Over the Fence: Lyssa Layne's Baseball Romances (28 page)

He lets go of the wheel and looks directly into my eyes. “Mia, don’t joke about that. My sister was in an abusive relationship. I almost lost my entire career when I beat up her sorry-ass boyfriend and it would have been worth it.”

My stomach churns at his words. I know the situation all too clear, but I can’t tell him that. And now that he’s told me what happened to his sister’s boyfriend, I know I won’t ever be able to tell him the truth. I swallow hard and nod. “I won’t…I promise.”

Slowly nodding, he turns the key and the engine roars to life. I need air to clear my head. I need speed to take my mind off everything. This is exactly why I bought this car. Tate pulls the fine piece of metal into the street and I ask, “Why do you like my car so much?”

He glances over at me with a sly grin on his face. “I like to get my heart racing.” And with that, he presses the gas and we zoom down the road. I relax, as long as I can hide my secret, I think Tate and I will get along just fine.

***

I bite my lip nervously as he looks around the room. The bedroom is currently all decorated in white. White bedspread, white chairs, white carpet—every inch is white. Tate walks around the room looking sexy as ever in his tight jeans and light blue dress shirt only half-way buttoned up. He’s trying to look more L.A. and it’s adorable, just like how he gagged down the sushi at dinner.

Keeping my distance, I spin slowly trying to showcase the room. “I know it’s probably not your style right now but we can redecorate. I thought we could make the room in the basement into a gym for you. Maybe—”

Tate cuts me off with a cocky smile and a raised eyebrow. “We, huh?”

“That’s not what I meant, Tate,” I say with my hands on my hips. “I help all my clients with any redecorating or renovations that are needed before they move in.”

His smile fades into a frown. “Well, damn.” He walks toward me and grabs my waist when I’m within reach. I move my arms around his neck, I love how comfortable he is with me when he does this. In a low voice he says, “I love it, Mia, it’s perfect.”

A grin takes over my face. In a high-pitched voice, I squeal, “Really?”

He lightly brushes my lips with his as he laughs. “Really…and who knows, maybe one day we will be just that. We.”

My face is frozen with into a permanent grin and my heart races as he says this. Staring into his eyes, he kisses my neck making his way to my ear. “Relax, Mia. I know you just got out of a messy divorce so we’re not going to rush anything. I just want you to know how I feel and I hope it doesn’t scare you off.”

He pulls his head back and looks into my eyes and all I can do is nod. He’s right, I’m nowhere ready to be in a relationship, but I can’t shut off my feelings for him. The chemistry between us is intense and the more I know about him, the more I like. More importantly, when he found me today, there wasn’t anyone else I wanted to see.

CHAPTER 7

Tate

Waves crash in the darkness of the night. The moon peeks behind a few clouds as I lean against Mia’s deck sipping whiskey. Once again, the thought of moving to L.A. doesn’t seem so bad, especially when I feel her hand slide over my back pockets. Her breath is warm on my ear as both hands run over my backside. I feel her smile against my cheek. She lightly kisses it and whispers while she gives me a squeeze, “I can’t wait to see you in baseball pants this season.”

Laughing, I turn around to face her and pull her body against mine. She moves her arms around my neck and we exchange a powerful kiss. My whole body shakes inside and I don’t ever want to stop kissing her.
What is this woman doing to me?
I’m not the kind of man that wants to settle down. Back in Milwaukee, I had a few lady friends that I would get together with from time to time, but I’ve never seen a woman the way I see Mia Tomko. She breaks the kiss, but I don’t let go.

“Good, you started the fire,” she says nodding toward the pit. “I brought out the fixings for s’mores; hope you like them.”

Chuckling, I shake my head as I let go of her and she walks over to the table. “They’re actually my favorite. My sister and I used to make them at my grandparents’ when we would stay with them in the summer.”

I watch her open the box of graham crackers. Damn, even in torn-up jeans and a baggy Stanford sweatshirt she looks good. She looks up from the box. “Tell me about your grandparents.”

In all of our games of Twenty Questions, family hasn’t come up yet. All I know about hers is that she has an ex-husband that’s still in California, an older brother and dad back in Kansas, and her mother passed away when she was in high school.

Taking another drink of my whiskey, I tell her all about my summers back home. “I grew up in Denver. My grandparents lived just west in Lakewood. The day school got out, our parents drove us to their house and didn’t pick us up until the night before school started again in August. My granddad was the one who taught me how to play baseball.”

I set my cup down and grab the bag of marshmallows. Mia stops messing with the graham crackers and smiles. She leans forward and lightly kisses me. “Sounds like a great memory.”

I nod and look down. “My granddad came to every game I played in the minor leagues and as many as he could when I started playing for Milwaukee.” I swallow the lump in my throat. “He passed away right after we won the Division Series in 2011.”

I hate getting choked up like this, but god, he was a good man. Mia doesn’t say a word, just reaches over and takes my hand in hers. The simple gesture is more comforting than any of the condolences I’ve received over the years.
Pull it together, man!

Reaching for another bag to busy myself, I stop and look at Mia. “Reese’s?”

She nods with a grin. “Trust me, it’s way better than a Hershey bar. It’s pure ecstasy.”

Leaning forward, I kiss her neck, making her giggle. “Nah, I think this is pure ecstasy.”

