Rundown (Curveball Book 2) (12 page)

“
Corinne,”
I call, somewhat louder.  “Corinne,” I say again.  I
repeat her name several times until I hear her rushing into the
kitchen. 

“
What’s
wrong?” she asks.  Without taking my focus off the silhouette,
I point to the image. “Who the hell is that?”

Corinne
places her hand on my shoulder and urges me away from the window. 
I take two steps back, keeping my gaze locked.  I’m vaguely
aware of her radioing for Spencer to check the perimeter, and if I’m
not mistaken, the sound of her removing her gun from the holster on
her hip.  Of course, that could just be my imagination because
my attention is too busy focusing on who could be out there. 

A
myriad of possible culprits flood my thoughts.  Could it be the
paparazzi, Dosdell or maybe whoever masterminded the attack on the
plane, coming for retribution?   Oddly enough, I’m not
worried about Dosdell.  Somehow I know he wouldn’t hurt me. 
What scares me shitless isn’t being faced with terrorists
necessarily.  It’s the fact that the most precious people in
my world are quietly sleeping upstairs. 

“
Breanne,”
Corinne says sternly. 

I
face her, fully aware that her normally calm demeanor has been
replaced with tension.  “Hmm?”

“
Move
away from the window.” 

I
nod, moving further into the room.  As I do, I steal a glance
over my shoulder and watch the light and figure I’d seen moments
before, vanish. 

“
Are
we in danger?”

“
We
haven’t confirmed that anyone’s out there.  It could have
been any number of things.”

“
Such
as?” 
Does she think I’m stupid?

Corinne
opens her mouth to speak, but is saved by her phone. “Spencer, what
did you find?”  Her eyes dart to the window and she purses her
lips while she listens.

“
Why
don’t you go back to bed?” she suggests moments later after
ending her call.

“
I
can’t sleep now,” I reply.  “What did Spencer find?”

“
It
was probably paparazzi, nothing for you to worry about.”

I
walk back to window, watching as a flashlight shines in the area the
mystery person stood only minutes ago.  An eternity later,
Spencer comes back and asks Corinne if he can speak to her alone.

“
Enough
with the secrecy bullshit.  What did you find?” I ask,
exasperated, before she has a chance to join him in the hallway. 

“
We
aren’t hiding anything.  There was nothing out there aside
from—”

The
ringing of my phone cuts Spencer off.

“
Did
I wake you?” Drew’s voice is about two octaves lower than usual,
giving away that he’s just woken up.

“
No,
I’m still awake.  Did you just land?” I walk into the other
room, noticing both Corinne and Spencer relax as I retreat. 

“
Mm
hmm,” he grumbles and I imagine him stretching.

“
How
was the flight?”

“
I
actually slept most of the time.  Why are you still awake?”

“
I
miss you,” I mutter, completely distracted.

“
I
miss you too.”

I
glance back towards the two agents and zone out. 
What are
they talking about?

“
Did
you fall asleep on me or is something else keeping you up?” he asks
when I’ve been quiet for too long.

“
Huh?”
I ask.

“
Why
do I feel like you’re preoccupied?”

“
Um,
it’s nothing.”  

“
Breanne,
you can’t even lie over the phone.  Tell me what’s up.”

“
It’s
not a big deal.”  My voice cracks, giving me away.

“
Why
don’t you tell me so I can decide that for myself.”

“
I
thought I saw someone in the backyard right before you called.”

“
Seriously?
Who was it?”

“
I’m
not sure.  Spencer checked it out and said he didn’t see
anyone, but now he and Corinne are quietly discussing something in
the other room.  They said it’s likely the paparazzi, but
based on how they’re acting I don’t buy it.”

“
Shit,”
he curses under his breath.  “I should be there with you. 
I’ll get on the first plane back to Boston.”

“
What?
 No.  I’m fine.  Promise.  I shouldn’t have
told you.  I didn’t mean to make you worry.”

“
Of
course I’m worried.  You guys are everything to me and I’m
not there.”

“
You
flew all the way out there, Drew.  You have to do what you went
there for.  We’ll be fine here until you get back.”

Drew
sighs heavily.  I can hear Brett in background asking him what’s
going on.  He must brush him off because the only thing I hear
now is him breathing, followed by a low groan. 

“
As
soon as I get off this plane I’m boarding another one home.”

