The Perfect Pitch (Indianapolis Lightning Book 1)

by Samantha Lind

  “I’m surprised they stepped in so quickly.”

  “I’m not. Our server was coming by when she first approached you, and I think she realized what was about to go down before it even really started. She quickly did an about-face and went to find the manager and alert security right away. Next thing I knew, they were both approaching, and the rest is history.”

  I finish off the last little bit of my beer. “She deserves a large tip then.”

  “I’m sure she wouldn’t be opposed to that,” Jillian agrees as she helps Penelope wipe her hands off.

  “I need to potty,” Addison says.

  “Me too!” Penelope exclaims, jumping up from her seat.

  “All right, let’s go to the potty,” Jillian tells both of them as she stands.

  “Do you want me to wait here for you or out by the entrance?”

  “If you’re done with the check and we’re not back, you can head out to the entrance. If not, then we’ll come back here. How’s that sound?”

  “Sounds good.”

  She takes off for the bathroom with the girls and I watch as she walks away. Her hips swinging side to side has my dick stirring in my jeans. I watch until she disappears around the corner and down a hallway.

  “Your check, sir. Was there anything else I can get for you?”

  “No, and thank you for your help,” I tell the young server as I hand over the check with my credit card.

  “My pleasure. We hate for our customers to be bothered. It shouldn’t matter who you are, you should be able to enjoy your dinner with your family without being bothered.”

  “Thanks, some people don’t think the same way you do,” I say on a chuckle. “Do you have any kids? Any baseball fans?”

  “My nephew is a big fan,” she says, a smile on her lips. “He’s always running around with a ball and glove in his hand.”

  “That’s great. What’s his name?”

  “Elijah.”

  “And how old is he?”

  “Five. He’ll be six in just a couple weeks.”

  “Do you have an email address?” I ask. “I’d love to send him something for his birthday, but don’t have anything special with me that I can sign. But my manager can send out an entire package.”

  “That’s so kind of you! Are you sure?”

  “Positive.” I pull my phone out and open up a blank email. “Just type out your email address for me and I’ll email it to my manager to contact you to get a mailing address and jersey size. I’ll have him send a package. Hopefully we can get it to you before his birthday.”

  “He’s going to flip and I’m officially going to become his favorite person,” she says, beaming at me as she hands my phone back.

  “I’m glad I can help!” I tell her, typing off a quick message, then sending it.

  “Let me go get your card ran and I’ll be right back,” she says before walking away.

  I scroll through some emails while I wait for the server to return with my card and the receipt for me to sign, but nothing really important catches my eye by the time she returns. I sign the slip, adding a normal tip. I slide my card back into my wallet and pull out a few hundred-dollar bills to add to it. I don’t necessarily want her to have to wait for the tip to be paid out on her paycheck, so figure cash would be best. I hold off leaving the table, wanting to hand her the receipt book, so I know she gets the tip.

  “This is for you. Thank you again for everything. My manager will be in touch very soon.”

  “Thank you, enjoy your stay.”

  “Thanks, I have a feeling we will,” I tell her before walking off toward the entrance.

  I don’t have to wait more than a minute before Jillian and the girls join me. Our daughters climb up into the stroller and we take off to walk around for a while longer.

  Fourteen

  Jillian

  We walk around, taking in the sights and stores all around us. The girls have mellowed out compared to how excited they were before dinner.

  “Who’s ready for some dessert?” I ask as we approach Goofy’s Candy Company.

  “Me!” they say in unison, perking up as they look inside the store.

  “All right, how about we pick out something and then after we eat our treats, we’ll head back to the hotel for bed. We’ve got a big day tomorrow!”

  They both quickly agree, and we make our way inside. We all look over the many delicious-looking options. The girls each settle on Mickey-shaped cookies, while Derek got a huge milkshake, and a fancy decorated candy apple for me.

  “How were your cookies?” I ask the girls as they both finish up.

