Curveball: A Second Chance Romance (Double Play Series Book 1)

by Nicole Rodrigues

  “What did you two do?” I ask, eyeing them.

  “Come on,” Devin says, smiling.

  I look over to Gabriel and he shrugs his shoulders. We follow the kids outside and they open the back door to our limo. It's supposed to take us to the airport for our honeymoon.

  We are going to the Bahamas for the week. I ran it by my doctor and he said it was fine. I hope my nausea subsides a little so I can enjoy the whole week alone with Gabriel, but even if my stomach acts up, I'll be in the Bahamas with my husband. How bad can it really be?

  “Where are we goin’?” Gabriel asks, as the twins climb in the back seat with us.

  “You'll see,” Bella says, winking.

  We make small talk on the drive and I recognize where we are immediately.

  “Why are we at your old house?” I ask Gabriel.

  “Come on,” Devin says, opening the door when the car stops.

  We walk to the front door of Gabriel's childhood home and Bella takes out the key. She opens the door and we step inside. I'm immediately hit with memories from this house, all good. My childhood with Savannah and Gabriel, our first kiss, our nighttime make-out sessions sneaking through Gabriel's window.

  “What's goin’ on?” I ask the twins.

  They both smile and run up the stairs. They stop outside what was Savannah's room growing up. They open the door and we walk into a beautiful...nursery. The walls are a soft yellow and the rug is like walking on top of a puffy cloud. The crib is grey with yellow and white crib sheets and accent blankets. There are pictures on the wall, old pictures of me and Gabriel, the twins when they were little, the twins and Gabriel now and a picture of the four of us at the wedding, last night.

  “How…” my voice breaks with emotion and I clear my throat. “How did you do this? We only found out yesterday.”

  “I might have known somethin’ was up 2 weeks ago,” Bella admits.

  “How?” I ask.

  “You were cryin’ while we were watchin’ the home and garden network, Mama.”

  “I...those fixer upper shows...they're so touchin’!” I say, my voice breaking.

  “And exhibit A!” Devin laughs.

  I slap his shoulder and roll my eyes.

  “Okay fine, you had a hunch and you were right, but this is Savannah's house now. I'm so confused,” I say looking to Gabriel.

  He's not looking at me and my mouth drops open.

  “Wait a second, you're on board with this? Can someone please explain what is goin’ on?”

  “It's ours now,” Gabriel says, putting his hands on my shoulders. “We need room for a family of 5, so Savannah signed the deed over to us. She don't need much room, since it's only her, so she's gonna take over your place. I hope that's okay. I didn't want to over step but--”

  I cut off his next words with a kiss and tears stream down my face.

  “Gabriel Gavinwood, I absolutely, wholeheartedly, love the ever-livin’ crap outta you!” I say, kissing him again.

  I jump up into his arms and wrap my legs around his waist.

  “Ahem...your children are still in the room,” Devin coughs.

  “Oh gosh!” I say, untangling myself from Gabe. “So wait, at the wedding? You already knew I was pregnant, too?”

  “No!” he says quickly, “I swear, I didn't. I ran the idea by the kids about the house and they said they wanted to surprise us with somethin’. I had no idea. It was all them.”

  I look over to Devin and Bella and reach for them. I pull them in for a hug and Gabriel wraps himself around us.

  “You ready for this craziness, Gavinwood’s?” Gabriel asks.

  “The craziness is all on y'all,” Bella laughs. “Devin and I will come and visit but if this baby is a nutjob, I'll bring my butt right on back to State!”

  We laugh and hug tighter and in this moment, everything is right. The pieces of my heart are all back together again and I am whole.

  Going, Going, Goner

  Double Play Series

  Book 2

  Sneak peek …

  Prologue

  Savannah

  I walk into the pub, bracing myself for the sight of Jackson Turner again. I saw him a couple months ago, but I was thrown completely off guard. Tonight, I'm prepared. I straighten my fitted red dress and put my curly brown hair behind one ear. I opted for my contacts tonight and look down at my long legs, ending in my black pumps. I look like sex on a stick and I plan on making him drool all over himself.

  “Hotness,” I hear as I look up and lock eyes with my future sister in law, Charlotte Daniels.

  “I could say the same, damn Mama,” I smile, eyeing her appearance.

  She is wearing a fitted white lace dress and her brown hair is pulled into an elegant bun. She is absolutely glowing, and I'm so freakin’ happy for her and my brother.

  I pull her in for a hug and look over her shoulder. My niece and nephew, Bella and Devin, are standing around a table with my twin brother, Gabriel.

  “You ready for this?” I smile at her, breaking the hug.

  “Please,” she says, waving a hand in the air, “I’ve been ready to marry your brother for a couple decades now,” she says, smiling. “Besides of course, the eighteen year hiatus.”

  I squeeze her shoulder, as her eyes start to water.

