Worth the Trade (More Than A Game) (30 page)

“Next year? There is no next year.” He tossed the trophy several feet toward the nearest trash can. It hit the wall before dropping into the barrel.

Marco stormed out of the clubhouse and into the cool night air. He wanted to go home, but there were still a lot of fans milling around the ballpark. He normally enjoyed interacting with the fans: smiling, taking pictures, making their day.

But tonight, he didn’t want to talk about baseball. Didn’t want to discuss the game that had brought him and Hunter together and was now tearing them apart.

* * * *

Hunter retrieved Marco’s MVP trophy from the trash and was dismayed to find it was broken.

“You can fix it.” Sully nearly made her jump out of her skin.

“No. I don’t think so.” The trophy was broken in two. Her heart, on the other hand, was shattered in a million pieces. “I think it’s beyond repair.”

She fought to keep the tears from rushing forward. She straightened and tried to keep from falling apart. Everyone else in the clubhouse was celebrating. Enjoying the high of being two wins away from the ultimate prize. Or what she’d always thought was the ultimate prize.

The ultimate prize had walked out of her clubhouse. And maybe even out of her life.

“I’ll see what I can do.” Sully took the smashed up trophy and placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “I bet it will be good as new by the time our flight leaves tomorrow.”

“I won’t be on the plane with the team.”

“Why the hell not?” She’d never heard Sully raise his voice, at least not to her. Sure he’d chewed out his crew on occasion for not taking care of the equipment or the clubhouse to his very particular standards. But he was of the school that required a gentleman to watch his language around a lady. “This is just as much your team as anyone’s. You worked just as hard to get us here.”

“Yeah? Well, I forgot the most important thing.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s just a game.”

Chapter 21

“Welcome to Whittaker Field. I’m Denton Charles Whittaker the Third, but my friends call me Denny.” The tall Texan sat down next to Hunter shortly before batting practice. After playing the first two games in San Francisco, the World Series had moved to their opponent’s home field. “I hope you’ll find our ballpark to your liking.”

“It’s the second best in the league.” There was something about this man that was familiar. His eyes were a startling blue and his smile made her wonder if they’d met somewhere before. She must have seen pictures of him. He was the heir to Whittaker Electronics and Technology Corporation, who had made their fortune in pocket calculators before moving into computer components. They owned half of Texas, including the ballpark.

“Don’t ever tell a Texan he’s second best.” He leaned over and flashed a set of dimples that probably charmed more than his fair share of ladies.

“Sorry, but San Franciscans prefer to tell it like it is.” She wouldn’t be one of them.

“I spent three years in Berkeley. Graduated from Cal.” He must have thought that would impress her.

“I’m so sorry to hear that.” Hunter turned her attention toward the visitors’ dugout, hoping the team would take the field soon. She was already bored with this conversation. The man was obviously used to having women fall at his feet. He was handsome, fit, in his late forties, maybe early fifties. But he was no Marco Santiago. “I’m a Stanford girl.”

“Ouch.” Whittaker leaned back in his seat and she almost expected him to offer the whole ballpark to her. She planned on taking it, thank you very much, with a little help from her team.

“That’s what you’ll say when we take this series.” She smiled and held out her hand for a formal introduction. “Hunter Collins, President and Managing Partner of the San Francisco Goliaths.”

That was a lie. She was no longer president or partner. The contract had been received by the commissioner’s office. She expected final approval within the next twenty-four hours.

“You’re that confident?” He gave her a firm handshake and a friendly, if somewhat competitive, smile.

“Yes. I’ve put together a fine team.” She leaned forward, as Marco stepped out on the field. Her heart beat a little faster as he strode toward her. “I’m proud of my guys.”

“Marco Santiago seems to have come through for you.” There was something in his voice that prickled the back of her neck.

“You had your chance with him. You let him go.” She had every intention of hanging on to him. Well, the Goliaths would keep him.

“My company funded the ballpark. I have no say in who plays here.” He sounded somewhat disappointed about that fact. “I would have never let him get away if I had any choice in the matter.”

“That’s too bad. I take full responsibility for every man in a Goliaths’ uniform.” And pride in each of her players.

Marco dropped his glove a few feet in front of her seat and approached with pure fury in his eyes. Wow. Was he jealous? An interesting twist on things. Maybe now he’d understand how she’d felt when women went all fangirl crazy on him.

“Leave Hunter alone.” Marco glared at the man, his fists balled at his sides, the muscles in his forearms flexed. “Just stay the hell away from her.”

“Look, son…” Whittaker leaned forward, a pained expression on his face.

“You gave up the right to call me that a long time ago.” Marco gripped the railing separating the field from the seats. “When you abandoned us.”

“Marco, I’m sorry. You have no idea how sorry I am.” His voice was strained with emotion.

“Too late.”

“You’re his father?” Hunter looked at both men, and yes, the resemblance was striking. Marco had inherited his father’s height and build. He’d most certainly inherited his blue eyes. “Wow.”

“I am. But he wants nothing to do with me.” Whittaker stood. He kept his eyes on Marco as he answered Hunter. “I guess I don’t blame him. I just wish he’d give me the chance to make amends.”

“You waited too long.” Marco gripped the railing even tighter. Doing his best to keep from losing his temper. “You had eighteen years to make it up to me. To make it up to her.”

“I tried. Believe me, I tried. But… You’ll never forgive me, will you?” Whittaker shook his head and then headed up the aisle.

