Read Online Over the Fence: Lyssa Layne's Baseball Romances by Lyssa Layne - Free Book Online
Authors: Lyssa Layne
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remember all the times we’d stay up talking about anything and everything, one arm tucked behind his head, the other with my head resting on it while we laughed about nothing in particular.
“In that case, I’d like to take you to dinner,” he proposes.
I swear to you, I think my heart stopped beating for that split second. Everything around me freezes while I soak in what he just said. In an effort not to pass out, I give a small nod.
“Great, I’ll pick you up around eight. Where are you staying?”
“Um… how about I meet you somewhere?”
Jace’s face twists into a confused look, but shrugs and gives me directions where to meet him. He leans forward and gives me a kiss on the cheek as he says goodbye. When he leans up, he smiles behind me and says, “Hey, Adamson, nice curveball.”
I don’t have to turn around to know Grant’s not happy. I continue facing Jace as the two men talk. The tension between the two of them can be cut with a knife. Finally, Jace ends the conversation by saying, “See ya tonight, Nikki,” and turns to leave, melting my heart as he calls me by my college nickname.
I slowly pivot to face Grant, whose jaw is clenched. Our eyes briefly meet and he starts to turn away from me. I grab his arm and see him wince, but he keeps walking.
“Grant,” I say, but he keeps walking. “Grant!”
I run to catch up, stepping around his large frame and blocking him. He stops but refuses to look down at me.
“Let’s go check out your shoulder.”
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. Come on,” I say, and take his hand, which he promptly pulls away.
I glance over my shoulder and see a group of fans and reporters watching us closely. “Don’t make a scene, stop thinking whatever you’re thinking, and let me look at your shoulder,” I demand in a tone that only he can hear.
Reluctantly, he turns and walks into the training room. I close the door as I follow him inside. He heaves his glove across the room, then sits on the table. I don’t say a word as I work on his shoulder, watching him flinch with every movement. This is worse than I thought.
“It might be a labral tear,” I say softly, not meeting his eyes.
He doesn’t respond, his eyes fixed on the wall behind me.
“I don’t think you should pitch tomorrow. I’ll order an MRI to have the team doctor look at it and get you some exercises to help strengthen it.”
He stands up. I chew on my bottom lip as I watch him retrieve his glove. He turns to me. “Sorry, Cole, I just don’t have time for a set-back right now.”
I nod and squeeze his hand. “I know, and I’m going to do everything I can to keep you on the mound.”
He fingers a charm on my bracelet, both of us watching him do it. Is he really just upset about his shoulder, or does Jace Richards have something to do with this, too? He swallows and I watch his Adam’s apple bob up and down. Slowly he turns to me, slipping his hand on my waist as he speaks. “I don’t know what did or didn’t happen between you and Richards, but I don’t want to stand in your way.”
My heart sinks as he says this. “Grant, it’s only dinner with an old friend. Nothing more.”
He gives me a soft half-smile. “It’s more than dinner, trust me. No man could ever want just dinner with you.” He lets go of my bracelet and his hand moves to my neck, pulling me forward as he kisses my forehead. “Don’t get hurt, Colie,” he says, and walks out of the training room.
Watching him leave, I think I already am.
***
I feel like a teenager sneaking out. As soon as I hear Grant’s door close, I make a break down the hallway, holding my nude peep-toe heels in hand. I grab the rental car keys from their hook and enter the garage. Stepping into the high SUV, I realize my dress is way too short, but it’s too late to turn back now. The baby blue tunic-length dress is a great contrast against my tanned skin but the fabric below the pleated waistline isn’t quite as
“In that case, I’d like to take you to dinner,” he proposes.
I swear to you, I think my heart stopped beating for that split second. Everything around me freezes while I soak in what he just said. In an effort not to pass out, I give a small nod.
“Great, I’ll pick you up around eight. Where are you staying?”
“Um… how about I meet you somewhere?”
Jace’s face twists into a confused look, but shrugs and gives me directions where to meet him. He leans forward and gives me a kiss on the cheek as he says goodbye. When he leans up, he smiles behind me and says, “Hey, Adamson, nice curveball.”
I don’t have to turn around to know Grant’s not happy. I continue facing Jace as the two men talk. The tension between the two of them can be cut with a knife. Finally, Jace ends the conversation by saying, “See ya tonight, Nikki,” and turns to leave, melting my heart as he calls me by my college nickname.
I slowly pivot to face Grant, whose jaw is clenched. Our eyes briefly meet and he starts to turn away from me. I grab his arm and see him wince, but he keeps walking.
“Grant,” I say, but he keeps walking. “Grant!”
I run to catch up, stepping around his large frame and blocking him. He stops but refuses to look down at me.
“Let’s go check out your shoulder.”
“I’m fine.”
“No, you’re not. Come on,” I say, and take his hand, which he promptly pulls away.
I glance over my shoulder and see a group of fans and reporters watching us closely. “Don’t make a scene, stop thinking whatever you’re thinking, and let me look at your shoulder,” I demand in a tone that only he can hear.
Reluctantly, he turns and walks into the training room. I close the door as I follow him inside. He heaves his glove across the room, then sits on the table. I don’t say a word as I work on his shoulder, watching him flinch with every movement. This is worse than I thought.
“It might be a labral tear,” I say softly, not meeting his eyes.
He doesn’t respond, his eyes fixed on the wall behind me.
“I don’t think you should pitch tomorrow. I’ll order an MRI to have the team doctor look at it and get you some exercises to help strengthen it.”
He stands up. I chew on my bottom lip as I watch him retrieve his glove. He turns to me. “Sorry, Cole, I just don’t have time for a set-back right now.”
I nod and squeeze his hand. “I know, and I’m going to do everything I can to keep you on the mound.”
He fingers a charm on my bracelet, both of us watching him do it. Is he really just upset about his shoulder, or does Jace Richards have something to do with this, too? He swallows and I watch his Adam’s apple bob up and down. Slowly he turns to me, slipping his hand on my waist as he speaks. “I don’t know what did or didn’t happen between you and Richards, but I don’t want to stand in your way.”
My heart sinks as he says this. “Grant, it’s only dinner with an old friend. Nothing more.”
He gives me a soft half-smile. “It’s more than dinner, trust me. No man could ever want just dinner with you.” He lets go of my bracelet and his hand moves to my neck, pulling me forward as he kisses my forehead. “Don’t get hurt, Colie,” he says, and walks out of the training room.
Watching him leave, I think I already am.
***
I feel like a teenager sneaking out. As soon as I hear Grant’s door close, I make a break down the hallway, holding my nude peep-toe heels in hand. I grab the rental car keys from their hook and enter the garage. Stepping into the high SUV, I realize my dress is way too short, but it’s too late to turn back now. The baby blue tunic-length dress is a great contrast against my tanned skin but the fabric below the pleated waistline isn’t quite as
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