Catching Her Heart (For the Love of the Game)

by Jody Holford

  Addie’s shiver made him smile against her neck, and when she tunneled her hands into his hair, he nipped lightly at the spot where her pulse raced under her heated skin. She arched, letting him explore the long, sexy column as he moved up to tug at the lobe of her ear.

  As he slipped the robe further down her arms, she used her hands to guide his mouth to hers, kissing him with the same energy and passion she displayed for everything. He’d never met anyone like her, and the fact that he was on the receiving end of her affection…her body…her heart simply staggered him.

  “You’re incredible. You’re the sweetest, sexiest woman I’ve ever met. You undo me, Addie. I don’t know how to get enough of you,” he whispered in between kisses.

  She stopped, her forehead against his again. “There’s no limit.”

  That’s what being loved by her would be like. Even as the shock of the thought rocked through him, he knew it was true. It would be a bottomless well of giving. That was who she was down to her soul. And somehow, he was her choice.

  Standing, he scooped her up in his arms, grateful the robe slipped from her completely. The ache in his knee felt trivial. He lifted his head as he walked them toward the bedroom, letting his gaze roam over the sight of her in pink panties and a matching bra. Whatever she bought would have to be something special to be any sexier than she looked right now.

  “Uh, I should probably put the robe back on,” she said.

  He stopped just where the hallway met the living area, worried about the sudden hitch in her voice. “You won’t be cold. I promise.”

  She laughed and kissed him loudly. Sawyer intended to take the kiss further but was interrupted by a knock on the door. He glared toward the entryway.

  “That would be another part of your surprise,” she whispered. She wriggled until he put her down. “Can you grab that? I’ll get my robe.”

  Confused, turned on, and on the edge of frustration, he stalked to the door and pulled it open. Two women, one dark-haired, one red-haired, both dressed in dark linen pants and long-sleeve shirts, stood in the hallway, large square cases in their hands.

  Addie appeared behind him. She pressed her breasts up against his back as she leaned around him. “Hi. Come on in. Thank you for coming.”

  “Our pleasure, Ms. Carlisle. Just let us know where to set up and we’ll be ready in five minutes,” the dark-haired woman said.

  “Right through there, second door on the left,” Addie said, pointing to the hallway.

  Sawyer shut the door behind them and turned to face Addie. He lowered his voice so he wouldn’t embarrass her. “Pretty sure the sight of you in your underwear combined with kissing you on the heels of you being so freaking sweet and knowing you tried to make me cookies has made me stupid. I can’t figure out what’s going on.”

  Her smile curled inside his heart, and he was sure it would be imprinted there permanently. She reached up, wrapping her arms around his neck as much as she could with the height difference.

  “The idea was to pamper you, win or lose, and I know you’re probably upset about the loss but that’ll make this…even better. Your favorite dinner, dessert, your favorite beer, a massage, followed by…well, wherever things led.”

  “We’ll be better prepared for next year. Wait. We’re getting massages? Here?” He couldn’t keep the awe out of his voice.

  “Well, yeah. I know you don’t love going out, and I figured what’s the point of having all sorts of connections if I can’t use them for the people I l—care about.”

  He caught the slip, and his heart went over the final ledge right there. She was nothing short of amazing. He may have screwed up most of the relationships in his life up to this point but in this moment, he knew, there was nothing he wouldn’t do to give back to her what she so easily gave to him: unconditional happiness.

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Between the massage and what came after, when they were alone, Addison wasn’t sure she could move. Snuggled into Sawyer’s side, she traced her hand up and down the center of his chest, through the light spattering of dark hair there. She felt his lips against her head and happiness coursed through her. She cautioned herself not to attach too much to the moment but the truth was, she was falling in love with him.

  “You okay?” He used one hand to tip her chin up.

  She arched her neck against his biceps, which made a very firm pillow—his body was a work of art and she definitely wanted a chance to explore it further. “I’m as close to perfect as I can get.”

  Sawyer kissed her forehead, the tip of her nose, her lips. “I agree.”

