Double Play

by Nikki Duvall

  “Barbeque and dancing before noon,” she said. She leaned against him, molded to his body like she belonged there. “Plus a whole new string of lies.”

  “They’ll know the truth soon enough.”

  “If you don’t stop lying soon, you might lose track of the truth.”

  “Don’t you waste time worrying about me.”

  “I’m not. I’m worrying about me. One minute you’re hot, the next you’re cold. You’ve got me spinning, J.D. I can’t go on like this.”

  J.D. danced on in silence, brooding, wondering what to do next.

  “It’s like a sauna in here,” he said finally. “Let’s go.”

  He said his goodbyes to Fat Jimmy and the others, all the while holding onto her hand as if he might lose her for good if he let go. She climbed into the steamy truck beside him and he headed down a different dirt road, past a series of ranches with lazy dogs and lazier cattle until they reached a patch of woods that lasted several miles. The windows were down on the truck and her hair blew free from her flushed face. She’d kicked off her flip flops and parted her legs, allowing the warm breeze to blow up her skirt, stirring up J.D.’s already hot blood. They drove on in silence, J.D. wondering how he’d gotten into this mess and just what he was going to do about it. Right now he was working on a double play, living with a woman he could hardly stand and doing his best to break free from a woman who rocked his world at every turn. Seemed to him things were reversed, just like the rest of his life.

  Another quarter mile and the road dead ended in a crystal blue lake. J.D. cut the engine. “This is a secret swimming hole,” he said, dropping his eyes to her yellow dress. “You gottta swear on your life you won’t tell nobody I brought you here.”

  “I’ll ruin this dress,” Halee protested. “It’s not mine.”

  “Then I guess you’ll have to take it off,” said J.D. with a wicked grin. “Or I will.” He slid out of the truck and pulled his tee shirt over his head. The hot sun immediately set to baking his shoulders. “Let’s get wet,” he said.

  He marched toward the water, kicking off his boots, unzipping his jeans. When he got to a big rock, he stopped and pulled his jeans from his long legs, then dropped his drawers. He didn’t care who saw him or what they thought about what they saw. The cool water was calling.

  He took ten steps into the pond and dove headfirst toward the muddy bottom. The water felt good, silky against his naked skin. He came up for air and turned toward the truck. Halee had made her way to the big rock and was leaning against it with a wide grin on her face.

  “You gonna take off that dress or what?”

  Halee glanced around.

  “You know you want to.”

  “I’ll just watch you,” she said, pushing some dirt around with one foot.

  “Come on. Live a little.”

  She smiled a shy little smile, kicking up his desire one more notch. He started to walk to shore. He watched her eyes lower to his waist then his hips as he emerged from the water. She bit her lip. He thought he heard her sigh.

  She held her ground until he was inches away, close enough to drip water on her bare feet. “Need help with that dress?”

  She nodded.

  He reached up and slid one strap over her shoulder, then the other. The dress fell to the ground. She didn’t move. She simply watched his face as he snapped the front clasp on her bra and shoved it away.

  “You are one beautiful woman, Miss McCarthy.”

  “What are you going to do about it?”

  J.D. widened his grin. He liked that low sexy voice she used when she wanted to make love. He could feel his body responding, getting ready to enter forbidden territory.

  “Any suggestions?”

  “Let’s get wet.”

  She didn’t have to ask twice. Before she could protest, he had her up over one shoulder, heading for cool water. She kicked, giggling so hard she nearly lost her breath. “J.D.!” she cried. “You’re going to hurt your shoulder!”

  J.D. took advantage of her position, gently spanking her perfect derriere while he jogged for the deep end. Once there, he slid her down across his eager body, face to face, and kissed her soundly.

  The water lapped up around their shoulders. He rubbed his wet nose across hers and gave her another quick kiss. “Now don’t that feel nice?”

  “Not as nice as this,” said Halee, reaching between his legs.

