The Real Deal
Page 18
Nick cocked his arm, lifted his leg high and threw fast. Hobson jerked back, surprised, as the ump yelled, “Strike.”
Tamping down a smile, Nick turned away from the plate and loosened his arm. Don’t look at Emily, he ordered himself, annoyed that for one second he’d allowed his concentration to be broken. That wasn’t like him, especially with so much at stake. He owed his teammates his all. Billy in particular, who’d sat the season on the bench and would probably be wearing the Knight uniform for the last time if they went to the Series. If you had to leave the game, better you go after a championship year.
Again, he faced Hobson. The outfielder was wary and watchful, moving his shoulders and gripping the high bottom of the bat. Again, Nicky threw fast and hard, and Hobson backed up. Another strike. One more to force him out. Then two more batters. Soon he’d see Emily.
Damn. He straightened. Sent Will a look that said he needed a few seconds. At least that long to get his head firmly back in the game. He was a complete fool to want to do what he wanted to today. He should’ve known it would mess with his concentration. He wasn’t the old Nick, who’d put baseball ahead of everything else.
He was different, period. No going back. Didn’t want to. Only thing he wanted more than winning this game was to marry Emily. God, he hoped she said yes. He couldn’t imagine life without her humor, her quick wit, her fierceness in telling him the truth, no matter what he wanted to hear. But most of all, her unwavering faith in him is what he prized the most.
Will gave him the sign that it was time to deliver the pitch. Nick threw a curve. Hobson made contact and popped the ball foul. Will moved back and easily plucked the ball from the air. Should have been a strikeout. Still, Hobson was out.
Just two more batters, Nick told himself. He had to hang in there. Keep his focus. As soon as he got rid of them, the Knights would go to the Series. More importantly, he would ask Emily to be his. Forever.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-7457-4
THE REAL DEAL
Copyright © 2010 by Debbi Quattrone
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*Men To Do
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††Stolen from Time
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