No Breaking My Heart (25 page)

“Because you pointed to right field and delivered.”

“You laid glove on the ball.”

“Almost had it, too.”

“Almost . . .” Eric's voice caught.

Halo rose then, and Eric followed him up. “You'll need to contact my business manager,” he said. “I'll follow up with the info tomorrow. I'll also stop by your house and give all the details to your mother.”

“I don't know what to say.”

“Say nothing. I'm doing this anonymously.”

“Word always gets out. Barefoot William doesn't know how to keep a secret. We're all family, without being related. Good news will spread.” He pursed his lips. “Any advice?”

“Play hard. Don't get complacent. Someday you may contract with the Rogues. I'd rather have you on our team than playing against us.”

“I play right field.”

“Switch to center. Rylan Cates will retire before me.”

“Thanks, Halo.” Eric gave him a man-hug. A thump to the shoulder.

Halo finished with a fist bump.

Eric took off, jogged toward the visitor locker room.

Halo leaned against the dugout rail. Silence separated him from the team. The majority of the players would have already showered and changed, and headed out for the night. Alyn was on his mind. More and more she snuck into his thoughts. He heard a shuffle in the stands above the dugout. He peered around the corner, expecting to see the cleaning crew.

No one swept, no one picked up trash. The sound came from Alyn. She stood in the aisle, a tote in hand, and her eyes wide, as if caught in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“I didn't know you were still here,” she apologized. “Or that you were talking to someone. I remembered my purse, but forgot my bag, and returned for it. I wasn't eavesdropping. It's quiet, and your voices carried.”

“Not a big deal,” he assured her. “I was talking to Eric Madison.”

“Your conversation was life-changing. Hope is empowering.”

“The kid is damn good. I've given him a chance. It's up to him to act on it.”

“He won't let you down.”

“I don't think so either.”

They stared at each other. Neither wanting to move. “Come here,” he said to her.

“How?” She'd have to crawl through the railing, and then there was a significant drop.

“Toss down your purse and tote,” he suggested. She did so. “You're slender enough to squeeze through the rails sideways.”

“What if I get stuck?”

“You'll spend the night.”

He heard her huff, and smiled. “Try, you'll make it. I'm here to catch you when you jump.”

“I'm wearing a sundress.”

“Panties?”

She ignored him. “Don't let me fall.”

Never would he let that happen. She slipped through without any problems, as he'd told her she would. Standing on the edge, she bent her knees, took a leap of faith. Her sundress billowed slightly, and her thighs were visible. It was too dark to see the color of her underwear. He caught her easily. Held her against his body. She didn't squirm, as he'd expected.

Instead, her long hair fanned his shoulders, and her dress flared as she curved her arms about his neck and wrapped her legs about his hips. He locked his fingers beneath her bottom. Cotton panties.

She turned his baseball cap around, so the bill faced backwards. Then rested her forehead against his. Her body was soft. Her eyes, liquid. “I like you, Halo Todd,” she slowly admitted. An absolute first for her. “You're a good man.”

“What brought that on?” Liking him was good, loving him, better. That would come with time.

“Speculation, only. I think you've been self-indulgent all your life. I find it very sexy that you're helping others.”

“Sexy, huh.” He'd write out checks every day for the rest of his life if she'd hold that thought.

“You're setting me up in business. You're sending Eric to college. There's more to Halo Todd than meets the eye.”

“Don't look too closely.” He didn't want to disappoint her.

“I want to be close,” she breathed against his mouth, right before she kissed him. All on her own, without his prompting. He embraced his woman and the moment, in the semidarkness, behind the dugout.

He let her do the kissing. She kept it light, yet with feeling. Her innocence turned playful. Her tease drove him crazy. He needed more than her close-mouthed kisses. But when he snuck his tongue between her teeth, she bit down. Hard. The sting went straight to his groin. He stirred, swelled, and went all wood on her.

He groaned. “Damn, I'm horny.”

