Thrown by a Curve (18 page)

The crewman grabbed his phone and sighed. Obviously, there was somewhere he needed to be.

“We’ll lock up if you need to go. I’m sure Garrett or the coach he stayed behind to work with can get the keys to you tomorrow since we’ll be back here early. I want to work with him on his throwing before the team shows up for warm-ups.”

“You sure?”

“Positive. Go on.”

He nodded. “Okay. Thanks. I’ll take care of the stadium lights. You can turn off the ones in here before you go.” He handed her the keys, and she went and locked up the gates behind him.

After the lights had shut down, it was dark and a little bit scary in the dugout. She waited, figuring as soon as the stadium lights went out, Garrett would appear.

He didn’t.

They had come in the same car. Surely, he wouldn’t have left her here alone, would he?

She went into the locker room, but it was empty, so she hightailed it outside to scan the parking lot, just to be certain. The car was still there, but Garrett was nowhere to be found.

She went back inside, through the locker room, and back out to the dugout.

A single light was still on across the field toward the bullpen. She crossed the dugout and picked up the phone the coach used to call for relief pitchers.

The phone rang several times before Garrett picked it up.

“Yeah?”

“I was hoping you were out there considering you drove us here.”

“Sorry. I’m still here.”

“What are you doing out there?”

“Thinking.”

“You’re alone?”

“Yeah.”

Huh. “What are you thinking about?”

“Some stuff.”

She wondered where his mental state was. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. I stayed behind to talk to a few of the guys. When they left, I found myself not wanting to go.”

She took a seat on the bench. “Okay. You want to talk?”

She heard his soft laugh. “About?”

“I don’t know. I’ll let you decide. We could talk about your therapy. It is going well, Garrett.”

“I don’t want to talk about therapy. Or my shoulder. Or anything having to do with my recovery or rehab. I’m taking the night off from thinking about it.”

“All right. How about we talk about the game instead.”

“It was a good game. Sorry I bailed on you. I wanted to hang out here with the other guys.”

“You don’t have to stick to me like glue, you know. You were right where you were supposed to be—with the other pitchers.”

“Thanks. It felt good to be back here. Did you enjoy the game?”

“I did. I’m glad the team won. They look good this season.”

“Yeah. They do.”

This conversation was superficial. There was something he wasn’t telling her, something bothering him.

“Garrett—we’ll get you out there. This is still preseason.”

He paused. “I know.”

She had to get his mind off baseball and what he wasn’t able to do right now. “So . . . what are you wearing right now?”

He laughed. “Are you trying to phone sex me from the dugout, Miss Riley?”

“Maybe.”

“Are we alone?”

“Yes. Crew is gone.”

“In that case, I’m naked out here.”

If only that were the case. “Really. Since you’re naked, you should take your cock in your hand and stroke it for me.”

She heard him take in a deep breath. “You know I’ll do that. Out here. If you slide your hands in your pants and touch yourself.”

Now, her breathing quickened. She knew they were alone. It was dark in the dugout. No one would see her. She slid her hand down the front of her pants. Garrett was so close, but he couldn’t see her, either.

“Touch yourself for me, Garrett.”

“I’m hard already. You know I’m going to fuck you here.”

She palmed her sex, already wet and quivering in anticipation of him doing just that. “Then get over here and do it.”

“Hanging up now.”

She hung up, too, and sat on the bench. The light in the bullpen went out, bathing the entire ballpark in darkness. She heard the squeak of the bullpen door, and a short time later she caught sight of Garrett’s tall, lean form making a determined trek across the field toward the dugout.

She didn’t get up, not until he walked down the few steps toward her. Then she stood. He tugged her against him and kissed her.

The passion in his kiss never failed to ignite her, to take her right into the maelstrom of desire and need, where she wanted to be naked and feel him inside her right away. She toed out of her shoes and frantically clawed at her zipper while Garrett turned her around so her back was to him.

He cupped her chin with one hand, tilting her head back while she dropped her pants to the ground.

“I really hate this uniform of yours, Alicia,” he said, licking the side of her neck.

She trembled. “Me, too.”

“You should be in a skirt tonight. Or a dress I could lift up so I could shove my cock in you and fuck you hard.”

Her sex quivered at the mental image while she shimmied out of her panties. “You’re not making this any easier.”

