

  “Thanks. That’s my goal.”

  “You have the drive and the talent. Just keep your nose clean.”

  “I plan on it.”

  “It’s pretty easy to do here. There’s really not much in the way of trouble. Sully’s Tavern can get rowdy at night, but big-ass Pete keeps things under control. So you’ve got that going for ya.”

  “I’m so over bar fights.”

  Ty chuckled. “That’s what I like to hear. Well, listen, batting practice is called off because of more damned work being done to the infield. We’ll just have a short team meeting instead.” He shook his head. “Owen Lawson, our groundskeeper, is a helluva guy but a perfectionist. He’s Noah’s soon-to-be father-in-law, so I just grin and bear it.”

  “Noah Falcon is engaged?” Cam remembered that he was a notorious playboy back in his day. He just couldn’t picture it.

  “Not officially, but it’s gonna happen.”

  “Someone local?”

  Ty nodded. “Olivia Lawson, the drama teacher at Cricket Creek High School. They met when they starred in a play together last year. Beautifully written by my stepdaughter, I might add.”

  Cam frowned. “A local schoolteacher? Dude, Noah used to have supermodels on his arm. What’s up with that?”

  “Love, my friend. It bites you when you least expect it. Not that Olivia isn’t pretty and a sweetheart. Noah is damned lucky to have her.”

  “I didn’t mean anything … I’m just sayin’.”

  “I know. You’ll understand someday.” He stood up and stretched. “You’re getting another shot, kiddo. Don’t blow it.”

  “I won’t.” If anybody else but Ty McKenna had called him kiddo, it would have gotten under his skin, but Triple Threat Ty was one of his childhood heroes, and even at this level Cam felt honored to be on his team. “Count on it.”

  “Like I said, you’ve got the skills. The rest is up to you. Okay, I’m gonna sneak home and take a well-deserved nap.” Ty yawned. “See you bright and early tomorrow. Don’t be late.”

  “I won’t.” Cam said and meant it. He had learned early on that being late for practice was a major mistake. Cam followed Ty out of the stadium and into the parking lot. He gave his coach a wave as he headed over to the high-rise condo complex where he and most of the Cougar roster and staff lived. Cam thought that the place was pretty damned sweet. It was a big surprise when he arrived, since he had envisioned much less in the way of accommodations. They also gave the players a big break on the rent as long as they took units on one of the bottom floors that didn’t have a river view, and that was perfectly fine with him. For a guy who had grown up doing without, this was more than doable.

  Cam opened the door and tossed his baseball cap onto the small dining-area table before heading to the fridge to grab a cold bottle of water. The condos were furnished with the basics for the baseball players, which was good since he wasn’t much of a shopper or decorator. All he needed was a sofa, a television, and a bed. The rest was just gravy. Most everyone had roommates to share costs, but because Cam came on late in the preseason, he didn’t have one. Cam really didn’t mind, though. After a couple of stellar years at the University of Florida, Cam had received a three-hundred-thousand-dollar signing bonus as an early draft choice by the Chicago Cubs. Because of his dirt-poor upbringing, he had saved and invested most of it and could afford to live on his own. Still, he had panicked when he was let go after only three years of minor-league play. Athletes who got into trouble weren’t being picked up for new contracts, and despite his ability, no one had been interested in him as a free agent because of the scuffles he had gotten into. Too much bad press had started a no-tolerance trend that cut Cam’s career short. But he had the talent and the drive and wasn’t about to squander a second chance at living his dream and proving his worth.

  Since the weather had warmed up, Cam decided to shuck his jeans in favor of some cargo shorts, a T-shirt, and sandals. Next on the agenda was lunch. He really needed to take a trip to the grocery store for some supplies instead of constantly eating out, but the food at Wine and Diner was just too damned good, and reasonable compared to the city prices he was used to. With that in mind, he slid on his Oakleys, put on his Cougars cap, and headed out the door.

  The bright sunshine felt good on Cam’s face, and the pungent scent of river water made him want to find time to go fishing. The fish he’d caught as a kid had ended up as dinner, and while he had no desire to clean fish, he did still love to catch and release. Being on the water had a soothing and calming effect that he missed. Cam looked toward the nearby marina and made a mental note to check out the cost of boat rentals later in the day.

  Since Wine and Diner was just a few blocks away, he opted to hoof it, but then again walking was nothing new to Cam. As a kid he either had to walk to practice or ride his bike with his battered baseball glove slipped through the handlebars. Cam shook his head at the memory. He damned well knew that if he ever made it big, he was going to help underprivileged kids get the equipment they needed in order to play.

  Cam tugged open the door of Wine and Diner and smiled at Bella, the cute little hostess. She was his type of girl … gorgeous and kick-ass feisty, but he knew she was in a relationship with Logan Lannigan, who was playing in the minors and from what Cam heard was doing very well. Not that Cam would hit on beautiful Bella anyway. Chicks spelled trouble, and he was going to steer clear of women while he got his shit together. “Hi, Bella, got a booth open?”

  “Hey, Cam. I sure do. You missed the lunch rush, so we’re pretty wide open.”

