Virtually Yours: A Virtual Match Anthology

by Kait Nolan

  Asa gave a snort. “Thinking to change her mind with softball? I don’t think she places it very high on her list of priorities. Not like the rest of the town.”

  “No. She never has.” Softball might be the local pastime, but it hardly made for the basis of a stable relationship. As a matter of fact, he’d seen quite a few marriages break up or affairs start because of the softball field.

  Now was the time to concentrate on opening his business. He shouldn’t even be thinking of anything else at the moment, but Shelby had returned and all bets were off.

  “I’d tell her, man.” Asa gave one last push of encouragement.

  “We’ll see.”

  Chapter Nine

  After waking in the chair with a crick in her neck and downing a filling breakfast with Jacintha, Shelby drove to the field.

  Parking was a lost cause. After driving around every lot and field, Shelby finally made a space up on a curb, between two lots.

  All the diamonds were full. The stands were full. How was she supposed to find Dallas in this crowd? She’d forgotten his business card with his number so texting him was out of the question. Not that he’d have it on him if he was in his uniform.

  “Shelby!”

  She turned at the sound of her name coming through the rumble of the spectators and crack of balls against bats. No one looked as if they were trying to get her attention.

  “Shelby!”

  She spotted Whitney manning the concession stand, waving madly to get her attention.

  Shelby made a detour. Though she wasn’t hungry, a bottle of water wouldn’t go amiss in the heat.

  “Hey. I’m surprised to see you here.” Whitney flipped burgers like a grill master. “I thought you’d be flying back today.”

  “No. Tomorrow. Can I get a water?”

  “Sure.” Whitney dug into a huge cooler filled with bottled waters and assorted carbonated beverages. “Have you discovered anything else about that boyfriend of Lana’s?”

  “No. He was a no show at Sutter’s the other night, and as far as I know the funeral, though he did send his condolences” Shelby took the water Whitney pushed across the counter to her.

  “That’s tough, kid. Sorry to hear that.”

  She shrugged. “What are you going to do? He was never obligated to meet me. Anyway, it’s done.”

  “Why not meet you then? Doesn’t make sense.” Whitney pointed at Shelby with a spatula. “You mark my words there’s something wrong there.”

  “Consider them marked.” Shelby laid some money on the counter then saluted with her bottle and walked away.

  Okay, so that felt way too much like prodding. What could Whitney be thinking? Stirring up shit at a time like this didn’t do Lana’s memory any justice. But then again, placing blame on an unknown was a hell of a lot easier than owning up to one’s failures in doing something to prevent a friend or loved one from committing suicide.

  As for Shelby, she’d have to put it behind her and move on. No matter how much it hurt.

  She walked around the stands, looking for Dallas and coming up with everyone in the town of Suwannee Grove except him.

  Stark’s Fixtures was scheduled to play on field five. A team was out there but it wasn’t Stark’s. It looked like the PBA and some restaurant.

  She turned to the person seated behind her. “Do you know if there have been any field changes?”

  “Not that they’ve announced. What team are you looking for?”

  “Stark’s.”

  “Oh, they’re playing on three.”

  Oh, hell. Had she mistaken that three for a five? She climbed back down the stands and walked halfway around the park before finding field three. The powers that be must have renumbered all of them, because three had been on the other side of the field at one time. Confusing.

  ~*~

  Dallas lifted his cap to rub the sweat from his eyes before setting it back on his head. Where the hell was Shelby? He glanced at his watch again. He should have gotten her number. He’d make it a point to do so after the game.

  “She’s not here yet?” Asa sat down on the bench next to him. “You think she decided not to come?”

  “I don’t know. I hope not.” The kiss she’d given him in Jacintha’s kitchen had been sweet, and soft, and full of promise. He’d hoped it was a prelude to something more, but then he’d always been a wishful thinker where Shelby was concerned. More often than not, he’d come up empty.

