by Paige Parker
Three Strikes
Paige Parker
Two Romance Bonus Books + Free Bonus Gift Included at the End of the Book!!
More books from Paige Parker:
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Mail Order Bride: Western Historical Romance
His Pregnant Bride
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Texas Cash: Blazing Love Unexpected
When East Meets West
Bad Boy Romance
Criminal Love
Three Strikes
Fantasy Romance
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Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Conclusion
Bonus Book 1
Bonus Book 2
Other Languages (This book is available in multiple languages)
FREE Bonus Gift (located at the end of the book)
Introduction
Michael took his place at the plate, keeping his elbows high as he felt a single drip of sweat trickle down his brow. He had played baseball ever since T-ball, easily making the team at the Ivy League school where he attended, but this particular season would be the most important of his life. Michael’s team, The Bombers, had an amazing reputation and an undefeated game record that had attracted the attention of some Major League scouts. They would attend The Bomber’s games for the better part of the month, this being the first one and Michael intended on making a powerful first impression. His only wish was that he had someone here to share in his special moment; he really wished most of all that his father would come to at least one of his games. He knew that it was a childish dream, he was after all a grown man and in college, he didn’t exactly expect his dad to take off of work just to come see him play. The truth of the matter was his dad had never come to a single of Michael’s games and somewhere deep down inside that hurt. There was no time for dwelling on his feelings or worrying who saw him in his moment of glory. In that moment, the rest of the world became a blur and it was just Michael and the pitcher left standing alone of that field. Only one of them would leave here the victor and Michael was determined that the victor would be him.
The pitcher made his move, letting the ball fly at Michael who never took his eyes off of it for a second even as it flew towards him at lightening speeds. The opposing team had shown up prepared, presenting their best players but Michael would let nothing deter him from his goal. He swung with all of his might, holding his breath until he heard the crack of the wooden bat against the ball. He could feel the powerful vibration move down the bat, travel down his arms and cause a spark in his heart. It was that feeling that made it all worth it, all the long practices and sacrifices he had made to get where he stood today. When Michael was in that moment nothing else mattered, not his father, his family or the rest of the world. It was a home run and Michael didn’t need to watch where it landed to know it went clear out of the park, the roar from the crowd and his teammates told him that much. He jogged confidently to home careful not to appear too cocky and like he was showing off for the scouts. He cleared all of the plates, reaching home base and effectively winning the game for his team. Michael’s confidence only soared as the crowd continued to cheer wildly long after The Bomber’s had already shook hands with the opposing team and retreated back to the locker room. That sound alone was all of the moral support that Michael would ever need when he played ball, that sound was what made it all worth it.
The boys waited patiently for the coach to join them, but they already knew what he would say. It was the same pep talk he gave them after each and every game that they won. He had stopped even bothering to correct their plays, because at this point they were flawless. The team worked like a well oiled machine and the coach couldn’t be any more proud of them. His message was short and sweet, “good job boys!” By the time Michael showered and dressed, he felt on top of the world and rightly so.
His parents while proud of his accomplishments preferred that Michael concentrate on his academics and become a lawyer like his father, but he had bigger dreams. The coach on the other hand, never shied from showing is pride in Michael, treating him much like he was his own son. Michael felt sure that he was well on his way to the Big Leagues and nothing could stop him or stand in his way. His hard work and dedication was finally paying off and he couldn’t be any happier. He truly felt the only place he could go from here was up.
Chapter 1
There were only one or two things that Michael preferred to do when he was feeling this good about himself and about life, and that was either hit the gym or go out to celebrate. It hadn’t taken much persuasion for him to decide on the latter and agree to meet up with his team mates at a popular local pub. It was actually a bit of tradition for the team to meet up there after each win they had, which as of recently had been a lot. His parents were paying for him to go to one of the best colleges in the United States and if they had their way, it wouldn’t be to play baseball. Michael’s drinking and his laid back and privileged take on life were a large part of why they wanted him to buckle down and focus o
n a real career. They constantly lectured him about how baseball was doing nothing to prepare him for the real world. He highly doubted that they would be satisfied with his success even if he did make the major leagues, but Michael honestly didn’t care what they thought anymore. He hardly could be considered an alcoholic, not more so than any other frat boy his age, but he couldn’t deny that more often than not he chose partying over studying and playing ball over all else. He was more than content on floating through his college career with a B minus average, which was the minimum required to participate in any of the school’s teams.
