Over the Fence: Lyssa Layne's Baseball Romances (9 page)

“But… why?”

Jace leans in close to me, his hand sliding up my thigh under my dress. His breath on my ear only making me wetter. “Nikki, you know there’s always been an attraction between us, but life keeps getting in the way. Boyfriends, girlfriends, our sports, school but now we’re both single, consenting adults…”

He sucks gently on my earlobe while his hand pushes between my legs. My body is quivering at his touch, but like I told Grant, now is not the time. I grab his hand and hold it steady. “I’m not looking for a relationship right now,” I say, and see a gleam in his eyes so I quickly add, “or anything else.”

His face falls and he kisses my neck right below my ear. “I want to spend time with you, see what could’ve been between us. Don’t you?”

I bite my lip. I desperately do, but I have to focus on my career and keeping Grant healthy. “Let’s start off as friends and see what happens from there.”

Jace moves his hand and squeezes my thigh again with a grin on his face. “Sounds good to me,” he says and then he takes me by complete surprise. It’s not until he pulls away and I’m gasping that I realize Jace Richards just kissed me.

CHAPTER 9

My eyes are heavy behind my sunglasses. Not only did I get home late last night, but I didn’t sleep more than a couple hours. I was tossing and turning, thinking about the kiss with Jace… and the kisses with Grant. Three weeks ago, I was homeless and single, now I have two of the hottest guys in baseball vying for my attention. Life is funny that way.

Jace isn’t pitching today, which is why he stayed out so late last night. I try not to be obvious during warm-ups as I watch him sign autographs and flirt with the ladies in the crowd. Still, Benny calls me out. “How was dinner last night?”

I tear myself away from Jace and shrug. “Fine,” I say, trying to play cool.

“You know, your boy Grant wasn’t very happy about that. Texted me all night asking if I’d heard from you.”

I roll my eyes as I push on his calf, stretching out his leg. “He’s not my boy, Benny.”

Benny sits up and narrows his eyes. “Colie, the boy’s got it bad for you and I thought maybe you felt the same way. I didn’t realize Richards had this kind of effect on your panties.”

Oh, if he only knew the effect Jace had on my panties.

Luckily, Grant takes my advice and doesn’t start. He sits on the opposite end of the dugout from me. By the fourth inning, we’re down four to one. One of our rookie pitchers started today and is complaining about his shoulder. I think he’s faking it since we’re losing, because nothing seems out of place when I check him over. I give him the all clear but the inning has already started and he’s benched.

Lifting my glasses up, I rub my eyes as I take a sip of water. I glance down to where Grant is sitting, but he’s gone. My eyes drift out to the field and I see him on the mound. I throw my water down and march over to Michael.

“What the hell is he doing out there?” I demand, knowing I’m way out of line.

Michael spits sunflower seeds on the ground, glancing up at me. “Calm down, Colie. Your boyfriend’s MRI came back clean, no tear.”

I grit my teeth together as my cheeks flush. “He…is…not…my boyfriend.”

Michael nods as he spits more seeds out. “Okay, fine, whatever. He’s clear though.”

“Just because the MRI is clear doesn’t mean he shouldn’t take it easy. The goal is to get him through the season, not just spring training.”

A familiar voice says, “Chill, Colie, I’m fine.”

Grant takes a seat next to Michael as the inning is over. I glance between the two men and march to the opposite end of the dugout. Benny looks at me with a smirk and asks, “Lovers’ quarrel?”

“Ugh!” I growl as I throw up my hands. I stomp down the walkway and watch the rest of the game from the training room.

***

It’s been a week and we haven’t spoken a word to each other. I refuse to work with Grant. He’s setting himself up to get hurt and I won’t be a part of it. I have plenty of other players I’m helping, so I’m too busy to dwell on it. Thankfully there’s only two weeks left of spring training and then we’ll be back in New York. It didn’t have to be like this, but Grant is extremely hardheaded.

On the other hand, Jace and I have been talking and texting every day. We seem to have picked up right where we left off. Unfortunately, we’ve only seen each other once since our dinner and it was a quick hello after the game the day after our date.

Sitting at the breakfast bar, I’m eating a bowl of cereal for dinner. Jace and I have been texting back and forth about an old friend of ours.

Timmy bet you wouldn’t score against that monster goalie from St. Mary’s. Remember that?

I set my spoon back and smile as I type back:
I had a hat trick that game.

I pour another bowlful of Cheerios as I wait for Jace’s response. Thirty seconds later, my phone beeps.

Then remember back at the dorm that night, he was so depressed about losing the bet that he drank until he lit his underwear on fire?

I laugh out loud and milk dribbles down my chin as I read the text, picturing exactly what he’s talking about. Grant walks into the room at that time and sets a newspaper on the counter without a word.

Wiping my chin, I watch him move around the room, fixing himself a Pernod Scotch. I stand up and put my bowl in the sink. When I turn around, we run into each other. Touching him for the first time in a week, my body reminds me how much I’ve missed him. He mumbles, “Sorry” and tries to step around me, but I hold on to him.

“Grant…” I say softly.

His body is tight under my hands, which rest on his hips. He sets his drink on the counter and looks down at me. “Colie, don’t do this.”

“Don’t do what? Care about you? Think you’re insane for pitching with your shoulder the way it is?”

