Catching Her Heart (For the Love of the Game)

by Jody Holford

  “We did okay, didn’t we? Spent a lot of time together while he was growing up. Most of it was good. He didn’t drive me crazy.”

  “Kind of hard when you already were,” Sawyer teased, making Grams grin until her dimples showed.

  They chatted a bit more and Sawyer fully relaxed, his shoulders losing the weight he felt all too often. Sitting there, talking with two women he enjoyed, he realized that he could be himself, right there in this room with these people. That was a gift he didn’t often get anymore. Or maybe didn’t allow himself. When Grams’ eyes started to flutter, they said their goodbyes and promised to come again soon.

  The temperature outside had dropped several degrees and the stars had burst across the darkening sky. When they got to the truck, he walked Addie to the passenger side and started to open the door when she stopped and looked up.

  “It’s so pretty. I forget to stop and just appreciate.”

  Sawyer glanced up. “I think we all do that. But it’s definitely worth looking at.” He lowered his chin as he said it, studying her elegant face, her full lips, her wide blue eyes that seemed darker in the night.

  Addie’s gaze came level with his. “Thanks for bringing me tonight.”

  Reaching out, he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear, his movements slow. “Thanks for coming with me.”

  Her breathing slowed, and anticipation rushed into his blood when her eyes went to his mouth.

  When her hand came to his chest, her fingers curled into the T-shirt beneath his unzippered jacket. “It was fun.”

  Without actually lifting his feet, his body shifted closer. “Yup. Fun.” Even one syllable at a time seemed a challenge as he told himself to keep the lines drawn.

  Addie’s gaze stayed glued to her hand on his chest. The spot was heating up along with the rest of him. “Good, friendly fun.”

  “Mm-hmm. About that,” he said, his voice husky and low, his throat thick.

  Her gaze jumped up to his. “What about it?”

  God, her mouth was more tempting than a cold beer on a hot day. Just one taste. He was lying to himself even as he thought it. Once, twice, three times. It wouldn’t be enough. Addie was the kind of woman who made a man want more. More than he should want, more than he should have.

  “I don’t think that’s gonna work out like we thought,” he said, putting a hand on his truck, boxing her in as his other hand drifted down the column of her neck.

  She blinked rapidly, her breath hitching. “That’s too bad. I don’t have a lot of friends here.” She might have been going for sassy, but the catch in her voice gave her away.

  He smiled. She was so cute. “I still want to spend time with you, but I don’t think the term friends covers what I want.”

  Her other hand came up to his biceps. “No? Were you thinking more like friends with benefits?”

  He half laughed, half groaned. Then he had a thought that made his shoulders clench. “Do you have any of those?”

  She shook her head. “Not my style.”

  Thank God. His neither. “No. That doesn’t suit you. Neither do I, for the record.” She was more than that. She was more than he’d ever known possible. Just being around her made him feel like a better person.

  “Noted. So, what does suit me?” Her fingers walked up his arm, rested on his shoulders.

  “Me. I don’t know why and I wasn’t looking for this and it’s probably a bad idea. But I’d like to cross the line between friendship and more. With you. Just you.”

  Her smile pushed away the evening chill as she stepped closer. “I just have one little favor.”

  He laughed, surprised that he could with the tension flowing through every part of him. “Anything.”

  “Kiss me,” she whispered, going up on tiptoes.

  Before he lowered his head to touch his lips to hers, he whispered back, “I’m happy to repeat this favor over and over.”

  “Same,” she said.

  As the moon moved further up into the sky, Sawyer pulled Addison closer and lost himself in the feel and taste of a woman unlike any other he’d known. One who shared joy and kindness like free tokens, who made him feel like he’d been missing out on so much when he thought he had it all. One who made him wonder what it might be like to drop all of his defenses and let himself fall, fully and completely.

