Stealing Second

by Alison Packard

  What would it be like to make love with him now? She shouldn’t wonder but she couldn’t seem to help herself. The last time they’d made love he was eighteen. Now he was thirty-five, and a virile man whose body was bigger and stronger than she remembered.

  Closing her eyes, she imagined his hands sliding down her body and cupping her ass to pull her against him so tightly she could feel the hard ridge of his cock press into the vee of her thighs. Then she pictured his lips feathering along her cheek to the beauty mark she’d inherited from her mother, before claiming her mouth in a hot, wet kiss so consuming that she was left breathless, shaking and begging for more.

  Intense sexual hunger stirred to life inside her as her fantasy commingled with vivid memories of Tom exploring every inch of her skin with his lips. He’d been thorough. She’d give him that. So thorough that when he spread her legs and kissed her between her thighs for the first time, she couldn’t have resisted him…even if she’d wanted to.

  As she slipped her hand down to her soft wet folds and began to stroke herself, she forgot the pain of the past and focused only on the pleasure. Instead of her fingers, it was Tom’s. He teasingly rubbed her clit until she spread her legs wider and let out a low moan. Her breasts brushed against the Egyptian cotton sheet that covered her. The silky fabric provided a delicious friction that stimulated her nipples into hard, sensitive points. She imagined Tom’s warm, wet mouth closing over one taut peak, sucking and teasing as he slipped a finger, then two, into her pussy and gave her a taste of what he would do to her with his cock.

  The potent images played over and over in her head until the sweet tension exploded and her whimpered moans of pleasure filled the room. As she came down from the intense orgasm, she vowed that next time she wouldn’t think of Tom. She’d think of someone else. A hot, hunky movie star, perhaps. Or maybe even Adam Logan, who had sex appeal in spades. It didn’t matter who it was, as long as it wasn’t Tom.

  Turning to her side, she grabbed the other pillow and pulled it against her. It wasn’t the same as snuggling up to a warm body, but it was the only way she could sleep. As she drifted off, she let out a resigned sigh. Who the hell was she kidding? She wouldn’t think of anyone else. She never did. She wasn’t currently dating anyone, but even when she was and the sex was good, it was Tom Morgan she thought about when she was alone.

  Every. Damn. Time.

  Chapter Five

  Three days later, on Tuesday morning, Katherine finished reviewing the last of the logged complaints regarding Trey Gentry’s latest shenanigans. Closing the file folder, she pulled off her glasses, set them on top of her desk, then rubbed her temples in slow circular motions with her fingertips. If she had a dollar for every headache Trey had given her in the past two years, the red Valentino pumps she’d convinced herself not to splurge on during a recent window-shopping excursion at Union Square would be on her feet right now.

  Just then the phone on her desk buzzed and she let out a weary sigh. She wasn’t looking forward to this meeting. Not in the least.

  “Yes?” she said as she pressed the intercom button.

  “Tom Morgan and Trey Gentry are here to see you.” Her assistant’s pleasant voice filled the office. “Shall I send them in?”

  “Yes. Thank you.”

  Seconds later, the door opened and Tom entered her office, followed by Trey. Both were casually dressed in jeans and Blaze T-shirts, and while Trey had been frequently likened to a handsome young actor currently starring in a superhero movie franchise, she didn’t quite get his massive appeal. Yes, he was easy on the eyes, but his ever-increasing ego served only to detract from his good looks, not enhance them.

  “Have a seat.” She motioned to them and waited until they’d settled on the chairs across from her desk before looking directly at Trey and continuing, “I’m sure you’re wondering why you’re here.”

  “Not really,” Trey, who slouched in his chair, said with a smirk. “You only call me up to your office when I’m in trouble. What did I do now?”

  “What haven’t you done?” Katherine snapped, unable to conceal her annoyance at the inaccuracy of his statement. Not all of his visits to her office since he’d started playing for the Blaze were due to infractions. It seemed Trey had suddenly developed selective memory syndrome.

