Baseball and Other Lessons (Devil's Ranch Book 2) (39 page)

“Wow. That’s a lot.”

“Damn straight it is.”

She kissed him again, and the cheering, the interviews on the PA system and the catcalls from nearby fans all faded into the background until all he was aware of was Jenn wrapped around him, carrying his child and showing him more love than he sometimes knew what to do with.

It was so much better than baseball.

Acknowledgments

First, I want to say “thank you” to you—the reader—for taking the time out of your busy day to read this book. I hope you enjoyed Matt and Jenn’s story as much as I enjoyed writing it. These were two characters who ended up surprising me (Matt, especially) in all the best ways.

Second, I have to acknowledge my husband and his never-ending support. I wrote the bulk of this book in the first two months after he received a kidney transplant, partially as a means to escape our somewhat uncertain reality, partially as a way to process many of the emotions I’d been feeling since we’d found out how sick he was in June of 2014, and mostly because his illness has made us both realize that we can’t keep putting off living and reaching for our dreams. You never know which day will be your last, and “some day” may never come. Those were lessons that I suddenly understood, and which drove me to keep pushing on.

Third is another “thank you” to everyone who’s purchased
Between the Seams
(Chase and Jo’s story), found me on Facebook, emailed me, commented on my blog, reviewed the book, etc. Y’all have no idea how much it means to me to know that there are people out there who really, truly enjoyed that book and were looking forward to this one.

Fourth: thank you, to my beta readers for the fantastic feedback and general cheering section as soon as you finished this book. Your input is invaluable.

Fifth: thank you to all of the great radio baseball announcers I've listened to over the years. You don't know it, but you totally shaped my announcers in this book. Craig Way (aka The Voice of the Texas Longhorns) is one of the best in the business, and his "prodigious clout" call is one of my all-time favorites. I'm spoiled to have great radio guys for the Round Rock Express and Texas Rangers. Mike Capps with the Express is a minor-league gift, and makes listening to AAA baseball incredibly enjoyable. For the Rangers, Matt Hicks and MLB Hall-of-Famer Eric Nadel bring the game to life. Y'all have no idea how enjoyable you make those long drives between Austin and the ranch during baseball season.

Last but not least I want to give a shout-out to the indie writing community. The world of publishing is changing by leaps and bounds, and there are so many indie writers out there who are willing to share their knowledge with us newbies. Thanks to all of you for sharing your sales data, your marketing strategies, your general advice and virtual hugs when needed. Most people think we writers are a bit anti-social (and, yes, we admittedly can be), but there are so many thriving, supportive, friendly writing communities out there that it’s sometimes hard to believe the stereotype.

Cheers!

Aubrey

P.S. Love what you read? Share the love and
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and/or rating so other readers can find books to read!

Baseball and Other Lessons Playlist

Flashback Scenes:

Maroon 5 – “She Will Be Loved”

Evanescence – “Going Under”

Breaking Benjamin – “So Cold”

Kelly Clarkson – “Behind These Hazel Eyes”

Matchbox20 – “Hand Me Down”

Linkin Park – “My December”

Sarah MacLachlan – “Fallen”

Liz Phair – “Why Can’t I?”

Dashboard Confessional – “Vindicated”

Michelle Branch – “Are You Happy Now?”

Jann Arden – “Insensitive”

Evanescence – “My Immortal”

Present Day:

Jenn:

Pistol Annies – “Hush Hush”

Coldplay – “Paradise”

Easton Corbin – “Clockwork”

The Civil Wars – “The One That Got Away”

Kacey Musgraves – “Merry Go Round”

Sara Bareilles – “Gravity”

Demi Lovato – “Heart Attack”

Jon McLaughlin – “Beautiful Disaster”

Taylor Swift – “Style”

Heart – “Alone”

Matt:

The Lumineers – “Stubborn Love”

Mumford and Sons – “Little Lion Man”

Ed Sheeran – “Kiss Me”

Neon Trees – “Sleeping With a Friend”

Mike Ryan – “Dancing All Around It”

Matt Nathanson – “Car Crash”

Matt Nathanson f. Sugarland – “Run”

Matt Nathanson – “I Saw”

Ed Sheeran – “Small Bump”

Wade Bowen – “Trouble”

John Mayer – “Heartbreak Warfare”

Excerpt: Between the Seams

What happens when life throws you a curveball?

Chase Roberts is the quintessential Good Guy. Attractive, athletic, intelligent and successful, the former college baseball star and one-time major league prospect is the kind of guy any woman would love to take home to Mama. Except there’s one small problem: Chase has never really gotten over his former best friend—and first love—Jolene “Jo” Westwood, who broke his heart as a teen. Now, all grown up with two thriving businesses, Chase has enough to worry about.

Jo Westwood just wants to come home to Del Rio, Texas, help nurse her grandmother back to health and go back to her calm--okay, boring and lonely--life in Austin once the summer's over. Unfortunately (fortunately?), her best-laid plans come to a screaming halt the moment she accidentally bumps into her former best friend--and first love--Chase Roberts in the feminine hygiene aisle. The cute boy she once knew has become a HOT man. A hot man who seemingly hates her. Great.

As the long, hot summer drags on, Chase and Jo find themselves spending more and more time together, resurrecting not-so dead feelings and putting the past behind them. Unfortunately, summer only lasts so long, and even love may not be able to survive long-held secrets that threaten to tear them apart.

Chapter One

“Yo, Chase, did you hear a word of what I just said?”

Chase Roberts snapped out of his reverie and glanced over at Owen Daniels, his best friend, business partner and occasional pain in the ass. “Sure.”

Owen snorted. “No, you didn’t.”