Walking to the fire pit with roasters in hand, I stand behind her so I can nibble on her neck as we toast the ‘mallows. She tilts her head, giving me full access to her soft skin.

“Tell me more about your childhood,” she says.

Giving her one more kiss, I smile. She wants to know more about me which is such a turn on. Most women are only interested because of my athleticism, but not Mia. Sure, she may like my tight ass, but it’s not my status that she’s attracted to.

“I had a childhood dog named Penny, braces until I was in fourth grade, and never went to prom.”

“No prom? Hmm…I would’ve thought you were the prom king.”

I shake my head. “Nope, skipped it and just enjoyed the after-party festivities.”

She laughs and grabs a graham cracker. Carefully positioning the warm marshmallow between the cracker and the Reese’s, she slides it off and turns to me. With a quirked eyebrow, she asks, “Lose your virginity?”

She holds the s’more in front of my mouth waiting for an answer. My teeth clamp down over the treat as I lock eyes with her. “Mmm… ” I moan. She’s right, the Reese’s are delicious.

Grinning, she pulls the s’more back and takes a bite herself. Chocolate smears on her lip. I lean forward and run my tongue over it then close my mouth and suck her lip to get every last bit off. As she slips her tongue over mine, I can feel myself start to get hard and I moan into her mouth. Mumbling with my lips still against hers, I utter, “You’re right…ecstasy.”

Mia

On the couch by the fire pit, I’m cuddled up against Tate. I rest my head on his chest and can hear the steady rhythm of his heart and smell his Polo cologne. Closing my eyes, I enjoy this new found peace. I can honestly say, I’ve never been this relaxed during my entire time in California. Tate’s hand runs over my back, relaxing me even more.

“I wasn’t losing my virginity. It was already gone.”

I look up at him confused and he laughs. “Skipping prom.”

With a smile, I lay my head back down. “Not your first time then. Truth or dare.”

Tate laughs and his chest vibrates against my head. I snuggle closer as he says, “Why do I have a feeling either way will get me in trouble?”

Although I don’t want to move away from being so close to him, I sit up. Tate shakes his head and pulls me to him again. “No, no, no. Lay back down, you were perfect where you were. Truth.”

Snuggling back against him, I think it’s insane how in sync the two of us are. His arms pull me closer as I get comfortable again. “Okay, if prom wasn’t your first time, how old were you when you lost your virginity?”

Tate lets out a groan. “I knew you were going to ask that. Fourteen, she was sixteen. Coach’s daughter after practice one day.”

I laugh. “Typical. Truth.”

“Same question.”

I close my eyes, bringing back the memory. “Start of my senior year after my mom died. He was my best friend and I was going through a rebellious stage.”

Tate’s fingers run through my hair. “Rebellious stage, huh? I’ve been there and done that too.”

My eyes still flutter close and the day starts to catch up with me. My ex at the house, Tate loving his new home, safety…finally, after all these years, safe in a man’s arms. I yawn and Tate kisses my forehead. “Goodnight, beautiful.”

CHAPTER 8

Tate

Even with sunglasses shielding my eyes, I still squint from the glare off the batter’s helmet. He connects with the ball and my body easily twists to the side as I dive in front of the grass line and stop the ball. Spitting dirt out of my mouth, I hop up and throw the ball across the field.

“OUT!” the umpire yells.

The third baseman gives me a pat as he runs to the dugout. Slowly jogging behind him, I make my way off the field. Glancing into the stands one more time, I finally see her. My heart beats quickly at the sight of this beautiful woman I haven’t seen in a month, yet have heard her voice every day since I’ve met her.

We briefly make eye contact and she gives me a little wave. Grinning, I lift my chin in acknowledgement and move into the dugout. I fill my cup with cold water and take a long chug trying to cool off in this Arizona weather. I still haven’t quite found my niche with any of the guys on the team, although they all seem nice enough. My thoughts are distracted by a couple of rookies chattering. I shake my head, trying to remember that I was one of them long ago.

“Yeah, it’s her,” one of the new outfielders says.

“Are you sure? Why would she be here?” another new player asks.

“I don’t know, but look, here’s a pic. It’s her!” the first rookie replies.

My curiosity peaked, I glance in their direction where they’re staring at a picture of a sexy woman that’s in nothing but a pair of panties. She’s got long dark hair—
what a minute!
It’s Mia! I snatch the phone out of his hand and the kid starts to protest. He shuts up when I give him the death look.

“Who is this?” I demand.

He shrugs. “Amelia Tomko.”

My heart sinks. “Where did you find this picture?”

“On her website. She used to be a lingerie model, but it says that she’s retired now.”

The umpire calls the third out and I jog back on the field. Why didn’t she ever tell me that she used to model… half-naked?
Does it really matter?
Yes! What if kids see it? What does her father think of it? Do I want to be with someone who has men all over the country jerking off to her? Am I even with her? What exactly are we? We haven’t slept together, but we sure as hell act like a couple every other way possible.

Whoosh!
I duck out of the way as a line drive flies inches away from my left ear.
Shit, Tate, get it together.
Don’t get out of your game because of her, she’s not worth your career. Lifting my cap and rubbing my forearm over my forehead, I shake my head knowing good and well that I’m lying.