  “For your information, the front office received over fifty calls regarding your behavior in the media room last night after the game. Have you forgotten that all press conferences after a game are aired on our local sports affiliate?”

  Trey’s smirk disappeared and a scowl darkened his face. “The skipper didn’t say anything to me about it. What’s the big deal?”

  “I didn’t mention it because you left immediately after the press conference, then this morning you decided to show up in the clubhouse right before we came up here,” Tom said, shooting Trey a hard look. “I didn’t have a chance.”

  “I don’t see what was so offensive about what I said.”

  Katherine fought to hold back her exasperation. “Look, I appreciate the team’s storied rivalry with the Dodgers as much as anyone, but you can’t refer to them as pussies and whiners when your butt is in a chair in the media room and you’re talking to the press.”

  “But they are pussies.” Trey crossed his arms over his chest, glaring at her defiantly. “And whiners.”

  “That’s your personal opinion and you need to keep it to yourself when you’re in front of the media.” She held his annoyed gaze. “And please refrain from swearing and using terms like sweetheart and sugar when responding to questions from the female journalists. And don’t flirt with them when they’re trying to do their job. They’re professionals and should be treated as such.”

  “I didn’t mean anything by it.” Trey’s tone held an edge of defensiveness.

  Katherine shook her head and wished the Trey sitting before her now was the same respectful young man she’d met at the start of his rookie year. “You never do.”

  “Am I being fined?” Trey asked, his expression sullen.

  “No. But consider this a warning, and please remember that there are rules of conduct included in your contract. If this behavior continues, there will be repercussions.”

  He averted his gaze. “Can I go now?”

  “Yes.” She glanced at Tom. “Can you stay for a minute? There’s something I need to talk to you about.”

  “Sure,” Tom said, then narrowed his gaze on Trey. “See Seth when you get back to the clubhouse. He’s worked up some drills to help you on your follow-through.”

  Trey nodded and pushed up from the chair, then strode quickly to the door, leaving it ajar as he left the office. A second later, he called her assistant “sweetheart” as he passed by her desk.

  Katherine let out a snort of disgust and threw up her hands. “Seriously?”

  Tom shrugged. “I have a feeling he said that just to piss you off.”

  “It worked.” She released a controlled breath. “Despite everything, I’m actually fond of Trey. But damn it all, he needs to grow up. He’s really been trying my patience lately.”

  “You’re not the only one,” Tom said dryly. “I thought he’d settle down this season, but that doesn’t appear to be happening. I’ll talk to him about his behavior.”

  “Thank you.”

  He hooked his ankle over his knee and regarded her with inquisitive eyes. “So, what did you want to talk to me about?”

  Katherine sat back in her chair, thankful that the tension that had sprung up between them at Harlan’s Saturday evening hadn’t carried over to today.

  “Our Junior Blaze Ambassadors will be attending the game today. The team is hosting a reception for them afterward. I was wondering if you wouldn’t mind stopping by the promenade plaza and saying a few words.”

  “Of course. I have a ton of respect for what they do for the kids in their communities. I’d be happy to come by for a while.”

  She checked her watch, then grimaced. “Can I fill you in on
the particulars later? I have a meeting with Doug in ten minutes, and then I’m having an early lunch with my father. He flew into town yesterday afternoon, but it’s a short business trip. He’s flying back to Dallas this afternoon.”

  Tom’s brow ticked up. “His company has offices in San Francisco?”

  “No. He was invited to be a keynote speaker at an event hosted by Stanford Business School last night. It ended late so we didn’t have a chance to see each other. We’re rectifying that today.”

  He stood and gave her an easy smile. “Judging by your expression, it looks like you’re looking forward to it.”

  “I am. I haven’t seen him in several months.” Katherine pushed back from the desk and rose from her chair. “I worry about him even though I know Fiona is taking good care of him.”

  “Fiona? Is that his current housekeeper?”

