Read Online No Sunshine When She's Gone by Kate Angell - Free Book Online Page B

comment. She was on him in a heartbeat. “Vanilla? Come again, dude?”
    Mike shrugged. “Vanilla with sprinkles,” he amended. “Happy now?”
    Jill narrowed her gaze on him. “Definitely sprinkles with a sparkler on top.”
    Carrie flashed a smile.
    Mike noticed her braces. “You have a full grill.”
    Carrie clamped her mouth shut.
    Mike ran his own tongue over his teeth, testing the smoothness. “Aren’t you a little old to have your teeth straightened?” he asked.
    “Age is irrelevant,” came from Jill.
    “Total fender bender when you kiss, I bet.”
    “Why would you care?” Carrie braved.
    Mike shrugged. “I don’t, actually.” He then looked to Aidan, lifted an eyebrow. “Who are these women?” he asked. No names had been exchanged. “Friends of yours?”
    “We’ve just met.” Although he and Jill seemed old acquaintances. Aidan made the introductions. Mike’s jaw significantly tightened when he learned the ladies worked for the Rogues Organization. Major league baseball was a touchy subject for him. It was a dream lost. Building the spring-training facility would be bittersweet. He’d be on the outside, looking in. Fate wasn’t always fair.
    Aidan had known Mike for twelve years. He’d met the other man through his younger brother, Rylan. The two athletes had attended the University of Miami together. They’d lived in the same dorm. Both had full baseball scholarships. Ry played center field and Mike was the starting pitcher. Both friends were sport savvy and built to play ball.
    Mike had ranked number one in college pitchers up until the night a crooked poker game and bar fight stole his future. Aidan was aware of the unfortunate incident. It had been tragic. Life-altering. Crippling.
    Rylan and Mike had gone out for a beer at Humphreys, a local sports bar. They had joined a card game with four other guys they’d seen around campus, but hadn’t known well. They’d had no idea at the time, but later learned that the men ran a poker scam and shared in the winnings. The bartender got a cut, too.
    The crowd had thinned around midnight. The lights had dimmed. Few remained. Beer bottles littered their table. Baskets of pretzels were empty. Rylan and Mike were down several hundred dollars when Ry caught one of the players cheating. He had called Hudd Daniels out.
    Rylan’s accusation started a fight. Mike backed Ry. The remaining three guys sided with Hudd. Rylan and Mike took their fair share of punches, but finally got the best of all the guys but Hudd. He’d been a dirty fighter. Hudd had grabbed a Hammer Break pool cue from the rack, the heavy slammer that broke balls like cannon fire. He’d swung the cue at the back of Rylan’s head with intent and anger, a deadly combination.
    Ry never saw the blow coming, but Mike had. He’d raised his arm to protect Rylan, and taken the hit himself. Square across his palm. Fifteen bones had broken. His surgery had been successful, but recovery failed him. He’d never been able to fully grip a baseball. That took him out of the major-league draft. A draft that would’ve taken him first round had he been healthy.
    Rylan went on to play professional ball. He’d been drafted in the third round by the St. Louis Colonels. Mike had been heavily scouted by the Rogues, and would’ve given his right testicle to play for the team. Sadly, it wasn’t meant to be. His dream had disintegrated. Disappointment darkened his heart. Depression left him moody. Sarcasm shadowed his regrets.
    Aidan would always be grateful to Mike. He credited him for saving his brother’s life. A severe blow to the head could have caused a skull fracture or worse. He couldn’t imagine life without Rylan.
    He’d hired the man when Mike graduated from college. Aidan paid him a good salary that included profit sharing. He would someday make him a partner. He’d always have Mike’s back, even when Mike put people off. Tonight was such a night.
    Aidan listened now as Mike spoke to