Her Homerun Hottie

by Wynter Daniels

  “Tori!”

  Her mother’s voice drew her back to the moment. Mama was right in front of her, in a wheelchair that none other than the deputy mayor was pushing. “I swear, sometimes I wonder how you get through a single day,” her mother admonished. “You must have been searching for a donut or cotton candy, hmm?” Looking over her shoulder at Mr. Quincy, she said, “What would she do without me? She wouldn’t even have a business. I gave her the money, you know.”

  Tori’s blood ran cold. Something inside her snapped. “How dare you, Mama? You’re just as cruel to me as those awful girls were in high school. Mothers are supposed to love their daughters, not be mean to them, and manipulate them.”

  Her mother gasped. “Me? How could you say such a thing? I’ve given you everything.”

  “Anything you’ve ever done for me had strings attached—or steel chains. Why have you always…resented me?”

  “What are you talking about?” Before Tori could respond, her mother huffed loudly. “Okay, perhaps I have been a little hard on you. You’re just so much like your father.”

  Tori crouched next to her. “Dad was a wonderful father, but I know he had a weakness for women that wasn’t so wonderful. No one deserves a partner who cheats on them.”

  “That’s for sure.” She wiped a tear from her cheek. “I’m sorry that I took it out on you.”

  Tori felt as if she’d just been liberated from an invisible prison. Now that Mama had admitted that she’d been treating Tori unfairly, would their relationship change for the better? It had to.

  I am strong. I am capable. I have the power.

  She’d never believed those affirmations so strongly as she did at that moment. She and her mother had turned an important corner. But Mama needed something in her life to focus on—or someone—other than Tori.

  She glanced at Quincy then back at her mother. “Would you like a new relationship, one with a man who’s totally devoted to you?”

  Her mom smiled. “That would be lovely for a change.”

  Taking her mother’s hand, Tori shut her eyes and conjured an image of Mr. Quincy and Mama inside a sparkling heart. A magical arrow pierced her mother’s chest then dissolved in a puff of pink smoke. When she opened her eyes, her mother shuddered for a moment.

  Then she smiled at the deputy mayor. “I’d love a hot dog, Robert.”

  “Just as soon as the closing ceremony wraps up. We need to head over to the stage now, Charlotte.” He gave Tori a hug before stepping behind the wheelchair. “We’ll see you later, Ms. Sutherland.”

  “Please,” Tori said. “Call me, Tori.” She had a feeling that they’d be related in the near future.

  Her mother kissed Tori’s cheek. “I hope you find your happiness, too. If Heath is the one for you, you should go for it.”

  Tori waved to the couple as they headed away. She wished she knew another earthly Cupid—one that would find the perfect match for her! Although deep down, she knew she already had found him. Too bad it wouldn’t work for them.

  Sheriff Higgins came toward her. “Ms. Sutherland,” he said. “Are you doing all right today?”

  “Much better than last night, thanks.”

  “Glad to hear it.” He nudged her to the side of the boardwalk, out of the way of the growing number of passersby. “I was hoping to run into you. I want you to know that Kermit Wenslow will be charged today. He’ll likely spend some time in jail.”

  Mixed emotions warred inside her. On the one hand, the goblin had caused a bunch of people harm, and he ought to pay the price. But on the other hand, she really felt for him. She knew exactly how it felt not to be able to be with someone she loved. “Not prison, though?”

  The sheriff shook his head. “Probably a few months in the county jail.”

  That sounded fair.

  A little while after the closing ceremony, Tori spotted Heath near the stage speaking to a few people with whom they’d gone high school—Flynn Bell, Shoshanna Warner, who now owned the Zen Den, and Deputy Josh Wilshire. For a guy who said he’d never live in Cat’s Paw Cove again, Heath sure appeared to be having fun—joking and laughing with old friends.

  As she watched him, though, she noticed how his smiles were short-lived, how they didn’t reach his eyes. He was just as sad as her.

  Her responsibilities kept her busy the rest of the afternoon—dealing with a leak in the bouncy house, and helping to find a dog that had escaped its owner. Other than those minor glitches, the event went perfectly.