  “She might have had to try and wiggle out of doing something for Miss Jacintha first. It would be like her to find out about the softball game then heap a bunch of errands on Shelby.”

  “True.”

  Asa hit him on the arm. “Shelby spotted.”

  Dallas’s gut clenched as he watched her walk around the edge of the fence that skirted the field. Her hair was pulled up off her face in a clip. Strands already fell in a sexy, windblown way. She wore a light blue Henley and shorts. Christ she looked so touchable and soft. He itched to get his hands on her.

  “You are a very hard man to locate.” She stood in front of them, a bottle of water in her hand.

  Condensation dripped off it onto his knee. “I’ve been here. Jacintha keep you late this morning?”

  “Lyda made a big breakfast and Jacintha wouldn’t let me leave until I ate. Now I feel like I’m going to burst.”

  Dallas smiled. He let his gaze roam over her. He found no cause for complaint. “Yeah, you can’t do Lyda like that.”

  “That was my thinking.” She pointed with her water bottle. “You want to slide over or am I supposed to stand here all day in the hot sun.”

  Dallas gave her what he hoped was a sly smile. “If you came down here more often, you’d not have that thick Yankee blood.”

  “True, but then I would have to deal with things I’d rather not.”

  Judging from the look on her face, she meant the situation with her parents and not the one between the two of them. Thank God and small mammals. He’d have been seriously bummed if she’d meant him.

  Dallas reached out and rubbed her back. “Didn’t moving away help?”

  “Honestly no.” She made a face. “I came here to watch a ballgame, not philosophize about decisions I’ve made.”

  “It’s all one and the same. Life is like a baseball field.”

  A smile touched her lips. “I thought it was like a box of chocolates.”

  “No. It’s better than that. No matter if you hit a single, a double, or knock one clean out of the park, it always brings you back home.”

  Spectators erupted into applause as the game ended.

  Asa stood. “I’m going to head to the dugout.”

  Dallas signaled that he’d heard, but he kept his gaze fixed on Shelby. “You know it will take more courage to stay than to run. It always has.”

  “I never knew you had such a low opinion of me.”

  Dallas stood and looked down at her, adjusting his cap on his head. He opened his mouth to speak, then bit back the words he’d almost said and told her, “No, Shelby. Not by a long shot.”

  With that he walked away, leaving her on the bleachers with his heart pounding up in his throat, and the crowd fading into the background, and the words, I’ve always loved you, on the tip of his tongue.

  Chapter Ten

  The thrill of watching Dallas hit a home run sang in Shelby’s veins. He’d always been a good ballplayer and Lord knew they needed the run. Seriously. Stark’s was getting trounced.

  A shadow fell over her right side. Thinking it was someone late to the game, she didn’t bother to look away from the field as Asa went up to bat.

  “Let’s go, big A,” she shouted.

  “Big A?”

  At the familiar voice, Shelby turned. Max, baseball cap in place and cleats on his feet, sat next to her. She frowned and gave him a slow up and down. “When did you start playing?”

  “About six years ago. I missed it.”

  He’d stopped playing after college, say
ing he didn’t have enough time in his schedule to play ball and build a business. His jersey was from Bonaventure Engineering. Shelby pointed to the logo. “So, playing for the enemy?”

  “What?”

  “Bonaventure. I thought you and Nick hated each other?”

  “He’s a dick, but asked me to play for them.”

  “I bet that just pissed Jae off to no end.”

  Max smiled. “Yeah. Sure did.”

  “You didn’t say anything about playing today.”

  “I didn’t know my recreational activities needed your approval.”

  “They don’t.” She frowned at him. “Why do I even bother?”

  Max let out a breath. “I’m sorry. It’s just hard having you back. I hate the reason for you being here, and I hate the fact you never came home until now. Most of all, I hate that it brings back all the shit from before.”

  Shelby cut a glance his way. “You think it’s tough on you? You have no idea.”

  “It’s been really hard on mama too.”

