Catch of a Lifetime: A Cricket Creek Novel (4 page)

“Let’s just walk, Madison. It’s such a lovely night.”

“I agree,” Madison answered, and then said, “Look, there’s Ty McKenna. Let’s go say hello.”

When Ty didn’t hear Jessica respond, he knew she was going to try to scoot across the street without speaking to him, so he turned around and waved. “Hey there, ladies.” He felt a bit silly standing with his shirt dangling from his fingertips, but when Jessica’s eyes widened a fraction, he tightened his ab muscles. He exercised nearly every day, but eating Jessica’s food made it harder to keep his weight down, so he had been working out more intensely in the weight room and had bulked up with more muscle than he normally had. “Where y’all heading to?” he asked innocently, and glanced in question at Jessica.

“Y’all?” Jessica gave him a cool arch of one eyebrow. “Really?”

“Mom!” Madison said, and shot her mother a frown. “Sorry. She’s hormonal,” Madison added in a stage whisper.

“Madison!” Jessica sputtered, and pressed her lips together. “I simply didn’t like him poking fun at the Southern way of speaking here.”

“I wouldn’t do that,” Ty quietly assured her, and meant
it. He wondered why she had such a burr up her butt where he was concerned, and right then and there, he made a pact with himself to steal a hot kiss from the cool-as-a-cucumber birthday girl. He vowed that he’d have her melting faster than the candles on her cake. Then he took his sweet time tugging the shirt over his head, giving her an extended view of his bare chest.

“Nice abs,” Jessica surprised him by saying. But before he could decide whether or not to thank her or if she was poking fun at his attempt to show off, she turned on her heel. “Come on, Madison. That martini is calling my name.”

“
Y’all
going to Sully’s?” Ty called after them.

“Yes,” Madison answered when her mother kept on walking. “It’s her—,” she began but was given a shot to the ribs in warning.

“First martini is on me,” Ty shouted.

“Okay, but you might want to turn your shirt around first,” Jessica tossed over her shoulder without breaking stride.

Ty looked down and grinned. Damned if it wasn’t on backward. So much for being a stud muffin. More like a dork muffin with sprinkles on top. “I just wanted to see if you were paying attention,” he called after them, and when Jessica’s shoulders shook up and down, he smiled. Laughter . . . It was a start. “Guess you were!” he added, and then shook his head while he turned his shirt around. He wished he were sitting in Sully’s, waiting for her to be surprised, but then frowned. He just bet that Jessica wanted no part of this birthday-bash business, and was hit with an unexpected longing to be at her side, holding her hand so he could give her a reassuring squeeze. Jessica Robinson put on a tough-girl act, but there was a vulnerable quality in her expressive amber eyes that brought out a protective side Ty didn’t even know he had. He might go to Wine and Diner several times a week to sample the amazing menu, but, to be honest, there was much more to
it than that. Jessica was an intelligent, vibrant woman, and lately their conversations had broadened from talking about food and baseball to a variety of other subjects. He often stayed long after his meal was over and could usually entice her to join him for coffee. On top of that, he found her sexy as hell. All he needed to do was get her to let her guard down.

“Damn . . .” Ty shut the trunk of his car and then leaned against the back fender. He crossed his arms over his chest and tried to make some sense of the situation as he watched mother and daughter walk away. He could see Madison’s hands waving while she talked, and wished he knew what she was saying to her mother. Jessica’s head shook, making her sleek ponytail swing back and forth, and Ty suddenly wondered what her deep golden blond hair would look like loose and falling in soft waves past her shoulders. He imagined the silky texture brushing against his bare skin, and groaned.

Ty was no stranger to lust and knew his way around a woman’s body, but usually as soon as he felt any warm and fuzzy feelings, he’d run like the hounds of hell were after him. Ty inhaled a deep breath and stared down at his Nikes. It wasn’t that he was a womanizing jerk, like Jessica surely thought, but he ran because of baseball. His pro-baseball father had repeatedly cheated on his mother throughout his major-league career, turning her into a sad little shell of a woman until she finally wised up and left his sorry ass, taking half of everything, including his sizable MLB retirement. And while there were some really good guys in baseball, Ty had seen so many cheat while on the road, somehow thinking it was their right or was even expected of them as a professional ballplayer. Ty ground his teeth together just thinking about it. Like it came with the territory and was somehow part of the contract.

