Fastball (Wilde Players Dirty Romance) (18 page)

“Riley.”

She glances down at me from her slightly taller height.

“I warned you what I’d do if you broke my brother’s heart.”

I turn around as she pushes her way inside. Flattening myself to the door, I cross my arms over my chest. “Here to fight me?”

She spins around and mimics my stance.

“Let me warn you. I have a mean right hook,” I tease.

Rolling her eyes, she says, “And let me warn you. I’ve been doing kickboxing for the last two years.”

“Sounds like we are at a standoff.”

“Maybe,” Riley begins. “I, at least, want to know why you dumped my brother.”

Of course, she does.

“I didn’t dump him. I cut him loose, temporarily. And that’s only because I thought it was fair. How could I ask him to wait for me when I wasn’t sure how long it would take me to figure things out? I’m not good at the relationship thing. I don’t know how to be considerate. I’m used to coming and going as I please.”

The vomiting of words freed me from some of the guilt I’d been feeling. She deflates and sits on my sofa. I do the same.

“I get it. I’m independent, too. I’m not sure I’ll ever let a man get that close to me.” She sighs. “Still, if you’re truly done with my brother, be a woman and tell him.”

Grinding my teeth, I bite back a retort. “I deserve that. I care for him. Hell, it’s more than that. He’s made me feel. He’s treated me better than anyone. Well, except my first and that time it didn’t feel right.”

“Who’s that?”

If she had been anyone else, I might not have answered.

“Mark,” I remind her.

I wait for the flash of recognition in her eyes.

“Fletcher’s best friend?” Nodding, I wait. “Figures.”

“Figures why?” I ask.

“You and I are a lot alike. I used to crush on him when I was younger.”

“And?” Because I know there’s more.

“He told you?”

“Not really,” I admit.

She lets out a breath. “He’s hot, but you know that. Whenever we came into town to visit my aunt and uncle, he’d be around. I remember him having a girlfriend one summer. And the next, he was brokenhearted. That must have been you.”

It still bothers me that I hurt him. I loved him, just not in that way.

“We were better off as friends. He sees that.”

“Leaving a trail of broken hearts. Even I’m not that bad.”

“Being a realist. It’s kind of hard to screw a guy when he feels more like your brother than your boyfriend.”

She nods and continues with her story.

“True. Anyway, one night, we were sitting on the tree swing. Well, I was. We’d been drinking, and not old enough to. Beer,” she explains. “And he kissed me or I kissed him. But that was it.”

“It was?”

She gives me a noncommittal shrug.

“He’s a good guy,” I say. “You should go for it.”

“And take your sloppy seconds. No thanks.”

I laugh. “It was once too many years ago. It doesn’t even count.”

“I don’t know. I have bigger issues. A charity event has come up, and I need to find a caddy since I won’t have one in another month.”

“Oh, that’s right. I remember Ryder mentioning something about your caddy quitting. When is the event?”

She lifts her eyes to the ceiling. “Thank God the sponsors set it for after the World Series. They are trying to bring money in, and I don’t want to pull out because it’s for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. They’re done with their normal campaign, but a child who has just been diagnosed with terminal brain cancer wants to play a round of golf with the pros. Because she’s not expected to live out the year, they are putting this together rather quickly. I’m lucky to have been invited.”

“See, it’s that kind of shit that puts life in perspective. You should do it.”

“I can’t.” Her laugh is humorless. “I can’t very well lug my clubs around by myself.”

“Can’t you just hire someone else?”

“It’s not that easy. Caddies are hard to come by.”

An idea hits me. “You should hire Mark. He has nothing better to do.” When she frowns, I add, “His company went under. He’s been following me around like a mother hen. You’re the distraction he needs.”

“Caddies are trained.”

“He’s an excellent golfer,” I insist.

“There’s more to being a caddy than knowing how to play the game.”

This idea keeps sounding better and better in my head. I’m quick with a response. “But you said yourself, the season is over. This is for charity. What harm could it do?”

She exhales. “I’ll think about it, but you have to do something for me.”

“What’s that?”

“The last game of the pennant is tonight, and Ryder is starting.”

“I know. I’ve gone to each of his games.”