  “Well, after tomorrow, I’ll be back in New York and you and Emma can breathe a sigh of relief.”

  Stark Fixtures took the field, changing up with their opponent.

  “You’re making me miss the game.” Shelby tried to ignore him.

  “Sorry if I think this conversation is more important than a softball game.”

  “Says the guy who isn’t playing at the moment.” She searched the field but didn’t see Dallas on the pitcher’s mound. “They substituted Dallas out.”

  “It’s not unusual.”

  “But in the eighth inning? That’s robbing him.”

  “Not really. His pitching is for shit today.”

  “And who is Bonaventure playing next?”

  Max had the good sense to look away. “The winner of this game.”

  “Uh-huh.” Shelby stood and walked to the fence to see if she could get a look inside the dugout. She only glimpsed the far end of the bench, and none of the players were sitting there.

  Max stepped up beside her. “What’s going on between you and Dallas?”

  “What’s always been going on between me and Dallas? I’ve spent most of my life in love with him. No other guy quite measures up. Now I’m home, and it looks like he might have feelings for me too.”

  “Of course he does. He’s always had feelings for you.”

  Shelby studied his profile. “Then why did you send him to pick me up at the airport?”

  Max lifted one shoulder. “I hoped he’d be incentive to get you to stay.”

  The confession left her dumbfounded. So her brother was trying to play matchmaker. It was sweet and sad all at the same time.

  The batter hit a long grounder that went straight between the second and third base line. The short stop grabbed it and threw to second, tagging the runner out.

  Shelby clapped. “Way to go, Big A.”

  Max gave her an unsure expression, as if he had expected her to comment on his plans to get her to stay.

  Shelby’s heart pinched. She had no idea how to hang out with her own brother—or what to even say. What a sad state of affairs.

  “What’s wrong?” He brushed the hair off her shoulder. “You went from looking like you wanted to take a swipe at me, to looking as if you want to cry.”

  “This is just so hard, Max. Being home. Surrounded by people I know and feeling like a stranger.” She gave a disgusted laugh. “Hell, I don’t even know how to have a conversation with my brother.”

  “I know.” He placed his hand on her shoulder then looked around. “I feel the same way about you. Like I should know you, but I don’t.”

  Her guts twisted. Tears came to her eyes. She shielded them with her hand and pretended to look out over the field. “We are a sorry couple of peeps here.”

  “Is there any way you could extend your trip? Stay a while longer?”

  “I could.”

  The silence grew between them.

  “But you won’t.”

  “I don’t know. I’ve been kicking around the idea. I just don’t know if it’s feasible.” Shelby let out a breath. Applause came as the teams switched up again. Ninth inning.

  Shelby moved along the fence to the other set of bleachers. Max fell into step beside her.

  “You know I’m afraid if I come back here, it’s going to be more of the same as when we were growing up. I won’t live like that again. I don’t have to.”

  Max removed his hat and held it between his hands. “No, but you hurt a whole lot of people when you left. It might not have been your intention, but that doesn’t change the outcome.”

  “I can count on one hand the amount of people who were impacted by my absence. Not too many for someone who grew up here.”

  “You got it wrong, kid.” Max wiped a hand down his face. “Reality is you and I got gypped. We lost our sister way too early.” He gave a mirthless snort. “Actually, I lost two of them.”

  Nothing like making her feel shittier than usual.

  “I didn’t mean to hurt you or anyone else when I left, but I had to do it. For me. For more reasons than because Emma couldn’t love me as one of her own.”

  More applause. Shelby glanced at the scoreboard. The game was over. When did that happen?

  “According to the scoreboard it looks like Dallas is going to be free. I really want to spend some time with him before I go home.”

  Max nodded then started away. “I understand, but do me a favor and at least think about what I said.”

  How could she not. “I will. Promise.”

  Dallas wandered over to where she sat and plopped down on the bench beside her. “Want to get out of here before Jae decides it’s my fault we lost?”