  Cupping his cheek, feeling the barely there rasp of stubble, she moved closer, wanting more.

  He pulled back and adjusted himself so he was on his side facing her. Addie did the same and he covered her hand between them. The way he looked at her—it was something she could get used to. One step at a time.

  “Thank you,” he whispered.

  Heat rushed to her cheeks. “Do you usually thank the women you sleep with?”

  Sawyer chuckled. “Not for that. Though that gets more incredible every time. What I meant was, thank you for making tonight special. For the massage, the cookies, the food—which I’m hoping we can heat up soon because I’m starved—but mostly, thank you for being who you are. For planning something to help me celebrate a victory or commiserate a loss. I’ve never met anyone like you.”

  She stared at his chin, saw the faint scar just along the jaw. “I like you, Sawyer. A lot. I didn’t want to get this far in. My life wasn’t empty before you. I love my job, my family, my friends. But somehow, even though I didn’t feel like I was missing anything, I feel…more complete with you.”

  There. If that wasn’t taking a risk and putting it all out there, she didn’t know what was. She went after what she wanted in her charity work—whether she was successful or not—and in her job. Why not with her heart? Maybe because it was about to overbeat in her chest after she said the words.

  “Look at me, Addie,” he whispered.

  She lifted her gaze, bit her lip, her heart all but vibrating.

  “I feel it, too. I’m not great at laying it on the line like you are, but you matter to me. You’re knocking down the walls I built up and I’m trying to let you in.”

  They held each other’s gaze, his fingers moving back and forth over her hand. Sawyer’s lips firmed, and she sensed the tension that drifted into him, between them.

  She reached out again, smiling. “What? What are you thinking?”

  “If we had to label this, would you call me your boyfriend?”

  Swallowing down a laugh because of his serious expression, she nodded. “Yeah. I guess I would. If I’m talking to Isla or Talia, I’ll probably refer to you as my hot, sexy boyfriend.”

  Sawyer laughed and sat up, leaning against the headboard. Addie pulled the sheet with her and did the same, angling her body so she could look at him.

  “We’re in a unique position with your job and us being together. Not that there’s a rule against it but…well, with you specifically monitoring player wellness.”

  She knew where this was going, and they needed to discuss it. He needed to know that when they were together like this, she wasn’t a Slammers’ exec. Or Isla’s best friend. Even knowing the conversation needed to happen, her stomach still twisted in knots. “You’re worried about the lines blurring?”

  He nodded. “A bit. I want to talk to you as my girlfriend, but I know how important your job is. Plus, you have the extra layer with Isla being your best friend.” Like he’d read her mind.

  She knew he was right, but part of her hated that he had to question her… Your what? Loyalty? That’s not what this is. He’s right. You have divided loyalties. But if she wanted him to be all in, she had to prove she was as well.

  Addie took his hand, pressed their palms together, liking the contrasts of size and feel. She met his gaze, her stomach jumping at the intensity that burned in Sawyer’s.

&n
bsp; “I know where the lines are, Sawyer. You can trust me. What happens between us, what’s said between us, as a couple, will not bleed over. When we’re together, you’re not a ball player and I’m not an executive for the team. We’re just us and that’s all I want. A chance at us.”

  “It might not always be easy.”

  She grinned. “You don’t strike me as the kind of guy who takes the easy route.”

  Leaning in, he caught her lips, his hand moving up to thread through her hair. “No. Easy would have been taking an Uber the day you picked me up.”

  Laughter bubbled up. “Where’s the fun in that?”

  They lost the thread of conversation between kisses that went deeper and pulled Addie further under. She was reaching toward him, eager to show him how she felt, when he pulled back and kissed her forehead.

  “Throw something on so I don’t get distracted talking to you.” He climbed from the bed, and Addie’s mouth dropped open. He was seriously chiseled. And sexy. Glancing over his shoulder, his dark hair mussed perfectly, he grinned when he caught her staring. Picking up his shirt, he threw it at her, covering her head and making her laugh. “I need food, woman. You can stare at me like that again after we eat.”