“That's evident. You wouldn't need a baseball bat to play ball.”

Halo grinned. She was right. “You still holding out on me?” he had to ask, on the off chance she'd relent and they'd have sex.

“It's best, Halo.”

“For who?”

“For both of us in the long run.”

“How about short-term, then?”

“There's a difference?”

“We need to take advantage of spring training. Short days, long nights. Regular season, it's reversed. I practically live at the ballpark.” He nipped her bottom lip, sucked it into his mouth. Released it slowly. “You'd like us if you tried us.”

“So you keep saying.”

“I'll keep saying it, until we do it.”

“Persistent man.”

“I know what I want.”

“Thank you for wanting me,” said softly, appreciatively. Almost sadly.

He heard her uncertainty. Her inability to fully trust. She held back with him. They faced ten months together. He didn't want to push her further. She feared being let down. He wasn't going anywhere. He'd prove it to her.

He loosened his hold, and she slid down his body. “Late-date night?” he asked.

“Mom and Danny went back to the inn. They'll feed and walk Quigley. Danny's had a full day. He'll write in his school journal, go to bed. So . . .” She picked up her purse and tote. “I'm available.”

Halo would make the most of their time together. They walked across the infield toward the exit tunnel. The cleaning and maintenance crews would arrive within the hour. But at the moment, the stadium was nearly deserted. He had her wait for him in the Media Lounge, where coaches and players met with the press after a game. She pulled her iPhone from her purse, checked, and answered messages. He headed for the showers.

He returned to her in twenty minutes. Unshaven, but wearing a clean gray pullover and charcoal slacks. He planned to take her to Saunders Shores, the city that shared the southern boardwalk with Barefoot William. That side of town was upscale and prestigious. A change from honky-tonk.

He parked off Center Street. Tucked her to him as they turned left into the world of the wealthy. The walkway shifted from cracked cement to cocoa-brown brick. Here, there were no in-line skaters, unicyclists, street singers, portrait painters, magicians, or vendors hawking hot dogs and churros.

There were no rickshaw pedicabs. No one wore swimsuits or walked around barefoot. The patrons shopping the main city blocks were dignified and well dressed. No one browsed; everyone bought. Customers carried designer boxes and bags. The boutiques and café owners flourished, even at this late hour.

Lantern-style lampposts stretched along the boardwalk. Tall pole lighting lit the sugar sand for walks. The ocean mirrored a thousand stars.

Alyn liked to window-shop. He smiled at her each time she pressed her face close to the glass. He could afford to buy anything that caught her eye. Ten times over. Alyn asked for nothing. She only wanted to browse.

They stopped before a formal dress shop and admired the fancy dresses and proper tuxedos, then inhaled deeply as they passed an outdoor Italian bistro. Wine, pasta, rich desserts.

Halo heard the catch in Alyn's breath as they passed the jewelry store. Diamond rings of every cut, clarity, and carat were presented on glass tiers. The display was blinding. She needed an engagement ring. It was time to make them official. He'd let her choose. A ring that represented them.

He took her hand, and walked her toward the entrance. He swore she dug in her heels, but he was stronger, and got her through the door. Wide-eyed, her cheeks pink, she stood beside him. She was too stiff for a fiancée. The women he'd known over the years would covet the rings in each glass-topped case. Wanting to try on the pricey and sparkling. Despite the cost to him.

A small man in a three-piece suit approached them. “Mr. Todd, I'm Ari LaMon, the jeweler,” he introduced himself. “I recognized you right away. My son was at your exhibition game. He was excited over the tie.”

“The high school team played well,” Halo agreed.

America's pastime. Baseball brought people together. The Rogues had a wide spectrum of fans. The stadium filled with both the wealthy and the working class. They sat together, cheering. Everyone in the crowd carried the team's win home.

“What might I help you with?” LaMon politely inquired.

“An engagement ring for Alyn.”