He sat on the dugout bench and unzipped his pants. “Yeah, well, I’m getting harder. Come sit on me.”

Thank God she had condoms in her bag. She might have cried if they didn’t have any. She straddled him, bending her knees to slide them across the bench on either side of his hips.

“Ever make love in a ballpark?”

She laughed. “This is definitely a first for me.”

He swept his hands across her thighs, holding her in place while she eased down on his cock.

“I like being a first,” he said, sliding his hand under her shirt.

He was definitely a first. For a lot of things.

He lifted her bra over her breasts, filling his hands with them while she sank down on his shaft.

“Christ,” he said, stilling as she buried him inside her. He squeezed her breasts, brushing his thumbs over her nipples, then brought her forward to lick them. When he blew on them, his warm breath caused a fire to burn deep within her. She grasped his arms and brought a nipple to his mouth.

“Do that again.”

His lips curved, and he caught one of the buds between his lips, sucked it between his teeth, and flicked his tongue over it.

So achingly sensual, the painful pleasure seared her.

The night was hot and steamy, not the slightest bit of air blowing to cool off her heated skin as Garrett began to thrust upward. She held onto his shoulders and lifted, then sank onto him again, the sensations heating her to boiling.

“Your skin is silver in the moonlight,” he said, wrapping his hand around the nape of her neck to draw her down for a kiss.

When he kissed her and made love to her, her toes curled, her hair stood on end, and everything in between ignited. She dug her nails into his shoulders and rode him, bombarded with sensations that brought her to the breaking point.

And when he pulled away, she arched her back, giving him access to the most intimate parts of her. He rubbed her clit and she shattered, gripping his cock as waves of orgasm convulsed within her.

“Christ, Alicia.” He swept his arm around her back to pull her against him. He thrust deeply into her and his harsh groans were the sweetest sounds in the quiet night as she rode out her climax, then took him along for the ride.

Clasped tightly to him, she stroked his sweat-soaked back. He pressed a kiss to her neck, then eased her off his lap and set her on her feet.

She held on to him. “My legs are shaking. And I’m not sure I know where my panties are.”

He laughed. “We should probably find them or we’ll have some explaining to do to the crew tomorrow morning.”

“Yes, and speaking of the crew, they left me the keys to the gates, which means an early workout for you in the morning.”

He put his arm around her and tugged her against him, his eyes still heavily lidded with passion. “Worth it, don’t you think?”

She shuddered and pressed her hands to his chest. “Definitely. I’ve never had dugout sex before.”

“Me, either.” He kissed her thoroughly, his fingers diving into her hair to hold her firmly against his mouth while his tongue plundered. By the time he pulled away, she was more than ready for round two. But they should probably get out of there before they pressed their luck and someone showed up. Not that she expected anyone to haunt the ballpark after hours, but one never knew.

They searched and found her panties under the dugout bench. She dressed and fished the keys out of her pocket so they could get out and lock up.

On the way back to the house, she remembered her conversation with her cousin earlier. “Oh, by the way, Gavin suggested we all have dinner together.”

Garrett arched a brow. “He knows about us?”

“Yes. Apparently, rumors are floating around the team about how close we’ve become.”

“Yeah? Huh.”

He didn’t seem bothered by it. Maybe she shouldn’t be, either. Gavin said he’d be discreet. In the meantime, she’d try to be less . . . close to Garrett in the future. At least publicly.

“Anyway, Liz is in town, and he wants to get together at his place.”

Garrett didn’t say anything for a few minutes. She wondered if he was worried about the whole rumors thing.

“Gavin’s going to grill me about our relationship, isn’t he?”

She laughed. “No. He’s aware we’re . . . having sex, and he said that’s the last thing he wants to talk about. I think you’re in the clear.”

“Good. Then dinner sounds fine.”

“Why? Because you’re afraid to face my cousin, or afraid to answer questions about our relationship?”

He spared her a quick glance as he drove. “Neither. And both.”

Confusing answer. She wasn’t sure what to make of it, or whether she liked it. A part of her understood his reasoning for being uncomfortable. After all, Gavin was her cousin. Family was always tricky. Even she couldn’t define their relationship, if they even had a relationship.

They were having sex. Plus, they had a working relationship. That’s all it was between them.

Wasn’t it?