  Katherine couldn’t help but laugh. “No. She’s one of the richest women in Texas. Her husband died fifteen years ago and left her everything. And speaking of housekeepers, she doesn’t have just one; she has an entire staff of them. She and Dad were introduced at a political fundraiser a little over five years ago and shortly thereafter began seeing each other. They seem to be very happy together.”

  “Do you like her?”

  “I don’t dislike her. But she’s hard to get close to. She’s not like my mom at all.”

  Tom’s mouth quirked with amusement. “So she’s not a hugger.”

  “Not at all.” She tilted her head and gave him a wistful smile. “I can’t believe you remember that.”

  “What? That your mom gave the best hugs and told you she loved you every night before you went to bed?” His expression softened. “I wish I could have met her, but through the stories you told me about her I felt like I got to know her.”

  “I miss her.” Katherine blinked back the sudden moisture in her eyes. “And to Fiona’s credit, she’s not trying to take her place. I think my father picked someone completely different from my mom on purpose. There’ll never be anyone else like her. For either of us.”

  “She’d be proud of you, Katie.”

  “I hope so.” She managed a smile and wiped the corners of her eyes with her fingers. “I’ve asked Kelly to moderate the press conference after the game. If anyone can put the fear of God into Trey, it’s Kelly.”

  “I know I’m afraid of her,” Tom said with a wry grin, then turned and headed for the door.

  “Oh, and Tom,” she called after him.

  He stopped and looked over his shoulder at her.

  “Don’t call me Katie.”

  A slow grin curved his lips. “Now why do I keep forgetting that?”

  “Just your contrary nature, I imagine.”

  He chuckled. “See you later, Katherine.”

  After he ambled out of the office, she sighed. Only Tom could make her given name sound sexy.

  * * *

  If Tom wasn’t still irritated with Trey, he might have appreciated the cloudless blue sky, the mid-seventies temperature and the gentle breeze that blew in from the bay. But since his annoyance hadn’t abated since he’d left Katie’s office, he was more concerned about his star pitcher’s increasingly obnoxious behavior than he was about a picture-perfect San Francisco day.

  He climbed the steps from the dugout and strode toward home plate. Downfield, just past third base, his bull pen coach was working with the team’s closer. The two were in deep discussion and didn’t even look his way. Just outside the batter’s box, Tom halted next to Hector Espinoza, who was crouched low, awaiting Trey’s next pitch.

  “Trey.” He motioned toward his pitcher. “I’d like a word.”

  Trey slapped the ball into his glove and headed toward him.

  “Hit the showers, Espo,” he said to Espinoza. “And by the way, I was observing your drills yesterday. Your throw to second is much more accurate than it was last month. Good job on focusing on your mechanics.”

  The young catcher popped up and pushed back his protective helmet. A wide smile split his face. “Scanlon told me those drills would pay off. I guess he was right.”

  “He was.” Tom nodded. “You’re showing marked improvement. Be prepared to start in the next series.”

  Excitement shone in Espinoza’s eyes, then he nodded and trotted toward the dugout.

  “What’s up, Skipper?” Trey asked as he halted in front of him. “Are you going to fine me for joking around at the press conference last night? I don’t think what I said was that bad.”

  Exasperated, Tom shook his head. Trey still didn’t get it. What would it take to make him understand his actions had consequences?

  “Your behavior in the media room last night was unacceptable. And so was blowing me off when I asked to speak to you afterward.”

  Trey averted his gaze. “I forgot.”

  “Like hell you forgot,” Tom snapped. “You can talk smack about the Dodgers all you want in the clubhouse with the guys or at home with your friends. But don’t you ever denigrate them when you’re taking questions from the press. Not only is it poor sportsmanship, but it can come back to bite us in the ass the next time we play them. I’d lay odds right now they’re just itching to shove those words down your throat, and the way they’ll do that is by beating the shit out of us on the field.”

  A dull flush crept up Trey’s neck. “I didn’t think about that.”