He grabs my shoulders, giving me a light shake. His voice is unrelenting when he talks. “Exactly, Colie! I can’t handle this… us, I want more, but neither of us can give that right now. I need…” He stops and takes a deep breath before continuing, “I appreciate everything you’ve done for me, but it hurts too much to have you around right now.”

I feel like someone’s stabbed a knife in my chest. I’ve hurt him. I never meant to do that. Tears sting my eyes and I can only manage a small nod. He takes his drink and leaves the room. The tears let loose and I can’t stop them. Heading to my room to cry in private, a picture from the newspaper Grant set on the counter catches my eyes. The headline reads, “Playboy Jace Richards Enjoys a Night on the Town” and shows a picture of him in a lip lock with a brunette. I can’t wait to get back to New York where I’m homeless and single.

CHAPTER 10

Pacing back and forth, I glance at the monitor one more time. If they don’t get here soon, I’m going to be late to the game. It’s the last game of the Grapefruit League before we start the regular season back in New York. Today’s game is against the Diplomats, and both Grant and Jace will be starting. I haven’t eaten in twenty-four hours due to my nerves, so I wish their plane would just land already.

My phone beeps with an incoming text:
I don’t see you.

I glance up at the monitor and see their plane has arrived. In the middle of texting back, I hear my name.

“Colie!”

I turn around and run to my sister, wrapping my arms around her and giving her a big hug.
Geez, I’ve missed her!
Thankfully she’ll be here today to help me figure things out. Grant and I are cordial with each other, but things are still incredibly awkward. And things with Jace, well, they’re moving along… slowly but surely. Of course, today will only be the third time I’ve seen him since our first dinner. I haven’t had the nerve to ask him about the brunette in the paper either, but then again, it’s not like we’re dating so I don’t really have a right to ask.

Meg and I chatter away, generally talking at the same time but knowing exactly what the other is saying. Mark laughs at us as he picks up their luggage. I give him a quick hug and hello as we walk out to the SUV. My phone beeps again.

Nikki, don’t tell me you aren’t going to be here today… I need to see you.

Smiling, I type back:
Picking up my sis & her fiancé. We’ll be there soon.

Great! How about I take you all out to dinner after I bring home the win today?

I laugh and see Meg raising her eyebrow. I type back a quick okay then back out of my parking spot.

“So which one was it?”

My smile turns into a frown. “There’s only one right now. I told you Grant and I are just friends.”

“Boo!” Mark calls out from the backseat, making both Meg and I laugh.

“Sorry, Colie, but I’m a Grant fan on and off the field. Jace Richards seems too big for his britches,” Mark comments.

Glancing back at him, I say, “I appreciate your concern, Mark, but once you get to know Jace, I think you’ll change your mind.” I pause before going on. “He’s taking us to dinner tonight.”

Meg gasps. “What? We’re going to dinner with hottie Jace Richards? Colie, I’ll have to go shopping.”

Mark groans in the backseat and I laugh at both of them. “I’m sure whatever you packed is fine. If not, you can borrow something of mine.”

“Not that blue dress of yours, it’s way too short,” Mark says and I blush, making a mental note to get rid of it.

I pull up to the stadium and hand Meg their tickets. “You guys are right behind home plate. Have fun and I’ll see you after the game.”

I jog into the stadium knowing I’m late. I spot Benny, who is shaking his head at me.

“Both your boys are stressin’,” he informs me.

I raise an eyebrow.
Both?
How does he know both are? Besides, I told each of them where I was. About that time, I feel Grant’s hand on my back. “Everything okay?”

I turn around nodding and he immediately removes his hand. “Their flight was running late,” I say and Grant nods, moving on to warm-up.

I turn back to Benny with questioning eyes. Benny throws his head back laughing. I’m about to question him when I feel two hands on my waist. I spin around and am face to face with Jace.

“Glad you made it back,” he says as he lightly kisses my cheek. With a whisper, he grins and says, “Don’t worry, I’ve got a better one waiting for you after the game.”

He jogs off and before Benny can say a word, I give him a playful punch. He just shakes his head. “Colie, what have you gotten yourself into?”

I wonder the same thing as the game starts. By the fourth inning, it’s still nothing-nothing and both starting pitchers are still in. I have to admit Jace has been a bit obnoxious with the winks he’s sending me. I try to ignore it, although every time he does, the fire in my stomach grows and teases me between my legs.

In the dugout, I’m helping one of the outfielders stretch and don’t realize Jace is up to bat. By the time I look at the scoreboard, the count is two and two. Grant winds up and I can tell by the grimace on his face that he’s about done for the game. He releases the ball and it’s way inside. So inside that Jace has to duck and falls to the ground. When he stands up, he tosses his bat and walks to the pitcher’s mound. Grant walks toward him and in a few strides, the two men are chest to chest, both muttering “pleasantries” but only loud enough that the two of them can hear. The altercation ends when the umpire walks up and tells them to break it up.

I hear Benny chuckling as he jogs out to take Grant’s place. Grant breezes past me without a word. Turning on my heel, I follow him to the locker room, a place I rarely go. I don’t think he realizes I’m there as he pulls his shirt off, throwing it along with his glove in his locker as he mutters beneath his breath. His face is shocked when he turns around and sees me. I nod toward his shoulder.