The coach stood in the doorway to his office, a white paper in his hand. “Before I put this up, I want to tell all of you that you’re exceptional ballplayers. Given unlimited resources, I’d have hired all of you. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. To those whose names aren’t on this list, I can only say good luck, and keep trying.” He turned and pinned the list to the cork board, then stepped out of the way.
AJ hung back, watching as some of the friends he’d made over the past week turned away with grim faces. He could think of nothing to say that would temper their disappointment. Hell, if his name wasn’t on that list, he’d be … well, depressed wouldn’t begin to cover it.
As the crowd thinned, he moved closer. His eyes traveled down the list but before he got to the “R’s.” Cal turned and clapped him on the shoulder.
“We made it, AJ. We’re in!” He grinned and moved aside to let others take a look.
AJ slapped Cal the high five he waited for, then had to verify the good news himself. Finding his name washed the last remnant of doubt from his mind. An incredible buoyancy filled him, and he pumped his fist. “Yes!” I made it, Dad. I made it! Damn, how I wish you were here.
His very next thought was to find Sky and share the joy with her. He backed away from the board and turned to see all of the management staff lined up, congratulating each player now an official Barefoot Bay Buck. Without considering the consequences, he strode to Sky and hugged her hard enough to lift her to her toes.
She glanced around at her co-workers, and her cheeks got pink. “Congratulations, AJ. I’m happy you made the team.”
Realizing he may have been a bit too exuberant, AJ stepped back and solemnly shook her hand as the other new members did. He winked at her and mouthed “later” as he moved down the line.
At the end, he noticed Charlie Betz give him the evil eye from his office doorway. Too bad, Coach. I know you don’t like romantic involvements among your players, but I’m afraid it’s too late. I already love her. The thought stopped him dead in his tracks, and the guy behind stumbled into him. “Hey man, sorry. I’m, I’m …” AJ’s voice cracked.
“Yeah,” the other man said, his own grin stretching ear to ear. “I’m a little knocked out myself.”
It was difficult to tell which event hit him hardest. Making the team or realizing he’d fallen in love with a woman he’d met just a week ago.
How was that even possible?
Damned if he knew, but he had no doubts about it. He was in love with Sky Zeigfeld.
His grin returned, then faded with a sudden thought. Was Sky as hooked on him as he was on her? If she wasn’t, how could he make that happen? Because without her in his life, baseball wouldn’t be enough anymore.
“Gentlemen.” Donnie Betz’s gravel-throated voice rose above the buzz of conversation among the team. They all turned in his direction. “The owners are proud to call you Barefoot Bay Bucks and have reserved the restaurant at the resort for dinner tonight. Cocktails at 6:30, dinner at 7:30. Don’t embarrass me by coming in shorts. Junonia isn’t SOB, so jackets and ties are the preferred attire. There will be an exhibition game on Sunday. Do not show up with a hangover.” He gave a brisk nod and disappeared back into his office.
Most of the men scattered, at least half of them with cell phones already to their ears, looking for a quiet corner to share the good news with friends or relatives.
Before he did the same, AJ found Sky. “I have to make some calls, but after I do, can we spend the afternoon together? Maybe walk around downtown or take a drive?”
“I’d love that,” she said. She glanced around to see if anyone was watching, then leaned up to brush her lips on his cheek. “Congratulations, Augie. I am so happy for you.”
He resisted the urge to pull her into a full embrace and kiss her. He caught her hand and squeezed it gently, his heart too full to put words to his feelings.
She squeezed him back. “Call me when you’re ready to go. I’ll be waiting.”
He called his mother first and smiled as he heard her get weepy when he gave her the news. Then he bullied her into flying down Sunday morning in time to make the game that afternoon. He booked a villa for the week—possibly his last extravagance, as his repayment of the money his grandfather had spent for his education took a serious bite out of his bank balance.
He hoped the old man appreciated the gesture. But he doubted Grandad would see it as anything other than his due.
He put a call through to Cambridge, but his grandfather’s secretary told him that Mr. Reed was out of town and couldn’t be reached until Monday.