  A rocket of desire blasted from his groin to his head. She wrapped one leg around his waist, then the other, rising enough from the water for her naked breasts to graze the surface, dangerously close to his eager mouth. Her nipples were taut, teased by the lapping waves. His tongue grazed each one in turn. She moaned. He held his breath, afraid he’d be finished before he got started. This woman had him on edge every time she entered a room. But here, skin to skin, it was almost too much for him to bear.

  “Baby, let’s go slow,” he heard himself say.

  “I want it fast and hard,” she replied.

  “Lord, have mercy.”

  Within seconds he was deep inside her, so deep he thought he’d reached paradise. She moaned, dragging her cool lips across his shoulders, his neck, and his back. Every sweet sensation built upon another, higher and higher till he thought he might explode. Her full breasts taunted him, her firm thighs pulsed against his tender flesh like a Siren. He had to have her, today, tonight, and tomorrow. She was his addiction, an obsession so sweet he could think of nothing else. She bucked against him, rocking his world. With one last thrust he filled her with his seed, marking her as his own for now and forever. She shuddered against him, catching his cries with her mouth, blending them with her own deep guttural song of satisfaction.

  “I like your secret place,” she whispered against his neck.

  “I like yours, too.” He closed his eyes, memorizing the way her body fit against his.

  The wind picked up and the sun retreated behind a bank of growing storm clouds. Her teeth began to chatter. “Time to hit dry land, my beautiful Siren.” He took her hand and led her to shore. He watched as she squeezed the water from her hair. “Didn’t think to bring a towel or nothin’,” he said.

  Silently, she slid the dress back over her head. He stole one last look at her gorgeous body and felt himself getting hard again. Turning away, he slid his jeans back on and pushed back his disappointment. You can’t have her all day, he told himself. You can’t be acting like a dog in heat.

  He sure felt like one.

  They walked slowly back to the truck, hand in hand.

  “J.D.,” she said, turning to face him, “I need to know what this means.”

  He hesitated, studying the sunburned hand wrapped in his own. “I got plans…”

  “And they don’t include me.” It wasn’t a question. Halee sighed. “I can’t do this anymore, J.D. I don’t want to see you anymore. I don’t want to make love with you. I can’t…” One tear slipped down her flushed face. J.D. reached up to wipe it away, but she pushed his hand aside. “Don’t.”

  She dropped his hand and walked to the truck with her head hung low. His heart sank as he watched the woman he loved walk away.

  ~SEVENTEEN~

  “Ladies and Gentlemen, distinguished guests, welcome to the Waldorf Astoria.” Victoria Pryor beamed at the audience from the Starlight Roof’s center stage, as successful as any man in the crowd and loving every minute of it. She’d dressed the part in a midnight blue ensemble that flaunted money and style. A ring of diamonds hung from her scrawny neck, flashing as brightly as her smile under the glow of a New York sunset. Halee gazed up at the carpet of dim stars and found herself back on Sam’s boat, looking for Cassiopeia and Deneb and recalling the sanctuary of J.D.’s embrace. She folded her arms across her chest and sighed.

  “As you now know,” Victoria continued, “the Federals have made outstanding hiring choices of late. Our new centerfielder showed us just what a million dollars can buy when he hit the winning home run this afternoon, landing
the Federals a berth in the playoffs.”

  The crowd erupted into frenetic applause. Halee watched from the back of the audience while J.D., as handsome as ever in a coal black Armani suit, rose to accept his fans’ adoration. He’d let his whiskers grow into a sleek beard that set off his fiery dark eyes. His posture radiated power and control. He moved with the kind of quiet confidence earned both on the playing field and in the bedroom. J.D. was, in short, magnificent.

  “By now, you’ve also noted that the Federals have acquired another talent,” Victoria continued. “Halee McCarthy has proven once again that she is the master of event planning. Halee, please join me on stage for a special announcement.”

  Halee swallowed hard and set her full champagne glass on a nearby table as she edged her way to the front of the room. She checked the skirt of her plum silk cocktail dress and rolled her lips to smooth out her pink lipstick. Being in the limelight had never appealed to Halee. She’d hoped to blend into the crowd tonight, speaking personally with potential patrons of her new literacy foundation and making new friends. Looks like Victoria had other plans.

