The Boston Renegades didn’t make the off-season, which isn’t surprising. I don’t know where we ended up at in the standings, but if I wanted to know, all I have to do is ask my resident blogger. It took a bit of getting used to but I now fully support her job as the BoRe Blogger. She knows I won’t provide her with any dirt, though. I also haven’t told anyone that she’s the blogger, keeping her secret so the other wives don’t give her shit. Every so often, for the remainder of the season, I had to remind Daisy to write something about me so that she didn’t seem biased. And just because she’s my girlfriend doesn’t mean she went easy on me.
“I’m in here,” she says, clearly forgetting that I can see her.
“Do you want some help?” I ask, walking up behind her on the stepladder. I place my hands on her hips and kiss her shoulder.
“I think I got it.” She stretches up on her tippy toes to set the garland on a hook that I could’ve easily reached, but she’s fiercely independent and I don’t want to piss her off. Once the garland is hanging, she turns in my hands and jumps into my arms. Her lips find mine briefly before pulling away.
“How was your meeting?” she asks.
“Um… I wasn’t exactly at a meeting.” Her face falls, as the lie sinks in. When she tries to get out of my arms I hang on tighter. “Hold on, let me explain. I had to tell you I had a meeting so you wouldn’t ask to come with me. I went to pick up a present for you.”
“Why didn’t you just say you were going shopping?”
I shrug. “I don’t know, because I’m a dumb guy?” I walk us over to the couch and set her down, kissing her nose before letting her go. “Stay here.” I walk around the half wall and grab one of the two boxes I picked up for her today. Neither are Christmas gifts, those are all under the tree, professionally wrapped by the amazing women in the department stores.
Her eyes widen when she sees how big the box is. I have a feeling she knows what this is, even though I had it wrapped.
“This is a ‘just because’ gift.” I sit down next to her and hold the box on my lap. “I think you’re amazing and love you so much. I can’t wait for you to succeed in your career and this is to help you along.”
I slide the box over to her lap, watching her eyes light up as she tears into the paper. I know for a fact that her Christmases have been so different since her grandmother passed away and with this one being her first without her grandpa, I’m trying to make it special - which is one of the reasons why my parents are coming. My mom plans to show her how the Davenports celebrate.
“Oh my god, Ethan… this is too much. I can’t.” She tries to hand me the Mac Book Air, but I push it back toward her.
“You’re going to need it when you start working and I’m tired of hearing you complain about that crappy Acer you bought.” I lean in and kiss her cheek. “Besides, I’ve seen how much you love mine. Now we can be twins.”
When Daisy looks at me, her eyes are full of tears. “I love you so much, Ethan.”
“I love you, too. Meeting you has been the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”
She looks at me quizzically. “Really? What about being drafted?”
I take her laptop from her and put it on the floor, pulling her in to me so we’re prone on the couch. I reach for the remote, and turn down the lights before turning on some soft music. The white lights from our first Christmas tree twinkle, casting a luminous glow over the living room.
“I told you before, meeting you was kismet. I meant it then and I mean it now. We were destined to be together.”
Daisy wraps her arm around mine and presses her back into my chest. I love lying with her like this, where neither of us can move away from each other.
“Sometimes you sound like a girl.”
“I know. I can’t help it. You bring out my girly side.”
Trailing my fingers up and down her arms, I know I have to be careful or she’ll fall asleep here. It’s happened so many times, and while I don’t care, I have another present for her.
“Daisy?”
“Hmm?” she says, close to sleep. I sit up slightly and roll her over to face me. I can’t resist the small pout on her lips and lean down to kiss it away. She deepens the kiss, but I pull away, leaving both of us breathless.
My fingers ghost down the side of her face as she looks at me with her vibrant green eyes. “You’re so beautiful.” I tell her this every day. I never want her to think that I don’t find her the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. “I’m so lucky to have you in my life. I think we need to make this permanent.”
“We live together, Ethan.”
“I want to share everything with you, Daisy.” She sits up, matching my position. “I know I’m not doing this right and it’s not how I planned this out in my head, but some things are best left unplanned, right?”
She nods, pulling her bottom lip between her teeth.
“I wish I had the opportunity to ask your dad or grandfather for permission, but I think your grandpa would be okay with this question…” I roll over her legs and onto my knee. She moves so she’s facing me. I pull the ring out of my pocket that I picked up earlier. I put it in my pocket, hoping to move it to my nightstand so I could propose in the morning, but right now feels right and I don’t want to wait.