  By the time she got home, her lack of sleep was starting to catch up with her. Unlocking the front door, she took a step inside and stopped cold. It took her a moment to recall that her house had been flooded.

  And now it looked completely new—new carpeting, a beautiful sofa and matching chairs, and a vintage coffee table.

  Heath.

  She hurried from room to room and found that somehow, in the course of a single day, he’d managed to not only have the water damage repaired but also to replace all of the damaged furniture.

  Returning to the living room, she sat on an overstuffed purple chair and put her feet up on the matching ottoman. “Ahh.” It had to be the comfiest one she’d ever tried.

  No one had ever done anything for her that was even close to that sweet. Had she made a mistake turning him down? Deep inside, though, she was sure that she’d never be comfortable with a guy who spent so much time on the road, away from her. And even if Heath left the team, he’d have to make appearances all over the country in order to make a living.

  Her life was here in Cat’s Paw Cove. Her mother—although having Robert Quincy in her life would make Mama less dependent upon Tori. But who would the locals turn to when their love life needed a little push? And Cat Town Events was her baby. She couldn’t possibly just walk away from it.

  The white cat jumped onto her lap and nuzzled her nose. “You’re my baby, too. Who would foster all the extra cats from the cat café? Jordan counts on me.”

  Heath came into the house, giving her a ghost of a smile. “I’ve got to pick up my things.” He strode past her and disappeared into the hallway.

  Setting the cat down, she followed Heath into her home office.

  He set his suitcase on the chair and started packing his things. “I’ll be out of your hair in a few minutes.”

  A lump formed in the back of her throat. “Can we talk?”

  Heath stopped what he was doing. “I was hoping.”

  “First, thank you for all of this.” She swept her arm through the air. “How’d you get so much done in one day?”

  His smile didn’t reach his eyes. “When you throw enough money at things, you can make them happen quickly.”

  “I don’t know what to say.”

  Heath closed the distance between them and took her hands. “You could say you want to be with me, too. That you’ll come with me.”

  She cupped his face. “I wish I could. I love you very much. And I do want to be with you. But I love this town, too. I’m needed here.”

  His shoulders dropped. “I can’t live here, Tori. There are too many ghosts, too many painful memories.”

  “We’d make new memories, better ones.”

  Releasing her hands, he frowned. “So many people here knew my family, what a mean drunk my father was, how poor we were. Even if that wasn’t the case, though, I can’t earn a living here.”

  She thought about all the locals with whom Heath had interacted in the time he’d been in town. “You’re a local hero, Heath. No one sees you as your father’s kid anymore. These people don’t pity you—they respect you. I saw the way Flynn Bell and Josh Wilshire looked at you. You were the kid with so many strikes against you who transcended the odds and made it big.”

  He scrubbed a hand over his face as he sat on the day bed. “I-I never thought of it like that, but you’re right.” He sat up taller. “They see me as a baseball star, not someone to be pitied.”

&nbs
p; Her heart swelled. “This town loves you, Heath. And so do I.” She sat on his lap, holding him, savoring the moment. “There’s got to be a way to make this work.”

  “I could have the surgery in Florida, at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville.”

  “And stay with me while you recover,” she offered.

  “The recovery can take a full year since that’s my pitching arm. But after that, I’d have to travel, either on a team or to make appearances.” He scratched his head. “What if you came with me, for a couple of weeks at a time? We can stay here in town the rest of the time.”

  Thinking about the logistics of that, she nodded. “Alexa could run things temporarily. And Callie does pet-sitting on the side. Since she lives with her folks, I’m sure she’d love to stay here while I’m away.”

  “It’ll be good for you to get away from your mother for a little while,” he said.

  “She’s got a boyfriend now. I think he’ll keep her occupied.” She tried to contain her excitement.

  “We’re probably getting ahead of ourselves, though. One step at a time, right?” He rolled his eyes. “Who am I kidding? We can make this work, Tori. I know we can. It’s always been you.” He drew her closer for a deep, tasting kiss, a celebratory kiss.