  Chapter Fifteen

  The Slammers beat the Whalers in Nashville eight to three. Addie did her best to watch without worrying herself sick every time Sawyer popped up to throw a ball or had a runner sliding directly toward him. It was his job. And he was damn good at it. But every now and again, she noticed the hesitation in his step and wished he’d open up to her. They hadn’t been on an official date since deciding outside his Grams’ home that they’d give things a try, and the truth was, the time apart from each other had only made her more nervous.

  When the team went back to Seattle for game five, Addie learned that looking up the hot catcher she was supposedly dating on social media or the internet was not a good idea in his absence. Some of her least favorite headlines had been:

  Slammers catcher has his hands full with his ex.

  Sawyer McBain and brother in vicious battle over his ex who just announced she’s marrying the star’s older sibling.

  Sawyer McBain caught in the arms of his baby mama.

  Bases are loaded for the Slammers’ catcher. Is his career over?

  She didn’t expect him to text or call while he was away and she wasn’t the kind of woman who needed constant check-ins. But she also wasn’t used to having a high profile…

  “What? Boyfriend? You two haven’t exactly labeled things,” she said to herself. She leaned back in her chair and stared at the office ceiling. Addie hated feeling distracted and out of sorts.

  The team was due back from Seattle this afternoon and there was a party at Salvation. Though she hadn’t expected him to break focus on the trip, she hoped Sawyer would let her know if he was going tonight.

  “Hey,” Isla said, popping into her office.

  “Hey. You look good. Bright and sunny, like the owner of a winning baseball team.”

  Isla laughed and came all the way in, taking a seat on the couch. “Can you believe it? If they win the next one, we win the series. We’ll be that much closer to the World Series.”

  Addie joined her friend on the couch. “It’s incredible.”

  “In a couple months, it’ll be a year since we came to Nashville. I never would have imagined we’d be here now.”

  Isla’s eyes went a little misty and Addie squeezed her friend’s hand. “I’m not even a little bit surprised.”

  Laughing, her friend leaned into her. “Thank you for standing by me.”

  Putting an arm around her shoulders, she absorbed the warmth of her best friend. Her family. Her person. “Back at you. You’ve done so much for me. There’s nowhere I’d rather be.”

  Isla continued to grip her hand but leaned away. “Really? You don’t miss home?”

  Addie’s throat tightened. “I do. I miss my family. But I’m happy here. Really happy. In fact…”

  Isla’s gaze sharpened. “In fact?”

  Standing, she searched for something to do, something she could busy herself with. Don’t be a coward. She stopped by her desk and turned to face her friend. “I sort of have a little thing going with Sawyer.”

  Isla’s brows arched straight up. “McBain?”

  Addie nodded, her stomach tightening as well. “The one and only.” Wasn’t that the truth.

  “Wow. I did not see that coming. I didn’t think you knew life existed outside of this organization, your family, and charity work.”

  Unsure what that meant, Addie worked not to go on the defensive. “There’s no policy against it.”

  Isla grinned, crossing one knee over the other. “And if there was?”

  “There isn’t.”

  “You really like him.”

  Stopping short of rolling her eyes, Addie nodded. “I
wouldn’t have said anything if I didn’t. But if we’re…going to move forward, I wanted you to know.”

  Because she needed the space, Addie took a seat behind her desk. Isla sat up and leaned forward, pinning Addie with her gaze.

  “There’s no policy against it, and I’ll always have your back. But are you sure? Sawyer is known for being closed off and aloof. He’s your polar opposite, from everything I’ve read and seen.”

  The headlines from earlier snuck into her brain. “You know as well as I do not to believe everything the media says.”

  “You’re right. We do know that. But it doesn’t make it easier to see or deal with. I’m happy if you’re happy, Ads. You know that. I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

  Addie leaned back and sighed. “I haven’t been so far. Because I rarely take the risk. I’m tired of sitting on the sidelines with everything I do, Isla. This gorgeous, funny, and yeah, surly man finds me attractive and interesting. Sometimes we’re like oil and water, but I want to see where it goes. There’s something about him that makes me want to put myself out there. Maybe because I feel like no one else in his life has done that for him.”

