“Cold?” he asked, rubbing her arms with his palms.
“Not with you so close,” she replied.
He laid down on the bed and opened his arms. “Come home,” he said.
And she did.
Later that night, she lay in his arms, gazing out the window at the full moon. Happiness washed through her. She didn’t question anything, didn’t think beyond the moment. She was free and with Dan, what else did she need? Nothing. She nestled her head into his shoulder and turned her face to kiss his pec.
“I’m sorry you didn’t win the series.”
“Fucking seven games, and we still couldn’t pull it off.”
“You were amazing.”
“The guys were good. The Gulls were better. They had a couple of hitters who were in the zone. And that rookie pitcher. Damn lucky. We’ll get them next year.”
“Yes, you will,” she said, stroking his chest.
He caressed her hair and cleared his throat.
“What?” She tried to look up.
“Nothing.”
“Not nothing. What?” Her stomach clenched.
“Well, I was wondering…”
“Wondering?”
“Yeah. How would you like to do this every night?”
She pushed herself upright and made eye contact. Even in the dim light from the night table lamp, she saw the gold flecks in his eyes had turned green. They always got that way when he was passionate. She smiled at him.
“You want to go again?”
“No. I mean. Maybe. Answer my question.” He rested his palm on her shoulder.
“What question?”
“How would you like to do this every night?”
“I’d love it,” she replied, touching his cheek.
His smile widened into a grin. He grabbed a small box on the nightstand. “Then marry me,” he said, opening it to reveal a breathtaking, four-carat diamond ring.
As if a vacuum had sucked the air from her lungs, Holly couldn’t breathe. She stared at him. When her lungs started working again, she spoke. “You’re kidding, right?”
“Does it look like I’m kidding? Hard to get on one knee in bed. Do I have to?”
She shook her head.
“Well? I’m waiting.”
“Yes,” she said, when she got her breath back.
“Yes? Yes what?”
“Yes, I’ll marry you.”
“You’re a no-hitter, honey.”
“And you’re a homerun.”
They kissed and snuggled under the comforter. If this is a dream, don’t wake me up. Happiness warmed her heart while Dan Alexander’s body heated the sheets.
Dan turned out the light. Although she couldn’t stop grinning, Holly gave in to exhaustion. Her eyes drifted shut. Tomorrow was another day and a new beginning, proving even bad girls can find a happy ending.
Epilogue
Holly and Dan set up house the next day. He emptied out two drawers for her and shoved his things in the bathroom aside to make room for her makeup and toiletries. The honeymoon period would last until spring training started.
Dan made plans for Holly to join him in Florida at training camp. While she looked forward to the trip, she was still undecided as to what to do with her life. Until Bud Magee called.
“Dan, is Holly there? Put her on.”
She took her lover’s cell. “Hey, Bud.”
“Dan told me you were an apprentice to a baker?”
“I was.”
“We’re looking to add some baked goods to our selection at the concession stand. Would you be interested in a part-time consulting job?”
“Oh my God! I’d love that.”
“Good. Are you going to Florida?”
“Yes.”
“Great. We can meet there and map out what to sell and what would be easy to serve.”
“Thank you, Bud.”
“No problem. I’m sure you’ll bring plenty of good ideas to the table.”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Besides, you’re family.”
She hung up and told Dan the news. He was thrilled.
“So Hot Dog Girl becomes Cupcake Girl?” He wiggled his eyebrows.
“More like Chocolate Croissant Girl, mister.” She gave him a playful shove.
Before he could react, his phone rang again. He checked the screen. Skip Quincy was on the line.
“You won’t believe it, Dan.”
“What?” The pitcher sat down while Holly placed a mug of coffee in front of him.
“Matt went to Florida early.”
“Yeah. He volunteered for some kid’s camp or program or something.”
“Right. He’s teaching with another ball player. You’ll never guess what he did.”
Dan shut his eyes and groaned. “What now?”
“Well, let me just say, when he walked into the locker room, he didn’t realize that Dusty could be a girl’s name too.”
“Oh shit!” Dan covered his eyes with his hand. “Matt, what have you done?”
**THE END**
To find out what happened with Matt and Dusty, read Matt Jackson, Catcher – book 2 in the Bottom of the Ninth series.
About the Author
Jean Joachim is a best-selling romance fiction author, with books hitting the Amazon Top 100 list since 2012. She writes contemporary romance, which includes sports romance and romantic suspense.
Dangerous Love Lost & Found, First Place winner in the 2015 Oklahoma Romance Writers of America, International Digital Award contest. The Renovated Heart won Best Novel of the Year from Love Romances Café. Lovers & Liars was a RomCon finalist in 2013. And The Marriage List tied for third place as Best Contemporary Romance from the Gulf Coast RWA.
To Love or Not to Love tied for second place in the 2014 New England Chapter of Romance Writers of America Reader’s Choice contest.
She was chosen Author of the Year in 2012 by the New York City chapter of RWA.
Married and the mother of two sons, Jean lives in New York City. Early in the morning, you’ll find her at her computer, writing, with a cup of tea, her rescued pug, Homer, by her side and a secret stash of black licorice.
Jean has 30+ books, novellas and short stories published. Find it here: http://www.jeanjoachimbooks.com.
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Dan Alexander, Pitcher Page 22