To Win Her Heart (Players)

by Mackenzie Crowne

  “He’s a god.” He flashed a grin indicating he was more than willing to play her game. “Me? I’m a mere mortal.” Bryce leaned toward her, clearly enjoying the interaction.

  “You’re new, too.” She scooted over to his side of the table, dismissing Johnny’s rejection as strike one. She must think she had a better chance of scoring with Bryce.

  “I am. I think I left my heart somewhere in the city. Could you help me find it?” He slid one of his photos across the table to her.

  “I can help you find whatever you’re looking for.” She took the pen from him and wrote something on the inside of his forearm. Her number, most likely.

  Bryce grinned as if he enjoyed having a stranger tattoo him with a permanent marker.

  “Bring your friend, too. If he’s up for a challenge.”

  “I’ll see what I can do, sweetheart.” Bryce tipped his cap and winked at the woman.

  Johnny exhaled, realizing he’d been holding his breath during the entire conversation.

  “Thanks man, I owe you one.” Johnny shook his head, as relieved as if Bryce had just snagged a line drive with two outs and the bases loaded.

  “So it really isn’t an act.” Baxter eyed him carefully. “You really do walk the walk.”

  “What walk?”

  “The celibacy thing. It’s for real.” A lot of guys thought he was full of it. That it was just for show. A way to get attention, and women. But once they realized he was genuine, most of the other players accepted him. Some even respected him. “You really don’t mess around.”

  “No. I don’t. I’m not perfect, but I try to stay out of trouble.” Johnny removed his cap and ran his fingers through his hair. Since they were both new to the team, their booth wasn’t as crowded as some of the others. They had a chance to catch their breath. He was able to finally sit back and enjoy the perfect weather. It was one of those glorious Northern California days when the sun came out to tease, dropping hints of spring and the fever that came with it.

  “You looked like you were a little uncomfortable there.” Bryce, on the other hand, seemed to relish the attention.

  “I know it’s part of the job, but it’s not the part I’m good at.”

  “You let your game speak for itself. That’s cool.” Bryce reclined in his chair, looking as relaxed as if he was sitting in his own back yard. “Some of us have to use our charm to make up for lack of talent.”

  Johnny laughed. Baxter had plenty of talent. And more than enough charm to go around.

  “She was pretty fine, though.” Bryce continued to check her out as she walked away, collecting ballplayer’s numbers like kids collected baseball cards. “Exactly what I need to get me in shape for spring training.”

  “Is that so?” Johnny managed to avoid the whole groupie scene. His entire career had been about control, both on and off the field. The Monk kept his cool. The Monk never got rattled. And The Monk maintained a spotless reputation. He had to, considering where he’d come from.

  “There he is. Come on, Mom.” A kid, about twelve or thirteen, rushed up to the booth, practically dragging his mother by the arm.

  Johnny slipped on his best fan-friendly smile.

  “We’re, like, your number one fans.” The boy was practically bursting at the seams. “Right, Mom?”

  The boy’s mother stepped forward, taking Johnny’s breath away.

  He’d had several reasons to come to San Francisco. Eleven million obvious ones, and several others that he’d done his best to articulate to the fans. There was only one reason he should have stayed away.

  “Alice.” Just saying her name sent a line drive straight to his heart. Even fourteen years later.

  “Congratulations on your new contract. I know you’re going to have a great year.” She sounded like any other fan, wishing him well. She just marched right up to his table to ask for an autograph. A freaking autograph? Like he meant nothing to her.

  A slight breeze blew her hair around her face. She tried to smile as she tucked a loose strand behind her ear. Blond, straight, silky—and if he remembered correctly—oh-so-soft. She wore modestly cut jeans and a soft blue sweater that on anyone else would have looked plain and proper. He didn’t need to glance at her left hand to know she was off limits. Yet, she still moved him like no other woman ever could. Made him long for what he’d had. What he’d lost. What he’d tried for years to forget.

  “Wait.” The boy gaped at her. “You guys know each other? For real?”

  “Yes. Johnny was…” She held Johnny’s gaze just long enough for him to catch a flicker of regret. She turned to her son, who was about an inch or two taller than her. “He was your dad’s college roommate.”

  “You knew my dad?” The boy seemed more impressed by that than the fact that people waited in line for his autograph.

  “Yes. I knew him.” Johnny swallowed the lump in his throat. “Before he married your mom.”

  “Cool.” The kid smiled and nodded his head, like it was no big deal. “I mean, I know you played for the Wolf Pack when they went to Nevada, but I had no idea you guys were, like, friends.”