TWENTY-TWO

GARRETT STEPPED UP TO THE FRONT DOOR OF GAVIN
Riley’s beach house with more than a little anxiety.

Gavin was, after all, Alicia’s cousin. Family. Protective of Alicia, no doubt. Plus, he was Garrett’s teammate. They’d been playing together for years, had gone out for beers after games, had gotten along well. Garrett had to be able to count on Gavin at first base, needed to know Gavin had his back. Relationships in baseball were everything. So was trust.

All things Garrett hadn’t thought about when he’d dragged Gavin’s cousin to bed. Of course, Gavin hadn’t been front and center on his mind when he’d gotten Alicia naked.

“Are you okay?” Alicia asked as they waited at the front door.

He stopped staring at the door long enough to slant his gaze toward her. She looked beautiful tonight with the sides of her hair pulled up, the remainder of it cascading down her back in loose, soft waves. He wanted to bury his face in her hair, then tangle his fingers in it. But he kept his distance.

“I’m fine. Why?”

“You look nervous. I told you not to be nervous. This is going to be fun.”

Yeah. Like a beheading was fun.

The door opened and Elizabeth Riley stood there. He’d met her several times before, both with Gavin and accompanying his agent, Victoria, since the two of them were not only peers, but friends.

“Hey, it’s about time you two showed up,” Elizabeth said.

“We’re not late,” Alicia said, hugging Elizabeth as she walked in. “You know Garrett.”

“I do. That bitch Victoria has you as a client. You’re not currently pissed at her or anything, are you?”

“No.”

“Dammit,” she said, then winked at Garrett. “Who wants a drink? I have beer, wine, and tea.”

“Beer’s good for me,” Garrett said as Elizabeth led them toward the kitchen. Wearing capris, a sleeveless silk top, and ridiculously high heels, Elizabeth was a stunner with knockout red hair and curves any man would be happy to get his hands on. Gavin was a lucky man.

She handed him a beer. “Thanks, Elizabeth.”

“Call me Liz. The other is way too formal.”

Gavin came in from out back. “Oh, you guys are here. What’s up?” He shook Garrett’s hand and caught Alicia around the waist, pulling her in for a hug.

“You’re tan,” she said to Gavin.

“Went out on the boat for a while today since we had an off day.”

“I, of course, am not tan, being one of those fair-skinned redheads who burn. So I lathered on the sunscreen and tried not to fry out there. Lord, it was hot.”

“Bitch, bitch, bitch,” Gavin said, but gave Liz a wink.

“Yeah, but who caught the fish today, stud?” she asked.

“You did, my beautiful but not tan wife. And you’ll never let me forget it, will you?”

“You bet your ass I won’t.”

Alicia laughed as she gave Liz an incredulous look. “You caught fish?”

Liz pulled out a chair at the bar. “Sit. Make yourselves comfortable. And yes, I caught fish. I’m getting pretty damned good at this fishing thing.”

“She’s even learned to bait her own hook without cussing or complaining,” Gavin said, taking a long swallow of beer.

“Or wanting to throw up,” Liz added.

“Yeah, that, too.”

“I’m so proud, Liz,” Alicia said. “We’ll have to go to the lake in the summer. I love fishing.”

Garrett looked at her. “You like to fish?”

She lifted her gaze to his. “I love it. My family always used to camp. My dad taught Cole and me to fish when we were kids. Do you fish?”

“I’ve done it here and there.”

“You’ll have to come, too.”

She made it sound like he’d still be in her life in the summer. Would he? He hadn’t thought much beyond the here and now, because that’s the way his life had always been. Relationships had never been long-term for him, which suited him just fine and had fit with his career goals. It was hard to have a relationship and do what he did for a living, always being on the road. Plus, he’d never known if someone was in it for him or for who he was and what he did.

Alicia was different, though. Their relationship had been anything but traditional. They’d never even had what he would consider a date. He didn’t know how he felt about what was going on between the two of them. The sex sure as hell was smoking hot, and he definitely felt something, but what was it?

Maybe it was time to start figuring it out, because at some point this whole therapy thing was going to be finished, and they’d be left with . . .

What?

“I’ve got steaks out on the grill—except for you, Alicia, of course,” Gavin said. “You’re having this amazing pasta salad that Liz fixed for you.”