  “Yummy!” Addison says. “Can I have another one?”

  “Not right now, sweetie. I’m sure you can have one at another time while we’re here.”

  “Okay,” she says, attempting to pout.

  “Be careful,” Derek tells her, reaching in to tickle her belly. “The tickle monster might come get you to turn that frown upside down.” His hand connects with her belly and she starts to belly laugh. He pulls her into his lap. “That’s my girl!”

  “Da-daddy!” She giggles.

  “Shall we start heading toward the shuttle?” I suggest a few moments later. We’ve all finished up our desserts and I’ve tossed out the trash.

  “Mommy says it’s time to go, and she’s the boss,” Derek tells the girls. “Hop in and I’ll give you both a ride.”

  “Well, that went a whole lot faster and easier than I thought it would,” Derek says, handing me a glass of wine as he takes a seat on the couch.

  “They were exhausted, and I promised them we’d see the princesses tomorrow.”

  “I’m exhausted,” he muses as his head hits the pillow behind him. “Even with that nap from earlier.”

  “Yep,” I agree. “Look at us. Not even in our thirties yet and we think ten p.m. is late.”

  “Life sure does sneak up on you. I can remember the days when we’d barely be leaving to go out for the night.”

  “Those sure were the days,” I reply, thinking back to our college days.

  “They sure were. No real responsibilities, or at least not like the ones that we have now.”

  “Yeah.” I sigh before I take a large swallow of my wine.

  “I wouldn’t change where life has brought us. Well, actually, if I could go back, I’d change a few things, but not you, not our girls. You’re the three best things to ever happen to me,” he tells me, sitting up and looking me straight in the eyes. “I need you to know that and believe it down to your soul, Jillian.”

  “I know,” I reply, allowing him to link our hands together after he sets my glass of wine down on the table next to us.

  “I love you. A day hasn’t gone by since we met in college that you haven’t held my heart in your hands,” he says, pouring his heart out to me. He tugs me to the edge of the chair I’m sitting in, my legs sliding between his, only stopping once our foreheads are resting against each other’s. He stares into my eyes for what feels like forever, but in reality, is probably just a minute or two. His lips ghost over my own, tempting me to take things further. He keeps things light, wanting me to make that move. But I hesitate, and he pulls back and gives me a sad look. “What time are we headed out in the morning again?”

  “I’d like to be leaving by seven thirty, at the latest. I promised the girls we’d be there for rope drop.”

  “Okay. What time do you plan to get up?”

  “My alarm will be set for six, but don’t feel like you have to be up that early. I plan on waking the girls up around six forty-five or so, unless they wake up on their own earlier than that. I already have their outfits ready, so we just need to get them up, feed them, dress them, and we can head out.”

  “Sounds good, I’ll be up by six thirty then.”

  “Thank you.”

  “See you in the morning.” Derek stands and walks towards his bedroom. He pauses at the doorway and looks back at me. “I’m not giving up and I’ll be right
here when you’re ready again.”

  He disappears into the room, shutting the door behind him but not latching it fully. I sit back in my chair and blow out a deep breath. My mind is racing with everything. The what ifs. The hurt and loneliness I felt over the past two years. His excessive partying and drinking really took its toll on me and I don’t know if I can ever go back to that again. I force myself to stand up and head for the bedroom next to the girls’ room. I walk into the bathroom and do my nighttime routine before sliding between the sheets of the queen bed, where I stare at the ceiling for what feels like forever. A montage of memories dating back to when we first met in college, cheering him on as he quickly made his way up through AAA ball, and finally being called up to the majors. Celebrating his first trip to the All-Star game. His first postseason game, first division championship, and the subsequent loss of winning the pennant. Our engagement, wedding, the birth of both girls. We’ve had a lot to celebrate in the six years we were married, and it just kills me it ended. I still love Derek with my entire being. But can I let the past stay in the past and believe he’s changed?

