Over the Fence: Lyssa Layne's Baseball Romances (34 page)

A little boy and his father walk beside me. The boy wears a hat that almost covers his eyes and both are in matching Stags’ jerseys. My heart thumps faster as I watch the two interact and I get excited at the thought of seeing Tate and Toby together like that. He told me yesterday that his son would be in town next month. He asked if I had any suggestions where we could take the four, soon to be five-year-old. My heart danced when he said “we” and I knew he meant the three of us. I’ve only seen pictures of the little boy, but I already know he’ll hold a special place in my heart…like his father.

Through my sunglasses, I read my ticket stub and walk to my seat ten rows behind home plate. As I take the steps, Tate runs onto the field and I pause to watch his athletic body bend and stretch, showing off his fine backside.
Good God, I love baseball pants
, I think to myself and laugh. My thoughts are broken when I hear someone call my name.

“Amelia, what are you doing here?”

My smile fades and my blood runs cold. Slowly turning, sitting beside my empty seat is a tall, dark, and handsome man in pressed khaki pants, a baby blue button-up displaying a peek at his defined chest, and matching boat shoes. He stands and moves to me, wrapping his arms around my waist and kissing my cheek.

I’m so shocked I can’t even move, but somehow I find a way to ask, “Asher, what are you doing here?”

CHAPTER 14

Mia

My ex-husband guides us to our seats, his hand resting in the small of my back. My body betrays me again as it gets excited by his touch. Taking a seat beside him, his hand rests on my thigh and his eyes follow the plunging neckline of my royal blue maxi dress. From the look in his eyes, I can tell the dress I’d worn for Tate is having my desired effect on Asher.

His lips brush across my bare shoulder and in a sultry whisper, he says, “This dress is amazing on you.”

My cheeks burn red as my eyes search for Tate on the field and I try to figure out how to get as far away from both men as possible. If Tate sees us, he’ll get the wrong idea, but at the same time, I’m afraid of how Asher will react when he finds out about Tate and me. My mind races through excuses and lies to tell both of them.

He clears his throat. “Amelia, did you hear me?” His index finger walks across my shoulder and goosebumps pop up on my arm. He loops a finger through the strap of the dress and tugs on it slightly, pulling it off my shoulder.

With a slight twist, I pull away from him and nod. “Thank you,” I manage to say as I stand up. Asher looks up at me confused and I begin to ramble. “I need to…” I point toward the inside of the ballpark. “Bathroom…I’ll be back.”

Before he can say anything, I skip up the steps and into the safety of the crowd bustling around me. I aimlessly walk through the throngs of people. The smell of hot dogs fill the air and I think I might be sick. Making a mad rush to the bathroom, I get in line behind three other women.

“You know the new shortstop? Tate James?” a brunette college-age girl asks her friend.

A taller brunette nods. “Yeah, he’s a total hottie.”

My heart increases speed and I start to feel lightheaded.

“New in town too, but I heard he’s dating someone.”

The first girl frowns and changes the subject. My heart begins to slow down and I smile about the rumor until I’m reminded of my seatmate. I step out of line and walk to a sink to splash cold water on my face. Looking in the mirror, I take a deep breath as I give myself a pep talk and prepare to return to my seat.

Walking into the corridor, I make my way through the walkway lined by concession stands. I start to text Colie a message to pass on to Tate as I know he won’t have his phone on him. Not paying attention to where I’m going, I run into a brick wall of muscle.

Looking up, I see a large drunken fraternity boy grinning down at me. He slides his arm around me and winks. Beer on his breath, he says, “Hey honey, need some Moose tonight?”

I cringe at the stench from his mouth as much as I do at the pick-up line. His buddies laugh and Moose squeezes me tighter until one of the guy’s jaw drops open.

“Ho…ly…sh…it. It’s Amelia Tomko!” one of them exclaims.

My body goes rigid under the weight of Moose’s arm while my face turns crimson. The college boys are quick to get their phones out and snap pictures all while making perverse comments at the same time. I try to wiggle out of the headlock I’m in, but Moose doesn’t let loose.

“Well, Miss Tomko, why don’t we buy you a beer?” He leans in, his lips pursed and ready for a kiss. Behind us, I hear a man clear his throat. I try to take a step away from Moose, but run into his buddy. By now, they have me boxed in and when I feel one of their hands run across my naked shoulder blades, panic kicks in.

“Please let me go,” I plead as my breathing quickens and my body begins to shake.

“We just want to have fun, Amelia,” Moose says, slurring his words.

I shove against him as hard as I can and the men laugh at my attempt. Both of them take two steps closer, making it impossible for me to move.

“Let go of my wife.”

I’ve never been more happy to be called his wife as I am in this moment. The college kids turn toward Asher who calmly reaches for me and I grasp on to him like a lifeline. He pulls me behind him protectively and steps to my predators, speaking in a low tone that I can’t hear. From the expression on their faces though, I doubt they’ll be messing with a woman for a long time.

Asher turns to me and draws me into a hug. My body still shaking, I wrap my arms around him and fight the urge to cry. After holding me for a few seconds, he leans me back and looks into my face. “Is my Amelia alright?”

I wipe away the silent tears and nod. He smiles and kisses my forehead before taking my hand and leading us back to our seats. The game has already started by the time we get settled. Asher rests his arm on my seat behind me. Taking precaution, I lean away from Asher discreetly.

