by Alice Ward
“How long do you plan to stay?” I asked Lana, trying my best to make small talk.
“As long as I need to,” she said coldly.
“I think I have things pretty well under control here.”
Her eyes went dead. “Yes, we all thought you did in New York too.”
I exhaled then pulled in a long, cleansing breath. “What exactly is your problem with me?”
Her smile tightened, and her eyes narrowed. “What makes you think I have a problem with you?”
Why did I open my big mouth? I knew her type. She was the queen of spinning a situation to her favor. “I just get the impression that you’re not happy with me, whether I’m doing a great job or not.”
She laughed, tilted her head, and widened her smile. She appeared to be more than a little amused at my observation. “That’s the key phrase, Katrina. Or not. If there weren’t any issues, that or not would not have been in your statement, now would it?”
Fuck! She made me so angry. Walk away, Katrina, walk away.
I forced a smile, greeted the fans, and continued my job while my blood boiled from Lana’s words, tone, and even the look on her face. God, I hated her!
Rhett didn’t stay long, and thankfully Lana tailed him. Was there something going on there? No way, Rhett Hamilton could have anyone. Why would he want the ice queen?
“Let’s grab something to eat,” Todd said, sneaking up behind me. I could feel his hands resting gently around my waist, and the scent of his cologne rolled from his tight body to my nostrils. I fell back into him, melting before realizing Blake was eyeing us. He smiled, and I blushed, pulling myself away from Todd.
“Do you really think that’s a good idea with ice queen here?” I asked, still fuming from her coldness.
“She’s up Rhett’s ass somewhere. We can have a meal while discussing your media plans, right?”
“Yes,” I agreed. Pizza and room service was beginning to get old. I wanted to get out of my room. I needed it.
Todd found a quaint little place on the north end of the beach. It was tucked so tightly into the grassy roadside that we almost missed the turn. We sat at a long picnic bench, ate hush puppies, fried catfish, and French fries overlooking an almost green marsh.
I knew he had to be tired of listening to me rant about Lana, but I couldn’t get her off my mind. “You can’t let her get to you,” he said, eyeing me with a strangely hungry look.
“I wish it were that easy.” I needed to calm down and decided to splash some cold water on my face. “I’ve got to use the little girl’s room,” I said politely as I got up.
The restaurant was empty with the exception of the few staff members. I imagined during peak season it was lively as I noticed the unlit party lights along the long corridor toward the bathrooms. A strong grip on my shoulders pulled me backwards. I spun around to a familiar scent and was face to face with Todd.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
He pulled me in close, pressed his lips hard against mine. The taste of vinegar and lemon was thick on his tongue, but the passion he expelled onto me made me somehow love it.
His eyes were still displaying that hungry look as he pulled away. I’d melted, my knees almost buckling beneath me. “You’re so damn hot when you're mad, Kat.”
His hand slid up my leg, his fingers slowly making their way into my shorts. My insides ached for his touch as he teased me with light tickles and gentle strokes along my inner thigh. “You want me?” he whispered.
God yes! “Here?” I asked, snapping back to reality.
“Do you want me?” he whispered again, his finger sliding higher up my thigh, brushing against my swollen flesh.
“Yes,” I gasped. He pushed a finger inside of me, causing my body to drop toward his hand for more. “Not here.”
“Yes. Here. Now,” he said, pulling my hand to the hard cock beneath his jeans.
Another finger followed the first, making its way inside of me, filling me even further. My body contracted, my pussy pulsated around his digits, pulling him deeper into me.
“You’re angry, Kat. You have to release it somewhere. Release it on me,” he whispered.
His hand gripped my wrist, pulling my arm high above my head. His lips sucked my neck as he continued to work his fingers inside of me. Fuck, I want to come.
“Let it go,” he whispered in my ear as my body began to tremble.
“Someone will see,” I protested softly.