Which was fine with AJ. No reason to spoil today with his grandfather’s ire pouring vitriol in his ear.
His last call had been to a Realtor friend of his in Boston.
~~~
The Mustang convertible tooled along the beach road, top down, music blaring. AJ had one hand on the wheel and the other entwined with Sky’s.
“Didn’t your mother tell you to keep both hands on the wheel when you were driving?” Sky tugged her Bucks cap lower to keep the wind from stealing it.
“Yeah, when I was sixteen. Today, not a chance.” He glanced over and winked.
“I love this car,” she said, raising her free arm to let the wind rush through her spread fingers.
“You drive a stick?” He had no problem with women drivers, as long as they didn’t use the rearview mirror for nothing more than to apply their makeup.
“Yeah. Automatics are so boring.” She laughed at his look of surprise.
“Want to drive?” The Shelby Mustang was built for speed and handled like a champ. He’d like to see how Sky looked behind the wheel.
“Are you serious?”
“Sure.”
“Then, pull over, pal, and let me take this baby for a spin.”
Five minutes later, Sky had them racing across the causeway, headed for the on-ramp to I-75. She drifted the turn onto it and blasted up through the gears, merging with traffic at eighty-five miles per hour.
Damn. This woman could drive.
Riding the edge between reasonable and reckless, Sky zipped through a pack of slower vehicles until she found an open stretch of highway. Then she nailed the gas, and suddenly they were hurtling along at one-ten.
“Hey, lead-foot, there was a cop behind that billboard you just blew by,” he shouted over the wind noise.
Her foot came off the gas and they dropped back to a modest seventy-five. She glanced over with a sheepish smile. “Sorry. I couldn’t waste the opportunity to give this baby a little air.”
“Now I know why your brother calls you Skylark. I thought we were flying there for a moment.”
She scanned the rearview. “I guess that cop’s radar gun was out of order.”
“Or maybe he just couldn’t catch you. Better take the next exit. Besides, I have something I want to show you.” If she liked the Shelby, she’d love the Lambo. And he might not have it for much longer, so…
A few turns off the highway, he had Sky pull into a storage facility and park at the end of a row. “Come on,” he grinned, helping her out of the driver’s seat and taking a set of keys from his pocket. He unlocked the garage-type door and slid it up. The blue Lamborghini gleamed in the muted light.
“Oh my God. The Lamborghini from the parking lot at tryouts,” she said reverently. “It’s yours?”
So, the note had been hers. He nodded. “Wanna go for a ride?”
Sky clapped a hand over her heart. “I knew there was a reason I loved you.”
The statement put a hitch in his breathing. Love me. Not the car. Please don’t be one of those women.
He backed it out and put the Mustang in its place. When he shut the garage door, she was already in the passenger seat.
“You don’t want to drive?”
She shook her head. “This beauty is too rich for my blood. Besides, we’d get a ticket for sure. You drive. I’ll just,” she sighed, “drool.”
On the way b
ack up I-75, it was his turn to show off, and he took full advantage of the fast, sexy machine’s speed and handling.
Back on Mimosa Key, he pulled into the parking lot at Casa Blanca. The valet rushed to open Sky’s door and looked as though he’d died and gone to heaven when AJ tossed him the keys.
“Careful with her, Brad. Find a nice safe spot in the shade, okay?”
“Yes, sir. Absolutely, sir.”
He ushered Sky into the vaulted lobby, the cool marble surfaces and Moroccan-style architecture a refreshing contrast to the heat and light outside. He took her hand and strode up to the reservation desk. A lovely woman with strawberry-blond curls and a heart-shaped face greeted them.
“Welcome to Casa Blanca. How may I help you?”
“Good afternoon,” AJ said. “My name is AJ Reed. Earlier today I reserved a villa for my mother for this week. I’ve not seen it yet, and although she won’t arrive until tomorrow, I wanted to pick up the keys now.
“Of course.” She studied him and tilted her head. “You must be the AJ Reed who just became a pitcher for the Bucks. Congratulations, Mr. Reed.”
