Winning Streak

by Alice Ward

  So she won’t need to stay with me? The thought sent a stab of disappointment through me that I didn’t like.

  “That’s great. You’ll make a fine New Yorker.”

  “Maybe you can come see it when you get back?” Her voice was hesitant now, unsure.

  “Sure, darlin’. I’ll do that. And maybe once things get settled in Florida, you can come visit me down there.”

  Holy hell. Why the fuck did I say that? And why am I hoping she’ll say yes?

  “Oh, I’m sure you’ll have plenty of girls willing to snuggle with you there.” She gave it right back to me. Damn, what was it about her that drove me so wild?

  “None of them are you, darlin’.”

  There was a long pause, and I realized I was holding my damn breath.

  “Well, then maybe I’ll plan a trip to Florida then. New York is a little too cold for me anyways.”

  “Damn.” I groaned into the phone and readjusted myself. “I wish you would’ve come to me last night. Waiting for you to get there’s gonna be tough.” Suddenly, all those women in bikinis weren’t so appealing.

  I closed my eyes when a soft chuckle blazed its damn way into my soul. The sound was so comforting, so familiar. So damn needed.

  We talked for a while longer. She told me about a new style of mirror icing she was trying to master, and it was interesting, just listening to the excitement in her voice. She made me laugh recounting the birthday cake she’d made last week and how she’d fallen with it down the stairs.

  “You’d been so proud of me, Ace. I bobbled that thing a good three times, then dove and caught it before it hit the ground. Knocked the breath out of me, but I saved the cake.”

  When we pulled onto the airport exit, I was disappointed to say goodbye, and I was regretting my decision to head south even more.

  “Darlin’, I’m pulling up to the airport now. I’ll call you once I’m all settled in.”

  “Alright. You have a safe trip.”

  Her sincerity was like a balm. “I will, darlin’.”

  I didn’t want to hang up and found myself just listening to her breathing. I felt like a schoolboy playing “you hang up first.”

  Pissed at myself. I forced my thumb to end the call. My nuts were tight, my cock still filled with blood, and my thoughts were all over the place. You can’t disappoint all those ladies in Florida, Ace. Not because of one girl.

  Brent opened my door, my bag already handed off to the airline employee at the curb. “Have a great trip, sir.” He said with too much formality. I liked wild man better than sir.

  Calvin slapped my back as we entered the airport together. I slid my card into the kiosk, printed my boarding passes, and waited for Calvin to get his pass printed.

  “You sure packed light,” Calvin said, noting my one carry-on duffle as we shuffled through security, dumping everything, including my shoes, in the tray.

  “Warm weather, fewer clothes.” I smirked, knowing all of my equipment was loaded by the team assistants, and I’d buy whatever I needed while I was there.

  “Oh yeah. That the real reason you’re headed out early with us? Bikinis?” Calvin knew me oh so well.

  “Yup.”

  “So, that bag’s filled with condoms?”

  “Nothing but.” I grabbed my belongings, sat down to tie my shoes, and found myself suddenly caught up in frenzy of fans.

  “You’re Ace Newman!” an excited voice announced.

  I looked up from my shoes. A large man, nearly seven-foot tall, bald, and featuring similarities to Vin Diesel smiled down at me. “Can I get a picture?”

  Who was I to say no to such a large man?

  Unfortunately, the quick pose turned into a group of people swarming us all. Security grew irritated quickly, rushing them off, and clearing out their already backed up area.

  Luke was grinning ear to ear, taking pictures with a couple of young girls. Too young, the young that gets your ass thrown in jail. “He’d better watch himself.” I snarled to Calvin.

  “You jealous, old man?” he teased.

  “Old man?” My face burned with irritation, but my grin widened to hide it.

  “Well, you’re getting up there,” he prodded, his words like a scalpel to a wound.

  “Not far ahead of you, young buck.” It was a lie that I enjoyed telling myself from time to time.

  “What are you now? Thirty-six?”

  “Watch yourself.”

  “What’s that? Eighty-four in baseball years?” He laughed, slapped me on the back. “Just kidding, man.”