Alicia grinned at Liz. “Awww, you cooked.”

“I boiled, mixed, chopped, and tossed. Gavin will be cooking,” Liz corrected.

“Don’t let her fool you,” Gavin said. “She’s a hell of a cook. Garrett, want to grab your beer and come outside with me while I turn these steaks?”

Oh, shit. It was time for the inquisition. “Sure.”

The night was clear and warm, every star visible in the moonless sky. Garrett followed Gavin down the steps and over to the side of the patio where the grill was located. He took a long swallow of beer and contemplated his life as it stood right now.

What if he never pitched again? What would he do? He’d never much thought about life after baseball, but he wasn’t going to do this forever. And if he didn’t get his arm working, he’d have to figure out something to do. Maybe he should start planning that sooner rather than later and get a strategy in order.

“Been missing you on the team, man,” Gavin said.

“Been missing being there. How’s it going?”

Gavin shrugged. “Typical preseason. Ups and downs. Sure could use you.”

Garrett took a long swallow of beer. “Working my ass off to get back.”

“How’s your shoulder?”

“It feels a hell of a lot better, but I haven’t had the chance to pitch in a game situation yet, so there’s a lot up in the air.”

Gavin leaned against the deck. “Scary shit, man. I think all of us who play know what you’re going through, how you’re feeling. We’re all one injury away from that big ‘what if.’”

“Yeah. It’s definitely got me thinking about what I’m going to do if I can’t pitch anymore. I’ve pushed it to the far corner of my mind for a long time now, but I have to face reality and come up with a backup plan.”

“None of us ever want to think about life after baseball.” Gavin looked at him. “Do you even have a backup plan?”

Garrett laughed. “Not yet. I guess it’s time to figure that out.”

“You’ll pitch again. My cousin is damn good at her job. She’s dedicated and fierce. She’ll have you on that mound, good as new.”

He loved that Gavin believed in Alicia. “She is good at her job. She’s pushed me harder than anyone—hell, harder than I ever thought about pushing myself.”

Gavin smiled as he tipped the beer to his lips. “That sounds like Alicia. The words
no
and
I can’t
aren’t in her vocabulary. When she got hired on to the team, I knew if I ever got hurt, I’d want her in charge of my recovery.”

“Seriously?”

“Hell yeah. For as long as I’ve known her, she’s wanted to help people. In high school she knew she wanted to go into sports medicine, even bullied the high school football coach into letting her apprentice with the team athletic director, just so she could get some on-the-job practice before she went off to college. This is her life’s dream. She’s so goddamn dedicated to making sure athletes stay healthy, recover, and play at the top of their game. It’s more than just a paycheck to her, you know.”

“I can see that. I’ve seen it in action. She puts a lot of heart into what she does. And I’m really grateful for what she’s done for me. I think very highly of her.”

Gavin paused while he flipped the steaks then turned to Garrett. “I know this is really tricky territory, because you and I are friends, and she’s my cousin. I don’t want to butt in because it’s none of my business. The only thing I’ll say about it is, I just don’t want her to get hurt.”

He knew Gavin would say something. The responsibility of looking after family and all. Not that he had much experience in that department since he rarely saw his own. But from what he’d heard about Alicia and her family dynamics, he knew they were close, so he’d expected this. “I don’t want her to get hurt, either. I’ll do everything not to let that happen.”

Gavin stared at him for a minute then nodded. “I believe you. You’re not one of those assholes.”

Garrett laughed. “Uh, no. I’m not. I won’t hurt her, Gavin. That’s not what this is about.”

“Okay. Good talk. Let’s move on to how we’re going to kick Baltimore’s ass tomorrow.”

*   *   *

ALICIA TRIED TO PEER OUT INTO THE DARKNESS, SO
she could get a read on what was going on between Gavin and Garrett. She couldn’t see them, though. And she also couldn’t hear them, which was a good sign there was no arguing going on.

“What are you looking at?” Liz asked her as they sat at the bar drinking wine.

She pulled her gaze toward Liz. “Trying to figure out if they’ve come to blows yet.”

Liz snorted. “Gavin isn’t going to punch Garrett just because the two of you are having wild monkey sex.”

Alicia’s eyes widened. She thought about denying it, but this was Liz, who would poke and pry until she got the truth out of Alicia. “How did you know?”