“Marco.” Hunter’s heart broke for him. “I had no idea.”

“Yeah? Neither did I. Until he showed up the day I made my big league debut. Thought he could walk in here, in this very ballpark, and just start being a dad.” Marco took a ragged breath. “He took advantage of her and then left her with nothing. He had everything and left her with nothing.”

Marco took his bitterness back on the field. He would wait his turn for batting practice. Hunter was glad he had a way of working through his emotions. Because she had no way of helping him work out, at least not until after the game. If he’d still want her. She wasn’t sure of anything anymore. He’d been so angry about her not being there when he’d been awarded the MVP. Yet, here he was, in a fury over her talking with another man. His father.

She couldn’t walk away from him just yet. Not when he obviously had some unresolved issues with his father. He needed her. She’d go to him, one more time. No matter how much it would hurt when she’d eventually have to walk away.

* * * *

As he waited his turn for batting practice, Marco couldn’t help but overhear a reporter interviewing his manager. He usually ignored what everyone else had to say, but when the reporter mentioned “FITNatural,” Marco turned his attention to what was said.

“Did you know of Nathan Cooper’s involvement with FITNatural from the beginning?” The reporter had that tone they all got, like they thought they were performing a public service by exposing the dark side of sports. But maybe it was just payback for all the girls who’d overlooked them in high school to go out with the jocks.

“I’d never even heard of the company until the last couple of days.” Javier was usually an easygoing guy, but Marco could hear the irritation in his voice. “I didn’t worry about whether or not Cooper was one of the players involved because he’s not a member of this team. Hasn’t been with us at all this year.”

“Did the organization know about his involvement?” The reporter asked. “How much did they know and when did they know?”

“I found out about the suspension a few hours before it went public. Fortunately we had enough depth in our farm system I was able to replace him in the bullpen.” Javier sighed, which meant he was really pissed now. The man never had to raise his voice. Just arched a brow, crossed his arms, or shook his head in disappointment. His actions spoke volumes more than any loud-mouthed coach ever could. “As far as the organization, I think their feelings on the matter were made clear when they released him.”

“He was designated for assignment.” The reporter made sure everyone knew he’d done his homework. “Then he was part of the trade for Marco Santiago.”

“Yes. He was one of the minor league players we sent away in exchange for Santiago. And I’m damn glad we got him. Between Santiago and Bryce Baxter, our offense has been prolific enough that we’re two games up in the Series. I’d like to get back to work so we can try to make it three.”

“What about the Goliaths’ ownership group? Do you know of any connection between them and FITNatural?”

“Nope.” Javier adjusted his cap. “I’m afraid I don’t have any inside information. I’m just here to manage this team.”

The reporter noticed Marco watching the interaction, and grinned.

“Marco Santiago.” He turned toward him and the camera followed. “Do you have any inside information?”

“Nope.” He repeated his manager’s quote.

“You have a personal relationship with Hunter Collins.”

Marco stood still, holding his favorite bat in his hands. Doing his damnedest to keep from taking a swing at this asshole. But that would only hurt the team. It would only hurt Hunter.

“You also had a relationship with Annabelle Jones, who is married to Clayton Barry.”

“I knew Mrs. Barry. A long time ago.” Could this day get any worse? “We were friends. Went out a couple of times, but like I said, it was a long time ago.”

“Rumor has it that Clayton Barry is selling his share of the team.”

“I suppose he has that right.”

“And Mrs. Barry has filed for divorce.”

“So what does that have to do with me? I’m a little busy here, I’ve got a game to prepare for.” Marco gripped the bat tighter. “It’s kind of an important game.”

“With all these distractions going on, how do you stay focused?”

Marco glanced over to where Hunter was sitting. Alone, now. His father had abandoned his effort at hitting on her or trying to soften her up. Marco wasn’t sure which. It didn’t matter. Hunter mattered. She mattered a lot.

“I have my routines.” Marco smiled, thinking of making love to Hunter. He decided he wasn’t going to give her up. “Ways of staying loose. I’ve got my teammates behind me. And one goal in front of me.”

Marco nodded at the camera, and turned toward the batting cage. Baxter was just finishing up, and when he stepped aside, Marco was ready for the first pitch.

He launched it deep into the center field bleachers. He hit several more, drawing cheers from the crowd. He hit and hit and hit the ball. Exactly what he needed to get his mind focused, to stop thinking about his father, the FITNatural scandal that was starting to heat up, and the fact that he only had two more wins before his tenure as a Goliath would come to an end.

* * * *

Hunter watched a tight, tense game. Marco hit a sacrifice fly in the third, scoring the Goliaths only run in regulation play. Texas tied it up in the eighth and it wasn’t until the eleventh inning that the powerful swing Marco displayed in batting practice finally found its way fair.

The Goliaths had won another close one and they were now only one game away from winning the championship. One game away from the end of the season. The end of Hunter’s reign as president and managing partner.

She made her way into the clubhouse, searching for Marco. This could be their last night together, and she wanted to make sure she made the most of it.

Marco was finishing up an interview. His hair was still wet from his shower and he looked as sexy as ever. But there was a weariness in his eyes. It had been a rough day. His confrontation with the man who’d abandoned him had taken its toll. While he’d been able to take his frustration out by crushing the ball during batting practice, the pitching was too good for him to carry it over into the game. Until the last inning, when, finally, he was able to send them all home.