Her eyes widened, and a faint blush stained her cheeks.
Really? She didn’t know how gorgeous she was? Or was this the newest and best come-on he’d received in recent memory?
He didn’t want to believe that.
“So, no. I did not expect hot monkey sex after our picnic, but I’d be lying if I said the thought never crossed my mind. I’m not a saint. But tonight I hoped we’d just get to know each other better.” He grinned. “Then, who knows? You might be willing to consider the hot monkey sex idea in the future.”
Sky rolled her eyes and shook her head, a smile teasing the corner of her mouth.
He knelt down and took the lid off the cooler. “Shall we eat?”
Chapter Eight
Willing to consider it? Was he kidding?
After those kisses down by the water, she was willing to consider anything that included those amazing arms around her and his sinfully sensuous lips pressed against hers.
She’d come dangerously close to losing all restraint and reaching into his shorts to fondle the erection pressed against her belly. How she’d gathered the strength to put her hand against the rock-hard muscles of his chest and actually push him away—well, an inch or two, anyway—she’d never know.
No doubt the memory of Handsome Ben helped her resist the charms of his sizzling hot body. In the sleeveless T-shirt, his ripped abs, well-cut biceps, and broad shoulders were enough to make any woman under the age of eighty weak in the knees. Add in the corded muscles of his forearms dusted with light hair, and she was eager to feel his strong hands and long fingers caress every inch of her lustful body.
She was definitely in trouble.
Sky sat on the blanket, resisting the urge to fan herself with her hand.
“I have one Italian sub, one turkey and provolone, and one ham and American. What’s your preference?” AJ said.
“Mmm, I’ll take the turkey and provolone.”
He handed her a paper plate with the sandwich, a bag of chips, some apple slices, and a napkin. Then he reached into the cooler and pulled out bottles of water, soda and wine.
She pointed to the soda. No way would she chance letting wine lower her inhibitions any further.
AJ settled across from her, and they began to eat. After a few mouthfuls, he arched a brow and said, “So, I, uh, see that you’ve already researched my name, even though I won’t find out if I’ll be signing a contract until Saturday.”
She grinned. “I wondered if you caught that. I can see how the name may have been a problem for you growing up, but I doubt if anyone will give you a hard time about it now.”
“You’d be surprised the things people will use to even the playing field, if they think you’ve got an edge on them. But you’re right, it doesn’t really bother me anymore. I’m just used to the initials by now.”
“In that case, I won’t use Augie in front of anyone else, but I kind of like it.”
“You and my mom. She’s the only other person I let use it.”
“Tell me more about your family, Augie. You already know much more about mine.”
She knew his father was deceased from the records she’d scanned, but there were no details about that tragedy. How had he managed to get into Harvard—let alone pay for it? Maybe his mother had a high-paying position or was wealthy in her own right.
“My family history is a lot more complicated and a lot less loving than yours, I’m afraid.” He paused and drank from his bottle of water. “My dad fell in love with my mom as a college student. She worked as a maid in my grandfather’s house.”
“Grandad is a self-made billionaire with all the traits that go with the title. Intelligent, domineering, stubborn, single-minded. Needless to say, no maid was good enough for his son. He did everything he could to break up their relationship.” A faint smile teased the edge of his mouth. “They had the real deal, though, so, when he didn’t succeed, Grandad disinherited my dad, thinking that would bring him to heel.”
Sky gasped. “No. How could he do something like that?”
“Like I said. Stubborn and determined to get his way.” He pulled his legs up and braced his forearms on his knees. “It didn’t matter to dad, though. He married my mom right after graduation and went to work for the Inquirer in Philadelphia. They had no contact with my grandfather for two years. Then I came along, and Mom decided that maybe if they named me after the old fart, it might soften his hard heart towards my dad.” He scoffed and shook his head. “Didn’t happen.”
“Oh, that’s so sad, Augie. My grandparents were a joy when I was growing up. I’m sorry you missed out on that.”
