Love from Left Field (29 page)

He walked out of the room, followed closely by Lucas.

Her father came over to her and stood uncertainly. She reached for him and pulled him close in a fierce hug. “Why didn’t you tell me? I would have appreciated some notice.”

“It took us the past week or so to get the legal details in order. Lucas was critical to that process.”

“Lucas?” She searched for him but he was gone. Her feelings must have been written all over her face because her father touched her on the arm.

“Go after him. Before he’s gone.”

*

Lucas stood at
the elevator, waiting for the familiar ding. He had done what he had come to do – save the Knights. Now it was time for him to do what his father would have wanted. Figure out his path.

“We seem to meet at the elevator an awful lot.”

Miranda’s voice came from behind him like a beacon in the bleak darkness of his life. His stomach clenched but he took one breath before turning around to face her. She looked better than ever, if a little thin and tired.

“Congratulations. The Knights are lucky to have you.”

“I think I’m lucky to have them,” she said softly. “Where are you off to next?”

He plunged his hands in his pockets to resist pulling her into his arms. “Seattle. I was supposed to be there Monday but I’m going to take some time with mom first.”

Miranda nodded. “Do you really want to go back to being on the road, living out of a suitcase?”

He thought about lying but then again he honestly didn’t know what to say, so he settled for the truth. “It’s what I do. And I’m good at it.”

The elevator doors opened and neither one of them moved.

“Yes, you are.” She stepped closer until he could see the deep blue of her eyes. “You know, you were assigned to fix the Knights, make us financially profitable. The way I see it, you haven’t finished your job.”

Hope danced in his chest and he suppressed a smile. “Really? I hear they have new leadership and I think their new owner can handle it.”

She nodded, a smile curving her lips. “Maybe. But I also heard they have an opening for a president and I couldn’t help but wonder if there is anyone better qualified than a turnaround consultant? Someone who loves the Knights as much as I do.”

He cocked his hip against the wall and smirked. “Are you offering me a job, Ms. Callahan?”

“I do believe I am. Are you interested?”

He folded his arms in front of him, trying to look stern. “No, I don’t think I want to work for you.”

Her happiness faded immediately. “Oh, I thought maybe we could do some good together.”

He gripped her arms. “I don’t want to work for you, Miranda. Because then I can’t do this.”

He lowered his head and kissed her, pouring all of his love for her into the kiss, willing her to feel it too. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him closer, matching him kiss for kiss. After a long moment, he heard a noise and broke the contact.

Several people from the office stood around them in a semicircle, Maggie, Seamus, Roger, Cole. They were clapping and cheering.

She blushed and hid her face in his chest. He put a finger under her chin and lifted her head to meet his gaze.

“I think we can work together and share the occasional kiss.” Her words were hesitant, but hope shone in her eyes.

“On one condition. You don’t tell me what to do.”

She jerked back. “I own this team, buddy. You work for me.”

“
With
you. We work together.”

“I can work with that.” She smiled and kissed him.

M
iranda stood on
the field at home plate with three of her players who had made the All-Star team. A group of little league all-stars rounded out the little group, posing for pictures and accolades before the Sunday afternoon game. The All-Star game was that week and Miranda as feeling very confident in her players. The team was winning. The stadium was close to a sellout. And her father stood next to her, offering his approval.

A hand came up behind her and lay against her low back. She turned and looked up into the visor of the Georgia Knight, familiar blue eyes peeking out from the eye slits.

“Lucas! What are you doing?”

He pulled her to his side, hugging her awkwardly against the fake metal of the armor. “Getting the girl.”

She frowned at him but he raised his sword to the crowd and was met with a chorus of cheers.

Next to her, Cody Patterson grinned. “We need our good luck charm to win today at the All-Star game.”

She glanced back at Lucas who shrugged. “What can I say? I bring good luck wherever I go.” He flourished his sword to encompass the whole stadium. “Your evidence, madam owner.”

She looked around the stadium at the cheering fans, the players, and her father shaking his head. She leaned into him. “I think we’ll have to keep you around for a while, Mr. President.”

Seamus glared at them and muttered, “Have some decorum, man. You’re the goddamn president not a mascot.”

Gwen nudged him and he subsided with a grumbled, “Sorry.”

Miranda and Lucas shook hands with all of the players and posed for pictures. Then it was time for the game to start. Seamus headed to the mound to throw out the first pitch. He’d been practicing for the past few weeks with his therapist but Miranda still didn’t think he should be throwing a baseball, not sixty feet. Seamus gestured Prosser to the crouch and threw the ball, almost a strike. The two men met halfway, near Miranda and Lucas, and shook hands.

“You’re doing a damn fine job, young man. I’m not too proud to admit I was wrong. Keep up the good work.”

Prosser nodded and jogged back to the catcher’s position for the game to start. Miranda stepped away from Lucas and hugged her father.

“Thank you, Dad.”

He nodded. “You’ve done well, too, Miranda. I’m proud of you.”

Tears prickled behind her eyes and she nodded, not trusting herself to speak. Seamus held out a hand to Gwen and they walked off the field into the dugout. Lucas wrapped a hand around her waist and pulled her close again, where she belonged.

“You okay?”

“Yeah, he really meant it, Lucas. He’s proud of me.”

“And why shouldn’t he be? You did all this?” He flipped his visor up and hauled her up against him, perfectly positioned. “Now, I think the fans want something more, don’t you?”

Before she could say anything, he lowered his head and claimed her lips in a sweet, hot kiss that took her away from the screaming crowds, the stadium, everything. He ended the kiss and she slowly opened her eyes, staring up at him, bemused.

“Now, what do you say you help me get out of the gear? I think you owe me again.”

“Not sure you can stand it, Mr. Wainright.”

“I know I can’t stand it, Ms. Callahan, but I’m willing to give it a shot if you are.”

She wrapped her arm around him. If anyone would have told her she would find love at the stadium, she’d have laughed and never believed it. But Lucas had come back to her and love had come out of left field to change her world forever.

“Always and forever, Mr. Wainright.”

The End

The Knights of Passion Series

Book 1:
Going All the Way

Buy Now!

Book 2:
Love From Left Field

View the entire series here

Book 3:
The Game Changer

Coming soon!

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Thank you for reading Megan Ryder’s
Love from Left Field!

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Ever since Megan Ryder discovered Jude Deveraux and Judith McNaught while sneaking around the “forbidden” romance section of the library one day after school, she has been voraciously devouring romance novels of all types. Now a romance author in her own right, Megan pens sexy contemporary novels all about family and hot lovin’ with the boy next door. She lives in Connecticut, spending her days as a technical writer and her spare time divided between her addiction to knitting and reading.

Visit her website at
MeganRyder.com

*

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