  It didn’t feel like playing, mainly because he wasn’t far from the truth.

  The other players headed to the gate while I wandered towards the airport bar. A cute brunette was slinging beers behind the heavy oak bar, her tits larger than her head. “Hey, darlin’.” I leaned across the wood to give her a once over.

  It had been my experience that women with tits that large, usually had an ass to match, unless they were fake, of course. These looked real, and her ass was nice and small. “Can I get a Miller Lite?”

  “Sure thang,” she winked, turned to give me another peek at her caboose, and reached into the cooler for my beer. That twang in her voice, the southern comfort accent that warmed my balls was already stirring activity in my jeans.

  “And a shot of Patrón?” I added, offering up one of my best smiles.

  She nodded, grabbed a shot glass from the bar, and poured my shot. “You’re a baseball or basketball player aren’t ya?”

  “Baseball.” My height sometimes confused the girls that only watched enough sports to please their men. I didn’t mind it too much.

  “Yeah, Ace sumthin’ or other.” Her big green eyes batted in my direction, sending another wild sensation into my pants.

  I slung down my shot, chased it with the beer, and smiled. “Newman.”

  The final boarding call for first class was roaring over the loud speaker. “I better go.” I slammed a fifty onto the bar. Damn. I hope she’s working when I get back. I’d love to get lost in those tits.

  The lady at the ticket counter seemed uninterested as she took my boarding pass and motioned for me to enter the ramp. The flight attendant on the plane was much nicer, and better looking to boot. “Welcome,” she greeted me with a smile.

  I found my seat and inserted my ear buds.

  “Ace.” Calvin slapped my arm.

  The other passengers were already up and unloading their overhead compartments when I opened my eyes. Shit, I fell asleep.

  I got up, grabbed my bag and headed out of the plane behind Calvin and Coach.

  The small Daytona airport was a familiar place. It felt welcoming as I walked towards the front entrance. Outside, the sun blasted into my eyes, instantly making me squint. The air was calm, no breeze, even though the ocean was only a few miles away.

  “Smell that ocean air.” Luke snuck up beside me. He dropped his bags on the concrete next to his feet and took in a long breath.

  “Only one thing in the world smells better.” I grinned.

  “What’s that?” Luke asked.

  “Don’t ask.” Calvin butted in, shaking his head.

  “Pussy. And where there’s an ocean, there’s pussy.” I smirked, slapped Luke on the back, and climbed into one of the black SUVs that had been commissioned to take us to the hotel.

  “Everyone get settled in your room. Training begins in the morning.” Coach ordered as he slid into the seat next to me. “That means no partying.” His eyes directed towards me, and only me.

  “Yes, sir.” I agreed, holding back my chuckle.

  Who’d he think he was? You can’t tame the beast!

  The driver worked his way through the small amount of traffic on N. Atlantic Avenue. The spring breakers would arrive soon, the bikers, the NASCAR fans, this place would be packed while we were here, but not today. Today, I didn’t see one bikini-clad woman on the sidewalk, just an old man who looked to be homeless and lost.

  “Th
is place is like a ghost town,” I growled out the window, watching to make sure he made it across the road safely.

  “Guess you’ll just have to use your time to train,” Coach snapped.

  I rolled my eyes without letting him see me. The driver pulled up to the large condo complex, the place I’d been calling home for six weeks of my life each year. I knew I could find some trouble inside. No matter what time of year it was, a hot young thing ready to play could always be found.

  We unloaded the SUV, headed inside, and got our room keys. “Where you at?” Luke asked, holding up his envelope with his room number on it. Shit, not far enough from you, kid.

  I flashed him my envelope and watched his smile grow. Yippee, we’re practically neighbors, his expression seemed to say.

  Calvin slapped my shoulder as he walked by. “See ya tomorrow.”

  “You don’t want to get dinner or a drink?” I asked, disappointed that he wouldn’t want to hang with his old pal. Shit, now I’m calling myself old.

