Over the Fence: Lyssa Layne's Baseball Romances (22 page)

Shocked by both his accusations, I tilt my head to look up at him, focusing on the latter part. “What do you mean it’s why you left? I thought you left because of your ACL.”

His arms get tighter around me as he nods. “That was part of it but I also did it to see if you really loved me, to see if you’d follow me. When I got drafted, I thought for sure I’d hear from you, but no. When I saw you with Adamson at that restaurant in Florida, I knew I’d already lost you, but I wasn’t going to go down without a fight.”

My breathing quickens. He wanted me to follow him? But he told me not to. My head swims in my thoughts and I move to sit down. He sits beside me but doesn’t reach out to console me.

“Once we were together, I thought it would be enough and I could give up the women I was used to having but…” He shakes his head and turns up his palms. “Nikki, I couldn’t. When we were together, you were enough, you were more than enough, but when I didn’t have you by my side, I wasn’t strong. I wanted to give you everything you wanted—marriage, kids, your career, but your heart was already gone. My image was improving with you on my arm, and I need that to get endorsements in case—”

He abruptly stops and I know he doesn’t want me to know about any more of his addictions. He shrugs and stands up. “So that’s why I’m letting you be happy. Put on a front and be with me for the image, but you can still have Adamson. I should’ve explained it like this first before threatening you. Forgive me?”

I swallow hard, wanting to scream, but Grant’s words telling me to play it cool rush through my mind. I stand up and kiss him lightly, knowing it will be our last kiss. “It sounds like a good plan. Once the season is over, we’ll sit down and work out details.”

Jace grins like he’s already won the World Series. Little does he know what’s about to hit him.

CHAPTER 25

Running into the bullpen, I stop in my tracks as I see Grant warming up. He’s not supposed to pitch today. Catching the ball, he sees me and jogs over. “Are you okay? You’re late. He didn’t hurt you, did he?” Grant interrogates me without touching, but I can see his concern in his eyes as they search my body for any proof I’ve been injured.

I glance at the stands and see fans staring, their cameras snapping away. Nodding toward his shoulder, I answer, “I’m fine, but why are you warming up?”

Grant looks at the billboard that shows the starting pitchers and I see Jace’s face. “Because of
him
?”

He nods and, with a laugh, comments, “Revenge is sweet.”

I raise an eyebrow. I’m not used to seeing this cocky side of Grant. He’s usually serious and completely in game-mode, not dealing with the petty drama some of the guys bring with them.

We both look over at the outfield when we hear someone whistle. Jace winks at me and says to Grant, “Glad to see your name up there, Adamson. May the best man win.”

Grant clenches his fist but doesn’t say anything. Not getting the reaction he wanted, Jace adds, “Has she shown you that thing she does with her tongue?”

My face turns beet red, but I don’t have time to be embarrassed as I see fury flash across Grant’s face. He turns and strides across the bullpen in a few steps and then onto the outfield so he’s within feet of Jace. I have to run to keep up, but he won’t let me past him.

“I hear you’re a bit of a gambler, Richards, so let’s make a bet.”

Leaning around Grant, I see shock on Jace’s face before he hides it. He nods for Grant to go on.

“I’ve got all the proof I need to show that you’ve been betting on your own team, so here’s the deal. You win, you can do the noble thing and confess. I win and I go to the paper tomorrow. Either way, Colie stays out of it and you don’t mention her name in anything. Deal?”

Now it’s Jace’s turn to be angry, but he doesn’t hide it well this time. He takes a step so that he and Grant are chest to chest. Cameras flash all around us in the stands. With his jaw tight, Jace says in a low voice, “Fuck you, Adamson. You’ve got nothing on me. I’m surprised you’d jeopardize your entire career for a slut like her.”

