Swing For The Fences

by Kimberly Readnour

  “Jocelyn, I just had my physical and was tested. I’m clean, but if you want me to use a condom, I will.”

  “No, I want to feel you. All of you.”

  Damn, this woman. We need to have a heartfelt conversation, but that can come later. Tonight has changed. I’ve changed. My hands cup her face as my lips join hers in a soft, almost non-touching kiss.

  I’ve never been this slow, this patient before. Usually demanding, controlling, I lose myself in the act, but I still want her to know exactly what she means to me. How she became my world in less than six months. I hold her stare as I enter her slowly, gently. Rocking my hips back and forth, I make slow, sensual love for the second time in my life. The other time was when I took her again—our first and last night back in college. And I maintain this pace until we reach our breaking point. The tenderness in her eyes as I pump my last thrust swells my heart, and I never want this to end. She’s mine, and I’m never letting go.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  JOCELYN

  Current Day

  “Come on, crush those D-backs!” Lacey plops back in her seat and folds her arms across her chest. Her voice blends with the thirty-five thousand plus screaming Philly fans. “I don’t think we’re going to get to see Zach pitch. Coach needed to bring in a pinch hitter, not stay with this guy. He strikes out a lot.”

  The scoreboard shows Arizona ahead by one in the bottom of the eighth. Down to our last out, if the batter doesn’t bring Gonzalez home, there’ll be no need for a reliever. No need for Zach. And considering the winds blowing straight from center field have only increased throughout the afternoon, I doubt we’ll see a miracle out of this guy.

  “I was hoping to see him pitch.” That isn’t me feeding my best friend a line of crap. Zach’s amazing to watch, so I am a bit disappointed. The last game the kids and I watched, the Phillies lead was too large, he didn’t play in that game either. On a side note, Jax can tally another great day in his books. He’s the reason behind the runs we’ve scored. It’s only May, but so far, he’s off to a great season.

  Strike one.

  “Ugh,” Lacey grinds out as the batter swings through the pitch. She shakes her head. “I wish you could stay longer.”

  “Me too. I never would’ve agreed to make those birthday cupcakes had I known about coming here.”

  “Maybe this could be your break into catering?”

  Strike two. We let out a collective sigh.

  “I don’t know. It’d still take an investment to make it legal. But if I keep it low-key, it may be fun.” It is fun until the jobs interfere with a hot baseball player’s plans. Jax wanted me to be here today because they awarded the World Series rings to the team. No way would I miss that. Luckily, it fell on my weekend with the kids so they got to see it too. “It just sucks that I have to head back home tonight.”

  “You’re still planning on having dinner with us before leaving, right?”

  “Of course.” I nod. Thank goodness, it’s only a couple hours’ drive back to New York.

  The batter motions for time, much to Lacey’s impatience. If I was brutally honest, I’d forgo the dinner with our friends to spend some quality time with Jax. I haven’t been alone with him since our night in New York. Whoever said long-distance relationships are hard wasn’t kidding, but we’re making it work.

  Strike three. Lacey groans as the batter strikes out looking. A few people move to leave, and I scan the area. A shuffle behind me has me turning to look, and I go numb. The curly-haired blonde looks familiar. She’s retreating down the aisle, but it’s almost a dead ringer for her.

  “What’s wrong?” Lacey asks.

  “Nothing. I just thought I saw someone, that’s all.” I turn to look at our kids playing in their seat. Tristan has his Star Wars action figures out. He’s thrilled because Jax promised to try and hit a home run for him, and he delivered. Zoe and Trenna are in their imaginary world. Lacey thought ahead and lined a sitter up to watch the young ones. I look back at the aisle now filled with teenage boys. I shake it off. Surely it wasn’t her. I suppose every curly-headed blonde is going to look suspicious.

  “Well, you have no idea how happy I am for you two. I’ve never known Jax to be so…settled.”

  “I’m really trying to protect my heart, but I’m falling fast for him.”