“Word spreads fast. Thank you. And it’s AJ. I’m not much on formality.”
“Nor I, AJ, so please, call me Lacey. You’ll get used to the speed the news on Mimosa Key travels. I would be surprised if Charity didn’t have the roster already taped to the counter at the Super Min.” She handed him two key cards. “If you follow the path leading from those doors,” she pointed across the lobby toward the beach, “it will take you to Winter Iris, which is the next to last villa you’ll come to on that pathway. If you’d rather not walk, I can have one of our electric carts at your disposal in a matter of minutes.”
AJ looked at Sky, who appeared a bit shell-shocked by the fast-paced transition from a “ride around town” to a super sports car and a private villa. Her wide-eyed expression made him smile.
“We’ll walk, I think, Lacey. Thank you.”
She smiled. “I can’t wait for the game on Sunday. Exhibition or not, I hope you beat the pants off the other team.”
He laughed. “From your mouth to God’s ears.”
They sauntered along the path bordered by flowering shrubs and shaded by tall palms. The sea breeze added a tang of salt to the sweet smell of the flowers.
“This place is beautiful,” Sky breathed.
AJ slipped his arm around her waist and brought her closer. He planned to stay at the villa after the big dinner tonight and hoped he could talk Sky into spending it with him. Images of her in his bed, her long hair spread across the pillows as he slowly kissed and caressed every inch of her gorgeous body, had kept him from sleeping soundly for many nights.
Winter Iris was a two bedroom, single-story villa with its own private pool and deck. Whitewashed walls, pale tile floors and white upholstered furniture were accented with pillows and drapes in shades of pale lavender and blue. The kitchen was separated from the main living area by a granite-topped bar with tall stools covered in rubbed mahogany leather. Each bedroom had its own private bath, both of which had showers spacious enough to accommodate two with room to spare. Bath products were arranged along the edge of the jetted tub and on top of the double vanities. Luxury was everywhere.
“Let me call room service for some lunch. We can eat out by the pool.” AJ opened the sliders and the sheer curtains billowed in the breeze. The low humidity this time of year made air-conditioning unnecessary.
“Augie, all this must cost a fortune. Save the luxuries for your mother. I don’t want you to spend so much on me.”
He stepped close to her and cupped her cheek in his palm. “Sweetheart, I can afford this.”
The wire transfer yesterday afternoon knocked several zeroes off my bank balance, so after this weekend, I’ll be hard-pressed to come up with gas money. But I can’t think of a better way to celebrate than being here with you.
“Granted, I won’t be working for Zeke anymore, so my big salary will be history. But I want to splurge on you and Mom. The two women I care most about in this world.” He tilted his head down and kissed her. “Let me pamper you, just for today.”
“All right,” she sighed, and leaned up to return his kiss. “Just for today.”
~~~
Lunch arrived quickly. The waiter set their chilled lobster salads, iced teas and crème brûlées on the glass-topped table by the pool.
Sky had removed her Bucks cap and shoes—and considered removing the rest of her clothes, if it would get Augie into one of those huge four-poster beds down the hall. She wanted this man so much, her private parts were damp with desire.
“What time does your mom’s plane get in?” she asked. I can make casual, adult conversation. I can. The words “make love to me, now” will not inadvertently pop out of my mouth.
Her jaw ached from keeping them behind her teeth.
“10:30. Should give us time to get her settled here and make it to the stadium in plenty of time for the game.”
“Will you be the starting pitcher?” See? I can do this.
“Don’t know yet. They signed fifteen guys as pitchers, but Coach hadn’t posted the game roster when I left to pick you up.”
“I hope it’s you.”
“I do, too.” He sighed. “But a lot of the guys are really good. Cal being one of them. Coach might go with him.” He shrugged as though it made no big difference.
Sky poked him in the ribs. “Don’t be so modest. You’re good. I know it. You know it. Coach Betz knows it, too. You know you’re hoping he picks you.”
