Too Hot to Handle: A Boys of Summer Novel (8 page)

Grace Tavern was in the Graduate Hospital section of Philadelphia. It was a storefront bar, one that could easily be missed if not for the orange sign out front hanging over the pavement. But inside, it was a cozy older place with tin ceilings and good food. The bartender sometimes had the typical Philly ’tude, but that only added to the ambience of the place.

It was the perfect start to the pre–bachelor party for their New Age outfielder. When Jake walked in, he saw that the limo had not yet arrived. Ordering a craft beer, he settled at the bar and organized his thoughts.

The Sonics planned to stand Nikki up while they partied. He hadn’t had enough time to convince her to give up her plans before Jeffrey interrupted. So she would arrive at eight, expecting to join the team, and would find out the joke was on her.

Jake couldn’t let it happen. While he owed his loyalty to his teammates, he felt a sense of responsibility for Nikki as well. He toyed with the idea of calling her and giving her a heads-up, but he had a feeling that might make things worse. She might not believe him, or might assume he was behind the prank.

But as he sipped his beer, it suddenly occurred to him that this could work for him. Nikki had made it clear in Florida that she didn’t think they should see each other again, and Jake had no intention of abandoning his pursuit.

And tonight she would be dining alone at Osteria. It was a golden opportunity to show up, play the good guy, and rescue a damsel in distress. As long as he cut out by about seven, he could easily arrive at the restaurant before she did and surprise her.

He couldn’t help but grin.

He would have a date with Nikki, whether she liked it or not. He couldn’t have planned it better.

The limo arrived, and the Sonics poured into the bar. The decibel level climbed several notches as his teammates approached, pounding him on the back and ordering up brews. Brian, Jake, and Ryan produced credit cards as the burgers began to appear, and mugs slammed down for refills.

“Hey, Shaun.” Brian put his arm around the outfielder as Ryan poured a beer into his glass. “Want to see some girls tonight? It’s your last chance as a free man.”

Shaun gave them a beatific smile. “Sure. The moon is in Venus. It’s a goddess celebration, and all about feminine beauty.”

His teammates guffawed, and Jake shook his head. The funny part was, the guy was sincere. This was how he saw the world. Shaun might have his head in the clouds, but he hoped for his fiancée’s sake that he could keep it together throughout the season and get a halfway decent contract.

When they were on the third round, Jake rose from his stool to leave.

“Heading out?” Ryan grinned as Jake tossed a few bills onto the bar. When he nodded, the first baseman continued. “Hot date?”

“The hottest.” Jake grinned. He shook Shaun’s hand even as Cody drenched the prospective groom in beer. “Gotta go. Congratula
tions.”

Ignoring the catcalls and teasing remarks from the team as he picked up his coat, he instructed the bartender to let him pick up the rest of the tab.

Outside, it was just beginning to get dark. Normally, he would have parked in the garage, but he had found an empty meter on the next block. As he rounded the corner, he saw his midnight-blue Audi beneath a streetlamp. A shadow passed over his car and he heard an odd metallic sound.

Jake froze in his footsteps, then slipped under a portico, watching closely. He fingered the keys in his pocket, his hand tightening around them as a possible weapon. He didn’t have long to wait. A moment later, a slight figure rose, and then after glancing furtively down the street, quietly opened the car door he had successfully unlocked.

It was then that Jake noticed a group of kids loitering at the end of the street. They wore black hoodies and seemed to be egging on the youth at his car. The ballplayer fought the impulse to charge after them. He thought of his cell phone, and was debating whether to call 911 when the boy closed the door, thrust something into his jacket, and then started casually toward the other kids.

He came within two feet and Jake grabbed him, his fingers closing firmly around a skinny arm.

“Let me go!” The boy tried to maintain a brave demeanor, and he twisted in Jake’s grip as he came face-to-face with the athlete. The other kids dispersed like cockroaches, leaving him alone. His black eyes were as wide as quarters as he kicked and tugged to break free. “I didn’t do nothin’!”