  “Lately, you don’t seem to think about the consequences of anything you do. If you keep it up, one day it’s going to catch up with you.” Tom shook his head. “And for the love of Texas, there are plenty of women in the Bay Area who would kill to fuck you. Stop flirting with the female reporters. As Katherine said, they’re professionals and they’re here to do a job; they don’t exist for your personal pleasure.”

  “What if I already nailed one of them?” Trey asked, with a sly grin.

  Tom’s brows shot up. “Are you serious?”

  “Yeah. A couple of weeks ago.”

  “Which one?” he asked. Not that it mattered.

  “The hot blonde with the killer rack.”

  Tom pulled off his cap and wiped his forehead. “Are you dating her?”

  “I don’t date. I don’t have to.” Trey gave him a conspiratorial smirk. “She approached me at Kamu’s after a game; an hour later we were getting busy at her apartment. At her suggestion.”

  “You’re playing with fire, Trey.”

  “Why? We’re both consenting adults. She was up-front about just wanting to get laid, and so was I.” Trey pulled off his glove and shoved it under his arm. “No laws were broken. No one’s feelings got hurt. Do we have to make a federal case about it?”

  Tom released a frustrated breath and tried to keep a firm grip on his temper. “Do you think I’m talking because I enjoy the sound of my own voice? I’ve been around the league a lot longer than you have, and I know where behavior like yours can lead. And it’s nowhere good. I’m not asking you to do anything other than be mindful of your actions. If you don’t, you could end up with a lot more trouble than you bargained for.” He held Trey’s rebellious gaze with a steely one of his own. “If you mess with the bull, you get the horns. Got it?”

  “Yeah. I got it.” Trey shifted uncomfortably, then glanced toward the dugout. “Am I excused?” he asked, not bothering to tone down his sarcasm.

  “Yes.”

  Tom watched Trey until he disappeared, then he pulled on his cap and stalked toward the dugout. His gut told him his words hadn’t registered with Trey at all, and that his pitcher was heading for a fall. He just hoped when the shit hit the fan, the Blaze wouldn’t be covered in it.

  * * *

  After a fabulous lunch at the Campton Place, Katherine smiled fondly at her father, who sat across from her at one of the upscale restaurant’s cozy booths. His chestnut hair had a bit more gray in it than she remembered from his last visit, but instead of aging him, it only made him look even more distinguished. And although he would shortly board an airplane to
fly home to Dallas, he wore a custom-made charcoal suit with a crisp white shirt and a blue tie. Cal Whitton prided himself on his appearance and had always taken great pains with his clothes. She’d often wondered if her love of fashion was something she’d inherited from him, rather than from her mom.

  “You look more like your mother every day,” he said, observing her over the rim of his coffee cup before he set it on the table.

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.” Katherine reached for her dessert fork. Even though she didn’t eat a lot of sweets, she had decided to try the Campton’s chocolate-walnut cake. According to several Blaze front office employees, it was to die for.

  “As you should. Your mother was the most beautiful woman in Texas. To this day, I don’t know why she chose me over all her other beaus.”

  “I know why,” she said, then took a bite of cake. The mixture of chocolate and walnuts tasted sinfully good. Still, it didn’t come close to the fresh strawberry milkshake she’d had at Harlan’s with Tom on Saturday night.

  Cal cocked his head. “How do you know?”

  “Remember that journal she gave me the week before she died?”

  “Yes. She started writing in it the day she was diagnosed. She wanted you to know everything about her life, just in case she wasn’t here to answer your questions.”

  Katherine gave him a rueful smile. “That sounds like Mom. Thinking about me, even as she was fighting for her life.”

  “She was an amazing woman,” he said reverently.

  “I couldn’t bear to read her journal until a few years after she died. I knew it would hurt too much. But when I did read it, I realized it was the most beautiful gift she could have ever given me. She had a knack for writing. Her stories about her childhood were so rich and vivid with detail that they painted a picture in my mind as I read them. And when she wrote about how you courted her, it was obvious how much she loved you. You swept her off her feet, Dad. Those other beaus of hers never stood a chance after you walked up to her and said she was so beautiful she gave the sun a reason to shine.”