  Her new dress was feeling like a sausage tube and the ten pounds she’d gained since Oklahoma were pressing into the seams in an alarming fashion. It wasn’t like her to eat when she was depressed, but ever since she’d returned sick from J.D.’s rejection, her appetite had been barely controllable. Stephen and Cam, anxious to improve her mood, had set to breaking in her unused kitchen. Every night for the past month she’d come home to full three course meals heavy on butter and cream. Tonight she was paying the price. The skirt on this dress was hugging every curve on her hips and the v-neck bodice was ready to bust. She’d have to be sure not to do much bending or reaching in this dress or she was headed for an embarrassing moment.

  The crowd parted as she approached the front of the stage. She locked eyes with J.D. for just one minute and fought back the urge to burst into tears. She wouldn’t be here at all if it wasn’t for Ty. This job and the salary that came with it were all that stood between adopting him and watching him go to another foster home. She had to make it through tonight. She had to stay strong.

  Lifting her chin in defiance, she carefully took each step to the podium. Victoria winked uncharacteristically. J.D. studied his drink.

  “Here she is. Isn’t she lovely, Ladies and Gentlemen?”

  The crowd clapped politely.

  “I hope you’re enjoying this little affair,” said Victoria, “because we have many more planned for you. Tonight marks two celebrations, one to announce the engagement of Jonathan Dillon Shaw to Catrina Hiett…”

  The audience applauded. Catrina, dressed in a stretchy red number that left little to the imagination and a set of jewels to rival a crown princess, beamed at the crowd from her perch next to J.D. She leaned over to kiss him, exposing more flesh than was socially acceptable.

  Focus on the back of the room, Halee told herself. Keep smiling.

  She caught the eye of more than a dozen men sending messages sometimes subtle, sometimes not, all in her direction. Tony King leaned against a far wall, wearing the smugly satisfied expression and the expensive suit of a Federals agent. Wiley catcalled from the side of the room, starting a wave of laughter. Stephen winked at her from the third row. Cam gave her a thumbs up. She smiled and stood a little taller.

  “Our other announcement will please you just as much,” said Victoria. “Tonight I announce the birth of the Federals Literacy Foundation and its first Executive Director, Halee McCarthy.”

  A buzz went through the crowd, rolling into a wave of applause that warmed Halee’s heart. This is what she lived for, she reminded herself. This and Ty.

  “Halee’s been quite successful running the North Shore Literacy Foundation for Chicago,” said Victoria, “and New York is lucky to have her. After you meet her, I know you’ll agree. We’ll be in the crowd tonight ready to answer any of your questions. Please take a few moments to welcome Halee to New York.”

  The audience broke into loud chatter and Halee descended back onto the main floor. She stopped on the last stair rung and cried out in joy.

  “You didn’t think I’d let you go through this alone, did you?” asked Rita.

  Halee dissolved into Rita’s arms and held on like she’d never let go. “How did you know?”

  “The Trib is still fascinated with J.D. He sneezes and it makes the headlines. Jesus, the fiancé looks more like his call girl.”

  Halee giggled. “J.D. likes his women dolled up.”

  “That’s taking it to the extreme. Where’s his sleazy agent?”

  “Tony? He’s around here somewhere, scheming to overthrow some foreign country. I haven’t seen him in the last five minutes, thank God.” They both burst out laughing. “Where are you staying?”

  “With you, I hope. I left my suitcase in the lobby. Gave some guy behind the desk five bucks to watch it.”

  “I’m sure it’ll be fine. And I’ll finally have an excuse to live in a five thousand square foot apartment. I swear if Ty starts walking it’s going to be a nightmare. He could hide for days. Let me write down my address in case we get separated. It’s going to be a long night. Cam!” she called. “This is my dearest friend Rita. You’re in charge of making her very happy for the rest of the evening.”

  “Ooohlala,” said Rita.

  Cam beamed.

  A hand pulled Halee in another direction and straight into the arms of a very drunk Wiley. He lost no time. Pulling her close, he kissed her full on the lips for an inappropriate length of time. It wasn’t J.D., but it wasn’t bad, either. He eyed her up and down. “You look smokin’ hot in that dress, Doll.”