  “Nice.”

  “Follow me,” she said and grabbed a menu.

  He tried not to ogle her sweet little tush, which was poured into tight black pants. She was short but put together in an awesome curvy package. Watching her move with sensual grace reminded him just how long it had been since he had been with a woman. Don’t think about it, Cam warned his sorry-ass self and moved his gaze from her ass to … “No way!”

  “This booth isn’t okay?” Bella asked with a slight frown.

  “No … it’s fine,” Cam replied, and he slid onto the leather bench seat and took the menu she offered, but his gaze immediately returned to Mia Money, who was waiting on tables! Well, she was attempting to wait on tables. Strands of her pale blond hair escaped her ponytail and she had a decidedly frazzled look. “You hired her?” Cam looked at Bella with raised eyebrows.

  Bella flicked a glance in Mia’s direction. “Yeah, she’s a little bit flighty but seemed nice enough. Myra wanted to give her shot. Mia’s car is in the shop and she doesn’t have the cash to have it fixed.”

  Cam nodded slowly and watched Mia fumble through taking an order from a table of preppy-looking guys wearing designer polo shirts. From the looks of them, they were probably passing through Cricket Cree
k. “Has she even been trained?”

  “Um …” Bella rolled her eyes. “Actually she’s a fast learner, just like she promised. She already knows the menu inside out and can recommend what wine to go with it.”

  Cam raised his eyebrows. “At this time of day?”

  “Apparently she thinks all meals need wine.”

  “But?” Cam prompted when Bella rolled her eyes again.

  “She gets totally flustered and spills things.” Bella leaned forward and said in a low tone, “I think she’s much more used to giving orders than taking them.”

  “Then why’d you put her out on the floor?” Cam watched Mia struggle with a heavy tray of food. It tipped slightly to the side, causing everything to shift, but she quickly compensated and put it down with a clatter. He noticed that her hands shook, and he wanted to go over there and hug her … Wait—hug her? Cam was not a hugging kind of dude. He shook his head. “Yeah, she’s clearly out of her element.” But he thought of the beater car and her lack of funds and frowned. Nothing was making sense.

  “One of the waitresses was sick, and Mia insisted that she could handle it.” Bella flicked another glance in Mia’s direction. “Myra decided to let her jump right in.”

  “How’s she been holding up?” Cam asked and tried not to notice how cute she looked in the retro-style uniform. Damn, she was pretty in pink.

  “Better than I expected.”

  “Meaning pretty bad.”

  “Yeah, I feel sorry for her. She’s trying so hard but screws everything up. There have been a couple of YouTube moments.”

  “I can imagine.” Yeah … he had quite an imagination where she was concerned.

  “She should be over to take your order in a minute if she can ever get that table waited on. Those guys seem to be giving her a tough time.”

  “Why don’t you help her out?”

  Bella gave him a curious look but then shrugged. “I offered, but she insisted that she could do it alone. I finally gave up trying. She should do okay now that the big lunch rush is over.”

  Cam nodded and then remembered her pitiful pile of change. “Where is she staying?” He hated to think of her without someplace safe to live.

  “Ohhh …” Bella arched an eyebrow. “Sounds like you’re concerned, Cam.”

  “Just curious.”

  “Right …”

  “Hey, my only concern right now is baseball,” Cam insisted as he took the menu from her.

  “Sure it is.” Bella pointed to the ceiling. “She’s living in the apartment upstairs. Well, I’d better get back to my post.” She gave him a wink and then glanced in Mia’s direction and shook her head when Mia dropped a handful of straws onto the floor. “See ya at Sully’s tonight?”

  “Maybe.” Cam nodded absently and then concentrated on his menu, but after a few minutes he realized he wasn’t reading selections but listening to the asshats bitching at Mia. He ground his teeth in an effort not to get involved. A moment later Mia rushed over to his table. Her eyes widened when she recognized him.

  “Oh, hi,” she said a bit breathlessly and pushed at a lock of her hair.

  “So you’re working here?” When she gave him a deadpan look, he grinned. “Okay, stupid question.”

  “May I get you something to drink?” Her tone was cool and professional but had a nervous edge that made him want to say something reassuring, but he didn’t.

  “Just water.”

  “Lemon?”

  “No, thanks. I don’t like fruit in my drinks.”

  “Okay, one water coming up.” When Mia poised her pencil in front of her pad and licked her lips, a hot stab of longing slid directly south. Damn, the girl looked fine even when she was flustered. “Do you need a minute or are you ready to order?”

  I’ll have you, popped into Cam’s brain and made him shift in his seat. “What’s today’s special?”

  “Pot roast, mashed potatoes, and your choice of one side. You can add a salad for one dollar. One dollar! Can you believe it? Oh, and the glazed carrots are simply divine.”

  “Sounds good.”

  “Oh, and may I suggest a nice glass of merlot?”

  Cam almost laughed, but she was so sincere that he couldn’t make fun of her. “Uh, no, thanks. I think I’ll stick with the unfruited water.”

  “Okay.” She frowned. “So does that mean that you want the special?”