After blowing out a sigh, Ty kicked a rock across the
parking lot. His mother might have finally escaped, but all the money in the world couldn’t make up for years of misery, and he had made a personal vow never to do that to a woman . . . and the simplest way was to never get attached or fall in love.

Of course, Ty realized that the women who threw themselves at pro athletes were to blame as well, and he had no problem with a hit-it-and-quit-it mentality with chicks who were in it for the thrill and nothing more. That being said, Ty had chosen his bed partners carefully, and more often than not, the eye candy on his arm never landed between his sheets.

Ty drew in another breath of spring-scented air and shoved his hands in his pockets. He hadn’t really cared much about his player reputation until he saw the wary mistrust in the amber eyes of Jessica Robinson. He was drawn to the woman in ways he couldn’t even explain, and his casual questions about her to Noah had gotten at least a few answers. She had come to her aunt Myra’s diner sixteen and pregnant, and had raised young Madison in Cricket Creek before going off to culinary school and settling down in Chicago. Noah had said that Jessica had never been married and was dedicated to her daughter and her career, but apparently was back here to take over the diner. Ty understood and respected all of that, but she was a beautiful, vibrant, talented woman and deserved so much more.

Ty scuffed his shoe against the concrete and then watched the sky turn orange and purple over the Ohio River. He had sunk some serious money into the baseball complex, but instead of feeling anxious about the investment, he felt good. This was a solid little town with good-hearted people. The kids trying out for the Cougars had been overlooked or let go from minor-league teams and were getting a second chance to fulfill their dreams. For the
first time in a long while, Ty felt a sense of purpose, and he smiled.

Life was good. . . . Now all he needed to make his night complete was a long, hot kiss from the birthday girl. With that in mind, he slipped behind the wheel of his car and headed over to Sully’s Tavern.

“M
om, may I give you some advice?” Madison asked while they waited at the curb for the light to turn green.

“Do I have a choice?”

Madison grinned. “No.”

Jessica angled her head at her daughter and wished she already had that martini in her hand. “Shoot.”

“Have some fun with Ty McKenna.”

“What?” Jessica hoped she wasn’t blushing.

“Mom, the man is hotter than a firecracker. Funny. Sexy as sin, and,
hello
? He’s totally into you. Have some fun. Flirt.” Madison leaned closer and whispered, “Kiss him. . . .”

“Ma-di-son!”

“What?” Madison raised her palms skyward. “He’s single; you’re single. He’s interested. What’s holding you back?”

“I told you, he is a notorious player.”

“So was Noah Falcon, and he and Olivia are happy as clams,” Madison insisted.

“I never did understand that saying. Why are clams considered to be happy?”

“The saying came from John G. Saxe in his ‘Sonnet to a
Clam.’ The full phrase is ‘happy as a clam in high water,’ since it can’t be found by predators then. Mom, why are you shaking your head?”

“First, because someone wrote a sonnet to a clam. And second, because you knew the answer.”

Madison shrugged. “I am full of useless knowledge, unless, of course, I’m ever on
Cash Cab
.”

“Maybe someday you will be.”

“Yeah, but with my luck, I’ll be with Aunt Myra. She’ll answer before I get the chance to open my mouth and get the answers all wrong, but then argue with Ben Bailey and get us kicked out before we even reach our destination. Hey, did anybody ever tell you that you are queen of changing the subject?”

“Yeah, you.”

“It’s true. Mom, listen. Ty McKenna’s glory days are over. And, like Olivia, you are a woman of substance. Maybe you’re just what Ty McKenna needs. Did you ever think of that?”

“I don’t think of Tyler McKenna at
all
,” she insisted, and added a prim little sniff.
Liar, liar, pants on fire.

“No, your pants are not on fire.”

“It’s really creepy when you read my mind,” Jessica said with a slight grin. They started walking across the street. “Okay, I’ll admit that the man is . . . sexy.” What she wouldn’t admit was that it had been so long since she had even had a date that Jessica was simply scared. Her teen pregnancy had taken her out of the dating pool early on. Culinary school and then long days at Chicago Blue Bistro had left her little time for a social life, so she had never really mastered the art of flirting. She was so confident in other areas of her life, but not when it came to men. And sex? Dear God, it had been
years
. Ty McKenna was used to beautiful, chic women who knew their way around a bedroom. Jessica shook her head. She would be laughable.