“Is that right?” Jake’s gaze raked over the boy. From a distance, he had thought he was a young teenager, but now he realized the kid was barely ten years old. Dressed in an ill-fitting, beat-up leather jacket with a dirty tee shirt beneath, he was tall, thin, and obviously terrified.

“Knock it off!” Jake shook the boy hard. Startled, the youth stood still and stared down at the pavement. “What have you got in your coat?”

“Nothin’!” the boy said, but his voice trembled.

Jake’s brows lifted. “You’d rather I call the police?”

The kid stared shamefacedly at the pavement. “No,” he said quietly and hung his head.

“Your pocket,” Jake reminded him.

Giving up, the boy dug into his jacket and pulled out Jake’s iPad. Reluctantly, he handed it over, staring wistfully at the device.

“Figures,” Jake grunted. “Where’d your friends go?”

The boy shrugged. “Gone. Probably think you’re going to call the cops.” His eyes lifted, and there was something in the helpless, resigned expression that stopped Jake from doing exactly that.

“So they deserted you.” Jake’s eyes narrowed as he studied the boy before him. “How old are you?”

“Fourteen,” he replied, and as Jake continued to stare, he looked down at the pavement once more.

“Try again.”

“Ten,” he responded.

“That’s better,” Jake said as he eased his grip on the kid’s arm, but still refused to release him. “What’s your name?”

“Carlos.” He stuttered over the name. “Carlos Ruggerio. Are you gonna call the cops?”

“I haven’t decided yet,” Jake said simply. “It depends on whether or not you keep lying to me. Now what is your name?”

“Joaquin Menendez,” the boy spoke softly, staring at the ground.

“Okay.” His gaze swept over the child’s slender body. His arms were like toothpicks. “Are you hungry?”

Joaquin looked at him fearfully. “If you’re looking for something weird, I’d rather you called the cops.”

“God, no.” It was Jake’s turned to look startled. That thought hadn’t even occurred to him, but he supposed that living on the street made the boy cautious. “There’s a coffee shop around the corner. I’ll take you there for a sandwich. Whether or not I call the police depends on what you have to say in the next fifteen minutes. Got it?”

The youth nodded and walked with Jake to the cross street. Jake didn’t release him; he knew the kid would be off in a flash if he did. Part of him wondered why he was even bothering. This boy was a thief, and had been more than willing to part Jake from his iPad. “Apple picking” they called it, and Philadelphia was the leading city for this kind of theft. Yet there was something about him, something that made Jake hesitate and give the kid a chance.

When they reached the restaurant, the boy perched on a stool beside him at the counter. Jake ordered him a ham-and-cheese sandwich and a glass of milk. Joaquin ravaged the food, and Jake felt a pang of compassion. He was obviously starving, and under the harsh lighting, he seemed even thinner and younger than he had outside.

“Where are you from?”

Jake ignored the inquisitive look from the waitress as she brought a huge piece of chocolate cake and placed it before the kid.

“Lindenwold,” the boy said between frantic mouthfuls of food.

The ballplayer’s brows lifted in surprise. Lindenwold was a small town close to where he grew up in New Jersey. “What are you doing here in the city?”

“My dad took off and left us. So me and my mom are staying here with her sister until we can get enough rent money to go back. My mom likes the Catholic school there.”

“St. Lawrence,” Jake said knowingly.

Joaquin shook his head. “Our Lady of Guadalupe.”

“I know. That’s what it’s called now. But when I was a kid, it was called St. Lawrence. I went there.”

The boy looked at him in stunned surprise. His gaze fell on Jake’s expensive jacket, elegant wristwatch, and Italian leather shoes. “You did?”

Jake nodded, aware of his thoughts. “Yeah. I was lucky. I was good at baseball, so I got a scholarship to go to college. I play with the Sonics.”

Joaquin’s eyes grew even wider even as he finished the cake. “You’re a real ballplayer? Like on TV?”

Jake laughed. “Yeah, like on TV.” His eyes fell on the plate when the boy finally pushed it away. There wasn’t a crumb left. “So what happened tonight? Believe it or not, I get the sense you aren’t the kind of boy who goes around stealing on a regular basis.”