Still shaken from the incident, I want Tate. No, I
need
him. I need to feel his arms around me. I need to feel safe and comforted and the only place I feel that is in his arms. I sigh and take a sip of Asher’s beer to relax.

He laughs and pats my leg. “We can leave, Amelia, if that would make you feel better.”

Tate runs off the field after the last out, glancing up at me with a small smile. I nod my head, not taking my eyes off him until he disappears into the dugout. Turning to Asher, I ask, “What are you doing here?”

“James and I played ball together at Loyola.”

My heart sinks.

“I gave him your name since I was out of town that week. I’m glad you were able to find him something although I think you could have upsold him more.”

Thoughts fly through my head faster than I can catch them.
Tate and Asher know each other. This is much worse than I thought. Tonight is going to end badly
. Picking up Asher’s beer, I polish it off. Without a word, he orders us two more from a vendor passing by.

Six innings and two beers later, I’ve forgotten about the run-in with the frat boys. The game is tied three-three and Tate’s seen a lot of action in his number six position. The old familiar ease that Asher and I have always shared over baseball has returned. Only two more innings and I could actually save face in this situation, let Tate know the truth before he finds out on his own.

The organ blares over the loudspeaker as the crowd stands up for the seventh inning stretch. Asher and I both rise from our chairs as the stadium erupts into
Take Me Out to the Ballgame
. He leans his arm against mine swaying as he sings along in my ear. The smell of hops on his warm breath takes me back to a time before he was so possessive and controlling. A time when we were both recent college graduates, working where ever we could just to make ends meet, but not caring at all because we had each other and that’s all that mattered at the time.

A smile graces my lips as he gets louder on purpose, knowing it embarrasses me and I hate drawing attention. Turning slightly, I laugh putting one hand on his chest and a finger to his lips. I make a sshhing noise and giggle at his antics.

His body presses against mine as his hands move to my hips and we lean back and forth to the music. I sing along with the man I fell in love with, not the man I divorced. The fans draw out the last word of the song and Asher looks into my eyes. Quickly, his hands slide over the back of my dress to my thighs as his lips press against mine. For a brief second, my lips purse and return the gesture, but then I press my hands against his chest, pushing him away.

Around us, everyone is sitting back down and one drunk man hoots and hollers at us. Asher grins and takes his seat, pulling my hand to follow. His arm moves to the back of my chair, but this time, his hand drapes on my shoulders, pulling me toward him. My eyes instantaneously dart over the field for Tate and when I find him, my stomach sinks.

CRACK!
Tate doesn’t move as the ball is hit in his direction. His eyes are locked on mine and I don’t know if it’s shock, disappointment, or anger that I detect in his face. No matter what it is, I never want to see it again. My whole body starts to shake and I need to talk to Tate. I can explain everything. Asher and I are divorced.
He
kissed
me
, it’ll all be okay…right? It’ll all be okay?

CHAPTER 15

Tate

Walking through the bar, I miss the smoky atmosphere at my regular hang out back in Milwaukee.
Damn Los Angeleans and their health kicks!
I hang my head trying to avoid anyone recognizing me since I missed the final out causing us to lose our home opener. After the horrible game, I wanted to go home, but my old buddy insisted I meet up with him and his wife for a drink. This day can’t get any worse.

Arriving at the table, I nod my hello to the happy couple who are curled up in the corner. The low neckline of her dress makes me want to yank her out of the booth and throw her over my shoulder to have my way with her. Judging from the way Asher can’t keep his hands off her, I realize I’m not the only one that feels that way. His arm is draped over Mia’s shoulders as his lips skim her skin and he enjoys the view of her cleavage.

“Hey Tate!” Asher says, holding out his hand for me to shake. I firmly grasp his hand in mine but it takes all of my self-control to not crush it. I can’t even look in Mia’s direction. If I do, I won’t be responsible for my actions.

“You’ve met Amelia, my wife. Thanks for the tickets tonight. It’s been too long since we’ve gone to a game.”

Both of my hands roll into balls and my jaw clenches at his statement. So let me get this right, Asher cheats on Mia with random women while Mia cheats on him with me.
Fuck, I’m an idiot.
I shake my head as I slide into the booth, forced to sit by the woman with the scarlet letter. I knew better than to get involved with her or any other woman. I should just follow my same rules I had back home. Have fun, but don’t get into anything serious.

I glance at Mia, but the sight of her grey eyes with the puppy dog look makes me avert my gaze immediately. The waitress takes my order and I turn to my old college teammate ready for some answers to the millions of questions filling my mind.

“So how long have you two been married?”

Mia speaks quickly, her voice sounding higher with the nervousness in it. “We’re not. We’ve been divorced almost two years.”

I narrow my eyes at her as she looks at me with a pleading look in her face. Asher’s hand slides to Mia’s thigh. “True, but you can’t deny true love. Can you, Amelia?”

Asher leans in for a kiss, but Mia pulls away before his lips reach hers. Her bare back presses against my chest as she leans away from him and my pulse races with her close proximity. I take a deep breath and smell her sweet scent of Dolce & Gabbana perfume. Vanilla and grapefruit fill my nose and I want to place a kiss tenderly under her ear, but Asher’s voice reminds me that she’s spoken for.