“Please. I know that nervous look. Besides, Gavin told me. You’re afraid Gavin is going to go all protective cousin on Garrett.”

“Maybe.”

Liz waved her hand. “Not going to happen. Believe me, the last thing Gavin wants to talk about is your sex life.”

She relaxed her shoulders. “You’re probably right about that.”

“How’s it going with the two of you?”

Alicia took a sip of wine and smiled at Liz. “Garrett’s shoulder is doing good. He’s starting to throw pitches.”

Liz slanted her a look. “Nice evasion, but you know that wasn’t what I was asking.”

She hadn’t thought it would work, but it was worth a try. “I don’t know how it happened.”

“I do. You’re hot, and so is he. It’s Chemistry 101, honey.”

“It shouldn’t have happened at all. He needs to be concentrating on his recovery, not on sex.”

Liz snorted. “Sex is great for recovery. All that blood churning through his veins. You’re the expert. A player in a good mood is not a bad thing, is it? I mean, a lot of his recovery is mental, isn’t it?”

“That’s true, but his cock has nothing to do with his shoulder.”

“Oh, come on, Alicia. If you’re keeping him content in the sack, he’s relaxed and more apt to work harder on his rehab. He’s less tense since you’ve been having sex with him, isn’t he?”

Alicia narrowed her gaze at Liz. She was right on in that department. “Well, who made you such a fucking expert on all things sports medicine?”

Liz laughed. “Honey, I don’t know a goddamn thing about sports medicine. But I know a lot about sex and how to keep my man relaxed and happy. And when he’s relaxed and happy, he plays great fucking baseball. So quit second-guessing your every move with Garrett, and enjoy what’s happening between the two of you.”

Alicia lifted the wine bottle and refilled her glass and Liz’s. “Has anyone ever told you how smart you are?”

“Not nearly often enough.” Liz lifted her glass and clinked it against Alicia’s.

Maybe Liz was right and their relationship was good for Garrett’s recovery. She’d told him at the very beginning to get out of his head. When he wasn’t so focused on his shoulder and every step in the process, she could make inroads with his rehab.

What better way to do that than with sex?

A definite benefit—to both of them. Because there was no downside to having sex with Garrett.

*   *   *

THEY HAD DINNER AND GREAT CONVERSATION, AND
Alicia spent the evening not worrying about anything for a change. Apparently, Garrett chilled, too, because when he came inside after being with Gavin, he put his arm around her. He even kissed her in front of her cousin, which she thought was more than a little monumental.

She supposed she could even call this evening a date. They laughed, had drinks, talked baseball, and she couldn’t remember seeing Garrett this relaxed. He’d stuck close to her all night, touching her in small ways that made her stomach ripple with desire. He’d trail his fingers down the side of her neck or rub his thumb over the back of her hand, all seemingly innocent gestures that fired up her nerve endings and made her wish they were alone so she could touch him in intimate ways and make him feel half the things she was feeling.

“What are you doing?” she asked him at one point in the evening when he laid his hand against the small of her back, his fingers creeping dangerously low to her butt. She kept her voice at a low whisper, so Gavin and Liz couldn’t hear

He gave her a sexy, innocent smile and an “I don’t have any idea what you’re talking about” as a response.

She had a feeling he knew exactly what he was doing to her. In return, she draped her hand over the top of his thigh, letting her fingers dangle ever so close to his cock. Then she drummed her fingers while she carried on a conversation with Liz. When she looked up at Garrett, he glared at her.

Ha. Payback.

By the time they left Gavin and Liz’s, she was a bundle of taut tension. Garrett might appear to be unruffled as he leaned back in the seat as he drove, but she was strung up with the need to get him naked and climb all over him.

He knew it, too. She could tell from the lazy sweep of his fingers down her leg to his relaxed posture in his seat. He was smug and confident, and he knew exactly what he’d been doing to her all night—driving her right to the brink.

She wasn’t about to let him know she was ready to explode. She’d just look out the window and pretend everything was fine.

Until his fingers started a slow trek up her thigh, raising her dress.

She snapped her gaze to his and pulled the hem of her dress down. “What do you think you’re doing?”

Giving her an innocent look, he said, “Me? I’m just touching you. I like touching you. Do you want me to stop?”