The Sport of Romance: A Multi-Author Box Set

by Cari Quinn

  He kissed her shoulder and eased her against him. “Good morning, Mrs. Xavier.”

  She smiled. “Good morning, Mr. Xavier.”

  “You okay?”

  “I’m wonderful.” She felt like a cat seeking a scratch. Her soft backside made contact with his very hard front side and he hissed. “How are you?”

  “Horny.” He ground against her. “Have you ever had sex in the shower?”

  Of course she hadn’t. And he knew it. She’d only had sex with him and they hadn’t made it out of the bed. Well, unless you counted the chair or against the wall. She felt herself blush. Okay, so they just hadn’t ventured into the bathroom yet.

  He whipped the blankets away and goose bumps blossomed on her skin. She still wore the jersey, although everything else had been stripped away during their activities the night before. He’d said he’d waited a long time to see his jersey on a woman he loved. He scooped her into his arms and headed into the bathroom, kicking the door closed.

  It turned out to be lunchtime before they were ready to leave their room. After making love in the shower with her back against the cold tile and again with her butt on the cool bathroom counter, they’d put the bed to good use a few more times.

  Man, she’d really been missing out.

  In the short time she’d been having sex, she’d learned to love loving her husband. She imagined it wouldn’t be the same with another man, and knew she’d never find out. She sat on the edge of the bed, dressed in a white sundress, slipping her sandals on, the same ones she hadn’t gotten to wear in Boston.

  He came out of the bathroom tugging a shirt over his head. His pants were zipped, but not buttoned. Heat blossomed in her every cell. She had intimate knowledge of the line that disappeared beneath the zipper and she couldn’t think of anything better than another journey down his very happy trail.

  “If you don’t stop lookin’ at me like that, we’re never going to get out of this room.”

  She blushed and concentrated on the buckle on her shoe. His bare feet came into view. His hands on her elbows encouraged her to stand and when she did, he kissed her. She loved kissing him. His lips were the perfect combination of hard and gentle, sexy and sweet. She’d never get enough of this perfect man, her husband.

  “It wasn’t a reprimand, my love.” He nuzzled his nose against her neck. “Just fact. You make me crazy.”

  “The feeling is mutual.” She clamped her teeth down on the muscle in his neck and he groaned.

  “Seriously, woman, we’ve got things to do today.”

  “I’d prefer you just did me today,” she teased, knowing they needed to track Shayne down.

  He slapped her on the butt. “Finish getting that pretty ass of yours dressed.”

  She waited until they were headed out the door with everything in hand to inform him, “Oh, and I thought you might wanna know I’m not wearing panties on my pretty ass.”

  * * *

  Frankie was going to kill him. No doubt about it, he would keel over any second. How did she expect him to even think about finding his sister when he knew she had nothing on under that sexy little dress?

  They walked into the diner and sat down. A woman approached and Xavier knew he’d found her. Her dark auburn hair was the same color he remembered, and when she smiled, her deep brown eyes twinkled, warm and friendly.

  “What can I get for you to drink?”

  Xavier couldn’t speak, couldn’t think.

  Thankfully, Frankie still held the capacity for both. “Water is fine.”

  Actually Xavier needed a shot of something stronger than water. Vodka, tequila, whiskey. Hell, just set him up with an IV.

  Shayne smiled and Xavier saw the chubby cheeks and tiny, baby teeth of her youth. He clamped his jaw closed as tears pricked his eyes. He’d never stopped loving the baby sister who’d been ripped out of his life. Her expression tightened and she looked at Frankie, then back at him.

  “Take your time looking at the menus. I’ll be back with your drinks in a second.”

  Frankie muttered a thanks, then leaned over the table to whisper, “You’re freakin’ her out. Hell, you’re freakin’ me out. Be cool.”

  He could only watch as his sister went behind the counter and filled up a couple of plastic glasses with ice then added some water. “How did she end up working here?”

  “I don’t know, but if you don’t chill out, you’re never going to get the chance to ask.”

  Shayne slid the glasses onto the table. “What can I get for you?”