He shrugged. “Don’t get me wrong. Our life was good. My parents were great together, and even though we weren’t rich, we had a comfortable home, lots of friends and … baseball.” He grinned.
“My dad would have loved to play professionally, but he had a congenital shoulder problem that caused it to dislocate easily. Nowadays an operation could fix that, but back then it was enough to ruin his chances at professional ball.
“He took me to every game he could when the Phillies played at home, and helped coach the Little League team I played on.” His smile died. “When I was twelve, the newspaper offered him a chance to do a series on the war in Iraq. He was only supposed to go there for a few weeks to do interviews and get background stuff on the native population. Ten days after he arrived, he was in a market when a suicide bomber blew himself up.”
Sky reached across and grasped his hand. “Oh, Augie, how terrible. I’m so sorry.”
He squeezed her hand in return. “Thanks. It really hit me hard. My mom, too. She was amazing, though, when I think back on those weeks after we got the news. She must have been devastated, yet she helped me to grieve and kept alive all the wonderful memories we shared as a family. Baseball was a big part of them.”
“She sounds like a wonderful woman. I’d love to meet her.”
“You will. If I get a contract, that is. I told her I wanted her to come down for my first game as an official Barefoot Bay Buck.”
“Then you’d better make a reservation soon, Augie,” Sky said, a twinkle in her eyes.
They were still holding hands, and AJ gave hers a little tug. “Do you know something I don’t?”
Sky pursed her lips and looked very prim. “I’m not allowed to say anything until the official announcement.” Then she grinned. “But, like I said, you’d better make that reservation.”
AJ jumped up, pulled her to her feet and into his embrace. “You’ve made my day. In more ways than one.” He kissed her soundly and swung her in a circle, whooping with joy.
Sky cupped his cheek with her hand, delighted to be the one to give him the good news. She had seen the list of men who would be offered contracts so that she could prepare the documents ahead of time. “I’m so happy for you, Augie. You will make a fantastic pitcher for the Bucks. Your dad would be so proud.”
Some of the enthusiasm faded from his eyes. “Now all I have to do is figure out how to tell Grandad.”
“Why should he care? Didn’t he abandon your dad and mom, and you? I’d think you’d be kind of happy to rub his nose in your victory.”
“Like I said, my family relationships are complicated.”
She cocked her head at his frown. “Tell me.”
“When my dad was killed, my grandfather had a change of heart. I think mostly because Dad was an only child, which made Mom and me Grandad’s only surviving family. He made overtures to Mom to get back together—which she initially rejected. Then, after months of consideration, she accepted his offer to pay for my schooling, knowing she’d never be able to afford the kind of education he could provide. She didn’t want her animosity to him to interfere with my future. So we moved into a townhouse in Beacon Hill, provided by Grandad, of course, and I went to the best prep school in the northeast and eventually to Harvard.”
He sighed. “Want to walk some more?”
Sky nodded and took his hand agai
n, the gesture so natural, she felt she’d been doing it for years.
The sun was half-submerged in the gulf, spreading a golden path almost to their feet as they walked along the water’s edge. The early evening breeze brought the scent of seagrass with a tang of salt. A vee of pelicans flew low over the water about fifteen feet from shore.
AJ resumed. “There was a catch, of course. With Grandad there’s always a catch; he’s such a devious bastard. The deal was that I had to major in business. So I did. I got my MBA and went to work for the investment company Zeke Nicholas owns. I didn’t know him then or realize he’d had some business dealings with my grandfather in the past and probably hired me as a courtesy to him.” He shrugged. “Didn’t matter. I liked my job and knew it was a good idea to have another skill to fall back on, if—when—I couldn’t play ball anymore. But always, in the back of my mind, I planned to try out for professional baseball.”
Sky squeezed his hand, and her smile brought his own back.