  I finally fall asleep, the question rolling around in my mind and causing me to toss and turn all night. I wake up multiple times, as my mind doesn’t want to shut down and rest. He’s been so attentive the past couple of months, trying to prove to me he’s changed, and I want to believe him, I really do.

  My alarm goes off and I reach for the nightstand to turn it off. My sleep was so fitful, it feels like I just closed my eyes. I drag myself from bed and head for the shower. Hopefully between it and coffee, I’ll be able to function this morning.

  I take a little longer than I’d planned to get showered and dressed, but am pleasantly surprised when I come out of my room and find Derek and the girls sitting at the table, all eating breakfast. The room smells of waffles and coffee. I make a beeline for the pot, filling my travel cup I left out last night. That first sip sends a jolt of caffeine through my body and I almost instantly feel my body perk up.

  “Mornin’,” Derek’s gritty morning voice calls out and I turn to face them.

  “Morning,” I say before taking another sip of my hot coffee.

  “Rough night?” He cocks an eyebrow up at me.

  “Yeah, I had a hard time sleeping last night. Tossed and turned all night.”

  “Sorry to hear that.”

  “Yeah, not the ideal night for it to happen. I have a feeling I’ll be surviving on a lot of coffee today.”

  “Speaking of coffee, did I make it how you like it?” he asks, lifting his own cup to his mouth. I watch as his Adam’s apple works in his throat, forgetting just how sexy that part of a man’s body can be. I shake my head a bit, attempting to remove the cobwebs from my mind.

  “It’s perfect,” I finally remember to answer him.

  “Want some breakfast?”

  “I’m good. I’ll just eat a yogurt and grab something else in a little while, once we’re at the park.”

  “Sounds good. Are you girls ready to get dressed?” Derek asks them.

  “Yes!” they both exclaim, then get off their chairs and head for the bedroom.

  “Where are the outfits for today? I can work on getting them dressed and ready to go,” he says.

  “Suitcase in their room, outfits are in Ziplocs labeled with name and day. Can you also get their teeth brushing done?”

  “No problem,” he says and takes off after the girls. I sip my coffee for a few more minutes, then grab the yogurt and scarf it down before I finish getting ready for the day.

  Exhausted, I collapse on the couch after one hell of a long day. I loved getting to experience today through the eyes of Addison and Penelope. Seeing their faces light up with each character we met was priceless. They are going to flip their shit when we have dinner tomorrow night in the castle with all the princesses.

  “Wine?” Derek asks and I peel my eyes open.

  “A small glass would be nice,” I tell him, and he grabs a glass and the open bottle from the fridge. I watch as he pours a few ounces into the glass, then hands it over to me. “Today went well.”

  “It did. I can’t believe they lasted so long.”

  “The stroller sure helped.”

  “Yeah, I couldn’t imagine making them walk as much as we did today.” I look at my watch. “My step counter says we did almost thirty-K! No wonder I’m exhausted, and my feet are killing me.”

  “Turn this way,” he says, sitting down at the other end of the couch. I do as he asks, and he places my feet in his lap, then starts massaging them.

  “Ugh…that feels amazing.” I moan as he digs in to the arch of my left foot.

  My head falls back on the couch armrest as I relax. Between the wine and Derek’s hands, I’m going to be a puddle before I know it. A silence falls between the two of us and my eyes close. I crack them open when he switches to my right foot, digging his thumbs into the arch just as he did with the left.

  “You’re going to spoil me if you continue.”

  “And what’s wrong with that?” He gives me a smoldering look. It would be so easy in this moment to say fuck it, throw caution to the wind, and slide onto his lap. Pull my top off and let him have his way with me. God, what I wouldn’t do for an orgasm right about now, that I didn’t have to give myself. “If you don’t stop staring at my dick in my jeans, I can’t be held responsible for it coming out then,” he oh so cockily says to me, a smirk pulling at the corners of his lips.

  “I wasn’t staring at your dick,” I lie, and he damn well knows it.