Joaquin squirmed in his seat. “The kids here want me to join their gang. I was supposed to steal something good. When I saw your car under the streetlight, it looked like you might have some money or something.”

The speech came forth haltingly, and Jake could hear the kid’s embarrassment.

“So do you want to be part of this gang?”

Joaquin shook his head violently. “No. But I was afraid because of my mother. There is no man in the house. I was scared if I didn’t make friends with them, they might do something bad.”

Jake felt his stomach twist. He couldn’t argue with the youth’s logic; he was probably right. As he gazed across the shining counter, he thought of his own life. He’d been given the gift of athletic ability, and even with his father gone, a family. Yet this poor boy was making decisions at age ten that would be tough for a grown man.

“When do you move back?”

“This summer. My mom’s waiting tables; she thinks she’ll have enough money by then. I’ve been able to make a little bit helping out some of the people on our street with their groceries and stuff. But most of them seem scared of me.”

Jake nodded. “Well, you’re a tough guy all right, dressed like that and hanging out with thugs. I don’t blame them.”

Joaquin glanced down at the table. “You calling the cops now?”

Jake tossed a few bills onto the countertop as the waitress tried to smile at him flirtatiously. “Tell you what. I need some work done at my mom’s house. Nothing fancy, but it will give you a few bucks in your pocket until you get home. Do you think you could lose those kids for a few weeks?”

“You kidding?” The boy gazed at him in stunned disbelief, as if no one had extended such kindness to him in the past.

“Nope. I’ll pick you up Saturday morning at eight right here. You don’t show, I’m going to the police. It’s up to you.”

“I’ll be here.” Joaquin nodded as if unable to believe what he was hearing.

“Good. And tell that gang you got caught and you’re being forced to do community service or something. If they think the cops are somehow involved, they’re not going to want to hang around with you. Got it?”

“Yes.”

“Can I drop you somewhere?”

Again he got the look of disbelief. “No, it would be better if they don’t see me get into your car.”

“Good thinking.” Jake handed the boy a twenty-dollar bill. “Here’s an advance. Take something home for your mom. I’ll see you Saturday.”

When he walked out, Joaquin was still sitting at the counter, watching him go. He knew there was only a fifty-fifty chance that the kid would show on Saturday, but that couldn’t be helped. He’d given him an opportunity; it was up to the boy to take it.

Nikki walked into the restaurant, happy and excited to meet the Sonics and celebrate their opening-day win. It had taken weeks for the team to finally accept her, but her plan was working. She had a copy of the evening news in her tote bag that she intended to share with the team over dinner. The press was flattering, extolling the effort that the players were making, and expressing hopes for an exciting season to come.

Ticket sales were up, and if things continued on the same trajectory, she was hoping to see a real improvement by the All-Star game. But that would require that everyone continue to practice, to do the drills, and to stay out of trouble.

Easier said than done.

The restaurant was an unimposing storefront painted mustard yellow and brick on the backside of the Moorestown Mall. There was a neat little patio fenced in with wrought iron, separating it from the parking lot. It didn’t look like much, but the place was owned by a famous chef in Philadelphia, and she knew the food was amazing. As she strode into the lobby, she could smell the hearth-baked pizzas cooking, along with some aromatic pork dish.

She had dressed carefully for the evening, wanting to look professional and confident, but not like she had just stepped out of an office. So she’d chosen a clingy knit dress with a muted watercolor print that was elegant without being stuffy. Her makeup had been carefully applied, and she finished the look with a spritz of Chloé, something else uncharacte
ristic for her. She’d told herself she was just covering all bases, but privately she had to admit it was fun feeling girly.

The hostess looked up and gave her a friendly smile. “You have a reservation?”

“Yes,” Nikki returned the smile. “I’m meeting a baseball team for dinner tonight. There should be a reservation for at least thirty of us.”

The woman’s eyebrows drew together in confusion and she turned to the man standing next to her. “Do we have a party of thirty scheduled tonight?” She stared at a monitor on the podium before them.

“I don’t believe so.” The man frowned, and then checked a notebook on the table beside him. “Do you know what name the reservation might be under?”