  “Hey. None of that. Let's go take a shot. It's a night of celebrations. Last night as a single lady,” I say winking.

  “Uh..yeah let me just...I gotta find my mama,” Charlotte says quickly.

  I eye her suspiciously as she walks away. I start to walk towards my brother and the kids, but I feel a hand on my shoulder and spin around, locking eyes with the man himself. Jackson Turner. Green eyes bore into mine and my breath hitches.

  “Missed you at church, but don't worry, I paid attention. Just follow my lead tomorrow, it'll be fine,” he says, smiling.

  I roll my eyes.

  “I had an important client I couldn't move around, but I think I can handle walkin’ down an aisle, without the practice run.”

  “You gonna run away from me again?” he asks, roughly.

  He's so close, I can smell his woodsy scent.

  “No,” I whisper, trying to hide how much his presence is affecting me.

  “Good,” he whispers back.

  His breath is hot on my neck and I feel goosebumps erupt on my skin.

  “What are you doing, Jax?” I say, as his hand lands on my waist.

  “Dancing with you,” he answers, as he leads me onto the dance floor.

  I was so wrapped up in him, that I didn't even hear the music in the background.

  “How have you been Savvy?” he asks softly.

  My heart picks up at the shortened version of my name, the one that only he has ever called me.

  “Good. I'm good. I've been good,” I stutter.

  My body is in overdrive with his hard muscles, pressed against me. I can't formulate a coherent sentence while my arm is around his solid waist and the other, engulfed by his strong, capable hands.

  “Good,” he says, smiling.

  He knows what he is doing to me and it makes me annoyed. My girl crush faded a while ago, when he shattered my heart. I have to hold onto that. He needs to be the one pining, not me.

  “How have you been? DHing now, huh? Ain't that how they politely push you outta the majors?” I smirk.

  “Funny.”

  He moves his face closer, his lips inches away from my own. I gasp at the closeness, trying not to picture his lips descending on mine, again.

  “How uh, how's Lacey?” I ask, quickly changing the subject.

  He laughs.

  “She's great. She opted to stay home with my mama, though. Weddings aren't really her thing.”

  Lacey is Jackson's 16 year-old daughter, the reason for my broken heart. Granted we weren't together and he didn't promise me anything. He just kissed me senseless one night at a Houston Lonestar’s party, and then the next day, the news broke that he was going to be a father
. My heart was split in two.

  I couldn't start a relationship with a man that was going to have a baby with another woman. I put Jackson in my rearview mirror and ran right into the arms of Hugh Millers, the smooth-talking business major, who swept me off my feet. I should have seen right through his suave bravado to the snake lurking inside, but I was blinded by lust, or maybe just running away from the heartache and refusing to see what was right in front of my eyes.

  “Where'd you go?” Jackson asks softly, breaking me out of my fog.

  “I uh...nowhere, I'm fine,” I say, plastering on the fake smile I've perfected the past five years.

  I'm fine. Those two little words, the incredible lie they hold. I'm anything but fine.

  “Listen Savvy…”

  “Don’t,” I say cutting him off. “If you're goin’ to apologize for all those years ago, just don't, okay?”

  “I should though. I had no idea that Kat was pregnant when I kissed you. I wasn't with her, it was a one-time thing. I kissed you with the intention of starting something with you, Savannah. I didn't mean to hurt you,” he says, putting my hair behind my ear.

  I turn away from his touch.

  “It's fine. It was over a decade ago Jackson, no need to rehash the past.”

  “I can't deny that I still wonder if your lips taste the same, though,” he says into my ear.

  His lips touching my earlobe sends a fire burning through my body.

  “I…”

  My words are blocked. His hand on my back lowers, just a smidge and my pulse quickens.

  “Don't you want to know what it would be like, Savvy? Just one taste?”

  I shake my head and slowly peel my body away from his, trying so damn hard to compose myself.

  “Let's not go down that path again, Jax. I should make the rounds, say hi to my family. I'll catch up with ya at the weddin’ tomorrow,” I say, slowly backing away.

  I need to keep my distance from Jackson Turner, if I want to keep what's left of my heart intact.

  ***

  I glance across the dance floor and I smile. Charlotte looks so happy, despite the pale tint to her face. The ceremony was so momentous; finding out I was going to be an aunt again. This time, I get to spoil this little girl or boy from birth and it makes my heart soar with happiness. It fills that little void that always nags in the back of my brain. That won't ever be you, Savannah.

  I go to the bar, order a vodka soda and a shot of tequila. I'm so happy for my brother and Charlotte, but I can't help the sadness creeping into my mood, taking up residence. I thought I was that happy once. I thought Hugh was the man that could make me forget about Jackson. He was for a little while, but like all snakes, they eventually shed their skin.