  “I’m ordering a pizza, calling Whit, and going to bed early tonight.” He was such a good boy. Not me. I was itching for something, and it wasn’t pizza.

  “I’ll head out with ya,” Luke said.

  Did I ask you, kid?

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  Holly

  “Holly! Are you in there?” I peeked around the corner to find Whitney standing in my living room. My living room. Well, close enough.

  “I didn’t hear you come in last night.” She smiled, looking at me with unadulterated curiosity.

  “Yeah. We went out for pizza.” My tone was less than enthusiastic.

  She closed the door behind her and sat down on the round red chair in the center of the room. “So, tell me all about it.”

  “Not much to tell. We went for pizza.”

  “I saw how he was looking at you,” she prodded, looking so anxious to hear that I liked Jack that it made it nearly impossible to disappoint her.

  I’d been dreading this conversation. I was still trying to figure it all out myself. That kiss, my God, it was unappealing in just about every way imaginable. Hearing Ace’s voice earlier moistened my panties, and that was without any physical contact. Leaving Jack last night, my panties were bone dry.

  “He’s nice.” I cringed.

  I moved to the couch, plopped onto the overstuffed cushion, and let my head fall back into its soft embrace. “Oh, Whitney, it was the worst kiss ever,” I finally admitted.

  Shit. She looked irritated. “You’re just hung up on Ace,” she said, crossing her arms over her chest. Yep. Very irritated.

  I sighed and slouched farther into the couch.

  “No. I really was having a great time. He’s so sweet, so attentive, and so damn good looking.” I gushed, trying to make up for my lack of excitement from before.

  “Then how could the kiss be that bad?” Whitney asked.

  “I don’t know.” I shuddered, remembering the slobbery tongue invasion.

  “Was he nervous?”

  “He didn’t appear to be. He actually seemed pretty confident.”

  “Too much tongue?” she ventured.

  “Waaay too much.” I stuck my tongue in and out repeatedly to give her an example.

  She wrinkled her nose.

  I replayed the kiss for her, telling her how he took me in his arms, how strong and confident they were, and how ready I was for the kiss. “Maybe I expected too much. Like, built it up in my mind?” I excused. It was hard to pinpoint what the problem was, other than there were no sparks.

  “You just weren’t into it,” Whitney told me and I bristled about her making this my fault. But a part of me agreed. I wasn’t into having my tonsils plunged.

  “Were you thinking about Ace?” she asked gently.

  And there it was. My real problem.

  “Some, but when we were eating, I actually didn’t think of him at all. But the kiss. Whitney…” I sighed, not sure how to explain it. “The very first time Ace kissed me, it was magical. Like all the storybooks kisses brought to life.”

  Her face softened, and I knew she understood the feeling, even if she didn’t like the person the feeling was attached to.

  “Calvin already gone?” I asked, desperate to change the subject.

  She frowned and nodded. I hated to see her sad. I knew she hated being alone during the weeks he was in training.

  “I talked to Ace this morning,” I admitted.

  Her frown grew from sad to irritated in an instant. “Why?”

  “Well, after that disappointing kiss, I just thought…”

  “That’s exactly why you can’t get involved with anyone else. You have feelings for him Holly, admit it.” She wasn’t wrong, but I wasn’t going to admit it.

  “He’s so passionate,” I argued. “When he touches me I melt.”

  She fake gagged again, and I knew I’d never get her to understand.

  “So, does this mean you’re staying with him tonight?” she asked after several moments had ticked by.

  “No,” I pouted. “He’s already left for spring training.”

  “Why did he leave early?”

  “He said they needed him there. Something about the new relief pitcher and having a left-handed batter to practice with.”

  “That’s strange. Calvin didn’t say anything about him coming down early.”

  I found it strange too. If he’d told me last night that he was leaving, I’d probably have found a way to escape my forced date with Jack. “He said the decision wasn’t made until this morning, but he did invite me to Daytona to stay with him.”

  I watched her closely, wondering how she was going to take that news. She sneered. “You really plan on flying a thousand miles for a booty call?”