  Sure. Friends.

  “Zach.” She placed her hand on his shoulder, ready to steer him away. “I’m sure Mr. Scottsdale is a busy man. Let’s leave him alone.”

  They’d once been as close as two people could be. But now he was Mr. Scottsdale.

  The boy shrugged, dismissing her and looking up to Johnny with admiration. “It’s totally awesome to meet you.”

  Johnny nodded, giving his most sincere smile, even though seeing Alice, and her kid, hit him like a 97-mile-an-hour fastball.

  They started to walk away.

  “Give my best to Mel.” As if he hadn’t already done that.

  Alice turned around.

  “Mel died. Eight years ago.” A pained expression flashed across her face.

  “I’m sorry. For your loss.” Johnny said the words. He wanted more than anything to mean them, but he’d carried that resentment around for so long, it had become as much a part of him as his right arm.

  “Thank you.” Alice gave him a sad little smile. It was forced. Polite. The kind of smile she’d give a stranger. “It was good seeing you. Really good.”

  “Yeah. Sure.” He could say the same, but he’d be lying. Seeing her again only reminded him of everything he’d sacrificed.

  * * * *

  The minute she’d seen Johnny on the stage, Alice’s heart had swelled big enough to fill the stadium. There he’d been, larger than life. Damn. The man looked good. Better than on TV. Better than she remembered. He’d gained some muscle. A lot of muscle. Even without the jersey, there’d be no doubt he was an athlete. He moved with the kind of confidence and grace that came with being totally in tune with his body. Like he’d once been totally in tune with hers. She ached at the memory, but shook it off, uncomfortable having such thoughts with her son sitting next to her. Like Johnny had clearly been uncomfortable onstage, addressing the media and the crowds. He never did like to talk about his game. He’d simply let his talent speak for itself.

  Just as she’d predicted, women lined up at his booth. They all wanted his autograph. Some of them wanted a little more. She hadn’t been able to handle it back then. And now? What he did was his business. Especially since she’d been the one to walk out on him.

  “Mom. Are you okay?” Zach was protective of her. And a little too observant.

  “I’m fine, Zach.” She shook her head to clear the fog of memories that rolled over her. With only the briefest look into his eyes, she couldn’t forget the three years they’d spent together, nearly inseparable. Studying. Hanging out. Making love. “I’m surprised to see him, that’s all.”

  “But you knew he’d be here.” Zach had that tone, the unspoken duh. They’d been coming to Fan Fest every year since Mel’s death. She’d known Johnny would be here. She just wasn’t prepared for the impact of seeing him again. She’d thought
she’d put those feelings behind her. Packed them away with her college sweatshirts and student ID card. “You were so excited when you heard it on the radio. Your favorite player finally becoming a Goliath. Why didn’t you tell me you guys were, like, friends?”

  “I didn’t want you to think it’s a big deal.” She tried to place her hand on his shoulder, but he squirmed to avoid the contact. That was new. Not unexpected, given his age, but she missed her little boy. The first time they’d come to Fan Fest, he’d held her hand. Until they’d gotten to the miniature version of the ballpark. He’d joined the t-ball game like he was born to play.

  “It is a big deal.” Zach looked at her like she was hopelessly out of touch. Something he did a lot these days. “Mom, you actually know Johnny Scottsdale.”

  There it was. The star-struck admiration bordering on worship.

  “I knew him, Zach.” Alice tried to keep her tone neutral. She couldn’t betray her emotions. A wave of regret washed over her. The question of what might have been. “But that was a long time ago.”

  “Wouldn’t it be cool if he came to the foundation’s minicamp?” Zach couldn’t know why it would be such a bad idea.

  She’d hoped to avoid him. Avoid digging up the past. And the question that had plagued her more and more as Zach grew. “I already have a pitcher lined up. Nathan Cooper. He’s done it for years.”

  Alice had worked for the Mel Harrison Jr. Foundation since its inception, a little more than a year after her husband’s death. The initial donations were privately funded, set up to provide grants to community schools and youth organizations. As the foundation had grown, they were able to provide services for greater numbers of children, but the more successful they’d become, the less contact she had with the kids.

  Until a few years ago, when the team had approached her about setting up a minicamp for youth players. It evolved from a Saturday demonstration and meet-and-greet to a weeklong afterschool program where the ballplayers worked directly with the kids, helping them learn fundamentals of the game while boosting their confidence with the attention and mentorship of the pro athletes.

  “Cooper’s alright.” Zach sounded disappointed, bordering on whiny. “But he’s not Johnny Scottsdale.”