“The Sonics?” Nikki asked, wondering what was going on. There was no way the restaurant would be unaware of a group of this size.

“I’m sorry, I don’t see anything. Is there another name, perhaps?”

“I don’t know. I didn’t make the reservation,” she said uneasily.

“What is your name?”

“Nikki Case.” Her stomach was beginning to churn. Surely there must be some mistake…

“Ah. I do see that.” Relief flooded through her, but stopped coldly at his next words. “There is a reservation for you. Table for one. If you follow me, please.” He picked up a menu and gestured toward the dining room.

“That can’t be.” She struggled to explain while following him into the noisy dining area. “I was supposed to meet the team here tonight. They invited me; I’m the PR rep. We were going to have dinner to celebrate opening day…”

She was babbling. The host stood beside a single table and gave her a look full of understanding and sympathy. “I’m sorry, but there’s only a reservation for you. Perhaps there was a miscommuni
cation?”

As she stared at the brick wall, the bench, and a single chair, reality dawned. They’d tricked her. The Sonics had made her the brunt of another prank. She could just imagine them laughing at the gullible PR rep who thought they actually wanted her company.

The joke was on her, and it stung.

“Is this okay?” The host interrupted her thoughts and indicated the bench. “I can seat you in the other room if you’d prefer something more private?”

His sympathy, if anything, made things worse. Nikki wanted to fade into the woodwork, to pretend that she wasn’t here at all rather than have the man continue to look at her with pity. Her dinner dress, makeup, and perfume seemed too much now, and she wished she were at home in her quiet little townhouse in her pajamas.

“This will be fine.” Nikki slid onto the bench and accepted the menu with a brave smile. “It seems our baseball team is known for practical jokes. I assume this is one of them.”

“I see.” The host nodded reassuringly. “May I suggest you take a look at the wine list? I’m sure you’ll find something suitable.”

When the man left, she did as he suggested and flipped open the menu, wondering if Jake had known about the prank. She then remembered that he had asked her out this evening. That didn’t prove anything one way or the other, but only added to the annoyance that surged through her.

Determination filled her as the waiter approached and she settled on vegetable antipasto, pizza, and a glass of wine. She would have a fabulous meal, enjoy herself, and stand her ground with the team. If they thought to shake her, they had another think coming.

Jake pulled into the parking lot of the Moorestown Mall and cursed when he saw the time. It was almost nine o’clock. He’d meant to arrive at least an hour earlier, but the incident with Joaquin had cost him. As he strode into the restaurant, he saw Nikki sitting alone at a small table just inside the front door.

She was staring at the wall, her expression sad, and Jake felt his heart squeeze as he observed her demeanor. An empty wineglass stood before her and she toyed absently with the stem while the other diners glanced at her curiously. A woman alone in a place like this was an oddity.

Wasting no more time, Jake crossed the floor, his athletic stride allowing him to close the distance between them quickly.

“Nikki.”

“What are you doing here?” Startled, she gave him a penetrating look.

“I’m sorry,” he said simply, taking a seat beside her. “I meant to get here before you so I could explain—”

“You knew about this.” It wasn’t a question.

“Yes.” Jake couldn’t deny it. “I heard they were planning a prank.”

“And you let them set me up, and didn’t say a word? You could have told me.” She couldn’t keep the accusation out of her voice. “You could have kept me from feeling like a prize idiot when I walked in here and realized I’d been ditched.”

“I didn’t think it was my place to tell on them,” Jake explained. “If you remember, I tried to convince you to go out with me instead.”

“I see. I shouldn’t have expected your loyalty to me would exceed that to your team.” She started to rise, obviously annoyed. “Now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to go—”

“Don’t.” Jake put his hand firmly on hers. “You need to hear me out. This wasn’t just a joke, and the team wasn’t looking to deliberately hurt your feelings. They wanted to take Shaun out for a bachelor party and were afraid you would interfere.”

“What?” Nikki’s brows flew up but she sank back into her seat. “But why would I object to that?”

“Remember the tiki bar?” Jake gave her a knowing look.