  “Wiley.”

  “Wiley Coyote,” he reminded her.

  “What are you doing here?”

  “Thought we might catch up now that J.D.’s with Cat.”

  “Oh…”

  “We had a real chemistry that day in J.D.’s penthouse. You felt the same way, I could tell. Now that boring J.D. is out of the way, whaddaya say we hook up?”

  ”I don’t hook up, Wiley. I have a baby.”

  “That’s temporary, right?”

  Halee choked back a very nasty reply. “Actually, I’m seeing someone,” she lied. “Stephen…” she said, searching the floor for any sign of him… “he’s a realtor.” She spotted Stephen an arm’s length away and reached out and grabbed him. He stumbled toward her. “Stephen, Honey,” she urged, attempting subtle communication, “I want you to meet an old friend. This is Wiley…”

  “Wiley Priest. Pleased to meet you.” Even drunk, Halee had to admit that Wiley looked pretty good slicked up for a party. She could tell Stephen agreed.

  Stephen took his hand. Halee moved closer. “Darling, I was just telling Wiley about us. About your realty business.”

  Stephen raised his brows.

  “I think Wiley might be interested in some property and I have people I need to see,” she said, backing away. Stephen sent her an alarmed look. She shrugged her shoulders and moved deeper into the crowd, grabbing a flute of champagne from a serving tray and locking eyes with Jack Keeting.

  He smiled softly as he deliberately headed her way. Halee wondered if the slow rise of nausea creeping from her stomach to her throat had more to do with the dozen appetizers she’d consumed or the voracious way Jack was assessing her neckline.

  “My first class companion.”

  “I didn’t expect to see you here,” said Halee.

  “I’m on the Federals Charities board,” said Jack, taking her hand. “I neglected to tell you that, didn’t I?”

  “Yes, you did,” she said, raising one brow.

  “I keep a place in New York to satisfy my city cravings. I thought the board should be here tonight. ” His pale eyes roamed her face, her hair, her lips. She tried to release her hand, but his grip was firm. “More than that, I wanted to see you again.”

  Halee held her breath.

  “Looks like things didn’t work out wi
th your hero,” he said, studying her reaction to that statement. “What a loss for him.”

  “I’d rather not talk about it,” she said quietly.

  He linked her arm through his. “Perhaps we can find something else to talk about,” he suggested, leading her to the edge of the room. “I brought my own plane this time. Paris? Rome? You name it, I’ll take you there. We’ll leave tonight.”

  “Mmm,” said Halee, sipping her champagne. “I’d love nothing more than to escape right now.”

  Jack’s eyes lit up. “Perfect. Pack an overnight bag and we’re on our way. I’ll tell the captain…”

  “But I can’t.”

  Jack’s smile drooped. “If it’s the child…”

  She held up one hand. “It’s complicated.”

  “I’m a complicated man. Try me.”

  “Not ready to move on.”

  Jack straightened and pursed his lips. “A woman like you won’t be able to hide away for long.”

  “I’m not hiding,” said Halee. “I’m just resting between rounds.”

  “I intend to capture your attention, Halee McCarthy.”

  Halee reached up and planted a kiss on Jack’s cheek. “I hope you do.”

  She turned away and hadn’t gone ten feet before she ran smack into Tony King.

  “You could have worked harder, you know,” he said in staccato rhythm without saying hello. He seemed a little angrier than usual and a lot more drunk. “With a little more effort, you could have had him.”

  Halee lifted her chin and narrowed her eyes. “Hello to you, too, Tony. Long time no see. Can’t say I missed your company.”

  “I’m surprised you gave up so easily,” he persisted, undaunted by her indifference. “I had you pegged as the ambitious type.”

  “I believe in love, Tony, not greed. J.D. deserves that, don’t you think?”

  “The way I see it, he’s left with nothing. I blame you.”

  “I wouldn’t call a million dollar deal with the Federals nothing.”

  “A career is short lived. Love is forever.”

  “Well, aren’t you the romantic?” She turned to go.