“So, they see,” he said, unzipping his jeans. He placed my hand on his warm flesh. His cock was so hard my hand barely wrapped around it. Pre-cum oozed from the tip, causing my fingers to slide easily along his shaft. I couldn’t believe I’m doing this.
He released my wrist, smacked the door open beside me. I didn’t notice if it was women’s or men’s, and honestly, I didn’t care.
His fingers worked vigorously between my legs until I began to quiver. My clit swelled, my pussy tightened, and Todd lowered himself down my body, slowly lowering my shorts as his fingers pulled from their warm place. Instantly, I felt empty. I needed him back inside of me, cock, fingers, tongue, I didn’t care.
The warmth of his tongue against my skin made me moan too loudly. The noise echoed in the small tiled room. He chuckled but continued to lap at my center until I came in his mouth. I heard the wrapper of what I assumed was a condom, and then his body stood tall, pressing hard against mine.
My back was pressed against a porcelain sink as he lifted my legs around his waist. I mounted him as he rocked his hips into me. “Feels good to let go, doesn’t it?” he asked, thrusting his cock deep inside of me.
My nails dug into his flesh through his thin t-shirt as I called out his name. A soft growl escaped his throat as he swelled inside of my body, spreading my hips even further apart. “Come for me,” I heard myself say, surprised by my own candor.
A loud growl rolled from his lips and echoed against the cold tile walls. Warmth filled me as his body grew limber and he slowly let my feet touch the ground.
I watched as he rolled the condom off, still hard, but no longer standing at attention. He grinned, “You surprise me, Kat.”
I'd surprised myself.
“I’ll meet you out there,” he said sweetly, kissing me on the forehead.
The walk back to the table was uncomfortable, to say the least. Our waitress eyed me with a smile smeared on her face. Yeah, she’d heard us.
Thankfully, Todd had already paid the check. I was ready to get the hell out of here and never come back.
“I can’t believe you talked me into that,” I said as I climbed into the rented Corvette that he'd decided to keep, even though he hid it behind the building where Coach, Rhett, and Lana couldn’t see.
“There wasn’t much talking involved, sweetheart,” he said with a grin.
I wondered if Todd was using adrenaline rushes to mask his own anger, or possibly pain? He'd said I needed to release my anger somehow, and I did feel better. His brother used heroine to mask his. Todd’s drug was adrenaline?
I’d enjoyed most everything Todd had encouraged me to do, but sex in a public bathroom was by far the craziest thing I’d done. I loved him pushing me past my comfort zone, past my limits, but was this an addiction for him?
“When we get back to New York, I’m taking you to the top of the Empire State Building,” he said, pulling into the condo parking lot.
I cringed with fear but felt a sudden rush flowing through my veins. He was talking about the future. Maybe it was only weeks, but it was still the future.
“I’ll think about it,” I said.
In fact, that was all I could think about that night. I could barely sleep, even embraced tightly in Todd’s strong arms.
Todd snuck out early that morning before anyone else was up, leaving me alone to shower and get ready for the day. I scrolled through my phone, checking the Google alerts, replying to comments on the social media pages, and generally, just making sure nothing had happened while I sl
ept in Todd’s arms.
My dad posted on the page, commenting on the posts from our winning exhibition games. “You guys have one hell of an owner, a kickass coach, and the best social media manager… so, I expect big things from you this season,” he’d written under a picture of the team.
I hated to admit it, but I missed him. It was strange being on the field without him, even stranger being so involved with the players and him not being one of them. I wished he’d never retired. He didn’t have to. He was older, but not so old he couldn’t play. His arm was still strong, his stamina better than the rookies, and his talent unfading. “Get out while you’re ahead,” he’d always say. If only he’d followed that advice when gambling.
Something in the universe must have alerted Bobby Delaney that his daughter was thinking about him. My phone lit up and sang the "Take Me Out To The Ballgame" theme song with his face smiling across my screen. Practice was almost over, so I ducked out early to take the call.
