by Lyssa Layne
I shake my head, tears coming to my eyes as I set the flowers on the table. “I’m what’s wrong, Isabel. You should’ve left me years ago and I’m so very grateful that you didn’t.”
Isabel clutches her hands to her chest but doesn’t say a word. I walk to her, taking her hands in mine and looking into her eyes. “I didn’t fight my way to the top of major league baseball to get away from you and Marcos. At the time, I was a twenty-year-old with the same mentality as Dickey today. All I wanted was a job to secure our future, for us not to fall into the pattern of our parents. I didn’t want you to work ever. I wanted you to be cared for by me, Isabel. I was doing it all for us.”
She shakes her head hastily. “No, Benny. If that was true then why didn’t we get married when I got pregnant?”
“Honestly? Because we needed our parents help and you know if we’d gotten married, they would’ve left us to fend for ourselves.”
“And all the years after? Why haven’t you ever asked me to be your wife? I know I’m no brunette goddess with fake tits and an hourglass figure. Is that it, Benny? Is that why you never wanted me to take your last name?”
I scrunch my nose and shake my head. “What? Gordi, that’s ridic—”
“There!” She shoves her finger in my chest. “Why do you always call me that? I know I have curves but there’s no need for you to remind me every time you address me.”
“Isabel, don’t be silly! I love you just the way you are, every perfect inch of you. You are my brunette goddess. Looks have nothing to do with why we’ve never wed.” I turn my back to Isabel, taking a moment to gather myself before I face her again. “Life wasn’t how I expected. I signed that first contract and I thought we had it made… but you refused to quit working, refused to move into a nicer place, refused to even acknowledge that I’d become a major league baseball player. It hurt, Isabel, it really did, but I didn’t leave because I love you.”
Her eyes cloud with tears and she shakes her head. “I’ve always been so proud of you, Benny, and everything you’ve accomplished. You were so happy playing ball and there were so many women around you. I just assumed one day you’d leave me for one of them which is why I never quit working. I didn’t want to mess things up for Marcos and myself if you left.”
Now I touch my heart as it feels as though a knife is slicing through it. “Isa! Never think that again. You are muy bonita and I will never leave you until you shove me out that door. You and Marcos have always been my world and you always will be.” I reach in my pocket and take a deep breath. Dropping to one knee, Isabel gasps as I look into her eyes. “Isabel Marguerite Soltero, please never make me call you by that last name again. Take my hand, take my last name, take my life, and be mine forever.”
My heart is beating wildly in my chest as tears trickle down Isa’s cheeks. I take her hand, tentatively placing the ring on her finger in hopes that she’ll accept my proposal. Her hands move to each side of my face and she takes a few seconds to gain control of her breathing.
“Benjamin Martinez, yes! Yes, I’ll take your last name!”
Jumping up, I wrap my arms around my Isabel. Why the hell did it take me so long to figure out this was all I needed this entire time? Now, we can officially enter the next chapter of our lives as married grandparents.
EPILOGUE
Six Months Later
Isabel
Peeking into the sanctuary was a bad idea. Seeing people who are highlighted on Sportscenter and grace the covers of Sports Illustrated is making my palms sweaty. It’s not like it’s any surprise that they’re here, my mother and I hand addressed every invitation that was sent out for today. Still, it’s nerve wracking nevertheless and let’s not even mention my bridal party. The three of them put together probably are the same size as me. I sigh and run my hands down the front of my satin wedding gown.
I told Benny I didn’t want a big, formal affair. After all, we have another wedding to pay for in another three months when our grandson is born. Still, my fiancé, I love to say that, insisted on this big event, complete with tulle and glitter exploding in every crevice of this church. Hopefully, Jesus is a fan of sparkle as much as my soon to be husband.
If I’m completely honest, I never thought today would come. I’ve dreamed about it since our first date in high school when Benny pushed me on the swings behind my house. Deep down, I think I always knew that one day I would become Mrs. Benny Martinez, I just never imagined it would be almost twenty years later. Either way, my excitement to start this new chapter with Benny is overwhelming at this point, despite the intimidating guest list.