She stares at me. “I know. Which is why I can’t understand why you are giving him the silent treatment.” When I open my mouth to explain, she cuts in, “It doesn’t matter to me. You should explain to him. Anyway, when they win, there will be a party. You should come.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Getting to her feet, she says, “I hope you will. I’ll text you the details. And remember one thing, a guy like my brother won’t be alone forever.”

I nod and walk her to the door. That’s the risk I’ve taken over these last several weeks.

“About that sex club. You never took me, and my season’s over.” She winks.

“You still want me to?”

“Hell yeah.”

After she’s gone, I head downstairs to talk to Sam. Although, I’m not exactly sure where I’ll end up, there are a few things I do know. The bar is hopping because of the game tonight. He asks me to come back later. I knew things would be busy. I hadn’t expected the rush to come on so early. Then again, this is the first time we have a hometown team from the Carolinas in the World Series.

Instead, I think about traffic and the two and a half hour drive to the stadium and opt to use my plane to fly me into town and a car service to the stadium. I get ready and put Ryder’s jersey on and pull my hair back.

My seat behind the plate costs more than my annual salary at the bar. The fact that I had the money to spend disconcerts me. I’m still not used to the wealth that has befallen me.

The pre-game show includes having the players out signing autographs for kids and fans alike. I pull my hat down and try not to be seen when he nears the area in which I’m sitting. But I have nothing to worry about. The kids and women getting him to sign their jerseys is enough for him not to notice me.

I try not to let jealousy get the best of me. He’d been mine, but I’d given him up.

“It’s a shame you’re single,” I hear a woman practically yell to him. “You really shouldn’t be.”

“I shouldn’t,” he says, to the delight of all the women who hear him.

Turning away, I’m grateful I tucked my hair under my hat. I hope the jeans and combat boots I wear will throw him off, and he won’t figure out it’s me. Besides, he is over twenty feet away.

By the time the game begins, long after the players go back inside to the locker rooms, I’m full of beer and a hotdog. I’ve been hit on and had drinks rain down on my arm as people who are already sloshed jostle in the chaos that is the first playoff game.

After the crowd dies down when the players take the field, everything is silent. Ryder enters, and everyone gets to their feet. The whole time, I don’t yell or cheer. That’s the plan for the entire game. I don’t want him to lose his concentration. My stomach is in knots because I know what this game could mean for him.

If they win the pennant, he’ll earn a place in baseball history. Remaining stoically nail-biting quiet turns out to be a good choice. He pitches another for the record books. A no-hitter that carries him to the ninth inning before the manager pulls him in favor of their closer.

The ovation he gets is one I can see being a theme every time he plays in the future. There is greatness in him beyond anything I ever let myself see, and I’m so fucking proud. I slip away as my heart breaks. I don’t know what to do still, so I fly home and head back to the bar and talk to Sam. He’s been sort of a father figure to me these past few years.

I explain everything, including my ideas for the future. I’d bounced them off of Cassie first, and she also agreed. Sam’s agreement only solidifies my thoughts.

“Go get him, kid,” he says as he envelops me in a hug.

Out of everything he said, I’m now excited about the future. But everything hinges on one man. He’s the last piece of the puzzle I need to put in place.

Upstairs, I put on a dress. I don’t know why, as I hardly ever wear one like this. It’s summery and not made of leather or lace. It’s respectable if not for the fact that it’s shorter than something you’d where to church on Sunday. I frivolously use the plane I never asked for to get back to Charlotte and another car service to get me to my destination. It’s convenient. And ultimately, he’s worth every penny I spend.

The room is filled to the brim when I arrive. I can hardly make out the floor color from the density of the crowd. I move with the tide until I spot him holding court in a far corner. A pretty petite woman is near, and when she wraps her arms around his neck and he bends down, I’m sick. I can’t turn back and flee. I’m pushed forward until I reach a back door and spill out into the night.

So far, the backyard is empty. I spot a gazebo out in the distance. I push my legs to move when I find it hard to walk. Stumbling forward, I make my way there as tears gather in my eyes. What a fool I’d been. How could I have been so stupid?

“Gina.”