  “What,” he choked, cleared his throat and tried again, “What do you suggest?”

  The wary look in her eyes broke his heart. He didn’t want to freak her out, but couldn’t exactly help it. He’d completely freaked himself out.

  “Our special today is a turkey sandwich with honey mustard. It’s very good.”

  “I’ll take one of those.”

  She nodded. “Potato chips or French fries?”

  “Fries.”

  She scratched his choice on her pad. “Potato or macaroni salad or coleslaw.”

  “Macaroni salad is fine. Thank you.”

  She shifted her stance to face Frankie. “And for you?”

  “I’ll have the same.” Frankie’s sincere smile relaxed him. “Right down to the fries and salad. Thank you. What’s your name?”

  “Oh. I’m Shayne.” Her laugh was simply an older, more mature version of the one Xavier remembered. “I own the place. Where you from?”

  “Vegas.” Frankie reached across the table and took Xavier’s hand. Her touch grounded him, captured the string on his wayward balloon.

  Shayne nodded. “What brings you here?”

  Frankie laughed. “Actually, we’re on our honeymoon.”

  Shayne looked from Frankie to Xavier and back again. “Shut up! You came to Kingman for your honeymoon?” She burst out into laughter and Xavier couldn’t help but smile. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard that before.”

  “We do have another reason for coming to Kingman on our honeymoon.” Frankie squeezed his hand and he heard the whistle of the bomb dropping. He watched Shayne’s face and waited for the kaboom! “We’re looking for someone.”

  Shayne’s brows crinkled and her dark eyes narrowed. “Who are you looking for?”

  “You.”

  Shayne’s expression went deer-in-the-headlights and only Frankie’s hold on his hand kept him from leaping to his feet. “Wh- what do you want with me?”

  Xavier cleared his throat and her panicked eyes roamed over his face, his big body. “My name is Matthias Xavier III.”

  Her eyes narrowed even more, becoming only slits. She turned her head a bit, tilted it to the side. He felt like an ant under a microscope with a beam of sunlight aimed directly at him. Any second now he would—

  “Xavier?”

  He pursed his lips, sucked in a breath and nodded. “And if I’m not mistaken you’re name is Shayne Xavier. You’re thirty years old. Your birthday is September first.” Another deep breath. “You’re my sister.”

  At the declaration, Shayne didn’t say anything. She didn’t react. Hell, she didn’t even move, except to blink. Seconds ticked by.

  She blinked again. “What kind of game are you playing?”

  He stood and she stepped back like she might be scared of him. He held up his hands. “No game.”

  “Then what are you doing here?” She glanced around at the diner. “I don’t have anything.”

  The insinuation stung. “I assure you, I want nothing from you. Financially.”

  Her breath hitched. Her eyes narrowed. “Then what exactly do you want?”

  He stared at the clean, white floor tiles for a very long time. His eyes stung and he tried to blink the evidence of his feelings away before chancing another look at her again. “The only thing I want from you, Shayne, is a relationship with my sister.”

  Tears shimmered in her eyes. Her head tipped from one side to the other. She bit down on her lip
and her eyes searched his face. She’d been little, barely four, when she and her mother left.

  A sob burst from her chest. The anguish in the sound breaking his heart. So much time had been stolen from them.

  “Matty?”

  He nodded.

  “It’s been a long time.”

  “Yes, it has.” He held a hand out to Frankie, helping her slide out of the bench to stand at his side. “This is Frankie.”

  Frankie extended her hand and smiled. “It’s very nice to meet you.”

  Xavier knew how a bug under a microscope felt as Shayne looked from Frankie to him, back and forth, finally letting her gaze settle on him.

  “It’s been twenty-five years. What makes you think I want a relationship with you?”

  Frankie stepped in front of him, like she protected him. Xavier didn’t need her to protect him, yet he kind of liked a moment of reprieve.

  “Your father said your mother left, taking you with her. He told Xavier he’d searched and you were nowhere to be found.” Frankie shook her head, her blond curls flirting with her shoulders. “Seems that wasn’t the truth since you’re using your own name and you’re listed in the freakin’ phone book. It took all of a couple of hours for the private investigator we hired to find you.”