I spin around slowly at the gasps of my bridal party.
“Isabel…” Colie Adamson whispers. “You are gorgeous!”
Mia James walks across the room, air kissing each side of my cheek so as not to mess up my make-up. “Beautiful, Isabel. Benny is a lucky man.”
I blush at their compliments. These women have always been sweet to me and I know they take care of Benny when I’m not around. Tears tease at my eyes and I look toward the ceiling, blinking quickly to hold them back.
“Sorry,” Laurel Richards mutters as she enters the room, adjusting her breasts into her bra. “The twins were hungry and Jace can’t help much with that.”
I smile, my hand gravitating toward my stomach. “How are the girls?”
Laurel glances up from her dress and stops in her tracks. “Holy shit!” Her hands fly to her mouth and she shakes her head. “Sorry, my husband is rubbing off on me. Isabel, you are stunning in that dress… and you’re glowing” Tears roll down her cheeks and she waves her hands. “Sorry, my hormones are still all over the place. I’ll be glad when my body is back to normal, whatever that is. Breastfeeding has started to make me feel nauseous like when I had morning sickness with the girls.”
I place my arm around her shoulders and give her a light squeeze. “It’s okay, Laurel. You’re just giving me a preview of what I’m in for.”
Colie grabs my other hand, jerking it toward her. “What you’re in for?!”
Grinning, I nod and touch my tummy again. “Yep, grandparents and parents again in the same year.”
“And newlyweds if I can get you down the aisle.” Camila Lemos, Benny’s sports agent, who is doubling as our wedding coordinator, stands in the doorway with her hands on her hips. Her own flashy diamond commanding attention as she waits for us to take our places.
The music starts and my bridesmaids begin their walk down the aisle. My nerves start up again, or maybe it’s morning sickness, either way, I’m suddenly wishing we had just gone to the courthouse on Wedding Wednesday. I can’t believe my dream is about to come true. My hormones take over and I begin to cry happy tears.
“Mama, don’t cry. You should be happy,” Marcos says as he walks up beside me.
I take his face in my hands and kiss his forehead. “Oh, hijo, I’m more than happy. Your papa is retired, we’re about to be married, and we’re going to have two babies in our family by the end of the year.”
Marcos’ eyebrows touch his hairline. “Two? You… you’re…?”
Canon in D pipes through the organs and I nod down the aisle. “Let’s go tell your papa.”
The End
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
And so ends my baseball saga… but don’t be fooled, you know these characters will show up in someone else’s book! Hopefully, you loved them all as much as I did. I honestly feel as though they’re my best friends and it’s kind of sad to have written ‘the end.’ Either way, I loved creating them, putting them their all the drama, and seeing them happy in the end.
A huge thank you to K.S. Thomas for the awesome cover. To Dawn Brock and Jackie Ferrell, thank you for beta reading and proofreading. To everyone that read any of these stories and left a review, thank you for your support. And to my Lovers of Lyssa Layne, even though I might be done with baseball players, keep posting pictures of those hotties in baseball pants!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ly
ssa Layne is first, and foremost, the proud momma to her precious daughter, AR. In addition to working full-time and being a mommy to AR, she is also an avid St. Louis Cardinals fan, a runner, blogger, and an infertility survivor.
Having watched one too many medical dramas and being inspired by author Rachelle Ayala, who introduced her to the world of indie writing, Lyssa decided to try her hand at writing a romance story. Her attempt turned into the Burning Lovesick series. You can find Lyssa’s own interests throughout her stories although all stories are fictional.