My heart sinks as I hear Jace say those words. Hurt doesn’t begin to describe what I’m feeling. It’s like my heart has been ripped from my chest and trampled on. Grant raises his hands and puts them on Jace’s chest, giving him a slight shove. Jeers from the crowd bring me back to the moment and I quickly jump around Grant, moving between the two men before they draw any more attention to themselves. With all the power I have, I press my own hands against Grant, trying to get him away from Jace.

Grant turns and walks back into the bullpen. I push him to keep walking until we reach the training room. Closing the door behind me, Grant hurls his glove against the wall and hits one of the tables with his fist. I walk up behind him and lightly touch his arm. He spins around and I can see the fury in his face.

“Do you really have proof?” I ask.

“Yes. I saw it myself this morning.”

“He was just calling your bluff then, so don’t worry about it. Now stop hitting stuff or you’re not going to have the glory of taking him down on the field,” I say with a smile.

Grant relaxes a little but shakes his head. “He shouldn’t have called you that, Colie. You don’t deserve that.”

“I know. But I get respect from those who matter.”

Grant smiles and his hand reaches for my wrist, but it’s bare. He glances down at it then at my bare neck where my necklace hung earlier. His hand moves to my neck and reaches up to my empty earlobes as well. He looks at me, confused.

A grin takes over my face as I tell him, “I was late because I had to drop a gift off to Maddox.”

Grant begins laughing in this deep, throaty chuckle that I’ve only heard on a few occasions. “I bet he was happy.”

“I told him to take it back to Tiffany’s and ask for a refund. I still had the receipt, and Jace paid in cash.”

Still laughing, Grant reaches in his pocket and pulls out my charm bracelet. He clasps it around my wrist and my skin tingles where his fingers touch. The national anthem flows through the hallway into the room while we stare into each other’s eyes. Our gaze is broken when Benny sticks his head in the door and says, “Showtime!”

***

Grant’s fingers rub over the heart charm Meg gave me for being in her wedding.
I wonder why he’s picked that one.
It’s the bottom of the second inning and the game is still scoreless. Grant’s shoulder looks great and Jace is slightly off his game, obviously from his confrontation with Grant. I feel Grant’s hand on my thigh, giving it a slight squeeze as he stands up and heads back on the field for the top of the third.

Sitting in the dugout, I tap my foot nervously. I’m ready for this game to be over. This night to be over. Hell, just this whole ordeal to be over so I can get on with my life. I haven’t told Grant or my sister, but I’ve been sending out resumes to a few different clubs for next season. I think a change of pace and a fresh start will be good for both my career and my mental health.

Looking at the batter’s box, I see Jace approach with his cocky grin and a head nod to Grant. Grant turns his back to home plate and takes off his hat, wiping away sweat. I chew on my bottom lip as he turns around and gets ready to pitch, but I notice it isn’t his normal stance. I stand up before the ball is even over the plate as I realize exactly what he’s doing.

Jace turns away from the pitch and the ball nails him square in his back. He falls to the ground dramatically and I roll my eyes. He stands up and charges the mound. None of his teammates stop him, although Grant’s immediately surround him. Jace slows as he approaches him and sees all four of the infielders at Grant’s side. I watch him mutter something to Grant but Grant just smiles. Jace obviously isn’t amused by Grant’s antics as he mutters something that is probably being bleeped out for the viewing audience at home.

Jace jogs to first base and Grant goes back to the mound, glancing over at me. I raise my eyebrows, questioning his shoulder, and he gives me a quick nod to let me know it’s fine. I sit back down waiting for the inning to finish. The team quickly gets the third out and the guys trot into the dugout. I’ve already excused myself to the training room, knowing that the cameras will be focused in on the dugout. Grant must have the same notion because he doesn’t come looking for me until the middle of the fifth inning.

I’m watching the game on the monitor and sitting on a table. I have the radio on and I’m humming along to Van Halen, both Grant and my favorite band. My back is to the door so I don’t hear him come in. Startled, I jump off the table at the touch of his hand on my bracelet.