  “Why the need to protect your heart?”

  “I can’t help but feel it’s a matter of time before the other shoe drops.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I’m waiting for the day he’ll wake up and realize he wants more from life than what I can provide.” I sneak a peek at the kids again and know that’s what he’ll want someday. “A family of his own.”

  “Ah. I see.” A questionable look. “Have you discussed this with him?”

  “Not yet. I’ve been meaning to, but part of me wonders if it’s too soon. Like by bringing it up, I’ll seem too pushy or something. Then another part of me fears he’ll agree and leave. I’m not ready to have this end yet.”

  “A wise person once told me, and I quote, ‘you two need to sit down and have a serious talk.’”

  I laugh as she throws my words back into my face. Zach and she had serious things to discuss. “We will. I’m waiting for the All-Star break.”

  “Don’t be like me. There will always be excuses to postpone the inevitable.”

  Jax’s hand lands on my thigh with a slight squeeze as we leave Citizens Bank Park.

  “This is nice.” Jax looks back behind his seat to Tristan, who decided to ride with us instead of Trenna and Zoe. I think he likes being around Jax. “Doing okay back there, buddy?”

  “Yeah, thanks for the baseball!” Tristan hangs on to his prize possession for dear life. He actually ditched the Star Wars figures after Jax handed him the ball outside the locker room. The excitement in Tristan’s voice as he interacts with Jax toys with my emotions.

  “I’ll teach you how to throw that properly during my break coming up—unless I make it to the All-Star game.”

  “Cool. Mommy, I need a glove. All baseball players have gloves. Right, Da-a—Jax?”

  My eyes widen at Tristan’s near flub and shoot straight to Jax. His chin lifts while he stares straight ahead. The impassive expression sliding into place makes it too hard to decipher what’s going through his mind. It’s way too early for my kids to be calling him anything other than his name. A fact that must be apparent if a five-year-old knows enough to correct himself.

  “Um, yeah. I’ll have to work on finding you one,” I finally say.

  “I have an old one he can use.” Jax flashes me a smile, and my nerves dial down a notch. “That is, until we get one that fits him better. It may dwarf his hand.”

  “I’d love to play baseball. You get diamonds.”

  Jax chuckles. “Only if you’re lucky enough to play on a good team.”

  “Can I see your ring again?”

  “Sure, buddy.”

  “You don’t have to show him.”

  “He can’t lose it in the truck.” Jax winks as he works the ring off his finger and hands it to me.

  “Now be careful with it. It’s worth a lot of money.” Not to mention special as heck.

  “Wow, it’s sparkly.” Tristan takes the ring from me and drops it.

  “Oh, Tristan.” I try to reach for it, but the seat belt holds me back.

  “He takes after his momma.” The slight tease of his voice is mesmerizing.

  “I’m sorry.” How this guy stays with me is beyond me.

  “It’s okay. We’ll pick it up when we get to Zach’s.” He squeezes my thigh again. “I don’t have any holes in the floorboard. It won’t get lost.”

  “Still.”

  “Mommy, do we have to go to the birthday party tomorrow?”

  “Yeah, don’t you want to play with your friends? It’s going to be held at the park.”

  “S’pose, but I’d rather stay at Jax’s house.”

  This kid is killing m
e. “I have to make the cupcakes. There’ll be a lot of disappointed kids if we don’t bring them.”

  Jax’s shoulders shake from trying not to laugh. “I’m in agreement with Tristan on this one.” He shoots me a look. “Just sayin’.”

  I groan. “You should’ve told me sooner about this weekend.”

  “Yeah, I’m not used to having to plan out things.” He shoots me a sideways glance that lights my fire. “I’m learning though.”

  I try to suppress a smile, but when his hand slides farther up my thigh, I have to suppress more than that. Damn those cupcakes.

  “Hey.” He pulls me in for a kiss when we exit the truck. Tristan runs over to Zoe and Trenna, unaware of the bombshell he dropped on my heart earlier. “As much as I like our friends, I wish I had you to myself.”