  “I’m not sure. Bring me a tossed salad to start with. Thousand Island dressing.”

  “Excellent choice,” she said, as if he was dining in a five-star restaurant.

  “Thank you,” Cam answered in a fake-serious tone. “It was a tough decision.”

  Mia pressed her lips together. “I can imagine. Jessica makes it from scratch. Well, she makes all of her dressings fresh. I watched her. It was fascinating.” She drew out the word and did this little hand-flip thing that looked so out of place with her job that Cam almost chuckled. He had seen the same kind of irritating phony gestures from countless rich women, yet Mia seemed sincere, causing Cam to be … charmed?

  Nah, couldn’t be! He was merely amused. And yet …

  “Oh, I’ve been telling everyone.”

  “Telling everyone what?”

  “That just about everything here at Wine and Diner is made from scratch with no preservatives. Most of her vegetables are organically grown and many of them purchased locally when in season.”

  “Good to know.” Cam had to hide his grin. Mia Money was cute enough to get big tips even if she sucked at serving.

  “I’ll be right back with your salad and beverage.”

  “Thanks.” Cam watched her walk away with more interest than he wanted to have in a woman. Not only did he find her as sexy as hell, but he was intrigued as well. Her manicure, flawless skin, and glossy hair screamed pampering, and yet here she was waiting tables while her battered old car got repaired. And while she had that air of confidence that came with having wealth, she also had a nervous edge that had Cam wondering just what she was running from.

  Cam looked back down at the menu and grinned at the bits and pieces of local folklore and Kentucky recipes peppered throughout the extensive selections. New versions of standard classic diner favorites gave the restaurant fresh appeal without losing the throwback charm. He usually just ordered a burger or the special, but he decided to branch out and try something different today. With that in mind he studied the extensive choices.

  “Wow.” Cam felt his heart lurch when he saw Stone Soup listed on the menu along with a sidebar explaining the timeless fable. His overworked mother had often been too tired to pay much attention to Cam, but once in a while she read a bedtime story to him before he went to sleep. A battered book of fables had been his favorite, and seeing Stone Soup sent an unexpected ache of sadness straight to his heart. His mother would sometimes end the story by ruffling his hair and placing a quick kiss on top of his head. That simple gesture was as close as he ever felt to being loved.

  Cam sighed at the memory. Other than late at night, his mother was mostly absent, working no-end double shifts that paid very little but required lots of hours. Fatigue often made her testy, causing Cam to stay out of her way as often as he could. He had played lots of sandlot baseball, since his mother couldn’t afford a real uniform on a Little League team, and yet he attributed his real love of the game to that experience versus squabbling parents and only-playing-to-win coaches.

  “Here’s your water and your salad.”

  Cam looked up in surprise. “Oh … thanks.” He had been so engrossed in his thoughts that he’d failed to see Mia approach his table. She seemed a little flushed, and when she gave the rowdy group of guys a nervous glance, he frowned. “Are those dudes getting out of line?”

  “They’re just a bunch of arrogant …” She paused and got a thoughtful look on her face before rolling her eyes and adding, “Ass clowns!”

  Cam arched one eyebrow. “Ass clowns?” Even though Cam found her assessment of the ass clowns amusing, he
wasn’t convinced that they weren’t bothering her, but he firmly reminded himself not to get involved. Odd, but after first meeting Mia, Cam would have thought that these guys were the type she would have hung around with, and yet she seemed annoyed. “Really?” He observed her expression closely, but she scrunched up her cute little nose and nodded.

  “Absolutely.” Mia gave him a slight grin, but he thought it looked a little bit forced. “Have you decided on your entrée?”

  “I think I’ll have a bowl of Stone Soup.”

  “That’s all? Soup and salad?”

  “You might be able to convince me to have dessert.”

  “I recommend the apple crisp. Myra made some early this morning. The kitchen smelled so amazing that I was afraid that simply inhaling would put on weight.”

  Cam was about to tell her that she didn’t have anything to worry about on that score, but one of the ass clowns was flagging her down.

  “Hey, this Coke is diet,” he complained and shoved the glass in her direction.

  “I’m sorry, I thought you asked for diet.”

  “Well, you’re wrong again. And this ketchup bottle is empty.” He shoved it at her as well.

  “I’ll get you another one.”

  “Hurry up. We’ve got places to be.”

  “I will.”

  When Cam noticed a little quaver in her voice, he stabbed his fork into a cherry tomato with more force than needed.

  “And you forgot the extra pickle on my burger.”

  “Okay.”

  “And how about some hot sauce, baby,” one of them said in a smarmy tone that set Cam’s teeth on edge.

  “Coming right up,” Mia said and turned on her heel.

  “You’d better hurry or you’ll get stiffed. But then again, maybe you’d like that.”

  Mia stopped in her tracks and whipped around so fast that Diet Coke sloshed over the rim of the glass. “That’s enough!”

  “Really?”

  “Yes. This is my first day on the job, but I have had enough of you!” Color was high in her cheeks, but she stood her ground. Cam held his breath, hoping the asshats would shut up.