He smiles as his fingers run over my charms. “I could use your help stretching.”

I swallow hard, trying to keep the butterflies in my stomach tamed as he takes my spot on the table. I push his arm over his head and hold it there, our faces nearly touching.

“How much longer are you staying in?”

“I want all nine innings,” Grant says calmly.

I let go of his arm and my jaw drops. “Grant, it’s not just about tonight. There’s the entire postseason after this game. Don’t be dumb. Don’t drop to Jace’s level.”

Grant’s hand moves up my arm and over my shoulder to my neck as he looks into my eyes. “Colie, stop worrying. I know what I’m doing.”

My heart beats quickly as his eyes stare deep into mine. I don’t realize I’m leaning forward until the announcer on the television tells us the inning is over and the score is still zero-zero. Grant moves his hand to mine and stands up. Walking toward the dugout, he tugs me behind him and I sigh as I follow. With a quick squeeze of my hand, he jogs out on the field to start the top of the sixth inning.

***

The entire stadium is on edge. It’s the bottom of the eighth inning, still scoreless, and we have runners on first and third with no outs. Grant is up to bat but luckily Jace was pulled in the previous inning. His pitching was completely off, but he still had his team’s good defense on his side.

I see the third base coach send Grant the signal for a hit and run, meaning no matter the pitch, he makes the bat hit the ball. I hold my breath as the pitcher winds up and Grant knocks a line drive directly between the first and second basemen, scoring the runner on third. The entire bench, along with everyone in the stadium, goes crazy while I try to calm my erratic heartbeat. The next batter strikes out and then an outfielder forces a double play. The teams switch places with us up by a run.

Grant jogs in from second base and I hand him his glove. I hold onto it for a second making him look me in the eyes. Raising an eyebrow, I ask, “You sure you’re up for this?”

He smiles and rubs his dirty finger down my cheek. “Colie, didn’t I tell you to stop worrying?”

I smile and say, “It’s my job to worry about you.”

Grant winks at me and replies, “And it’s mine to worry about you.”

As Grant runs on the field, I don’t move. Suddenly Jace’s words hit home—I’m in love with Grant Adamson.

When he asked me if I’d ever been in love and I described my Loyola Jace, I was describing Grant. Grant always supports me and encourages me even if it’s not to his benefit. He’s always watching out for me, but above all else, he makes everything better. He makes me complete and he brightens my days, even when he gets my apartment condemned in the process.

“Earth to Colie!” Benny yells at me as I turn around.

I walk over and take a seat by him. Glancing up at the scoreboard, I see we’re only two outs away from winning the pennant.

“You’ve done good work with my boy,” he says, nodding toward Grant.

Feeling possessive, I turn to him with a smile and correct him, “That’s
my
boy, Martinez.”

Benny raises his eyebrow inquisitively and pats my leg. “About time you realized that.”

I smile as Grant strikes out the batter for the second out. The team stands up in the dugout as the count is now two and two. Benny reaches for my hand as I nervously bounce up and down while holding my breath. He laughs and reminds me, “Breathe, girl.” Grant winds up and launches the ball across home plate.

“STRIKE!” the umpire declares, and the fans go crazy! The players clear the dugout and run onto the field, celebrating. I stand where I’m at smiling, proud of Grant for pitching the entire game and leading the Aces to the pennant. The guys have him hoisted on their shoulders and a sense of pride for Grant soars through me. I head to the training room, letting him have this moment of victory with his boys. I know I’ll catch up with him later.

I’m about to walk into the hallway when I feel a thick, calloused hand on my arm spin me around. Grant Adamson towers over me with that sexy left eyebrow raised and his reclusive grin on his face. He pulls me into his arms and leans down. His lips capture mine and his tongue dives into my mouth. Stunned, I stand there motionless for half a second before I move my arms around his neck and return the kiss. I hear fireworks in the background, although I’m sure they’re going off inside me too.