“Daisy, when I look at you I see my future. I see you as my wife, partner and cheerleader. I see you as the one who will keep me grounded and be the first to remind me that I’m being stupid. I want to be there when your career takes off and hold your hand when we find out we’re starting a family. I want you to be the first one I kiss when I finally win a batting title or the World Series. Most importantly, I just want to be with you. Daisy, will you marry me?” I hold the platinum band with a three-carat solitaire surrounded by diamonds between my fingers.
By the time I finish my speech, her mouth is covered and she’s crying and so am I. “Yes, Ethan, oh my god, yes!”
I take her hand and slip the ring on before pulling her into my arms. Our lips meet and our kiss deepens as I set her back onto the couch. I pull her shirt off and mine quickly follows, building a pile in the middle of the floor. With a flick of my thumb, her bra is off and my mouth waters at the thought of sucking on her breasts.
“You’re breathtaking,” I tell her as I stand and kick off my shoes and pants. She copies me, tossing the rest of her clothes onto the floor. My erection bounces against my stomach when I take off my boxers, causing her to laugh.
“I’ll show you,” I say, as I climb on top of her, centering myself, I look into her eyes. I see nothing but love and lust in her green orbs. I place my hands on the arm of the couch and push into her, watching her mouth drop open. She squirms underneath me, digging her nails into my back.
“Ethan,” she mewls, bringing her knees up over my hips. I have never felt so connected to someone as I do with her. Each thrust brings out a moan from her, spurring me on. As much as I want to go slow, that will have to wait for when we go to bed because Daisy is rocking her hips against mine, pushing me closer to the edge… an edge that I’m willing to fall over every time with her.
“Merry Christmas!” my mom yells as she enters the house. She runs right to Daisy and pulls her into her arms before she comes to give me a hug. I already know how I’m going to rate in this family now that my mom has met Daisy. Shea, though, loves her Unc and comes running into the house and into my arms, followed by Shana and Mike.
My plan was to pick them up, but they called us from their rental car saying they were here and to just unlock the door. I know my mom wanted a grand entrance that wasn’t awkward for Daisy. I step outside with Mike to help my dad with the luggage. We hug and he loads my arms full of suitcases.
“Are you moving in?”
He scoffs. “No, these are presents.”
I look at him questioningly. “What’s in my closet then?” I’ve been receiving Shea’s Santa presents for months now.
“These are for you, Daisy, Shana and Mike. An
y excuse to shop… that woman will do it,” he says as he reaches for more.
As soon as I step in the house my mom is standing in front of me. “Ethan, she’s beautiful and lovely. I just love her.”
“I love her too, mom,” I say, kissing her on the cheek and winking at Daisy, who is blushing like crazy.
I carry all the bags to the extra bedroom where Mike and Shana will stay with Shea. My parents are going to sleep on the couch that pulls out into a bed. I never thought I’d host everyone at my place or I would’ve bought something bigger. Maybe that’s something Daisy and I need to look at once the holidays are over.
Before I know what’s happening, my mom has the eggnog open and has poured everyone a glass. She holds her glass high in the air and clears her throat. “I’m a blessed woman,” she starts with tears already in her eyes. “I have the best family and I’m so happy to bring this beautiful young woman into our lives.”
“Forever,” I add with a smirk.
Both mom’s and Shana’s mouth drop open and Daisy looks at me, smiling.
“Ethan?” Mom’s voice is happy, yet scolding.
I shrug and hold up Daisy’s hand, much to the cheerful delight of everyone in the room. “Daisy and I are getting married.”
“When?” Mom asks.
We had talked about a date into the wee hours of the morning the night I proposed, finally settling on one that would work for both of us. “We know its short notice, but we’re going to get married in February before I report for spring training. We don’t want anything big and Daisy wants to get married on the beach. So we thought we’d all take a trip to the Keys and have us a little party.”
“Are you pregnant?” Shana blurts out. Both Mike and my dad glare at her. She shrugs. It’s an honest question.
“No, I’m not pregnant. There’s just nothing keeping us waiting.”
“Here’s to my son and his beautiful bride. I’ll be very happy to spend some time down south in the winter.” My dad laughs as he gives us a toast.
Mom comes over and pulls us into a hug, congratulating us. Shana and Mike are next, followed by my dad. It doesn’t escape my notice that he hugs Daisy for a long time and when he pulls away, she’s wiping tears. I look at her, but she shakes her head, leaving me to talk to my family while she disappears down the hall.
“I’ll be right back.” I hand Mom my glass and follow Daisy down the hall, finding her in the bathroom.
“Are you okay?” I rub her back while she dabs a tissue to her eyes.
“Yes, your dad said something that made me cry.”
“What?”
Daisy turns, resting her hip against the sink. “He said he’d happily walk me down the aisle if I felt like I couldn’t do it myself.”