A pretty blonde entered the building across the street, and Chase fought the overwhelming urge to follow her. “Did you see the blonde across the street just now?” He asked instead.

Owen opened the driver’s side door of his car. “I thought you’d sworn off women? Called them all second-hand groupies or something like that.”

Chase looked at the building—Mitchell’s Drug Store—one more time before climbing into the passenger seat of the low-slung Mustang. “I didn’t say they were all second-hand groupies. There just happen to be more than I would like.”

“Must be tough, being chased by hot, scantily-clad women all the time.”

Owen pulled away from the curb and Chase fought the urge to turn and watch to see if the blonde came out of the drug store.

“It is when the only reason they’re chasing after me is because of my brother.” Chase’s brother, Matt, was Mr. Baseball. The long-time ace for the Texas Wranglers, Matt was well-loved in their hometown of Del Rio, Texas. So well-loved the high school baseball fields now bore his name. Without a sponsorship. So well-loved that he had his own menu item at Francine’s Diner. So well-loved that there was a freaking Matt Roberts Day, complete with a downtown parade. In November. After the World Series and before Winter Ball started. Hell, his brother had been given keys to the damned city.

As much as Chase loved his brother, he got tired of the groupies who decided that if they couldn’t have Matt they would just settle for Chase. After one too many stories posted about him on internet message boards and questionable websites, Chase had decided about a year ago that maybe a female hiatus was in order.

Besides, he had a business to run, and even with his last name he still wanted to project the image of responsible, trustworthy businessman—not wannabe playboy.

“Boo-freaking-hoo.”

Chase ignored Owen’s sarcasm. “Anyway. Did you happen to see her?”

“Who? The curvy blonde going into Mitchell’s?”

“Yes. That one. Apparently you did.”

Owen shrugged. “She looked like she had a nice ass.”

“She looked familiar.”

Owen turned into the parking lot of Roberts Ventures, LLC, and swung into the space next to Chase’s pickup. “Previous one-night stand?”

Chase snorted. “No. Definitely not one of those.” Hell, Chase could count on one hand the number of one-night stands he’d had over his entire lifetime. His brother’s groupies just made it sound like he was, well, a player.

They got out of Owen’s Mustang and entered the building. Chase’s executive assistant and all-around office goddess looked up and smiled at Chase. As soon as Kimberly’s gaze landed on Owen, her smile quickly turned to a frown.

Chase didn’t know why Kim didn’t like Owen, and no amount of gentle prying had managed to get the information out of her. “Good morning, Kim.”

“Mornin’, Chase. We got the Sutton contract in, and Frank Wimbly called earlier, said he found a spot out by the lake that he would like to take a look at.”

Chase nodded. “Thanks. I’ll take a look at the Sutton contract and give Frank a call back.”

He made his way to his office, shaking his head as the sound of Kim scolding Owen could be heard from down the hall.

Never a dull moment
he thought as he got back to work.

#

Jolene Westwood was usually pretty hard to embarrass. As a high school guidance counselor, she’d heard—and discussed—some of the most embarrassing things human beings experienced. From high school crushes to missed periods to kids grappling with their sexuality, she thought she’d heard—and seen—it all.

But embarrassment was much easier to deal with when it wasn’t your own, and unfortunately she was currently knee-deep in it on this lovely evening.

She’d just been standing there, in front of the pads, tampons and Monistat cream that lined the back wall of the Del Rio Walmart, debating small pack versus value pack, when she accidentally backed up into someone.

A solid someone who radiated warmth and
man
.

Slowly, she turned around, her hands still paused mid-air, holding the bright yellow and blue boxes up like some sort of offering.

Or maybe as a big fat red light.

No pun intended.

Her gaze wandered up from the box of Crest toothpaste in one hand to the center of what was definitely a polo-clad male chest and up to a jaw shadowed with dark stubble. Firm lips. Slightly crooked nose. Brown eyes that made her think of warm, cinnamony Mexican chocolate. Dark eyebrows. Dark brown, almost black hair that curled out from under a blue YETI coolers ball cap.

Jo swallowed a gasp—or, more realistically, a longing-filled sigh—and took a quick step back.

Chase Roberts.

Childhood best friend.

Teenage crush.

The boy she’d long ago said goodbye to.

Her stomach flip-flopped as she slowly lowered her hands and her gaze. Mentally drank him in.

Six-one.

Two hundred pounds.

1.87 ERA.

At least, those had been his college stats. If anything, he looked like he might have gained a couple of inches, and whatever he weighed, it sure looked like it was pure muscle.

Realizing she was staring like an idiot, she mentally shook herself and somehow found her voice. “I am so sorry, Chase. I didn’t see you behind me.”

Stupid, Jolene. Of course you couldn’t see him behind you, it isn’t like you have eyes in the back of your head.

His melted chocolate gaze traveled up and down her body before settling on her face. “I’m sorry, you seem to have me at a disadvantage—you know my name, but I don’t know yours.”

Jo smiled, even though she was cringing on the inside, and she fought back the sense of disappointment his words evoked. They’d been friends for years and he didn’t remember her? Hell, her mother had tried to end his parents’ marriage, until the truth finally came out years later that Chandra Sommers had never slept with Bo Roberts. Ends up Sarah Roberts had known that for far longer than Jo had—Chandra was more than happy to let her daughter believe the worst. And he didn’t remember her?

Serves you right, for ending things the way you did.

Her voice tinged with the disappointment she apparently couldn’t hide, Jo responded. “Sorry. I’ve changed some since the last time we saw each other. Jolene Westwood.”

Chase’s brows drew together over those hot chocolate eyes. “I feel awful, but I don’t remember a Jolene Westwo—wait a second. Jo? Jo Sommers?”