  I down the shot and finish the vodka soda in one big gulp. How many drinks was this? Five? Six? I lost track. I can still balance on my heels, so that was a good sign. I motion for another round and the bartender eyes me.

  “I'm fine,” I say rolling my eyes. There are those words again. “It's a weddin’. Ain't people supposed to get embarrassingly drunk?”

  He shakes his head but reluctantly pours the shot and vodka soda. I smile and tip the shot towards him before I slurp it down. I sip on the vodka soda slowly, reaching for the top of my dress to pull it up. Damn strapless dresses. My fingers graze the condom Charlotte gave me and I blush. I forgot I had that, not that I'll need it.

  “You should slow down. You get a little handsy when you drink,” says a smooth voice from behind me.

  I smirk and shake my head.

  “You're the handsy one,” I sass.

  Jackson comes into view next to me and leans an elbow on the bar.

  “Drinking in celebration or depression?” he asks, motioning to the bartender for a drink.

  “I'm happy for my brother and Charlotte, why would I be depressed?”

  He shrugs and finishes his shot as he moves closer to me.

  “Depressed that my lips aren't already devouring yours?” he whispers.

  I push his chest and roll my eyes.

  “I don't want my lips anywhere near yours. God knows where they've been. You don't think I know what you baseball players do after your games? Girls in each state and all that.”

  His gazes hardens and he steps even closer, lowering his head to whisper in my ear above the sound of the DJ.

  “Just so you know, I'm the picture of good health. Despite what other idiots do, I'm a father first and foremost. I haven't slept with a woman in over two years and I've never taken a woman bare.”

  I laugh. “So Kat was the Virgin Mary, huh?”

  “Condoms break, Savvy.”

  “Sure,” I smirk.

  “I'm telling you the truth. Is there anything else you want to know about my sexual history before you allow me to give you a kiss that we both desperately want?”

  I feel him smirk against my ear and grit my teeth.

  “Quite presumptuous, don't you think?”

  “Only if I'm wrong. Tell me Savvy, do you not want these lips on yours?”

  I close my eyes, focusing on my breathing. I will not give into this man, at least not on his terms. I motion for the bartender and he brings over two more shots and two vodka sodas.

  “You're wrong, Jackson Turner,” I say, taking a shot and sliding one to him.

  I feel his gaze on me and I down the vodka soda. The alcohol buzzes through my veins and sends a boldness straight to my brain.

  “Oh?” he asks lifting an eyebrow.

  I lean towards him whispering in his ear.

  “I don't want those lips just on mine. I want those lips devouring every inch of my body. Do you think you can handle that?” I ask, smirking against his ear.

  He pulls me quickly to the back of the room, down a dark hall and he slams the women's bathroom door open. He pulls me inside and locks the door as I try and stifle a giggle. The alcohol is going straight to my brain, fogging it up with lust and blocking out reason.

  “I don't do this. I never do this, ever. I don't ever do this,” I say.

  I want to make sure Jackson knows that I don't just jump into bed with anyone. The alcohol is giving me an edge that I didn't even know I had. I'm being reckless, but I don't care.

  “Me either. You look so hot in this dress,” he says, his gaze roaming me.

  “You look so hot in this tux,” I say sassily.

  I grab his tie and pull his lips down on mine for a kiss. His hands go under my thighs and he lifts me up, turning us so I'm sitting on the bathroom counter. He unzips his fly in lightning speed and pulls my thong to the side, as he slowly starts to push inside me, our lips and tongues still wrestling for control.

  “Wrap your legs around me...oh God you feel so good,” he moans into my shoulder.

  He nips it slightly and I gasp.

  “I’ve wanted this for so long. Don't stop, I'm so close...oh God, my God!”

  His thrusts are quick, and his length keeps sliding right over my clit. I've never come this fast in my life, but a load moan escapes my throat as I teeter on the brink of my release.

  “Shh...someone is gonna hear us,” he growls in my ear.

  “It's been...oh my...it's been too long. Fuck it's never felt...yessssss!”

  My divorce was finalized over a year ago, but Hugh and I haven't had sex in years. Our marriage was over long before the divorce. If I had known what I'd known about our prenup, I would have ended it sooner. It's been an embarrassingly long time since I've endured a man's touch, and I'm crazed.

  His hands squeeze my ass as he pulls my body onto his, chasing his release. He dips the front of my dress down and snatches a nipple into his mouth, sucking and pulling at it. The condom I had in my dress falls to the floor and we both look down at it.

  “Shit,” he says under his breath. “I swear Savvy, I'm okay. I didn't even think-”

  I shut him up with a kiss.

  “We’re good, don't stop,” I moan.

  He rocks into me again nodding hi
s head. My body tingles as his mouth goes back over my nipple and the brush of his thumb against my clit is my undoing.

  We both moan our ecstasy into each other’s shoulders and then Jackson pulls away, righting his zipper and fixing his tie.