“I’d be crazy not to want that. My mom would be so proud, she’d pop a button when I walked out to the mound. But either way, I’m sure I’ll see some time on the rubber. I doubt Coach will let any of us pitch an entire game right out of the box. There’s gonna be at least one relief pitcher on Sunday. Maybe more.”
“True.” Want to take another look at those bedrooms? I bet those sheets are really soft.
“What’s wrong?” AJ narrowed his eyes.
“Nothing. Why?”
“You looked like you were miles away.”
Miles? No. Yards away. Just down the hall, in fact. She shook her head. What is wrong with me! She glanced at the pool and said the first thing that came to mind. “Too bad we don’t have suits. The pool looks heavenly.”
“We don’t need suits. The pool is completely private.” His blue eyes heated.
She swallowed. Sky met his stare and licked her bottom lip.
“Right. I could use a swim.” He pulled her out of her chair and ran a finger along the neckline of her tank top.
Goosebumps cascaded down her back and arms. “Well, I—”
He kissed her where his fingers had traveled. Then trailed his lips up her neck to the tender spot behind her ear. He nipped her earlobe, and she gasped as sensation rippled through her. Her nipples peaked, and her knees weakened.
“Oh, Augie, yes” she moaned as she felt his erection press against her belly.
“The hell with the pool,” he said, grabbing her hand and turning her toward the bedrooms. “I need you in a bed, where I can make love to you properly. Slowly. Thoroughly.”
Everything in Sky urged her to give herself completely to the man who had captured her heart. The last niggling doubt left behind by Handsome Ben was banished by the combination of passion and tenderness in AJ’s eyes.
He threaded his hands through her hair and tilted her face up to match her lips to his. She opened to him and shared the sweetness left behind by their dessert as their tongues danced together.
They left a trail of clothes down the hall and fell onto the silken coverlet of the king-size bed. His tanned, warm skin felt like velvet covering his muscles. She threaded her fingers through the thick waves of honey-colored hair and wrapped her legs around his hips. Their mouths clung until oxygen starvation forced them apart.
“God, you’re beautiful,” he murmured. AJ trailed his fingers down the valley between her breasts and across her
abdomen. He dipped a finger between her legs, and they parted to give him better access to her most sensitive spot. He slid first one finger, then a second, inside, and she clenched around them, able only to make incoherent whimpers as he stroked her. He licked her nipple then suckled it, and she bucked against his hand as her release caught her by surprise.
“Oh, no. I wanted you inside me,” she gasped, still breathless from the glorious sensations his clever hands had produced.
“There’s plenty of time, sweetheart.” He kissed her tenderly and brushed her hair back. “I plan to find all the spots that make you quiver with want and then satisfy every one of them.” He held her tight and rolled over, putting her on top.
Sky sat back with her knees straddling his hips and rubbed against his long, thick shaft. “What are we going to do about this?” she asked, a wicked gleam in her eyes. Her butt made slow circles as she rocked against him.
He groaned. “Damn, woman, you could make a monk forget his vows.” He grabbed her hips to hold her still. “Let me get my pants before you drive me completely out of my mind. There’s a foil packet in the pocket that has your name on it.”
She swung her leg over, and he caught her lips in a quick kiss, slid out of bed and searched through their discarded clothes. He walked back to her, his magnificent body proudly on display. He held up the condom, and she snatched it from his fingers.
“Let me help you, dear.” She stroked the length of him and licked the drop that pearled at its tip. He threaded his fingers through her hair and tilted her face up, crushing his lips to hers and tasting his salt mixed with her sweetness.
“Hurry, sweetheart. It seems I’m in a rush after all,” he said, his fingers clenching in her hair as she rolled the condom up his thick shaft. He pushed her onto her back and settled between her legs.
“Yes. Now, Augie. Right now—”She shuddered as he buried himself to the hilt, stretching her to accommodate his length.
With a few strokes, he had her arching her back to meet his thrusts, and as he reached between them to bring her to her second climax, she knew there was no going back. She loved this man, heart, body and soul.
Barefoot Bay: Double Play (Kindle Worlds Novella) Page 10