Michael told the guys he’d meet them at the bar and went home to change his clothes first. Although he had already showered and changed in the locker room, that wasn’t nearly good enough for this particular bar, or rather for a particular female bartender that worked there that he had his eye on. Michael had always been a bit of a flirt, it came with the rich bad boy attitude and reputation he had ascertained over the years, but he had a certain extra fondness for the bartender named Brandy. She had flirted back with him on more than one occasion and the pair had struck up a few conversations late night over the noise of the busy bar. Michael wasn’t exactly positive if she was only being so nice because he was a generous tipper, but Brandy struck him as the type of girl he would like to get to know. Despite being ridiculously handsome, rich and charming, Michael hadn’t had much luck when it came to dating, or rather in maintaining a relationship with any girl. He was a playboy for certain, but most of the girls in his circle or family’s tax bracket found Michael to be too wild and care free for their stuck up and stuffy personalities and high standards. Brandy on the other hand, liked to live life in the fast lane and Michael thought that he might have finally found a girl that was actually compatible with him and that could keep up with him. Besides all of that, she just so happened to be one of the most attractive girls he had ever seen in town. After their last encounter, Michael had discovered that Brandy wasn’t seeing anyone special and he had been considering asking her out on a date, which is why he wanted to look his very best tonight.
When Michael arrived at the bar just after nine, his buddies were all there and already more than half cocked. They were a rambunctious crew and he almost regretted choosing tonight to ask Brandy out. He toiled back and forth about reconsidering it all together. None of his relationships had been a success thus far and Michael wasn’t sure if he’d ever find someone who could put up with him. He doubted that any relationship he did strike up with Brandy would go very far passed flirting and having sex. Michael wasn’t sure why, but he just had to try. He felt the need to prove to Brandy that he was much more than just a drunken frat boy and a jock as most people just assumed. He wanted her to like him for his sense of adventurousness and thirst to live his life to the fullest, as someone who dreams big and lives big. Michael wanted Brandy to like him for the real him. He wasn’t even sure why he cared so much about impressing one singular girl when he could have many at his beck and call, but there was something special about Brandy that he just really liked.
All thoughts of modest behavior and even of Brandy temporarily slipped clear out of his head however, once he was greeted by his best friend James who immediately insisted they share a few rounds between them. Michael knew better than to try to turn him down, the kid was a party monster and drinking was one of his favorite pass time activities. “Shots, shots, shots!” James chanted as Michael slung back his first round of tequila. James was the first friend that Michael had made as a freshman at the college and was also his fraternity brother. James had also played for The Bombers, although it was only briefly. He was kicked off the team for misconduct, which was the polite way of saying that he had beaten the crap out of one of the players from a losing team for talking smack about him after a game. James was a terrible influence on Michael, who already had the tendency for finding trouble all on his own, but James was a good and loyal friend to him none the less. Despite his bitter feelings towards the coach for booting him from the team, James still showed up to every game in support of Michael and his former team mates, and to be completely honest, mostly for the epic after parties the team threw each time they had a victory. The coach would have their hides if he knew about the team’s post game beer infused rituals, but he didn’t have to know about it and Michael had never been a stickler for the rules either way. Michael felt that as long as he was on point during game time, what he did on his free time was totally up to him.