“
Stop,
ok?  This is ridiculous.  I have security here.  You’re
not coming back until you’re supposed to.  Now, tell me what
your day looks like,” I say, trying to distract him.  The last
thing he needs right now is to feel guilty over taking care of his
own responsibilities.  After several more attempts by him,
insisting he’ll come home, he finally gives up.

“
Brett
and I are having breakfast with the GM of the Giants, and then I’ll
have to rush to the Golden Gate Bridge where the photo shoot is
taking place.  I didn’t plan on going to Alexis’s until
Saturday, but given what’s going on at home I’ll go there after
the photo shoot and catch a flight home sometime Friday night or
Saturday morning.”

“
You
don’t need to do that.”

“
It’s
settled. Now tell me what your plans are for today.”

“
Not
much today.  I’ll be fairly busy tomorrow, though.”

“
Lunch
with Vivian?” he asks.

“
Yeah,
and I have an appointment with a very distinguished man who usually
asks me to undress and drop my knees open as soon as he walks in the
room.”  I add the last part desperate to lighten the mood. 

“
Excuse
me,” he shouts and I can’t help laughing.  If anyone on the
plane was sleeping, they aren’t now.

“
Calm
down, I’m going to see my OBGYN, Dr. Miller.”

“
Your
doctor for your…it’s…he’s a man?”

“
That
he is.”

“
Change
it.”

“
Excuse
me?”

“
How
can you not see that it’s inappropriate for another man to have his
hands in places that only I should be allowed?”

“
He
delivered all three of the kids, Drew.  I’m not changing
doctors.  Besides, he’s retirement age.  I promise you
he’s not getting off on this.”

“
Even
more reason for you to change to a female doctor; he’ll probably
miss something important.”

“
It’s
fine, and I promise you that there is nothing enjoyable about the
appointment.”

He
exhales loudly. “They’re starting to let passengers off. 
Can I call you back?”

“
You
should get some rest. Text me when you get to the hotel and call me
when you get up, alright?”

“
This
topic isn’t closed,” he informs me.

“
But
it is,” I reply with finality.

“
We’ll
see.  I gotta go.  We can discuss this more tomorrow. 
Promise you’ll call me if something else comes up.”

“
Promise.”

As
much as I want to hear his voice sooner than later, I pray that I
have no reason to call him before he wakes up.

Degrees
of Separation

“
What
was that about?” Brett asks as soon as I end my call with Breanne.

Where
the hell do I begin? 

I
drag my hands over my face and stare through my fingers, looking at
nothing in particular. 
How can I protect her when I’m not
there?  What’s going to happen when the season starts up and I
go on the road?  And why the hell is she going to let some old
pervert put his hands
—

“
Drew?”
This time it’s Agent Everett’s voice encouraging me to speak. 

“
Someone
was in Breanne’s backyard, watching her.  When Agent Spencer
went to check it out, the person was gone.”

“
Shit.”

“
Exactly. 
When we get to the hotel I want to review my schedule for tomorrow,”
I tell Brett.  “I need to get as much done as possible at my
sister’s after the photo shoot so that I can finish on Friday and
leave first thing Saturday morning.  Can you change the
flights?”

“
That’s
what I do best,” he grumbles. 

My
head snaps towards him following his sarcastic remark.  He tries
his best to hide his smirk as he holds his hands up in surrender to
placate me.  
I am not in the mood for any shit
. 

“
Bad
timing, sorry.  I’ve got it covered.”   Brett
offers me an apologetic smile.

After
collecting our luggage, we walk through the airport. 
 Approaching the lobby area, I’m floored by the mob of fans
holding signs for me, welcoming me to Giants’ territory.   By
fans, I mean a few men peppered amongst the rows of women, most of
whom are wearing shirts that cover slightly more than their bra,
jumping up and down, asking for my autograph.  I smile politely
and continue walking, desperately wanting to get to the hotel. 

“
Drew,
you need to pose for at least a few pictures,” Brett coaches. 

I
purse my lips and glare at him, wanting to strangle him for the
suggestion.  I look back to the fans and reporters and
unfortunately acknowledge that he’s right.  Even if things
don’t pan out with the Giants, and I hope they don’t, seeing fans
support me could be the final push the Sox need to renew my
contract.  After taking a few cleansing breaths, I nod at Brett
and walk towards the crowd.   Purposely selecting a spot
near the male fans, I hand Brett my luggage and smile for the
cameras.  I sign a few autographs and turn to wave goodbye to
the masses, when a female fan gets overly frisky with her hands and
kisses the edge of my mouth while taking a selfie.  Pissed
doesn’t even begin to describe my reaction.