“I’ve worked long enough to save the money to pay Gran back for my education. I figure I owe him that much. I expect when he hears I’m quitting Zeke’s firm to play ball, he’ll disown me again. That would be no biggie for me, but if he kicks Mom out of the townhouse, I’ll be really pissed. She doesn’t deserve to pay for my dreams. She’s already done more than enough.”
“Maybe if you explained how much baseball means to you, he’d understand,” Sky suggested.
AJ arched a brow and slanted a look out of the corner of his eye. “You don’t know my grandfather.”
If he’s as mean as you say, I don’t want to know him. But I wouldn’t mind a few minutes alone with him to set him straight on what family means.
By the time they made it back to their picnic site, the stars were out in all their glory, and the breeze had turned chilly. Sky pulled a sweatshirt out of her tote and donned it while AJ gathered up the remains of their dinner.
“We never did get to the pie,” he said.
“You keep both slices. With all the exercise you do every day, you can use the extra calories. My hips don’t need extra padding, anyway.”
“Sweetheart, your hips, like all the rest of you, are perfect.” He brushed a quick kiss across her lips.
Stop saying such nice things. I’m teetering on the brink of falling for you as it is. Besides, your primary goal is baseball, and I’m probably an easily accessible diversion. Or maybe, like Handsome Ben, you thought I might have some “pull” with the owners to get you on the team. Didn’t Kathryn warn Kelly and me about that? Now that you’ve made it, you may drop me like your touted curve ball.
She should have stuck to her original plan. But she feared it was already too late for that.
~~~
AJ walked her to the parking lot, but she ducked into her car before he tried for a goodnight kiss. One more taste of his lips, and she’d be lost.
When she walked in the door, Kelly was on the phone. She waved her over. “Wait, here she is now. Nice talking with you, Mike.”
Sky took the receiver. “Hi, brother mine. I take it the drive home was uneventful?”
“No accidents, no tickets, but Jed still took a few years off my life with some of his daredevil racing maneuvers. How are things going with the new job?”
“Excellent. I love the work and they seem happy with the way I’m doing it. Tomorrow’s the big day. The final roster of players will be announced, contracts will be signed, and there’s going to be a celebratory dinner at Junonia for all the new team members. As usual, the big three are pulling out all the stops to show their enthusiasm and support for the team.”
“So, when will their opening game be? Jed has been wheedling me to drive down for it, and I’m about to agree just to shut him up.”
Sky grinned and looked at Kelly, who watched TV with one eye but kept the other on her. “Really? I thought we had talked you into it when you were down here. You do remember that night in the kitchen. With Kelly?”
“Of course I remember. I wasn’t sure you wanted another dose of brotherly love so soon.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You know I’d love to see you. Kelly, too.”
“Yeah? Good to know.”
She couldn’t hold back a giggle. “There’s an exhibition game on Sunday, but the first real game is next Saturday. We’re playing the Melbourne Manatees. I personally think we’ll blow them out of the water. Our team has some awesome pitchers. And other players, too,” she hastened to add.
“Did your Harvard buddy make the team?”
“He did.” Sky was not about to get into a discussion about Augie over the phone. “So, can we expect you and Jed to be here for the big game?”
“Yeah. I’ll tell the hot dog he won the lottery. Do you need us to bring anything from home?”
A wave of longing washed over Sky, and she wished her whole family would come down for the game. She missed them all so much. “Bring everyone’s love with you, Mike. In fact, before you hang up, can you put Mom on the line?”
“Sorry, Skylark, Dad’s not on call tonight, so he and Mom are at the movies. I should have thought to call you before they left.”
“Then I would have been the one out and about,” Sky said. She bit her lip and hoped Mike didn’t pursue that opening. “Give them both my love. I’ll call Mom on Sunday. When should we expect you two to arrive?”
“Knowing Jed, early Saturday morning. I’m sure he’ll want to leave as soon as I get home from work. It took us just under fourteen hours to make the trip last time, so if we leave by six, we should be at your place in time for breakfast.”
“I’ll tell Kelly. She’ll cook up a massive Southern breakfast for you.”