  Her dark brows dropped low. Obviously she didn’t like the idea of being found.

  “As soon as I knew where you were,” Xavier said, stepping up next to Frankie. “I knew I needed to at least try to find you.”

  Frankie reached over and pulled an envelope out of her bag, handing it to his sister. “This is for you and a guest. Please come and be our guests at Saturday’s playoff game. There are hotel accommodations as well as money for gas or a rental car or … call me and I’ll drive over to get you. We’d just really like you to join us.”

  Shayne hesitated for a near eternity before taking the stuff. “I’ll think about it. I’m sorry, but that’s the most I can promise.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  “You know what that means better than I do.” Coach took his hat off and ran a hand through his thinning hair. “He’s done.”

  “No.” Frankie turned around and put her hands on her hips. “He is not done.”

  Coach shrugged. “That’s your heart talking, Doc.”

  Using her thumb, she twisted her wedding ring around her finger. “Maybe it is. But come on, if you bench him forever, it’ll break his heart. And mine. All I’m asking is for one game.” She stepped toward Coach and sighed. “I know he’s done. You know he’s done. Hell, even he knows he’s done. Ricky’s fantastic. We all know that, too. But give X one last game. Let him go out a winner.”

  Coach shook his head, but not saying no. “He’ll need to sign a waiver.”

  Frankie rolled her eyes. “His shoulder isn’t up to professional standards, but he’s not going to injure it again in a single game.”

  “It only took a single throw last time.”

  “It did not take a single throw.” She wanted to throw something or knock Coach in the head.

  “He’ll have to sign a waiver.”

  “I’ll sign the waiver, taking responsibility.”

  Coach bit his lip. Shook his head. Cursed. “Dammit, Doc.” He snorted. “Fine. Sign a waiver, taking full responsibility for any injury he may or may not receive during the game and he’ll play Saturday night.”

  She threw her arms around his neck and kissed his cheek. “Thank you, Coach. Oh, thank you.”

  He chuckled and patted her on the back. “This will be his final game. No matter the outcome.”

  “Okay.” She stepped away from him and nodded her understanding.

  “Do you want to tell him or should I?”

  “You tell him, and don’t tell him I twisted your arm.”

  Another head shake. “You’re a hell of a woman, Doc. Xavier’s a lucky man.”

  * * *

  “Xavier!”

  X looked up to see Coach standing in the doorway of the gym. The scowl on his face didn’t bode well. Xavier’s stomach dropped to his toes. Coach finger-jabbed through the air and Xavier felt the stab as his heart thudded against his ribs.

  “Office. Now.”

  Xavier shot a look at Grayson, who only shook his head and shrugged. Well, hell, this was it. Frankie had told him after the MRI she was afraid his shoulder hadn’t healed well enough to keep him on the diamond. The truth was, he knew it. He hadn’t seen any medical assessments, but he knew his body and his career had come to an end that fateful day. His throat tightened, making it hard to gain oxygen from the gasps of air he couldn’t get into his lungs. Each beat of his heart sent another shot of acid through his veins.

  As he made the short journey down the long hall, he became a dead man walking, minus the shackles. At least the physical ones.

  “Hey, man.” Coach glanced up from where he’d sat down behind his desk. “Shut the door.”

  Xavier did then sank down in a chair and tried to ignore the nausea causing his stomach to flip-flop.

  Coach held up an x-ray. “It’s not good, I’m afraid. I finished talking to Frankie—”

  He gulped, hating that his wife had been part of the decision to bench him.

  “—and we both agree one more game won’t hurt anything.”

  Elation. Pure, simple and sweet. He made himself stay in the chair, kept his hands in his lap, tried really, really hard not to smile. And failed on the latter. He grinned, huge and cheesy.

  “Get suited up. You’re back in left field tonight. But only for tonight.”

  “I understand. Thanks, Coach.” Xavier stood and headed for the door. He made it into the hall before he took off on a run. He nearly knocked Grayson over as he came out of the gym. “I’m in,” he yelled over his shoulder.