  And for the first time, she held nothing back with him. She could finally open her heart completely.

  Epilogue

  Six weeks later

  “I’ve got it all under control, boss,” Alexa told Tori. “Mayor Lancaster pulled some strings. Your mom and Robert Quincy are going to have their reception at the Sherwood House.” She squealed. “Isn’t that fantastic?”

  Tori cheered. “You’re amazing. Mama’s going to be so thrilled.” Tori grabbed her cell and stashed it in her purse. “I’ve got to run. Heath’s picking me up in a minute to look at another house.” Although the properties they’d seen so far were more like estates.

  Alexa narrowed her eyes at Tori. “So is this house for Heath or for the two of you?”

  Butterflies flitted around in Tori’s stomach, which always happened lately when she thought about their future together. “For him, of course.” She winked at Alexa then hurried out the door.

  “Hey, beautiful.” Heath opened the car door for her and stole a kiss before she climbed into the passenger seat.

  “How’d physical therapy go this morning?”

  Heath gave her a thumbs up. “My therapist pronounced me her best patient.”

  “That cute redhead?”

  He turned into Seaside Hills, her mother’s neighborhood, taking the winding road closer and closer to the water.

  Tori breathed in the salty air as they neared the highest point in the area—Pirate’s Bluff. “Where are we going?” They’d just passed the last house in the subdivision. The paved road ended, but Heath continued on the sandy trail, pulling over at the spot where they’d played as kids. She shielded her eyes from the sun and stared across the harbor at the lighthouse on one of the small islands.

  “I think this is where I first fell in love with you.” He draped his arm over her shoulder.

  “When we were kids?” She laughed. “I think I’ve always loved you, Heath.”

  “Then this is where our future home should be.”

  The spot had to be one of the most expensive in the entire county. How could he afford it, and then to build a custom home? He’d been forced to pay the team several million dollars to avoid an even more costly lawsuit.

  Tori stroked his stubbly cheek. “I’d be happy living in a little cottage with you.”

  Waggling his eyebrows at her, he opened his door. “Come on. Let’s figure out where would be a good spot for the house.”

  Fine, she’d humor him. She followed him to the edge of the low cliff. “It sure is beautiful, I’ll give you that. We have to be realistic, though. You might never play ball again. Better safe than sorry.”

  “You’re absolutely right.” Reaching into his pocket, he took out his phone and showed her a text message. “This is from my real estate agent in Anaheim. I got a full-price offer on my house there. Did I mention that I paid cash for it? I’ll walk away with enough to buy this land and build any house we want here.”

  Tori gasped. “I never thought…”

  Heath got down on one knee. “A month and a half ago, you told me that love wasn’t in the cards for you, or your dream house, or even a big diamond ring. With all of your affirmations and self-help book, I think you just didn’t think you were worthy of happiness. Well, I’m here to tell you that you are.” He pulled out a small black box from his pocket and opened it. Inside was the most stunning diamond ring.

  Tori tried to play it cool, but that only lasted a nanosecond. She jumped up and down, cheering. “Yes, yes, yes!”

  When she was finally able to calm down enough that she wasn’t shaking, Heath slipped the ring on her finger. “I promise to do my very best to be worthy of your love, Tori Sutherland.”

  Tori had not a single doubt that he’d never let her down.

  The End

  Also from Cat’s Paw Cove:

  A WITCH IN TIME

  Luna opened her eyes and gazed up at an ominously black sky. Shivering against the damp wind, she tried to get her bearings.

  Where am I?

  And why was the ground moving? Not moving exactly, more like rocking. She inhaled and detected the salty smell of the sea. Propping herself up on her elbows, she scanned the surroundings. She was alone on the deck of an old-fashioned ship, like the one they’d raised from the harbor—which had been turned into the Shipwreck Museum.

  The floorboards creaked nearby. Then she saw him—a man, leaning on the railing, facing the water. In the darkness, she could only make out his silhouette—a little taller than her brother, and more broad-shouldered than Leo. The man’s long hair blew around his face and neck, and his loose white shirt billowed in the wind. Gripping the railing, he turned his head her way.