  “That’s not what the look on your face, nor the blush covering your cheeks, says.” He smirks yet again. His thumbs press hard into my foot as he works the muscles over.

  “Don’t be an ass.”

  “I’d like to smack your ass,” he says, a full-on shit-eating grin now filling his face. I just roll my eyes at him, causing him to laugh even harder. “You know I could make you feel good. Fall asleep nice and orgasm sated.”

  That smolder—the one that, at one point in our relationship, would have me handing over my panties faster than he could blink—is out in full force, but I’ve somehow found a way to not react to it. Well, at least not in the way he’s used to me reacting to it.

  I pull my feet from his hands and stand abruptly. “I’m going to go to bed. I’ll see you in the morning,” I tell him and escape into my bedroom. I shut the door behind me and then lean against it, sucking in a deep breath. I rest a hand against my chest, willing my heart rate to slow and my breathing to return to normal.

  It takes a few minutes, and I stay at the door, listening to Derek moving around in the other room. I can hear the clink of the wine glass I’d used being placed in the sink. I can hear him as he shuffles around, and finally the click of his own door closing. I move away from the door and into the bathroom. I first take in my reflection in the mirror and he wasn’t joking when he said my cheeks were covered in a blush. Not only are my cheeks, but my neck and chest, as well.

  I reach in and turn the water on in the shower, filling the time while I allow it to warm up to brush my teeth. With that done, I strip from my clothes and slip into the shower and under the hot water. I turn it up to the hottest setting I can handle and let the powerful water massage into my tired muscles. Now that the excitement of our first day is over, I’m going to let the girls sleep in tomorrow and we can head over to the park once we’re all up and ready. No need to start our day off with cranky kids or adults. I kind of wish I’d thought to invite mine or Derek’s parents to come along. While we can easily handle the two of them ourselves, having some extra adults around would be nice.

  I finally finish up my shower, my skin nice and pruned by this point. Once dried off, I slip into some pajamas and head out into the kitchen to grab a bottle of water. With that in hand, I turn to head back to my room, but stop dead in my tracks when I see Derek standing a few feet away from me, clad in only his tight black boxer briefs. The ones that do absolutely nothing
to hide his hard cock. My eyes track up and down his body, taking in all the rigid muscles he’s worked damn hard to keep over the years.

  I’m so lost in my perusal of his body; I don’t even realize he’s closing the distance between the two of us until he’s inches in front of me. One of his large hands comes up to cup my cheek, while the other slides around my waist, pulling me closer to him and then resting on my ass. The very ass that’s hardly covered by my panties and sleep shorts. His lips land against the skin on my neck and he sucks it ever so lightly, driving my want and desire for him up even more, and my willpower to stop this between us falters ever-so-slightly.

  “Baby,” he rasps in my ear before grazing his teeth over it. “Let me make you feel good.”

  I don’t respond, I just melt against his touch. I absorb it all. The endorphins that are already running through my body have me ready to explode, and he’s only touched my neck.

  Derek takes control, backing me up against the wall. He cups my ass with both hands and lifts me up, wrapping my legs around his waist, and pins me to the wall with his body. His lips map from my ear to the hollow of my collarbone and back up the other side. His very hard cock does wicked things as he presses against my center.

  “Fuuuuuck, Jillian,” he moans before capturing my lips with his own. His kiss is frantic and punishing. My lips already feel bruised. My control snaps and I give it right back to him. My fingers find their way into his hair, and my hips buck, causing the best friction directly on my clit. The few layers of fabric between us provide not only a much-needed barrier between the two of us, but also an extra sensation as it rubs against my extra-sensitive parts.

  “I’m going to come,” I whisper against his lips when we break apart for air.

  “Yes.” He pants and continues to thrust against me. “Come for me, baby,” he murmurs in my ear and I do just that. I fall apart in his arms, pinned to the wall of our shared hotel suite. My head rolls back, smacking the wall, before falling forward until my forehead rests against his shoulder.