  Grayson shouted the woohoo! Xavier had managed to keep under wraps.

  Xavier raced into Frankie’s office and slammed the door. She jumped, her head jerking upright. “Xavier.”

  He considered pulling a pretend angry bit, but couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. “I’m in, Doc! I’m in!”

  She smiled and stood to walk around her desk, resting a hip against the front. “I heard.”

  Of course she had. Coach had said she’d been in on the decision. He hadn’t said, but Xavier guessed she probably twisted his arm, probably bending it until it nearly broke.

  Since their marriage, they’d managed to keep themselves professional at the stadium. Right now, though, Xavier couldn’t care less about decorum. He grabbed her, tugged her into his arms and swung her in a wide circle. She threw her head back and laughed. He placed her back on her feet and kissed her, careful to keep his libido under control.

  A knock on the door interrupted them. Through the glass Ricky Santiago waved. Xavier bit back a growl. Frankie motioned him to come inside. “Play nice.”

  Santiago opened the door and stepped in. “Seems like I’m ridin’ the pine today.”

  Frankie’s fingers bit into his forearm.

  “I’m glad.” Ricky smiled and stuck out his hand. “I wanted to wish you good luck.”

  Xavier shook his hand. “Thanks, man.”

  “You’d better stop kissin’ on your lovely wife and get dressed. We’ve gotta be on the field in a half hour to warm up.” Ricky jerked his head at Frankie. “Later, Doc.”

  When Santiago was out of earshot, Xavier turned back to Frankie. “I don’t like that guy.”

  She shook her head. “He was very nice. Very gracious.”

  “Very fake.”

  Her hand smacked against his backside. “Go put this hot hiney in your uniform. I’ll be in the box with Christian.”

  “Do you think she’ll show?”

  Frankie shrugged. “I sure hope so.”

  * * *

  Sporting a Xavier jersey, Frankie hung out in the box with Christian. At the bottom of the first, there’d still been no sign of Shayne. She could sense Xavier’s anxiety as he stepped up to the plate. He tossed a glance towar
d her from under the brim of his dark blue batting helmet. She kissed her fingertips and waved. He plucked her kiss out of the air and held his fist to his heart.

  The door of the box opened and a strange woman wearing a Rockets cap strolled in.

  “Shayne!” Frankie jumped to her feet, jammed her hands into the air. She worried she hadn’t caught Xavier’s attention in time, but as his smile grew, she knew he’d seen her.

  “I’m sorry I’m late. I got stuck in traffic.” Shayne rushed to the front of the box. “What’d I miss?”

  “He’s at bat.”

  Shayne folded her arms and watched along with Frankie and Christian as five pitches brought the count full. Frankie thought she might just be sick. Her stomach churned and she found herself biting her nails.

  The next pitch crossed right over the sweet spot and Xavier’s swing brought the bat around at the right time. The solid thunk! of wood against ball stopped Frankie’s heart. She watched the white globe soar through the blue sky and cheered. It dropped to the grass, barely missed by the sliding center fielder. Xavier ran, holding up at first base. Two batters later and he crossed home plate, bringing the score to one and oh with two outs. The next hitter fanned out and the teams switched sides.

  Frankie gave Shayne a hug. “I’m so glad you made it.”

  “I just feel bad I didn’t make it before the game, so I could have said hello to Matty.”

  “You’re here now. That’s all that matters.”

  “I’m Christian.” He raised his beer. “Can I get you something?”

  “A water?”

  “Oh—” Frankie ran over to the side of the suite and picked up the gift Xavier had given her for Shayne. She held it out to his sister. “—this is for you.”

  Shayne was a bit hesitant, but took the bag graciously and pulled the tissue paper from the top. She peered inside and laughed. “A Xavier t-shirt?”

  “It seems only right, don’t you think?”

  She laughed and held it against herself. The white shirt with its navy sleeves would be a perfect fit. “Is there somewhere I can change?”

  Christian pointed to the bathroom. “Right through there. We were just going to order some food. Whatcha hungry for?”