“Hello.”
“Hey, Kitty-Kat,” he boomed through the phone.
Hearing that pet name from his lips after Todd used it in so many naughty ways was unnerving. “I’m a grown up now, you can call me Katrina,” I said as sweetly as I could.
“I’m so proud of you, Kat. I just had to call and let you know that.” His words meant more to me than he probably realized. “I’ve been following your posts. Looks like you’re doing one helluva job.”
“I saw your comment. I’m trying.”
“Your mother and I want to come see you in action. We’ll be there in a couple days.”
“You’re coming here?” I asked, not meaning to have so much surprise in my tone. “I just mean… I didn’t think you could afford the tickets.” I stammered over my words, hating them with my every last fiber as I spoke them into reality. My parents were poor. The thought made me sick.
“Don’t you worry your pretty little head about that, Kit-Kat. It’s no problem. No problem at all,” he laughed with more arrogance than I knew he could afford.
I hung up feeling both nervous and excited. I wanted to see my dad, but how was he going to keep up his façade? There wouldn’t be private drivers, no fancy sports cars, and where would they stay? With me?
I didn’t say anything to Rhett or any of the team about my dad’s visit, just in case it was a bluff. When I stepped onto the field and found my dad surrounded by the players, my stomach ached.
Todd smiled at me, waved me over. “Look who’s here?” he said excitedly.
My dad, tall, handsome, and still oozing charisma gripped me by the arms and pulled me in for a tight hug. “I told ya I would be here, Kit-Kat.” Todd gave me a strange look as I fell into my dad’s chest.
The guys were gushing over Bobby “Spaceman” Delaney visiting their practice, and it didn’t take long for my dad to absorb all their admiration, leaving me on the sidelines to watch as he sucked up their attention.
I watched as they all swarmed him, listening so intensely to the advice I’d heard my entire life. “Never change your swing, just your position,” he told them.
He gripped the bat, showing them how he choked up or down, and how he moved to keep from being jammed up, or to get away from a curve ball. Todd was especially interested, listening to how easy it was to tell when a batter was in a lull.
“The catcher is the one watching this fancy footwork. They need to know where each batter stands, where they choke the bat, and not just how they swing.” Dad spoke like he was teaching a little league, and the guys listened like they’d never heard such great advice.
“Watch the batter’s hands, where they are on the bat, and where they pull with the swing,” he told Calvin directly. “That’s how you know where that ball’s goin’.” He spoke with such confidence it gave me goosebumps to listen.
He pulled Calvin and Luke aside, showing them a few of his favorite pitches. The arch slider and the screwball were the ones he swore by, saying they could take any batter out — any batter. “You have to know when to use ‘em,” he smirked, patting Calvin on the back.
The coach kept Bobby around for practice, using him to help give the guys some more pointers. Spaceman didn’t shy away from the task, running out to the mound, squatting next to Todd, and standing next to Ace, pointing in the direction of the batter as he no doubt provided some super useful tip. He was seasoned, experienced, and had seen more than most of them ever would during their career. Even Blake soaked up his knowledge, which I was certain he’d already heard before.
I loved watching him out on the field. It took me back to the days I cherished and made me realize my father, even though broke, was still a legend and a great man.
“I’m gonna catch up with this beautiful lady,” Bobby said to the players as they rushed into the locker rooms.
He moved toward me, taking the seat next to me. “So how’s it going?” he asked, concern in his voice.
“It’s going great,” I said, unsure why he was intruding. Had Rhett told him something?
“I know it couldn’t be easy adjusting to a nine-to-five,” he said.
“More like five-to-nine, but it’s actually been great,” I admitted, feeling pride as I spoke.
His arm wrapped around me. That familiar scent of Old Spice wafted under my nose. “I noticed that Morris character giving you some looks. He sweet on you?” he asked. Good God, he didn't miss a thing!
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Like hell you don’t. I saw you giving him the same sweet looks,” he chuckled.