Contact Her:
Website: http://www.lyssalayne.com/
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bq2JQn
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lyssalayne
Twitter: https://twitter.com/layne_lyssa
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/authorlyssalayn/
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/LyssaLayne/e/B00KP1Y5BY
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8280977.Lyssa_Layne
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/c/lyssalayne
OTHER BOOKS BY LYSSA LAYNE
Loved by the Linebacker
Until You Fall In Love
Everybody’s After Love
My Favorite What If
Holding the Other
My Calling
Catch My Heart: A Valentine’s Day Collection
The King and the Pawn
Love & Familgia: The DiDominzio Novellas
Burning Lovesick Series:
Love is a Fire
Burst Into Flame
Love Can’t Save You
No one said love was easy. No one said love was perfect. No one said love didn’t hurt. No one said love would last forever.
Follow these characters from your favorite Lyssa Layne books as they experience Valentine’s Day in an unexpected, non-traditional fashion…
Love is a Fire/Burst Into Flame - Andy Garrity lost the love of his life almost three years ago. Giving in to his daughter-in-laws, he decides it’s time to get back in the saddle and go on a first date for the first time since high school. Before he even meets his mate, Andy’s having second thoughts and ready to pass on this opportunity at love.
Everybody’s After Love/My Favorite What If - James Paul and Brianna Rossi are expecting their second child in less than a month. Brianna can’t wait to have a daughter while James Paul is thrilled to have a new princess to spoil. Brianna has the perfect day planned for her husband until she’s blindsided in a way she never imagined.
Loved by the Linebacker - Recovering from a torn ACL, Blake Purser isn’t used to taking it easy. He also isn’t used to not having his best friend, Camila Lemos, spend more time with her boyfriend and his brother Evan than him. His longtime on-again, off-again girlfriend, Molly Feiser, is doing her best to entertain him during the off season but Blake isn’t prepared for her latest news.
Holding the Other - Lee Maverick and Miranda Wallen are the king and queen of country music. The married couple have ruled the charts for the last ten years and fans love the chemistry between them. Before the night is over, this Valentine’s Day will be one for the records.
My Favorite What If - Sloan Talbott and Jacob “Smitty” Smith are spending their first Valentine’s Day as a couple. In the short time they’ve been together, they’ve carved out the perfect nook for just the two of them. Having spent the last six months in Italy, it’s time they head back to the States and learn to be together with their meddling families surrounding them 24/7.
Love’s not easy. Love’s not perfect. Love hurts. Love doesn’t last forever. Can these couples endure love at its ugliest or will it break them down more than they can endure?
In a man’s world, Camila Lemos is one of the top sports agents in the market. The athletes beg for her attention, not just for business, but in the bedroom as well. However, feisty Brazilian beauty Camila is more than meets the eye and refuses to become involved with any of her clients, no exceptions.
Linebacker Evan Purser is the newest man in his family to join the NFL. Guided by his older brother and fellow teammate, he signs with Camila. Once the agent and the linebacker meet, anything but sparks fly.
As the tension rises, so do the feelings for one another, but neither will admit it. Evan can’t let go of the past. Camila’s not sure she can risk her reputation for love. When the walls are broken down, will a touchdown be scored or will it be yet another fumble for both?
Loved by the Linebacker is available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. Be sure to add Loved by the Linebacker to your bookshelf on Goodreads.
Single mom Jordan Glastetter doesn’t know how she’d survive without her best friend, Abram Tomko. He’s the father her son never knew and he’s the rock she’s always leaned on. When Abram’s father suffers a heart attack, it’s Abram’s turn to depend on Jordan, finally seeing her as the woman she’s become and not the little girl he grew up with. Will they risk their friendship for a chance at love?
Until You Fall in Love is available for purchase on Amazon. Be sure to add Until You Fall in Love to your bookshelf on Goodreads.
“Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your heart or burn your house down, you can never tell.” -Joan Crawford
Dr. Katy Malone has sworn off love after losing those she loves most in her life including her father, a member of the FDNY. She has decided to spend her time focusing on her medical research. Her ex-fiancée, and fellow doctor, isn’t ready to give up on loving her though.
Firefighter Nick Garrity is on a search for the future Mrs. Garrity. As he pushes thirty, with no prospects in sight, he’s afraid he’ll never find her. A devoted member of FDNY, he loves the thrill of his job and the satisfaction it brings him. He strives to teach the proby firefighter the ropes and pass on his passion to him.