  With a smile on her face, she pulled his shirt over her head, adjusted her very messy hair into a ponytail, and climbed from the bed. As he slipped his boxers up, she leaned into him, wrapping her arms around his waist. He hugged her, just holding her a minute.

  When she tipped her head back, she hoped she wasn’t imagining the look of unguarded happiness in his expression. “Your Grams said you like Thai, so I picked up food from the Smiling Elephant.”

  He shook his head. “Excellent choice. You know, I’m going to have to plan a pretty extraordinary date to make us even.”

  Looping her arms around his neck, she laughed when he picked her up and walked them out of the bedroom with her hanging against him. “It’s not like that. It isn’t quid pro quo.”

  “What are you, a lawyer?” His arms tightened around her waist and he kept walking.

  “Ha. Hardly. But you don’t owe me a payback for tonight. Trust me when I say it was my pleasure as well.”

  Sawyer stopped in the kitchen, boosting her onto the counter and stepping between her legs. He nuzzled her neck in a way that made her forget about food or anything outside of the two of them.

  He, however, was a man on a mission because he pulled back, his palms resting on her bare thighs. “Maybe not, but I’m going to enjoy showing you you’re not the only one who can plan a perfect date. Now that the season is over, I have more time to do that.”

  Like he was completely at home, which Addie loved, Sawyer went to the fridge and started pulling open the takeout containers from the restaurant. She hadn’t eaten there yet, but Isla and Liam were big fans. She jumped off the counter to grab plates.

  “I’m not going to stop you from planning something, but just so you know? We could do nothing at all and I’d be happy with that.”

  He pulled a beer from the fridge. “You got all my favorites.”

  She nodded. His Grams really was a fount of information on all things Sawyer. Not to mention hilarious to talk to on the phone. She’d learned his favorite beer, color, music as a kid, what hairstyles he’d tried—frosted tips—and who he’d taken to homecoming. Sawyer kept looking back and forth between the beer and the contents of her fridge. Did he want something else? Maybe Grams didn’t know as much as Addie hoped. Sawyer turned with the beer, his expression still puzzled.

  “Is it the wrong one?”

  Sawyer looked up, shook his head with a strange expression in his gaze. “The beer? No. It’s right. It’s perfect. You’re perfect. For the first time in my long history of decision making,” he said, walking closer to her with a look in his eyes that made her breath hitch, “I think I finally got it right.”

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Over steamed veggie dumplings and pad Thai, Sawyer told Addie about the cable channel gig.

  Finishing her bite, she took a sip of wine. “So, you’d do this in the off season?”

  He grinned. “The show is called Off-Season, so yeah.”

  With a small shrug and a sweet smile, she used her fork to scoop up some more noodles. He still couldn’t believe she’d called Grams to find out his favorites.

  “Do you have anything in your contract that prevents you from pursuing this? What does your agent say? Will she negotiate the deal or is this a handshake sort of thing with Kipp?”

  He picked up a dumpling, took a bite. “I like having a smart girlfriend who can talk about contracts and negotiations. And FYI? Nothing in this business is on a handshake, sweetheart. People are too smart not to get it down on paper.”

  “Fair enough. So?”

  Right. She wanted answers, and even though there was still a piece of him worried about revealing too much—wondering if he was disclosing anything that he’d regret—he told her. He wasn’t ready to talk about his knee yet because the truth was, the TV deal wasn’t a problem contract wise, but his knee sure as hell could be.

  “Lynette thinks I should take it. I have nothing preventing it in my contract, but there are some boundaries in terms of disclosure and content of what I can discuss. The thing is, I’m not on there as the Slammers catcher; I’m a sports expert.”

  Addie glanced up through lowered lashes. She was sexy without even trying. “You’re more than just a sports expert.”

  Laughing, he picked up another dumpling. “I’m glad you think so. What are your thoughts?”

  He wasn’t sure, other than Lynette or his Grams, if he’d ever truly cared about another woman’s opinion on his career. Or anything else.