I hated that he had such a keen eye. It was great in baseball, but here, right now, it was just annoying.
“You’re being ridiculous.” I laughed, knowing my cheeks were turning blood red.
“Pretty smart, Kitty-Kat,” he said, making me cringe at the name once again. His hand gripped my shoulder, squeezing it tightly as he pulled me closer to him. “Snatching up a player’s worth a pretty penny.”
My stomach rolled with disgust of what he was saying, what he was insinuating. “I didn’t come here to snatch anyone up,” I snapped.
“He’s a daredevil too, great pick. Just be sure you get listed as the beneficiary on the insurance forms before the fool offs himself.”
Anger boiled in my veins, rushing through me like fire. “How—?”
“Hang on to that one. Hell, maybe he’ll even float your old man a loan so I can get back on my feet.” He laughed and squeezed me tighter against him.
“Just because you gambled everything away, it doesn’t mean it’s up to me to ‘snatch’ a player and get you back on your feet,” I snapped, having heard enough.
“I understand. You have to look out for you first,” he said calmly.
My mind raced with ways to tell him what an ass he was being, but my lips didn’t move. I was stunned, highly disappointed, and more than a little hurt by his insinuations.
His eyes moved over my shoulder. My heart sank deep into my chest as I turned to see who he was looking at.
Todd.
Oh my God, Todd.
How much had he heard?
CHAPTER TWENTY ONE
Todd
I was still concerned as to why Kat hadn’t told me Bobby was coming to town. We’d spent so many nights talking, about everything. Why wouldn’t she want me to know?
The guys were all planning a night on the town, still gleaming from their one-on-one tips from a favorite baseball legend. “You coming out tonight?” Luke asked, nudging me on the side as he walked by.
“I’m not sure,” I replied, wondering if Katrina would be occupied with her dad, or possibly want me to join them for dinner.
A bunch of the guys were riled up, slapping each other with towels, dancing, and even singing out of tune. It would’ve been a great time to bond with the team, but Kat was heavy on my mind. Why didn’t she at least let me know so we could plan around the visit? I wasn’t sure where I was expected to be. In her bed tonight? With her now?
&
nbsp; A quick “thank you” to Bobby would get me close to her, and possibly an answer to some, if not all of my questions. I ducked out of the locker room unnoticed and made my way to the stands where Kat and her dad were catching up.
Their conversation sounded serious, so I didn’t want to intrude, but I was already too close to avoid overhearing. His words, her words, what the fuck were they saying?
Bobby’s broke?
Kat came here to land a player with money?
Was she that good of an actress? Was I that stupid?
My pulse raced and sweat beaded up around my brow as I listened to the conversation I wished I’d never heard. Bobby’s eyes landed on mine, solid and without remorse. But, Kat’s, oh God, Kat’s eyes were filled with horror. Yeah, she’d been caught in a lie. A big one.
I was frozen in my spot, unable to move for what felt like minutes. My heart beat so hard I could hear it slamming against my chest, and the sweat poured down my temples as I fought back everything I wanted to say, to do.
“Todd,” Kat called out, standing and moving toward me.
Suddenly, my feet broke loose and I turned. There was no way in hell I was ready to listen to anything she had to say.
“Todd!”
Her voice echoed down the corridor as I rushed to the exit. I didn’t turn back. What a fool I’d been.
The Florida sun was hot, beaming down on my face as I made my way to the parking lot. One of the shuttles had already arrived, and I started to climb aboard as my name was called out once again. Luke waved furiously in the air to get my attention as I turned toward him. “Over here,” he motioned to the black shuttle pulling into the lot.
“Nah, I’m good,” I said as he approached me.
“You look like you can use a drink. Everything okay?” he asked.
No, it wasn’t fuckin’ okay, but I couldn’t tell him that. I couldn’t tell anyone. “Yeah, I’m great. A drink would be nice.”