I turn, just as I reach the steps. For balance, I hold on to the wood railing, seeing Ryder jogging toward me. Furiously, I wipe at my eyes, not caring if my makeup smudges.

“Hey, congratulations,” I say with false cheer when he catches up.

Holding out my hand, he gives me a puzzled look as if my arm is a foreign object.

“Is that what we are now?”

“What do you mean? I’m being gracious. I wouldn’t want your date to get the wrong idea about us.”

“Date?” His face screws up. “Kaycee, my cousin.”

“Petite, pretty, and a second ago you were about to kiss her…”

“On the cheek and she’s not my date.” He takes another step, crowding me in the darkness.

His hand lands on my outer thigh and slides up under my dress. I suck in a hiss. Once he registers what I’m not wearing, he stares in my eyes.

“Surprise,” I say weakly.

“You’ve been walking around like this… bare.”

I clamp my teeth together and force a smile that must look like I have the shits. I lift my shoulders and let them fall.

He doesn’t waste time. His lips find mine, and it’s sweeter than honey and hotter than fire. Hoisting me up, he climbs the stairs and finds the darkest corner. I can hear him work at opening his pants.

“Your shoulder,” I protest when he finally gives me a second to breathe.

“It’s okay. I have another one.”

It’s true. He lifts me with his left arm, and it’s seconds when his fingers dip inside me.

“Wet,” he mutters.

“Always,” I admit.

Then the crown of his cock nudges at my opening. My back slides down the wood, and I fear a splinter has caught me. It’s forgotten as he presses inside. Audibly, I gasp. I’ve missed his invasions. Whenever he fucks me, I feel conquered.

“I’m mad at you, Gina. I can’t be nice tonight.”

“Give me your worst,” I beg.

He plunges into me so hard, I see stars. That might be partly because I dropped my head back from the thrill of how good he felt. The wood behind me wasn’t pliable, and the knock to the skull I received will probably leave a bruise.

He buries his face in the crook of my neck.

“Damn, Gina. I’ve missed this. I’ve missed you. I will never let you go this time.”

“I’m not going anywhere, ever.”

I’m surprised by my words. I hadn’t been sure until now. But now I am. I love this man, or something so close to it. I can’t determine the difference.

He rocks into me, and each thrust brings me closer to an emotional edge I hadn’t known existed. But this time I’m ready. Never before in my life have I been this ready.

As the orgasm tears through me, I confess, “I love you.”

RYDER

“And it’s about fucking time.” Her words work their way through me and settle into my heart, wedging their way into my soul, sealing our fate forever. She’s mine and will be for life. “I love you, too, you beautiful crazy woman.” My lips seal the deal as they press against hers, and she swallows another moan. I set her down on the steps.

“You know how to spoil a girl,” she purrs.

“Trust me. You haven’t seen anything yet. Promise me something.”

“Anything.”

“You won’t ever run from me again.” She leans back, and even though her eyes are still soft from the orgasm I just gave her, I can see there’s something she needs to say. “What is it, princess?”

Her fingers lightly skim over my cheek, and she says, “I didn’t leave because I wanted to. I did it because I had to. There were things I needed to do, to take care of.” And she explains. But the kicker is, she was at every one of my games. She watched me pitch every ball.

“Why didn’t you let me know?”

“I didn’t want you to know. I would’ve caved, Ryder. You have to know that.”

Her bottom lip trembles just slightly, but enough that I notice, so I lean in to kiss the quivering away. “No more sadness or regrets. From this point on, it’s you and me. Together. Forever. You’re going to be Gina Wilde. I hope you don’t have a problem with that.”

“Wait. Don’t you think you should ask me first?”

“I don’t know. I’m not sure I want you to have a choice.” She finally notices the curve of my lips, and I’m rewarded with a solid poke in the ribs. “Hey, a man has to have a plan. That’s all I’m saying here.”

She peeks out at me from under a fringe of dark lashes, and that sexy look gets me rock hard again.

“Shit, Gina.” I put her hand on my cock, and she grins.

“Won’t people notice we’re gone?”

“I’m sure they will. But a quickie?” I beg her for more. “I’ve been deprived of your sweet pussy for these last several weeks, and look what’s happened.”