  “Zach, we made a commitment to Nathan Cooper.”

  “And Harrisons always keep their commitments.” Zach parroted the family motto. She could tell by the tone of his voice he had to restrain himself from rolling his eyes.

  “Yes, Zach, Harrisons keep their commitments.” No matter what. She’d made a commitment to Mel, to the Harrison family. She’d hoped her feelings for Johnny would eventually fade. She’d made her choice. A desperate one at the time, but once she’d committed to Mel, she wouldn’t look back. She still couldn’t. “Cooper’s a good player. A good guy. We can’t just tell him we don’t want him anymore.”

  “Well, maybe they could both do the pitching clinic,” Zach suggested. “Since Cooper’s a lefty, maybe it would be better to have a right-handed pitcher too.”

  “Johnny’s a busy man. He doesn’t need us bugging him.” And she didn’t need to be reminded of what she’d given up.

  “Yeah, but he probably doesn’t know very many people here yet.” Zach sounded hopeful. Like they’d be doing Johnny a favor. “It would be good for him to get involved in the community.”

  “Zach. He doesn’t need us.” She’d made sure of it.

  “But…” Zach couldn’t let it go.

  “I think it’s time for some lunch.” Lately, food seemed to be the best distraction.

  “I could eat.” Zach shrugged. “You want to split some garlic fries?”

  “You know I do.” The ballpark’s signature fries had become a tradition. But if she ate a full order herself, she’d be sorry later.

  “Can I get two hot dogs, then? Or maybe some nachos?”

  “You’re that hungry?” Wasn’t it only yesterday that she begged him to eat? Playing airplane with the spoon or bribing him with a toy to take three more bites.

  “Yeah. I guess meeting Johnny Scottsdale increased my appetite.” He grinned at her. For a second there, he reminded her of someone she used to know.

  “Oh, Zach…” She sighed, her emotions getting the better of her. Seeing Johnny for even a few minutes had her all mixed up.

  It had been easier when Johnny was on the other side of the country. When he’d been nothing more than a box score. An image on TV. She’d followed his entire career. From his earliest days in the minor leagues, to his first start in Kansas City, to when he was traded to Tampa Bay. She’d watched him. Cheered for him. Wished him nothing but success.

  “Oh please, Mom. Don’t go there.” She was embarrassing him. As she often did whenever she talked about how quickly he was growing up. Becoming a man. Neither of them was quite ready for it, but that didn’t matter.

  She put her arm around him but felt him struggling with the idea of pulling away. Reluctantly, she let him go, knowing it was only a matter of time before he wouldn’t need her at all.

  “Order whatever you want. Just don’t complain about a stomach ache later.”

  “I won’t.” He ordered a hot dog, nachos and a root beer.

  She stepped up behind him and ordered her hot dog, the garlic fries and a Diet Coke. She struck up a conversation with the lady behind the counter while they waited for their order.

  “Geez, Mom. Why do you have to talk so much?” He’d waited until they were at the condiment station before complaining.

  “I was only being friendly. There’s nothing wrong with that.” She unwrapped her hot dog and placed it under the mustard spout.

  “Yeah, then why weren’t you very friendly with Johnny Scottsdale?” He kept his head down, concentrating on his food. She’d learned to pay attention more when he seemed least interested in making conversation. “You actually knew him in college and you barely said a word to him.”

  She hit the pump on the mustard a little too hard and it splattered all over her sweater. She quickly grabbed a napkin to wipe up the stain.

  “Is it… Is it because he reminds you of Dad? Does seeing him make you sad?”

  “Oh, honey.” She put her arm around him, pressing him against her. How could she possibly explain why seeing Johnny again was so painful?

  “It seems kind of weird that they didn’t keep in touch after college.” Zach had no idea how weird it would have been if they had. The three of them had been the best of friends. How many times had they let Mel tag along on their dates? Or how many times had she made herself at home at their place? But Johnny had been at the heart of their little group. And when he’d moved on, she and Mel turned to each other.

  “Johnny was trying to make it to the big leagues.” She used the same story she’d told herself over the years. “He had to work very hard to get to where he is today. Mel had a job here in the city, and I was busy raising you. We just drifted apart, that’s all.”

  “But, maybe you and Johnny can be friends again.” He had a tiny hesitation in his voice. Telling her there was more to the story than he was willing to share.

  She waited. Pushing him would never get him to open up.

  “Maybe…” Zach took a long slurp of his soda. “Maybe he could tell me more about my dad.”