  “From where I sat, it didn’t look like anyone’s fault.” She leaned into him, knocking her shoulder against his. A riot of emotions swirled in her belly.

  “I saw Max leaving. You don’t seem happy to have been sitting with your brother.” Dallas shot her an apologetic glance. “Not that you both don’t have good reason to be sad.”

  Shelby held up a hand. “He’s trying to talk me into staying.”

  “And that’s a bad thing?”

  “Not as such.”

  Dallas draped his arm around her shoulder and hugged her to his side. “Mind if I go home and shower before I take you somewhere romantic?”

  Shelby’s heart stopped for a beat or two before continuing to beat way too fast. “Um, no. I guess if romance is on the itinerary then how can I say no to you getting cleaned up after sweating your ass off out on the pitcher’s mound.”

  “Thanks. Where should I pick you up?”

  Shelby put her hand up in a gesture to slow down. “So this is like a real date?”

  Dallas gave her a slow, easy smile. “The realest.”

  Alright that took her breath away.

  “You can pick me up at the farm. I think I’ll go back there and hang with Jacintha.”

  Dallas laughed. “You might be able to do quite a few things with Jacintha Steele, but I don’t think hanging is one of them.”

  Chapter Eleven

  Dallas pulled up at the farmhouse. Bright porch lights lit the front of the house and the immediate yard. No one was going to sneak up on Jacintha Steele’s home and not incite her wrath. As he crossed the driveway, more lights turned on. Motion sensors, no doubt.

  Jacintha came out onto the porch with her arms folded and brow raised as he put a foot on the first step. This was not going to go well.

  “Evening, Miss Jacintha.”

  She gave a nod in greeting. “Dallas.”

  “Is Shelby ready?”

  “She’ll be ready in a moment. I wanted a word with you before she comes down.”

  From the looks of it, he wasn’t going to enjoy the word she chose. He’d never known Jacintha Steele to skimp on syllables when she had a piece of her mind to unload.

  “As you wish.”

  A sly smile curled Jacintha’s mouth up at one
corner. “I’ve seen Princess Bride, you know.”

  Dallas hadn’t even thought of that when he’d said it. He gave her a smile to cover his inadvertent movie quote. He pointed to the wicker chairs. “Should we sit for this?”

  “If you like, but I wouldn’t call it a requirement.”

  He waited to see if she sat, but when she remained standing he decided to not give her the height advantage. “If you are going to try and scare me off of seeing Shelby while she’s here, I can tell you it isn’t going to work. From what she’s told me, she’s leaving for New York tomorrow. There’s not much point in warning me off.”

  “Are you quite finished?”

  Dallas lifted a shoulder. “I guess.”

  “I will admit that in the past I may have come off as a bit harsh where you were concerned, but that was because where you led, Shelby followed. And it usually ended in the principal’s office.”

  Dallas frowned. Shelby was usually the ringleader. She followed no one’s rules but her own. In the interest of peace, he decided not to disillusion Jacintha. Instead, he contented himself by plainly stating, “I’m a good man.”

  Jacintha’s shoulders came down. “I know that, Dallas. That’s why I believe that if Shelby were to decide to stay in Suwannee Grove, it would be for you.”

  He stood there in stunned silence. Was Jacintha suggesting he beg Shelby to stay? He was afraid to even ask. After all, he’d asked Shelby that once years ago, and she’d left anyhow.

  “To use softball parlance, you have the home field advantage here. Use it.”

  Now that made him smile. Jacintha Steele using a sports phrase.

  Footsteps sounded inside the house, coming closer. Shelby opened the screen door, gaping at her grandma as if the old woman had proposed to take up belly dancing during the next ball game’s seventh inning stretch. “You didn’t invite Dallas in?”

  Jacintha lifted a shoulder. “It’s a lovely night. Why go inside when the porch is perfectly comfortable?”

  Dallas held up his hand to keep the argument at bay. “It’s fine, Shelby. I often sit out on my own porch in the evenings.”