“Come on, stop shaking your head. You need to go for it. You’re not getting any younger.”

“Gee, thanks.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe we’re having this conversation.”

Madison stopped and pulled her to the side just before they arrived at Sully’s. “We’re not your typical mother and daughter. We’re like the Gilmore Girls.”

Jessica had to chuckle. “Yeah, but you’re more like crazy Lorelai, and I’m sensible Rory.”

“Mmmm, true. But there was that season when Rory cut loose. Maybe this should be your season to do that.”

“Madison, I have Wine and Diner to run.”

“Yeah, but it doesn’t have to consume your life. You deserve more,” Madison replied. “Plus, my matchmaker radar says you two would make a great couple.” She crooked her index fingers at the top of her head like antennae. “I’ve seen the way you look at him when he walks into the diner. You love it when he comes in to eat. Admit it.”

“Oh, you and Olivia with your matchmaking schemes!” she scoffed, admitting nothing.

“Hey, she hooked up Jason and me, and I got Olivia and Noah together. And just look at Aunt Myra and Olivia’s father, Owen. No one could have seen that coming, but quiet Owen is the perfect man for our crazy aunt. Mom, it is your turn!”

“Oh, Madison, you tried last summer when Ty came into town and we chaperoned the Cricket Creek prom. Remember? It was . . . awkward,” she said, even though it wasn’t really true. The night had been fun. And that kiss . . .

“You kept needling him!”

Jessica rolled her eyes. “He totally deserved it. The man is so full of himself.”

“Well, maybe you’re just the chickie to take him down a notch. Ever think of that? Huh?”

Jessica groaned, but a tiny voice in the back of her mind
wondered if there was something to what Madison was saying.

“I just want to see you happy.”

Jessica put her hands on her daughter’s shoulders. “Sweetie, I am happy.” Wasn’t she? Of course she was!
Okay, maybe. Well, sort of . . .

“Oh, Mom.” Madison paused and put her palm over her mouth, sniffed, and then said, “You’ve worked so hard and given up so much for me. . . .”

Jessica’s eyes filled with hot moisture. “Madison, I love you more than anything in this world. I wouldn’t change a thing.” She squeezed her daughter’s arms and looked her in the eye. “Not
one
thing,” she repeated firmly. “You got that?”

“Got it.” Madison nodded hard, and then they hugged.

“Now let’s go get that drink,” Jessica said gruffly. She stepped back and linked her arm through Madison’s.

“Let’s do it!”

A moment later, Jessica pushed open the big wooden door to Sully’s. It was dark. Weird . . . She was met with a still silence for a second, followed by the lights turning on and a huge “Surprise!”

“Ohmigod!” Jessica put her hands on her cheeks while her heart pounded like a jackhammer. The tavern was packed. Colorful balloons bobbed in the breeze of the paddle fans, and streamers twisted across the ceiling. A big
happy birthday
banner was strung from one end of the bar to the other. Everyone clapped, whistled, and cheered like crazy. When Madison pulled her in for a huge hug, Jessica said, “I’m so gonna get you for this.” Then she added, “It’s a good thing I love you so much.”

“It was out of my hands, Mom. The entire town was in on the plans. I’m not the only one who loves and appreciates you.”

“Stop or I’m gonna cry!” Jessica pleaded in her ear.

“You’re allowed to cry,” Madison said with her usual uncanny insight.

“I know!” she answered in a shaky voice. But she rarely did. Crying meant giving power to the people she had trusted the most and who had cut her to the core. Crying meant giving in to weakness when you had to be strong. When the pregnancy test had come back positive, she had curled into a tight ball of sorrow on the cold, hard tile of her bathroom floor and had cried until tears would no longer fall. But when her parents had failed to come to her side, she wiped her eyes. And since that day, she almost never gave in to tears. She would not cry!

Okay, maybe she would.

Jessica pulled away and almost had her emotions under control when she spotted Aunt Myra and Owen sitting on tall stools up at the bar. Her beloved aunt had her arm linked through Owen’s and was swiping at her eyes with the back of her other hand. Jessica gave them a trembling smile and a wave, and when Owen leaned in and placed a tender kiss on Aunt Myra’s forehead, Jessica had to forcibly swallow hot tears gathering in her throat. Soft-spoken Owen and her outspoken aunt made an unlikely pair, but were so in love that it made Jessica’s heart swell with pure joy.