  Isla stood and walked to Addie, wrapping her arms around Addie’s shoulders from behind. “I’m only going to give you one piece of advice, okay?”

  Addie braced but nodded.

  “What he says is what matters. Not what anyone else says. If you’re going to fall for someone who gets spotlighted whether he wants to or not, you need to drown out the chatter.”

  “That’s good advice.” And she knew her friend was speaking from experience. “Thanks, Isla.”

  “Always.”

  Regardless of what happened with Sawyer, she wasn’t alone. Maybe knowing that, she could just enjoy whatever played out between them. She didn’t have to think about forever love or picket fences. She was in a town she loved, with people she loved, doing a job she was great at. Addie spent so much of her life worrying about what she couldn’t control and trying to figure out ways to make an impact, maybe it was time to just stop and steal a little piece of the pie for herself. Especially since that pie came in the shape of Sawyer McBain.

  …

  The bar was crowded by the time Addie arrived. She’d been to Salvation several times over the last year. Isla had actually stayed in the apartment above the bar for a quick minute when she’d arrived. She’d met Liam there when she’d shown up after learning she not only had a grandfather but that he was on his deathbed and wanted to see her. She hadn’t made it in time but Addie could still remember Isla’s face and the way every drop of color slipped away when she’d ended the phone call.

  Seeing people in pain gutted Addison and sent her into action mode. She’d booked Isla’s flight, helped her pack, and got her on the plane to Nashville, promising to deal with everything that needed attention in Colorado. It had been a surprise when Isla stayed and the adventure of it—the idea of starting over in a city she’d dreamed of visiting—was too tempting to ignore. Isla hadn’t had to work very hard to convince her to join her, but leaving her parents had been hard.

  As she slipped off her jacket, she decided it was time to head home for a visit. She missed her family. They were coming for Christmas, but she didn’t want to wait that long.

  “Hey,” Talia, Liam’s sister, said from behind the bar. Liam was at the other end laughing with a customer.

  “Hey yourself. How’s it going?”

  Talia, who was a tall, shapely brunette with defined biceps that suggested ample time at the gym, glanced around. “Busy. We’ve got a guy singing tonight who’s garnering some attention here in Nashville. People have come to see him.”

  Taking a seat at the bar, Addie looked around to see if she could find Isla. “What’s his name?”

  “Damon Sutter.”

  Addie turned back to Talia. “Oh my gosh. I love him. He had that song, ‘Make me Listen.’ It’s one of my favorites.”

  “That’s the guy. He’s here with his girlfriend working on an album.”

  “That is so cool,” Addie said. Her excitement meter—and inner fangirl—ramped up.

  “Uh-oh, did you tell her about Damon?” Isla, seemingly coming out of nowhere, slid onto the stool beside her.

  Talia’s brows scrunched. The music went lower and Addie wondered if that meant Damon was coming on stage. “Should I not have?”

  “Addie gets a little starstruck. She once joined me and my father in a meeting with John Elway, who used to play for the Broncos, and told him she thought he was ‘really neat’ and then turned the color of a ripe tomato.”

  Addie cringed at the memory. Who told a sports all-star he was ‘neat’?

  Talia laughed. “Do you even like football?”

  Addie shook her head, making both of them laugh.

  “Something funny here? And shouldn’t you offer Addie a drink? Do I need to retrain you?” Liam leaned on the bar, pushing himself up and revealing his own very defined and sculpted biceps, to kiss Isla. “Hi.”

  “Hi,” Isla replied, her voice breathy.

  “You two are going to scare off the customers,” Talia said. “What do you want to drink, Addie?”

  A tall, dark-haired man took the stage and the crowd went nearly quiet. The spotlight gave him a majestic glow as he strummed his guitar and went straight into a beautiful ballad. Couples moved to the dance floor immediately.

  “I’ll have a beer,” she answered, just as she felt heat behind her and a hand on her shoulder.

  “Make that two,” Sawyer said.