When the proby tries to impress the guys on the crew, he ends up in the care of Dr. Katy Malone. One look at Dr. Malone and Nick knows he’s found his future wife, but can he convince her to love again?
Love is a Fire is available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. Be sure to add Love is a Fire to your bookshelf on Goodreads.
Meet the DiDominzio family—fiery, loud, Italian. Francesca, Antonia, Gianna, and Carmine were raised by their strict, old school Italian father. Each sibling has their own journey but how they find their happily ever after definitely isn’t easy.
The King and the Pawn - Francesca, the baby of the family, wants nothing more than to fulfill her dream of being a fashion designer. Unfortunately, Papa DiDominzio will stop at nothing to squash her dreams and lead her toward the traditional career of the women in their family. Francesca concocts the perfect plan to bring home a man her father will hate in hopes that he’ll make a deal so she can still reach her dreams.
Not in Love - Antonia, the sexy second to youngest DiDominzio, exudes nothing but sex appeal, especially with her non-traditional blue eyes. After dating one man after another, Antonia thinks she’s finally found the man of her dreams until she realizes the one she really wants has been right in front of her since they were children.
One Day as a Lion - Gianna, the eldest DiDominzio sibling, is the only one that has followed Papa’s wishes by marrying an Italian man and working in his restaurant. While her brother and sisters suspect something isn’t right with her marriage, none of them can prove any differently. However, there is one man that will do everything in his power to save Gianna from the man she calls her husband.
Destined For You - The only male sibling, Carmine is more like a second father to his sisters than their brother. There’s only two things that are important to Carmine-his family and his club. Keeping up with his sisters and running his successful business leaves him no time for him to find a mate. As luck would have it, fate falls into his lap, changing his world, in more ways than one… and not necessarily for the best.
Add to your Goodreads TBR!
Jules Rossi’s world is about to be turned upside down when her big brother, Paulie
, announces his engagement. Having been raised by her brother after their parents died, she’s used to him being her knight in shining armor and isn’t ready to share him with anyone else.
Throughout all the wedding festivities, Jules’ path continues to cross with Paulie’s future brother-in-law, Bentley Ladner. Bentley soon begins to take on Paulie’s role in Jules’ life, which neither of the Rossi siblings is too sure about. Can Jules cope with the secrets Bentley is keeping? Or will she lose his support when she finally decides to give love a chance?
Everybody’s After Love is available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. Be sure to add Everybody’s After Love to your bookshelf on Goodreads.
One year after Jacob “Smitty” Smith is stood up at the altar, his good friend Jules encourages him to redeem his honeymoon package before it expires. Reluctantly, he agrees, and finds himself sitting beside free spirit Sloan Talbott, who is attending her sister’s destination wedding at the same resort. Both have been hurt. Neither is looking for love. Will one week in paradise be a fling to remember or could it possibly lead to something more?
My Favorite What If is available for purchase on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo. Be sure to add My Favorite What If to your bookshelf on Goodreads and check out the fan-made trailer.
“I feel like I can conquer the world with one hand when you’re holding the other.”
~Anonymous
On Valentine’s Day, Country Music King Lee Maverick’s life took a drastic turn when his wife, fellow country crooner Miranda Wallen, asked him for a divorce. It’s exactly what both of them wanted but after ten years touring together, Maverick is unsure what his career will be like without Miranda. Kyle Kelly, or KK as her friends call her, has been waiting for her big break into the country music scene. After another broken heart from a local guitar player, KK decides to give up on her musical aspirations, but her best friend, Brianna Rossi, refuses to let it go that easily. Thanks to her best friend, KK joins the newly divorced Maverick in his singing endeavors. After spending the first part of the tour fighting their attraction for one another, they finally give in to the inevitable. Both think they’ve found their happiness… until Maverick’s ex wants back in the picture, exactly where she left off.