“That will be great. Okay, I’ll let you go and tell Jed the good news.”
“Mike? Drive safe. Let Jed take over if you get sleepy.”
“Yeah, that will wake me right up again. Bye, Sky.”
She hung up and plopped next to Kelly on the couch. “What’s this?” She nodded toward the sitcom on the screen.
“I’m binge-watching old episodes of ‘Cheers.’ ”
“Oh, I loved that show. Shelley Long, Ted Danson, Kelsey Grammer. They were all fantastic.” Sky pretended interest in the show, as Kelly had done while she talked on the phone.
After a few minutes of silence, Kelly elbowed her in the ribs. “Okay, you can stop the torture. What did Mike have to say?”
Sky feigned nonchalance. “Oh, uh, Jed’s been pestering him to drive them back for the opening Bucks game, and he wanted to know if it was all right to stay here. I told him that was already a done deal.” She turned toward Kelly, trying hard to suppress her smile. “It is okay, right?”
Kelly narrowed her eyes. “Well, I don’t know.” She tapped her finger against her chin, considering. “I was thinking of visiting my mom that weekend…”
“What? Really?”
Then Kelly grinned. “No. I’m not going anywhere. Of course it’s fine with me. I like your brothers. ”
“Anyone in particular?” Sky’s eyes rounded in innocence.
“How was your picnic?” Kelly shot back.
“Delicious.”
“I didn’t mean the food.” Kelly practically growled.
“Neither did I.” Sky sighed.
“I knew it. You’re hooked.”
“Yeah, well, don’t have the wedding invitations printed quite yet. For all I know, AJ could be one of the ones Kathryn warned us about. Merely dallying with my affections in the hopes it would get him on the team.”
Kelly snorted. “As if.”
“Yeah, but he doesn’t know how little input I have in those decisions. As in, none.”
Please don’t let his interest in me turn out to be only that. I’ll be so disappointed. She would not use the word heartbroken. Would. Not.
“I don’t think he has ulterior motives. I think he likes you. A lot. The way he looked at you at lunch today?” Kelly fanned herself. “Hot. Very, very hot.”
; Not willing to spend more time discussing AJ and his motives, ulterior or not, Sky steered the conversation back to Mike and Jed’s visit.
“What were you and Mike talking about before I got home?”
“Nothing much really. He asked me about my work. I asked him about his business. You know, just routine stuff.”
Sky nodded, but remained silent.
Kelly squirmed and picked imaginary lint off her slacks. “He mentioned his plan to expand again.”
“And you, naturally, expressed the opinion that a fitness center on Mimosa Key would be a fantastic business opportunity.”
“Naturally.”
“Nice going, Kel.”
Kelly looked at Sky and grinned. And Sky began to consider Kelly as a possible future sister-in-law.
Chapter Nine
Saturday morning dawned bright and sunny. Pretty much the way most days in Florida dawned, AJ realized. He could get used to this weather.
Though their training schedule made them all early risers, today had even the laziest guys arriving in the cafeteria by 7 a.m.
There was a palpable tension in the air as everyone gathered for breakfast. The cork board outside of Coach Betz’s office was empty, so there was nothing to do but eat.
And wait.
No training was scheduled for today. Those who made the team would attend a press conference and do interviews with the local papers and radio personalities. Publicity over with, they would have the rest of the day off to celebrate.
Those who didn’t get signed would pack up their clothes and dreams and head out to other cities and towns across the country, where other tryouts would keep their hopes alive for a little while longer.
Although AJ had Sky’s tip that he would make the team, until he saw his name on the typewritten list, he wouldn’t be able to relax. He ate and made half-hearted jokes with the other guys until, finally, someone who had left the dining room stuck his head back in.
“Betz is here.”
There was a mad rush to the doors, half-eaten food left on the tables, then a reactive slowing as they approached the coach’s office. For a few more minutes they all had hope.
Barefoot Bay: Double Play (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 9