  Though his gaze sparked with heat, he lowered his hand and didn’t lean in to kiss her. Addie’s stomach twisted. They hadn’t even been on a date yet, so they hadn’t discussed whether or not they were a public item. She knew Sawyer didn’t much like anything to do with publicity.

  Talia rolled her eyes. “Two beers coming up and can I just say,” she said, pointing at Isla and Liam. “If I ever look as lovesick as the two of you, smack me in the head.” Addie knew she was joking when Talia not only grinned but winked at her before walking away.

  Isla laughed, crumpled up a napkin and tossed it at Talia’s back. “You should be so lucky.”

  Addie found her voice. “Hey,” she managed, knowing she sounded every bit as breathy as Isla had.

  “Hey,” Sawyer said, the corners of his lips twitching.

  “Excellent job tonight, McBain,” Cruz said.

  They shook hands over the bar, Liam eyeing Addie with an arched brow.

  “Thanks, man. It was intense. Rogers is out for the rest of the season,” Sawyer said, his eyes darting to Liam, but Addie felt like his attention was still locked on her.

  Rogers was on the other team, but Addie knew they all understood—well, the players did—how much it meant to the athletes to get where they were. To lose out in the final hours because of an injury was devastating. Sawyer would know. He’d almost been there.

  Addie looked down, her eyes stopping at his knee. She bit her lip to keep from questioning him on how it held up. She wanted to reach out and touch him. As he and Cruz greeted the other players and high fives and beers were passed around, Addie got lost in listening to them.

  It was a while later when he slid onto the stool on the other side of her. She lost her train of thought and Isla stared at her expectantly.

  “Uh. Anyway, I have a list of local businesses that are willing to provide services to the players for sponsorship.”

  Isla bit her lip like she was holding back a laugh then leaned in. “Maybe we should put work aside for tonight. This is a celebration. Celebrate.”

  Liam wandered over from helping a line of customers. It amused Addie, and Isla, that he hopped behind the bar every chance he got. Even tonight when his team was riding high on victory. He took a long drink of Isla’s rum and cola, then set it down on the bar and winked at his fiancée.

  “Let’s dance.”

  Isla tilted her head. “Are you sure your shift is done?”

&nbs
p; He laughed and walked away, coming around the bar to grab her by the hand and pull her onto the floor.

  While Damon Sutter sang about love and happiness and how both were hard to find but worth the fight, Addie ran her fingertip along her empty beer mug.

  “You okay?” Sawyer asked, his breath tickling her ear.

  She turned to face him, her nose almost bumping his. “Absolutely.” Her voice came out loud and squeaky.

  He chuckled and finished off his beer. “You’re quiet. That’s not usual.”

  She shrugged. What could she say? I don’t know how to act. “It’s a bar. It’s loud.”

  He eyed her, one brow lifting. “You look good.”

  Her heart flipped. “So do you. The game was great. Congratulations. One more win.”

  He nodded, his eyes locking on her mouth, sending flutters through her chest. “I missed you.” He said it so low, she almost didn’t hear him.

  Licking her lips, she pressed her hands to the bar to keep from fidgeting or reaching for him. “You could have called. Texted.” She cringed. Addie was used to being what other people needed, not asking for things. Though her track record with this man suggested otherwise.

  His fingers inched closer to her hand. “Distractions on the road aren’t a good idea. Especially not during playoffs. And privacy is non-existent.”

  Right. Privacy. Why was she so nervous? She felt like her heart might bust out of her chest. “Makes sense.”

  She knew she was much further gone than she would admit when his pinky touched hers and a jolt of electricity whipped through her system.

  “Doesn’t mean I didn’t think about you. Or that I didn’t miss the sound of your voice. Or wonder whether the next time I kiss you, if it’s going to bring me to my knees again.”

  Whoa. Okay. Seems like we might be on the same page. She let out a shuddery breath and turned her head. “I don’t recall you on your knees.”

  His eyes went impossibly dark and all but danced with sexy mischief. “I’ll rectify that when we’re not in a crowded bar.”