  Luna gulped but knew immediately that he didn’t see her. Still, she couldn’t stop staring at him. He was…ridiculously handsome.

  Only in my dreams….

  She studied his strong jaw, chin, and cheekbones. His dark brows knotted. Until his eyes found Luna’s, and his gaze trailed down her body, heating her skin as if he’d actually touched her.

  Tendrils of desire spread through her.

  Ding, ding, ding.

  The unwelcome noise yanked her from the dream.

  No! She hadn’t even gotten to kiss him.

  Ding, ding, ding.

  She grabbed her phone from the nightstand and shut off the alarm. Squeezing her eyes closed, she tried to return to the ship, to the man.

  A rough, wet tongue licked her chin.

  “Meow?”

  Luna groaned. “You’re a poor substitute for my dream guy, Hecate.”

  The white cat with the facial markings that looked like a black mask around the eyes climbed onto Luna’s chest and purred. And she knew from experience that Hecate wouldn’t leave her alone until Luna fed her.

  “Okay, fine.” Luna eased Hecate off of her as she sat up in bed. It was almost 4:30, and she had to be at the café in half an hour to start the morning baking.

  After pouring food into Hecate’s bowl, she stumbled into the shower. Before she left for work, she knocked on the guest room door to wake her brother, who was staying with her after an epic fight with his girlfriend of the month. “Time to get up, Leo.”

  He grumbled something unintelligible.

  “See you at seven,” she said. “I fed Hecate. Don’t believe her if she acts like she’s hungry. And remember, Jordan and I will be leaving the café before nine for the Founders’ Day event, so don’t be late.”

  “Mm-hmm,” he mumbled.

  Founders’ Day, ugh! It was going to be a long day, as it always was. But this year, aside from the crowds, period re-enactors, and all the vendors at the park to commemorate the seventeenth-century
shipwreck that had led to the founding of Cat’s Paw Cove, there was the additional draw of the preliminary opening of the Shipwreck Museum. Luckily, Cove Cat Café was only a ten-minute bike ride from her cottage near the beach—a little less at this time when the streets were virtually deserted. As she pedaled past Wilshire Park, the clock in the tower struck five.

  She turned off of Whiskers Road into Calico Court then locked her bike on the rack next to the door and let herself inside. When she switched on the lights, she glanced through the large window that separated the coffee shop from the cat room. A grey tabby yawned before returning to his nap. None of the other cats stirred.

  Luna got right to work, baking enough cookies, pastries and miniature quiches for both the café and their Founders’ Day booth. Three and a half hours flew past.

  By the time Luna parked the work van behind their booth at Boardwalk Park, most of the other vendors were already set up. Good thing she had Jordan there to help her this year. Luna had a feeling that her very talkative friend and employee would make the day fly past.

  The blonde chirped about her boyfriend, Sawyer. “…And he made the most amazing dinner last night.” Jordan sighed. “I feel like the luckiest woman on the planet.”

  “That’s great, sweetie.” Luna climbed out of the van.

  Jordan met her at the back of the vehicle. “My first Founders’ Day.” She helped Luna transfer cats from small carriers into the large pen at their booth on the boardwalk. “And the fact that it’s such a special one—with the opening of the Shipwreck Museum—makes it even better! I’m so excited.”

  “Mm-hmm.” Luna wished that she shared her friend’s exuberance for the annual event. She probably should have asked her brother to handle the Cove Cat Café’s vendor booth at the celebration, but Luna had always been the one to do it. Besides, she really was looking forward to the time with Jordan. In the short time she’d known the young woman, they’d become close friends. And Jordan’s gift of communicating with animals had made the cat adoption part of the café run so much smoother. Hopefully, Jordan’s bubbly personality would save Luna from having to engage with everyone who wanted to play with the cats, or hopefully, adopt one or two. Luna’s naturally shy nature wasn’t suited to working crowded festivals.