  “I think you’re smart enough to know that even if you go back and have the season of your life, you’re still coming up on the end of your career. It’s important to know what the next step is. It’s just good sense. Look at Liam. It’s a similar situation.”

  Sawyer finished chewing and took a long swallow of his beer. “Not entirely. Liam’s about to marry into the team. He has a job security most of us will never have.”

  Pushing her plate away, Addie crossed her forearms on the table. “He is marrying well. Plus, she’s hot and sweet and funny. But we do know we can get a decent dollar for you on auction. Which means your attendance fee for events could easily be raised. You may not have a girlfriend with such deep pockets, but I’ve got loads of ideas if you’re looking to capitalize on your skills and sexy looks.”

  Heat raced over him, just from her teasing tone and words. He moved his plate and stood up, bent over her, caging her in with one hand on the back of her chair and the other on the table.

  “Hmm. That’s not a bad idea. I charge more to attend events, get auctioned off for charity…it’s like a good deed, a steady income, and a nonstop dating roster all in one.”

  He loved the little furrow that appeared between her eyebrows. “Uh, no. Not what I meant. There’ll be no auctioning off for dates.”

  Picking her up out of the chair, swallowing his groan when her legs wrapped around his waist like they belonged there, he continued to tease her. “But what if it’s for a good cause?”

  She nipped at his chin, ran her mouth along the underside of his jaw. She had to feel how fast his pulse raced. “There are plenty of good causes that don’t involve sharing you.”

  His hands moved under her butt to hold her tight against him as he walked them back to her room. “I like that you don’t want to.”

  Until his ex wound up with his brother, Sawyer had never thought to spell things out with a woman. Now, with Addie, a part of him that still feared being hurt needed to know they were on the same page.

  Addison shifted in his hold, and this time he couldn’t contain the growl that left his throat. Her lips turned down. “You don’t want that either, right? I mean…I’m not seeing anyone else. You don’t want—”

  He cut her off with a hard kiss, pulling back when he entered her room
. “The only woman I want is you.”

  It terrified him. But it didn’t make it less true. She was grinning as he lowered them to the bed to show her just how very much he meant the words.

  …

  “You need to be stretching properly,” Dayton said.

  The Slammers had a number of trainers, fitness experts, doctors, and all manner of experts in their house. Dayton Graham specialized in rehab and mobility. Sawyer didn’t want his advice but knew not taking it would just make it look like something was wrong. Postseason or not, he was still a Slammers’ player and staying in shape was part of the job. And that included letting the professionals do what they needed to do to help him.

  He’d been thinking a lot about his career and what his life would be like without it. He wasn’t sure he was ready to throw in the towel there. Not before he had all the facts, anyway. He had an MRI scheduled for the end of the month. Money moved things quicker which, in this case, was a blessing. So for now, he’d keep up with regular workouts and check-ins with the team experts.

  “I am stretching,” Sawyer said, wincing at the tug of his muscles as Dayton urged his foot further, pressing it in. Sawyer was on his stomach, arms crossed over each other, chin resting there while Dayton checked his range of motion.

  “You’ve still got bruising. Did you get needling done?” The guy lowered Sawyer’s left leg and leaned over, doing the same motion with his right. The muscles didn’t scream as much.

  “Yeah. So? I read about dry needling and thought I’d give it a try.”

  “I could have set that up for you.”

  “It’s the off-season. I’m allowed to take care of my own workouts and therapy.”

  Dayton finished the stretch and tapped him so Sawyer knew to roll onto his back. He lifted the left leg and applied pressure. Sawyer had to bite down on the inside of his cheek. He hated that his muscles felt shortened. He was healed, damn it. Ready to play. Lots of time to lengthen and strengthen the muscles.

  “That’s all true, man. But I’m here for a reason. What, are you afraid I’m going to rat you out for tight hamstrings? A lot of the guys are worrying about the new wellness initiative, but they shouldn’t. I’ve worked for associations that don’t give a damn about how their people are doing physically, mentally, or otherwise.”