  Wow. Whitney’s sarcasm could pop any balloon.

  “I thought it would be fun if you came along.”

  She narrowed her eyes at me, as if she was trying to see through my sincerity. “Why would I want to be there?”

  “You wanna see Calvin, don’t ya?” I asked.

  She sighed, and that dreamy I’m so in love smile appeared on her face. “I could do that.”

  I jumped up from the couch, let out a cheer, and headed into the kitchen to find the bottle of wine we hadn’t finished.

  “But, I think we should wait a week or two.” Whitney leaned against the kitchen counter as I poured two glasses.

  “Okay,” I agreed, but not as excited by the idea of waiting. Of course, I had no idea when Ace would want me to come down

  I wasn’t excited about waiting, but I knew Ace had said he wanted to get settled in first. Plus, that would be about the time the NASCAR fans cleared out, and right before the spring breakers and wild bikers showed up. I didn’t want to leave Ace without a warm body to snuggle with once all those wild women arrived at the beach. I knew he would find one before then, but once the party started there was a good chance he’d forget about inviting me.

  My phone vibrated on the kitchen table. Whitney grabbed it before I had a chance. “Your lover boy is texting.”

  My stupid heart fluttered. Ace must’ve landed already.

  “It says, ‘Can’t wait to see you again. I can still taste your lips.’” She looked at me, surprise written in her eyes. “Wow, that’s really sweet.”

  It really was. “See? He’s not always an asshole,” I defended.

  Whitney’s face changed, morphing from excitement to pity. “This isn’t Ace.”

  I snatched my phone from her hand and read Jack’s name across my screen. The disappointment was like a smack in the face.

  “I think you should give Jack a chance,” Whitney murmured before lifting her glass to her lips.

  “I never said I wouldn’t.”

  A part of me, somewhere deep, was flattered by his words. But, that other part, the superficial one, hated that he was so eager to please. What was wrong with me?

  “Are you going to respond?”

  My thumbs hovered over the p
hone. “And say what?”

  “I dunno. You could at least say thank you.”

  I took a large gulp of my wine. “Ugh!”

  Me: Thank you. It was nice meeting you last night.

  Whitney moved closer and leaned over my shoulder to read what I just typed. “Seriously?”

  “What?” I asked, not seeing the problem. “You said to at least say thank you.”

  “Well, looking at it now, it just looks cold.”

  “Too late now.” I jumped when the phone vibrated in my hand.

  Jack: I’m very glad I met you. Do you have time for a drink tonight?

  Whitney howled in my ear. “He’s got it bad for you.”

  “He said we’d see each other after spring training. Why is he changing that now?” I whined.

  “He must have enjoyed the kiss a lot more than you did.” She winked and finished her wine. I picked mine up, doing the same.

  Me: Spending the evening with Whitney. Calvin just left, and I don’t want to leave her alone tonight.

  “Nice, so you’re using me to get out of this?”

  My lips curled into a wild smile. “Ingenious.”

  Jack: Okay. Well, I leave in two days. If you get a chance, I’d love to see you before I go.

  Me: Okay. ☺

  “Holly, you need to see him before he leaves for Florida.” Whitney insisted.

  “Why?”

  She rolled her eyes. “If it was just a fluke kiss, you need to know.”

  The thought of kissing Jack again was less than thrilling. The thought of kissing Ace, on the other hand, that was beyond thrilling. Maybe I could think of Ace while kissing Jack.

  I lounged around the guest house with Whitney most of the day. We planned to go out on the town, but by the time it reached an appropriate time, we both decided to stay in.

  The next day was similar, both of us in pajamas all day, staying in where it was nice and warm. Every time I made the short trip from the guesthouse to the main house, I yearned for the warmth of Florida, and Ace’s bed.

  Jack continued to push for a drink or at least a cup of coffee. And between both him and Whitney’s firm nudging, I finally agreed.

  I smoothed my hair back into a tight ponytail, rolled a thick headband over my forehead to keep my ears warm, and pulled on a heavy sweater that covered me from neck to mid-ass.