  “Am I an awful friend if I agree?”

  “Not at all. That makes you an awesome girlfriend.” He throws his arm around my shoulder. “Let’s go be the good friends.”

  We walk up to Zach and Lacey’s home, and I debate whether to tell him about seeing that woman. I shut down the thought because the woman could’ve been anyone. The last thing I want is for him to worry about me or think I’m paranoid.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  JAX

  Current Day

  A bright light—lightning, maybe—flashes around me but draws little concern. I roll on my back. Full consciousness has yet to grab hold and push me into the start of the day. I’m not ready to lose the feeling of Jocelyn’s body heat next to me. A floral scent assaults my senses, temporarily confusing me, but I succumb to the dream of her snuggled beside me and drift back to sleep.

  Another flash of bright white stirs me back to the living, but it’s the shift in the mattress and press of a warm body—skin on skin—against my chest that grabs my attention. My eyelids spring open to find my fingers tangled in a weave of blonde locks.

  What. The. Fuck.

  I withdraw my hand and shove the topless body off. She yelps and slides onto the floor, but I don’t give a fuck. Not right now.

  “How the fuck did you get in here?” My feet hit my bedroom floor, and a brief jolt of gratitude races through my veins at the sight of my jersey briefs still covering my cock. But then my heart ticks a beat faster when the intruder pulls herself off the floor and recognition sets in. It’s her, the blonde mystery woman.

  She pulls her shirt on and snatches a purse off the bedside table. “Don’t worry, I got what I came after.”

  “What does that mean?”

  Her eyes shift toward the bedroom door, and in a beat, she bolts toward it. I plunge forward but come to a halt when AJ races in and blocks the pathway.

  “What’s with the shouting?” He looks at her and tosses his head back slightly. “Why are you in here?”

  He takes in my appearance and then turns back to the blonde, eyes widening at her just-been-fucked-hair. I’d bet my last dollar that hairstyle came from him, not me.

  “Did you two?” He waves his finger between us.

  “I’m out of here.” She clutches her purse against her chest and pushes past him, knocking AJ against the doorframe. He stands there bewildered.

  I raise my hands to my head and squeeze my hair. “Fuck! What just happened? I should have the bitch arrested.”

  That seems to knock him out of his stupor. “You want me to chase her down?”

  I hesitate. He’s in his underwear, the same as me. But then the flashes, along with the feel of her body against me, run through my mind. “I got what I came for.” It clicks. Thoughts of Jocelyn and how this will impact her jolts me forward. I nab a pair sweats off the floor and stagger as I try stepping into them.

  “I bet she took pictures. We need to delete them from her phone.”

  “Jesus.”

  We scramble toward the elevator, and it feels like déjà vu all over again as I wait for the door to slide open.

  “Shit, hurry up.” I turn to face AJ who’s still wearing his briefs. “You could’ve gotten dressed.”

  “I’m good.”

  “I assume you brought her home, right?”

  “Man, I’m sorry. When she came on to me, I didn’t know she was crazy. She was just hot.” He crosses his arms over his chest. “You know me. I’m not too choosy when it comes to women.”

  “Maybe you should start.” The elevator dings and before we know it, we’re out on the dark, desolate street with no blonde in sight. My bare feet pound the concrete as we split directions. A few cars pass by and a couple exit the corner bar. Other than them, no one’s in sight.

  I pace the sidewalk, staring at every corner and shadow where she could be hiding, but I know it’s pointless. She’s gone.

  “Ah, man. I’m so sorry,” AJ says as he meets me back in front of the apartment building.

  “Let’s get inside before you get arrested for indecent exposure. What time is it, anyway?”

  “A little past two when I went to your room.”

  I groan.

  “We can still call the cops.”

  “We probably should because I think she’s the one who roofied your drink.” I hit the elevator button.

  “Fuck. Do you know her?”