Michael tried to refrain from drinking too much at first, despite James’ insistence on taking a shot every twenty minutes or so since he had arrived. His efforts proved pointless however and Michael had a serious buzz going before the night really even got off to a start. He quickly remembered his purpose in wanting to go out tonight in the first place the second that he saw Brandy walk into the bar. She was absolutely stunning, even from a distance and she had a dark edge to her that made her all the more irresistible. Almost every head in the bar turned around when she walked through the door. “Hot damn,” Michael whispered under his breath when he first caught sight of her. She was wearing fitted, low rise black jeans with a matching black crop top, which was her typical work attire but Michael could never get tired of seeing her in it. Brandy was a petite woman, with long flowing brown hair and an hour glass figure. She carried a little extra curviness around her breasts and ass which only made her all the more drop dead gorgeous. Michael was willing to bet that Brandy looked twice as good in anything she could possibly wear and three times as good naked. He was determined to test that theory out in person very soon.
James didn’t bother to ask where Michael was going when he made a beeline towards the bar. He was already well aware of Michael’s little crush on Brandy and after seeing her bounce around behind the bar; he couldn’t blame the man either. Brandy smiled sweetly the second she spotted Michael, who she claimed was one of her favorite customers. He asked her for his usual, which Brandy had easily memorized. Most of the college kids who stumbled in and out of the bar’s front doors ordered either beer or shots of tequila. Michael on the other hand always ordered a double shot of scotch on the rocks. While she knew it wasn’t the most sophisticated of orders, nor was it the type of bar that people would place sophisticated orders, but it definitely set Michael a little apart from the rest of the crowd.
Much to Michael’s surprise, Brandy poured two drinks and stepped around the bar, propping herself up on a barstool next to him. “It’s my day off” she explained. “The boss just asked me to come in to help handle some rowdy baseball players that were crowding up the bar, but I see you guys managed to get wasted without my help,” she added sarcastically. Michael chuckled, not only was this girl hot but she had a sense of humor too. “Yeah, I heard those guys can get pretty wild,” he joked back. Between winning the game and impressing the scouts and then Brandy joining him for drinks, this day didn’t feel like it could possibly go any better for Michael. In that way the man had always been blessed, he was always high on life and had not a worry or care in the world. When you’re young, rich and good looking, things just always tend to go your way.
The pair spent the majority of the night completely engrossed in conversation and slinging back beers as if they were already old friends. It blew Michael’s mind how well he cliqued with Brandy, and unbeknownst to him Brandy was feeling the same exact way. He had never really connected with a woman in this way, not that Michael hadn’t tried. Deep down inside he was a hopeless romantic, but Michael still had no qualms with the string of broken hearts and one night stands he had left behind. Most of the girls that were into him or that he even tried to date were shallow and more into his money and social stature then him as a person. Michael was too young to be bitter about such things, but he had certainly given up on fairytale notions like romance and happily ever after. Even his own parent’s marriage was a fraud; Michael had learned that at a young age. They stayed together more for reputation than love and Michael refused to get ca
ught up in the same web. He had seen first hand the damage that it could do, especially to the children of those types of marriages. He would rather live his life for himself, not for his parent’s, nor for love. Still, he had felt an unfamiliar spark the first time that Brandy had spoken to him. For the first time Michael had found something that made him smile and made him genuinely happy besides just baseball.
Following bro-code and not wanting to impede on his best friend’s game, James stayed off in the distance with the rest of the guys until the night was rolling around to an end and the crowd in the bar was growing smaller and smaller. James was also hoping to find a lovely lady of his own to pair up with for the night, but he didn’t have any such luck. Truth be told, James came across as a bit of a jerk to people who didn’t know him and girls weren’t too into that. Michael knew that James was a good guy though, even if that wasn’t the popular opinion. He joined Brandy and Michael, again insisting on a round of shots which at this point Michael was enjoying himself so much that he happily obliged. The three of them easily fell into a comfortable conversation and Brandy didn’t seem to mind Michael have his friend tag along on their impromptu date. He was really excited that Brandy was even getting along with his best friend so well, she really was his dream girl even though he wasn’t sure if he even had an ideal dream girl yet. Michael had traveled to and partied in foreign countries, had more money than he knew what to do with and had gone on epic adventures in his young age, but he had to admit that tonight was hands down one of the best nights of his entire life to date.