Double Play

by Nikki Duvall

  Victoria stared at her husband. “What did you say?”

  “Tony King? Really, Victoria, this time you really hit rock bottom.” Art pulled a document from the inside pocket of his jacket and leaned in a little closer. “You can have the house in New York and the one in Aspen. I get the businesses. That includes the World Series champions.” He smiled a wicked little smile and patted her on the knee. “Let’s get down on the field,” he said. “The press is waiting.”

  ~THIRTY-FIVE~

  Halee snuggled up in the hammock against J.D.’s good shoulder and sipped her pina colada. The Mexican sunset glowed orange over the bay, setting the backdrop for a flock of dark pelicans’ wings as they crossed the water toward higher ground. She’d set Ty down a good hour ago in their little grass roof hut and he’d been peacefully slumbering ever since, leaving Mom and Dad to enjoy some adult time.

  “That was Smothers,” said J.D., disconnecting his phone. “The surgeon said I’ll be good to go come spring training.”

  Halee ran one finger gently along J.D.’s heavily bandaged shoulder. “That means you have a big decision to make,” she said.

  “We have a big decision to make.” He leaned over to kiss her, then grimaced.

  “Slow down, Romeo. You don’t want to undo the surgeon’s good work.”

  “Might be worth it,” said J.D. wiggling his brows.

  “Do you want to stay with the Federals?”

  “Frank says Pryor is sweetening the deal every time I say no.”

  “Frank?”

  “Yup. I hired him as my new manager. I figure a lawyer is what I’ll need in the majors. He’s already got the Cougars and the Federals in a bidding war and the Jackals are on the sidelines waiting to see what shakes out.” He took her hand and admired the shiny new diamond ring he’d placed there the night after they won the pennant. “Where do you want to be?”

  “Anywhere you are.”

  J.D. smiled. “Good answer. How about Chicago?”

  Halee released a small cry. “Are they asking?”

  J.D. nodded. “Starting lineup, centerfield. Five million three year contract.”

  “What about the $20 million contact with the Federals?”

  “I’d say Art Pryor doesn’t deserve another minute of my time, let alone five years. He can keep his filthy money. You ask me, family is more important than anything. I know how much you’ve missed Gus and Rita. With me on the road so much, we’ll need to be surrounded by family.”

  “Speaking of which, there’s something I haven’t told you yet.”

  J.D.’s eyes grew bright.

  “No, not yet,” said Halee. “But I do have good news about Faye.”

  “What’s that?”

  “She bought the ranch.”

  “What ranch?”

  “The Double HL.”

  J.D. threw his head back and howled like a coyote. “How the hell…?”

  “Apparently Faye has been very careful about saving over the years. She got it for the taxes.”

  “Well, I’ll be damned,” said J.D., shaking his head. “Why didn’t she tell me? I talked to her right after we won the Series.”

  “She was afraid you’d be mad.”

  “Mad? Aw, hell. Now I guess I’ll have to build her a pretty house to make up for it.”

  Halee laughed. “I hope our sons love me the way you love Faye.”

  “Ain’t no doubt in my mind,” said J.D., taking her hand and holding it against his warm lips. “Now why don’t you and me mosey on over to our little cottage by the sea and work on making us some of those sons you keep talking about?”

  “And then?”

  “Then I think I’ll marry ya. That okay with you?”

  “Mmm.” Halee teased his lips. “More than okay.”

  “I can’t believe my luck,” said J.D. “I got the girl of my dreams.”

  “And the ranch,” Halee reminded him.

  J.D. chuckled and pulled Halee into his arms. “Now that’s what I call a Double Play.”

  THE END

  I hope you enjoyed Double Play. For more information about me and to find out what I’m writing next, join me at nikkiduvall.com

  ALSO BY NIKKI DUVALL:

  TOMBOY ROAD (Telluride Trilogy 1)

  JULIA’S VOW (Telluride Trilogy 2)

  FENCING GELI (Telluride Trilogy 3)

  BARELY LEGAL

  FOLLOW NIKKI AT NIKKIDUVALL.COM

  Table of Contents

  Copyright

  ~ONE~

  ~TWO~

  ~THREE~

  ~FOUR~

  ~FIVE~

  ~SIX~

  ~SEVEN~

  ~EIGHT~

  ~NINE~

  ~TEN~

  ~ELEVEN~

  ~TWELVE~

  ~THIRTEEN~

  ~FOURTEEN~

  ~FIFTEEN~

  ~SIXTEEN~

  ~SEVENTEEN~

  ~EIGHTEEN~

  ~NINETEEN~

  ~TWENTY~

  ~TWENTY- ONE~

  ~TWENTY-TWO~

  ~TWENTY-THREE~

  ~TWENTY-FOUR~

  ~TWENTY-FIVE~

  ~TWENTY-SIX~

  ~TWENTY-SEVEN~

  ~TWENTY-EIGHT~

  ~TWENTY NINE~

  ~THIRTY~

  ~THIRTY-ONE~

  ~THIRTY-TWO~

  ~THIRTY-THREE~

  ~THIRTY-FOUR~

  ~THIRTY-FIVE~

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