Friends With Benefits (21 page)

After a year of personal and professional upheaval Nick Valente is in the market for redemption, not temptation. Getting involved with any woman, especially smart-mouthed Abby McCabe, is simply not in this player’s game plan.

Experience, mostly bad, has convinced Abby McCabe that she has a special gift for finding men who can’t help falling out of love with her. Getting close to a man, especially one who plays the field professionally, is sure to add another loss to her emotional score sheet.

As summer heats up an unexpected spark turns into a flame. But fear of getting burned winds up putting two strikes in their relationship. With Nick on the bench, it’s up to Abby to turn the game around. Trusting this man with her heart could deliver the biggest save of her life—or the biggest error she ever made.

Will they strike out or end up with a homerun?

Warning, this title contains the following: a hot baseball player with all-star equipment, a smack talking woman who doesn’t know the score, and a world class collection of inflatable dolls.

Taking pot shots at her probably wasn’t a smart move. He was out of line tonight and would undoubtedly get his behind chewed by the team captain or worse, his wife, Bridget. If Trista hadn’t tottered into the kitchen in her four-inch heels he would have apologized. The truth, although he wouldn’t share it, was that Abby was closer to a skin irritant than a bitch.
Impossible to ignore and frustrating as hell.

That black thong comment was just wrong. Most of his teammates were healthy, single and horny. From what he observed, Mark was no different when it came to women. Abby was way out of her league. She had wholesome-as-honey stamped all over her.

Ignoring the predatory gleam in Trista’s eyes, which was embarrassingly easy, Nick headed out the French doors onto the crowded patio. The sight of purple toenails dangling in the water immediately caught his attention. A quick visual sweep of the pool area came up empty. Where the hell was Mark’s date and why was his arm draped around Abby’s waist?

Hell, she hadn’t been joking. She was actually putting the moves on the pitching coach. Trying to ignore the sound of his own teeth grinding, Nick weighed his options. Watch the little spitfire strike out or pull the plug on her intimate pool party? Knowing he had deliberately pushed her buttons, Nick sliced his way through the crowd.

Since he hadn’t had the foresight to wear shorts that evening, joining the duo poolside was something of a challenge. Grabbing a nearby chair, he dropped it less than two feet behind Abby’s back.

“Hey,” Nick said. “Mind if I hang here for a few?”

Conversation stopped as two heads whipped around. Abby’s face registered annoyance, while Mark looked mildly amused.

“Still adjusting to the new scenery, Valente?”

“Heck, yeah. It’s hard to make friends when you’re the new kid in town.”

Abby snorted. “Maybe if you learned to play nice, you wouldn’t have to eat your lunch all by yourself.”

Nick leaned forward, resting his powerful arms on the top of his thighs. “Oh, I know how to play nice, cupcake. I’m just real choosy about who I share my slinky with.”

Mark shot him a heated look, clearly not pleased with the conversational thread. The last thing Nick needed was to get in a pissing match with a senior member of the coaching staff. “What’s your schedule like tomorrow, Mark?”

“Probably hit the park around eleven. Give me a little time to work with Carpenter before the game.”

“Can you squeeze me in? I want to run through some film. I noticed a couple of things the last time Bobby pitched and I want to get your thoughts.”

Mark Dufour was hardcore when it came to his responsibilities. An offer to review film was impossible to turn down. “Plan on meeting in my office at ten. That should give us plenty of time.”

Nick turned, expecting to see a glazed look on Abby’s face. Few women he knew enjoyed strategy talk, particularly at a social gathering. Instead of disinterest she looked like a panther preparing to pounce.

“Bobby needs to drop his curve ball with left-handed batters. He’s getting clocked way too frequently.”

Mark’s arm again settled around Abby’s waist. “Honey, I’m taking your advice under advisement. Bobby knows he needs to work a little harder on that pitch.”

Nick felt like a hammer had connected with his temple. She was dead on. In his last two starts Bobby had given up double-digit hits that way.

“Kevin is thinking about banning you from the ball park. Said you’re funneling advice through Bridget so frequently, that he can’t even have a quiet meal at home anymore.”

Abby slapped her hand down on Mark’s thigh. “Please, he’s just embarrassed. While you guys are sitting around scratching your er…heads, I’m working out the kinks in your starting lineup.”

Nick’s anger returned in a flash. Abby’s fingers remained curled just above Mark’s knee. Though the contact wasn’t overtly sexual, it was familiar.
Too familiar.

“Where did your date run off to?” Nick wedged his shoes between the pair in front of him. “Usually she sticks like glue.”

Instead of answering immediately, Mark pierced him with a sharp glare. Obviously he had hit a nerve.

“Probably needed to check her lipstick or pluck an eyebrow,” Mark said, wrapping his arm around Abby’s shoulder.

Divine intervention, in the form of Bridget, brought an end to the touching scene. “Hey, Abs, would you mind doing story time tonight? Gracie kicked her dad out, said Kevin skips too many pages.”

That’s all it took. Without a backward glance, she was off, leaving behind a trail of water and two agitated men. Nick wanted to leave well enough alone but he engaged his mouth seconds before his brain.

“I’m totally out of line here but I’m going to say it anyway. Abby McCabe wants to get horizontal with you in a bad way.”

A thick spray of beer spewed from Mark’s mouth. Clearly he hadn’t seen that curve ball coming. “What the hell are you talking about?”

“Well, for starters, she wasn’t too happy to see you show up with Candice draped across your chest.”

A sharp burst of laughter turned dozens of heads. “Damn Nick, you’ve been suckered. Abby can always spot an easy target.”

It was a rare moment when Nick found himself at a complete loss for words. Mark looked sincere, which left him annoyed and baffled.

“Abby and I dated a handful of times a couple years back. We didn’t click as more than friends.”

“Maybe,” Nick countered, “her feelings have changed since then.”

“Buddy, she’s set me up on three blind dates since the start of the season. Told me this was going to be the year she got it right.”

Nick’s stomach rolled. She had played him. The fact that he deserved the payback didn’t soothe his ego. The knowing look in Mark’s eyes spoke volumes.

“Listen, sometimes Abby has a trigger temper. She’s taken me down a notch or two, usually when I deserve it. Let it slide.”

It was sound advice. Too bad he had no intention of following it.

It’s all about the story…