In this instance I feel my throat swell up with emotion. “Wow, what’d you say?”
“I told him I’d think about it.”
“You do whatever you’re comfortable with, babe.” I kiss her chastely and wish I could close the door and have my wicked way with her, but we can’t. In fact, we won’t be able to be together as long as everyone is here.
When we come out of the bathroom, my mother and sister are putting more presents out and Shea is picking up every one they put down, trying to read the names. I go and scoop her up and bring her over to the couch so she can get to know Daisy.
“Daisy is going to be my wife. That will make her your aunt.”
“What do I name her?” Shea shrugs.
“How about Auntie?”
Shea shakes her head. “Maybe I call her Flower.”
Daisy and I both look at each other and laugh, which causes Shea to laugh. It’s not long until my mom is calling Daisy and Shana into the kitchen to cook dinner and Mike and my dad are relaxing in the living room. I stand back, looking at my family, and realize I don’t think I could be any luckier if I tried.
My life is complete.
It’s time for pre-season.
Our Boston Renegades are gearing up for another season. The Grapefruit League will start in a few days, ending April 2nd when the BoRe’s return home to open up at Lowry field.
The off-season trade sent Jasper Jacobson to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for future draft picks and the Renegades will welcome Cooper Bailey to the roster. The BoRe also added some much needed pitching.
After much speculation, Bainbridge returns to the Renegades for another season.
Here’s to another season of Renegade baseball!
Bring on 2016!
GOSSIP WIRE
I’m sorry to all the women of Boston…
Ethan Davenport has wed his girlfriend, Daisy Robinson, in an intimate ceremony at dusk on the beach in Key West. It’s rumored that Ethan’s father walked Ms. Robinson down the aisle, while his niece served as flower girl. Travis Kidd is rumored to have been the best man. No word on the official bridal party at press time.
The BoRe Blogger
My dedication speaks for itself, Dad, when I say thank you for introducing me to the vast world of sports. Our shared love goes beyond baseball and I love how we can sit on the couch and watch everything together from baseball, basketball, auto racing, tennis and even golf. You taught me to not only appreciate sports, but to have knowledge of the game and that is something I’ve been able to pass along to my girls.
To my usual crew, as always, thank you for everything that you do to help bring each idea to life. Yvette, Traci, Georgette, Tammy – you guys put up with a lot of harebrained ideas and I appreciate it. Amy, Audrey, Kelli, Tammy and Veronica – you guys work so hard to make sure everyone knows about my stories, thank you. To Susan – thank you for putting everything aside to read Third Base.
The design team: Thank you, Eric, for not giving up on finding the “right” guy for me. When you showed me Blake, he embodied my vision for Ethan! And Blake… As I write this you have just gone through something so traumatic and are living to tell the tale. I hope that you take this new life you were given and do great and amazing things with it. Sarah, as always, you blow me away with each cover you give me and as much as I love them all, you hit this one out of the park! Emily, your crew is amazing and works tirelessly to bring our books some flavor.
To my family – as always I appreciate everything you do.
Is it Spring Training yet?
Heidi is a New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author.
Originally from Portland, Oregon and raised in the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband and two daughters. Also renting space in their home is an over-hyper Beagle/Jack Russell, Buttercup, and their newest addition of a Highland Westie/Mini Schnauzer, JiLL.
During the day Heidi is behind a desk talking about Land Use. At night, she’s writing one of the many stories planned for release or sitting courtside during either daughter’s basketball games.
THIRD BASE
THE BOYS OF SUMMER
© 2015 HEIDI MCLAUGHLIN
The right of Heidi McLaughlin to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by her under the Copyright Amendment (Moral Rights) Act 2000. This work is copyright. Apart from any use as permitted under the Copyright Act 1968, no part may be reproduced, copied, scanned, stored in a retrieval system, recorded or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without prior written permission of the publisher. This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and events are either a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual people, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
ISBN: 978-0-9906788-5-4
COVER DESIGN: Sarah Hansen at Okay Creations.
COVER IMAGE: Eric Batthershell Photography
COVER MODEL: Blake Farley
EDITING: Traci Blackwood
INTERIOR DESIGN:
www.emtippettsbookdesigns.com
Table of Contents
Title Page
Books by Heidi McLaughlin
About Third Base
Dedication
Batting Line-up
Boston Renegades
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Boston Renegades
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Boston Renegades
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Boston Renegades
Chapter 13
Boston Renegades
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Boston Renegades
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Boston Renegades
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Boston Renegades
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Boston Renegades
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Boston Renegades
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Copyright Notice
Third Base (The Boys of Summer #1) Page 22