  “No. Not really. She’s been showing up randomly. Did you get her full name?” I go ahead and ask, knowing full well what the answer will be.

  “Nope. She went by Kat.”

  “Figures.”

  “If she spiked my drink, then we should call the police.”

  “Maybe, but what would they charge her with? You invited her here. We have no proof whether you were roofied or not. Let alone who did it. What am I going to say? She cuddled me against my will?”

  “She did though.”

  “Yeah, but I’m more worried about what Jocelyn’s going to say to this.”

  “You going to tell her?”

  “Of course, I’m going to tell her. I don’t want any secrets between us. But I have to wait until after tonight’s game.” With the birthday party she’s baking for, I can’t risk upsetting her. But an uneasiness stirs in my stomach as I wonder how I’ll break the news to her.

  “How do you think she’ll take it?”

  “I have no idea.”

  “I’m sorry,” he says again. “I’ll screen the women before taking any more home.”

  “It’s not your fault, but yeah, do that.” We reach our apartment, and I feel around for my keys. “Ah, shit.”

  “Relax, I’ve got us covered.” AJ dangles a key ring from his finger.

  “Do I want to know where you pulled that from?”

  He laughs, but once we’re inside, I head straight to the shower. The faster this floral scent leaves, the better. Fuck my life.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  JOCLEYN

  Current Day

  “These are adorable.” Leesa, the mother of Trenna’s friend, takes the Minnie Mouse cupcakes from me and walks over to a what can only be described as a shrine for the female mouse. My pink polka-dotted cupcakes, topped with black fondant icing shaped in mouse ears, set off the scene perfectly. “Thanks so much for making these. The kids will love them.”

  “Do you need help?” I glance around the park. Three child-sized tables and chairs are lined together, covered with white linens. Pink plates sit on top of the most adorable gold-glitter plate chargers in the shape of mouse ears. At least the plates are disposable and not real china. Score one for practicality. A small grouping of mothers congregates under an open tent, while the kids run around on the playground and climb on the equipment. Melanie’s content in the stroller for a minute.

  “No, I have everything under control.” She places the last cupcake on the golden serving tray, and I must admit the spread looks great. A little too fancy for a party at the public park, but cute nonetheless. “Let me introduce you to the other mothers.”

  I wheel Melanie over to them, where I get introduced. We’re in the middle of a park, and I swear two of the ladies are wearing Loubout
in. This is why I miss Lacey. She’s down to earth and not high maintenance, unlike these women.

  One of the high-heeled women, a bleach-blonde, turns and eyes me. I recognize her immediately, although it’s been ten years.

  “Marissa.” My smile may be fake, but my shock sure isn’t.

  She eyes me up and down and then tosses a glance toward Mel. “Do I know you?”

  “We went to Penn State together. We didn’t really hang around each other.”

  “No. Suppose we wouldn’t have.”

  There are certain misconceptions in life. Like even the worst kind of bitch grows up to be less bitchy. But that’s a lie. They turn into adults with the same shitty attitude. I wonder what poor guy she snagged along the way.

  “Mommy, Mommy.” Tristan comes running up to me. “Did you see the baseball diamond? It’s like the one Jax plays on. Can I go over there and play?”

  Marissa straightens in her seat at the mention of Jax’s name. Funny, for someone who claims to not remember me, she certainly seems affected by the mention of my boyfriend.

  “It’s too far away, honey.”

  “Can I have Jax take me sometime? That’s where he can teach me baseball.” The pleading in his eyes is adorable but makes me a little sad. Tristan should want his father to do those things. Then again, Jax is the professional. Perhaps that’s why.

  “Maybe. He’s kind of busy working, you know.”

  Tristan turns to the women, his voice pitched high. “Jax is a real baseball player. He took us to his game and hit the ball really far for me. Plus, he took us to Disney World where we met the real Minnie Mouse.”

  He takes off running toward the other kids after his spiel.

  Marissa’s face turns cold as she eyes me. “I see you’re still his little play toy.”