“That’s different!” Nikki protested. But when the waiter arrived with her pizza, instead of asking for a box, she tore off a large slice. When she saw him coveting it, she did an eye roll and then slid the plate to him.

“I didn’t want them hanging out every night at the bar where the fans and press could see them,” she continued. “I wouldn’t dream of trying to prevent them from taking Shaun out!”

“They don’t know that.” Jake shrugged. “To the players it’s all the same.”

“So you think I’ve come down too hard on them.” It was an accusation.

“I think if you want to build a rapport with them, you need to trust them more.” He waved to the waiter and ordered a red wine. “Let them know what you want to accomplish and why. Get them on the same page with you. Right now, they’ve cast you in the role of mean mommy.”

“I’ve heard that before,” she admitted.

“But it isn’t all bad news. They would never admit it, but they like some of what you’ve done. The food, the chiropractor…”

“Really?” The cloud seemed to have dissipated around her as she absorbed his words.

“Really. And you do have some support. Pete has been a real ally. He told them you didn’t rat them out about the baseballs. Or the croc. Believe it or not, it mattered.”

“Thank you.” This time she actually smiled as her gaze took in his casual garb.

“For what?”

“It suddenly occurred to me that you are missing the party tonight to be here. Because of me.”

His eyes searched hers and saw they had softened. “You need to understand something. What happened tonight doesn’t mean that they don’t like you. Men see the world differently than women. To you this was hurtful; to them it was just part of the game. In some ways, it’s almost a compliment. They see you as an adversary, but an equal. Little by little, you’re wearing down their defenses.” He helped himself to a bite of the pizza. “This is incredible.”

Nikki nodded and for the first time really grinned. “Let’s order another one.”

When they finished the meal, Nikki was surprised again when she found out the team had picked up the check. “I guess they figured it was the least they could do after standing me up,” she said when the waiter had departed. “If I’d known that, I would’ve ordered the expensive wine.”

“I did,” Jake confessed with a grin. He helped her into her coat, and together they walked out the door. As they stood by Nikki’s car, he reached up and pulled her collar firmly around her neck. Their eyes met and she gave him a mischievous grin even as she held out her hand.

“Well, I guess this is good night. I remember you wanted to take things slow, get to know each other.”

“Right.” He stared at her outstretched hand and took it into his own. But instead of the polite shake she was expecting, he cursed. “Oh, what the hell.” And then he pulled her into his arms and kissed her soundly.

The attraction between them, long suppressed, exploded. It was as if he couldn’t get enough of her. Jake yanked her up against him and his fingers tangled in her hair, holding her firmly as he ravaged her mouth. His other hand slid impatiently inside her coat to the small of her back, wanting even more contact as his erection pressed firmly
there,
where she was on fire for him.

Frantically, Nikki kissed him back. He was too hot, too hard, and every cell in her body cried out for more.
This is desire
, she thought,
the
“I don’t care if we get caught” steamy, reckless kind.
He had her up against the car, and she felt the icy coolness of her fender against the back of her knee.

“My God,” he breathed, wrestling with the buttons on her coat. “You are so beautiful, so hot—” Finally, he got her free, and he tugged at the zipper of her dress.

He glanced up as another couple approached. Jake assumed a protective position, bracing his arm against her window and effectively blocking her from their view. Fortunately, they seemed engaged in their own drama, for they argued as the woman slammed the door and the car sped off.

Chuckling, Jake lifted her face to his. “I don’t know what it is about you,” he whispered. “But you make me crazy. In a good way.”

“That was close,” she breathed, pulling up the zipper, still stunned by what had transpired between them. Her eyes met his. Was he still so determined to stick to the program? “Now what?” she challenged him.

His gaze took her measure. “I had really wanted to take this slow, but I find I can’t stay away from you.” He gently stroked her cheek, and then brushed his thumb against the fullness of her lip. He heard her indrawn breath.

“Then don’t,” Nikki said softly, and then said what was in her heart. “I want you.”

Any hesitation on his part now seemed long gone. “Your place is probably closer than mine,” he said decisively.

Nikki smiled, relief flooding through her. “Well then. Follow me.”