Could dollar signs flash in a man's eyes? If so, LaMon was already cashing in. Alyn, on the other hand, hadn't left his side. Shyness and uncertainty overtook her. Maybe he'd been misguided suggesting a ring. It had seemed right to him at the time. He wanted her comfortable with their arrangement. A ring seemed the natural next step.

“Our engagement rings are in the case near the far wall,” LaMon told them. “I'm happy to show you our latest designs.”

Alyn had taken his hand in a death grip. Which Halo interpreted as her desire to look around without the man's hard sell. He squeezed her fingers in reassurance.

“We'd like to browse, first, if you don't mind,” Halo requested.

“Most certainly.” LaMon was cordial. He stepped back. He didn't want to lose a sale. He gave them space.

Halo led Alyn to the case of engagement rings and wedding bands. The selection was enormous. He felt her shudder, and looked down. “What, babe?” he asked. Something was wrong. No smile. Her expression was tight, pale. Her free arm curved about her stomach, as if she was sick.

She rose on tiptoe, whispered near his ear, “Please don't put me in this position.”

“What position?” She'd lost him.

“Don't buy me a ring I'll be returning to you in ten months.” She settled back down.

His gut clenched. He mentally thumped his forehead. Kicked himself in the ass. What had he done? He'd made her uncomfortable, hurt her, without meaning to. All because he wanted to prove his commitment to their partnership. To her. He'd done a damn poor job.

Alyn was smart, intuitive, a woman of foresight. She was already thinking months ahead, to their separation. He needed to fix that. He leaned down, kissed her lightly. “I'm sorry. I wasn't looking at tomorrow, only at tonight. I wanted to do something nice. Special.”

She pressed her palm to his chest, right over his heart. “You're generous, spontaneous, and I thank you for that. You know our outcome, as well as I do. A ring isn't the answer. Now or later.”

Halo had never felt more let down in his life. What he'd thought a great idea had totally bombed. She had no clue how he felt about her. He wasn't ready to tell her. She wasn't ready to hear it. He wanted her to trust him first.

Uncertainty claimed him. His heart now raced, as it did at the ballpark, when he was in the outfield, running to save a home run ball, yet knowing it was beyond his reach. How could he fix their situation? He wasn't leaving the store without buying Alyn something that would tie them together. For the time being.

“No ring,” he said, and her body relaxed against him. Lady was relieved. “But if you were to pick one, which one would it be?”

She gave him a small smile. “More
pretend
between us?”

“I can fake it if you can fake it.”

“The aquamarine is lovely, with the circlet of diamonds.”

She had good taste, Halo thought.

He turned to the jeweler, and off the top of his head, said, “Alyn wants something unusual for our engagement. Not necessarily a ring. What might you suggest?”

The jeweler swallowed his disappointment at not selling them an expensive ring, then suggested, “Perhaps an antique locket from an estate sale? Authentic, classic, memorable.”

“Antique” caught Alyn's attention. “I'd like to see the locket, please.”

LaMon walked them across the room to a smaller showcase, designed with jewelry box details. The black satin drawers pulled out to reveal broaches, cameos, bejeweled hat pins, strands of glass beads and pearls, monogramed rings and cuff links. Old, yet timeless. Pieces preserved from the past.

The jeweler slid back a glass panel, reached inside the case. He tapped a secret compartment on one of the boxes, and a side drawer opened. He removed a small heart-shaped locket on a delicate silver chain. He laid it out on a velvet rectangle for their inspection. “Filigree, gold filled,” he told them. “The outer lacework is the finest I've ever seen.”

The necklace left Alyn speechless. Her expression conveyed her sense of awe. She reached out to touch it, but her hand fell short. As if she were afraid. “It's incredible,” she managed.

“I've determined the locket to be French, after a great deal of inquiry and research,” he stated. “No doubt worn by a woman of class. Possibly even nobility.”

Alyn could only stare, so Halo carefully picked it up, put it around her neck. The locket was delicate, like Alyn. The heart was meant for her cleavage, he thought. It complemented her breasts.